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Cobre Panama has said it is committed to growing more new forest than is impacted by its mine. "We aren't going anywhere," Sabino Ayarza, a representative of the protesting fishermen, told Reuters on Tuesday from his boat. Their grassroots movement, nearly unheard of in business-friendly Panama, has wiped C$11 billion ($7.4 billion) off First Quantum's market value and raised global copper prices on supply worries. The protesters' victory in Panama is emblematic of the outsized and sometimes unexpected influence local communities are having on mining companies worldwide. Cobre Panama accounted for about 46% of First Quantum's overall revenue in the third quarter, according to company data.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Sabino Ayarza, Ayarza, Codelco, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Fabian Cambero, Christian Plumb, Denny Thomas, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Aris, PANAMA CITY, Minerals, Reuters, Panamanian, Tuesday, Scotiabank, Protesters, First, Thomson Locations: Panama City, Panama, PANAMA, TORONTO, Portugal, Peru, Chile, Macquarie, Mexico City, Toronto, Santiago

"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 26 (Reuters) - Eight Panama workers of Canadian miner First Quantum were injured when protesters hurled rocks at a bus transporting them, a union leader said on Sunday, as tensions flared at the company's lucrative mine in the Central American country. Workers were injured as protesters smashed the bus' glass windows when they were leaving the mine located in Panama's Cocle province, said union leader Michael Camacho. The company's local unit Minera Panama said in a statement that one worker and some contractors were attacked in a violent incident. "The affected worker is in stable condition and currently receiving medical attention and emotional support," the company statement said.

Persons: Michael Camacho, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Josie Kao Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Central American, Workers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Panama's Cocle, Panama's

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - Panama's top court started deliberations on Friday to rule on several constitutional challenges to First Quantum Minerals' (FM.TO) contract for the Cobre Panama mine, an outcome keenly watched by the global copper market and investors. Cobre Panama is one of the world's biggest and newest copper mines, producing about 1% of global copper supply. "Over the long-term we've invested more than $10 billion in turning the Cobre Panama into a world-class asset," Pascall was quoted as saying. However, Panama's top court in 2017 deemed unconstitutional the law under which First Quantum was operating the mine.

Persons: Tristan Pascall, Pascall, Greta Thunberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Quantum, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Denny Thomas, Sonali Paul Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, First, Central, LatAm, Co, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Central American, Jiangxi

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Operations are set to resume once the port blockade is resolved, the spokesman added. Protests have escalated since the government and First Quantum signed a new contract on Oct. 20 for the Cobre Panama concession, which contributes 1% to global copper production and 5% to Panama's gross domestic product. "In terms of production we are talking about a temporary halt because of the illegal blockade. The company says an "illegal blockade" of small boats at the mine's Punta Rincon port has been disrupting the mine's activity.

Persons: Michael Camacho, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Brendan O'Boyle, Sarah Morland Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, Reuters, First, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Rincon

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The disruption was caused by an "illegal blockade" of small boats at the mine's Punta Rincon port, the company said in a statement. The protests began after the Panamanian government and First Quantum signed a new contract on Oct. 20 for Cobre Panama, which contributes 1% to global copper production and 5% to Panama's gross domestic product. The demonstrators say the new terms are too generous to First Quantum and allege corrupt practices in its approval. A reduction of ore processing could potentially impact about 2% of Panama's national workforce, the company said, adding that two ore processing trains remain operational.

Persons: Sourasis Bose, Valentine Hilaire, Sriraj Kalluvila, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Cobre, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Rincon, Panamanian, Cobre Panama, Bengaluru, Mexico City

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Two Panamanian prosecutors have deemed the contract unconstitutional after examining legal challenges submitted to the court. First Quantum did not reply to a request for comment on the future of the contract pending court proceedings. Panama's mining chamber has urged against canceling the contract, saying First Quantum could sue Panama for at least $50 billion. Another lawyer said the court could also move to declare parts of the contract unconstitutional, which would not annul it completely.

Persons: Maritza Cedeno, Ariel Corbetti, Corbetti, Juan Carlos Arauz, Arauz, Victor Baker, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Elida Moreno, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Jiangxi Copper Co, Reuters, Panama, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Jiangxi, China

Some warehousing operations as well as distribution, logistics and refrigeration businesses no longer fit into Femsa's strategy and may be sold, Fonseca said. Femsa's shares have surged more than 40% this year after shedding 4.8% in 2022. Femsa, which last year acquired Swiss kiosk operator Valora for $1.15 billion, plans to concentrate on its retail, bottling and financial technology (fintech) operations. Femsa is capitalizing on the ubiquity of its Oxxo stores by promoting fintech services in them, such as digital accounts and debit cards, Fonseca said. Femsa's scale has allowed it to automate some processes, and it is looking for ways to cut energy costs, he said.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Juan Fonseca, Fonseca, Femsa, Valentine Hilaire, Christian Plumb, Rod Nickel Organizations: Coca, Coke, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Heineken, Reuters, Televisa, Alfa, Thomson Locations: Coca Cola, Monterrey, Mexico, MEXICO, U.S, Jetro, Swiss

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. That leaves the fate of the contract for now in the hands of the country's top court. Panama's moves raise questions about copper supplies, as Cobre Panama accounts for about 1% of global output. First Quantum inherited the contract after it replaced Petaquilla Gold as operator of the mine in 2013. Panama's top court will hear various challenges against the contract in the coming days.

Persons: Valentine Hilaire, Divya, Denny Thomas, Rod Nickel Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, First, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Canada

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. First Quantum on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law with the objective of benefiting Panama. First Quantum and its local unit Minera Panama declined to comment further. A decision to cancel the Cobre Panama mine's contract could slow Panama's GDP growth from an anticipated 6% in 2023 to just 1% without the mine in operation on an annualized basis. The odds of Panama losing its investment-grade rating would rise significantly if the contract is revoked, J.P Morgan warned on Tuesday.

Persons: Laurentino, J.P Morgan, Adriana Linares, Jackie Przybylowski, Michael Camacho, Frank De Lima, Juan Diego Vasquez, Edison Broce, Divya Rajagopal, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Rod Nickel Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, Panama, Canada's Global Affairs, Reuters, Bank of Montreal, Finance, Economy, Independent, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Vancouver, Canada, Toronto

Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. "I've respectfully listened to those who oppose the contract with Minera Panama," Cortizo said, using the name of First Quantum's local unit. Neither First Quantum nor Minera Panama immediately responded to requests for comment. On Saturday, Minera Panama voiced concern after protesters on boats approached the international Punta Rincon port where it operates. After Cortizo's announcement, Panama's main workers' union said its members will keep protesting in the streets until the contract is annulled.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, Eduardo Munoz, Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, I've, Minera, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Daina Beth Solomon, Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Sunday Panama, Minera, Central, Protesters, Critics, Punta Rincon, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, PANAMA, Panama, Central American, Minera Panama

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. President Laurentino Cortizo announced that the new mining restrictions will apply to both future mining projects as well as those currently seeking permits. The abrupt mining pause comes barely a week after Cortizo hailed the revised contract that allows the local unit of Canada's First Quantum (FM.TO) to continue operating its lucrative Cobre Panama project. "Panama is a mining country," Alexander told Reuters, arguing that without the mine, the country's economy would barely grow this year, versus the robust 6% growth the government estimates. The Cobre Panama mine alone accounts for nearly 5% of Panama's economy.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, Hector Alexander, Alexander, Panama's, Edison Broce, Valentine Hilaire, Christian Plumb, Marguerita Choy, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso

REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian fintech Nubank's Mexico arm has requested a banking license from local regulators, the unit's top executive said on Thursday, describing it as a bid to broaden product offering. A banking license would allow Nubank to offer "diverse kinds of investments," including shares in Mexico's main stock index, the company said in a statement to Reuters. Other opportunities stemming from a banking license include handling direct deposits of salaries for customers and setting higher deposit limits, Nubank Mexico head Ivan Canales said in an interview. Canales did not provide a timeline for obtaining the license in what is Nubank's second-biggest market after Brazil. Funding for Nubank's expansion plans will come from parent company Nu Holdings (NUN.MX) and deposits made by their customers, said Canales.

Persons: Paulo Whitaker, Ivan Canales, Canales, Nubank, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Varun Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Reuters, Nu Holdings, Thomson Locations: Brazilian, Sao Paulo, Brazil, MEXICO, Mexico

Data from Mexico's financial products watchdog Condusef shows that the accounts would be the highest-yielding ones offered in the local financial sector. Other Latin American fintechs like Brazil's Nubank (NUN.MX) and Argentina's UALA have also launched savings accounts this year in Mexico, where data from the national statistics agency showed less than half of the population has savings accounts. The Mexican arms of Nubank and UALA both offer 9% yields on their savings accounts, already much higher than most banks. Stori expects to reach 3 million savings account holders by the end of next year, said its General Manager of New Products Sergio Duenas. ($1 = 18.0044 Mexican pesos)Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire Garcia, Christian Plumb and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marlene Garayzar, Sergio Duenas, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Christian Plumb, Marguerita Choy Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Wednesday, Reuters, The Bank of, New, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, The Bank of Mexico, Nubank

The logo of Mexico's Central Bank (Banco de Mexico) is seen at its building in downtown Mexico City, Mexico February 28, 2019. Mexico could lure annual foreign direct investment flows of $55 billion to $60 billion if it takes better advantage of nearshoring, up from $36 billion in 2022, she said. That has dampened expectations Mexico could benefit from increased investment in semiconductors in North America. Mexico still faces competition to win investment from both North and Central America, plus Colombia, he said. "I don't think this measure is a game-changer to persuade those who have doubts," said Vejar.

Persons: Daniel Becerril, Gabriel Yorio, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Gabriela Siller, Siller, Yorio, Lopez Obrador, Ramse Gutierrez, Franklin Templeton, Tesla, Carlos Vejar, Valentine Hilaire, Dave Graham, Anthony Esposito, Grant McCool, Sonali Paul Organizations: Mexico's Central Bank, Banco, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Banco Base, Central America, Thomson Locations: Banco de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Asia, China, North America, Canada, United States, Franklin Templeton Mexico, Nuevo Leon, Mexican, North, Central, Colombia

MEXICO CITY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Mexican fintech Stori on Thursday announced the acquisition of MasCaja, a financial firm that will provide it a license to broaden its product portfolio in a market where many lack access to financial services. "We want to take the next step to boost financial inclusion," Stori co-founder Marlene Garayzar told Reuters. Stori, which reached unicorn status last year, already offers credit cards with lines starting at 500 Mexican pesos ($28), in a country where government data shows less than 35% of the adult population has formal credit. Earlier this year, Stori said it had reached 2 million users. ($1 = 17.5722 Mexican pesos)Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stori, Marlene Garayzar, Nubank, Valentine Hilaire, Leslie Adler Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Reuters, ABC Capital Bank, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Argentine

A banner for Nubank, the Brazilian FinTech startup, hangs on the facade at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to celebrate the company's IPO in New York, U.S., December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Nubank, one of Latin America's biggest fintech companies, announced on Tuesday the launch of personal loans for the Mexican market, aiming to boost its financial services portfolio in the region's second-largest economy. The new product will allow customers to obtain personal loans in less than five minutes through its platform, the digital bank's Mexican arm, known as Nu Mexico, said in a statement. "Around 20% of the adult population connected by smartphones in Mexico has already applied to a Nu product. Executives from the fintech firm told Reuters last month Mexico is the market showing more potential for growth, and the company is ready to roll out products at a faster pace next year.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Ivan Canales, Brazil's Nubank, Valentine Hilaire, Sandra Maler Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, MEXICO, Mexico

☆ Mediterranean diet during pregnancy improved 2-year-olds’ cognitive, social abilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Mothers who followed the Mediterranean diet while pregnant improved their children’s cognitive, social and emotional development at age 2 compared with children whose mothers did not follow the diet, according to a new randomized clinical trial. “No other dietary model possesses such an impressive accrual of scientific evidence as the traditional Mediterranean diet,” said Martínez-González, who is also an adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. The number of low-weight births dropped to 15.6% of the women who attended stress-reduction classes and 14% of the women who ate a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds, with a few nuts and a heavy emphasis on extra-virgin olive oil. “The first arm (Mediterranean diet) addressed a more physical and direct aspect: the dietary pattern and the supply of interesting nutrients that are known to be beneficial.

Persons: CNN —, “, ”, Miguel Martínez, David Katz, ” Katz, nutritionists, Bayley, Katz, González Organizations: CNN, University of Navarra, Harvard, of Public Health, True Health Initiative Locations: Pamplona, Spain, Chan, Boston, Barcelona

[1/2] A woman stands next to stacked school furniture, as she and others shelter at a school after fleeing their neighbourhood Carrefour Feuilles when gangs took over, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti August 16, 2023. "In a matter of days, violence escalated dramatically in Port-au-Prince, particularly affecting neighborhoods where the IRC collaborates with local organizations to provide vital services," the aid group said on Thursday. The IRC launched its Haiti response plan last December and works with a number of local groups around the capital, where much of the violence has taken place. Ann Lee, co-founder of U.S.-based crisis response group CORE, which is still operating in Haiti, said many aid groups had left as costs rise, financial aid dwindles and staff operates under increasingly life-threatening conditions. Lee said there was not a single member of CORE's 100-person Haiti team who did not know a victim of the violence.

Persons: Ralph Tedy Erol, Ann Lee, dwindles, Lee, Haiti's, Ariel Henry's, Sarah Morland, Josie Kao Organizations: Carrefour, REUTERS, International Rescue, IRC, U.S, CORE, Haiti, United Nations, Feuilles, Carrefour Feuilles, . Security, Kenyan, Thomson Locations: Carrefour Feuilles, Port, Prince, Haiti, Caribbean, Haiti's, Kenya

MEXICO CITY, July 13 (Reuters) - The Mexican government is no longer interested in purchasing Citigroup's (C.N) local retail arm, known as Banamex, a government spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that the U.S. bank "chose a different path" for its unit. Deputy Finance Minister Gabriel Yorio told Reuters at the time that Mexico could pursue a total or partial acquisition of the unit. Government spokesperson Jesus Ramirez did not immediately respond when asked which path the U.S. bank is taking. Before Citi's decision to list Banamex, banking sources said mining conglomerate Grupo Mexico (GMEXICOB.MX) had been eyeing the unit for around $7 billion. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Gabriel Yorio, Jesus Ramirez, Lopez Obrador, Valentine Hilaire, Brendan O'Boyle, Jamie Freed Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Citi, Reuters, Government, Grupo Mexico, German, Grupo, Spain's Banco Santander, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexican, Mexico

The Central American nation urgently needs to exit the watch lists so it can reclaim its place as a financial hub, Deputy Financial Minister Jorge Almengor said in an interview late on Wednesday. In 2019 FATF again placed Panama on its list, saying the country was making too little progress on financial transparency. In 2020, the European Union added Panama to its own list of countries deemed "noncooperative" for tax purposes. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has also included Panama on its own watch list. He said the visit should result in Panama's removal from the watch list at an October plenary meeting of FATF.

Persons: Jorge Almengor, Panama's, FATF, Josep Borrell, Laurentino Cortizo, Almengor, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Central American, Union, Organization, Economic Co, Development, Panamanian, EU, Thomson Locations: Panama, Mexico

MEXICO CITY, June 7 (Reuters) - One million people in Mexico have opened savings accounts in Brazilian digital bank Nubank (NUN.MX) one month after the product's launch, the company said on Wednesday, with deposits amounting to 1 billion pesos ($58 million). Nubank, owned by Buffett-backed Nu Holdings , said it is now present in nine out of 10 municipalities in Mexico. Nubank announced a $330 million equity capitalization for Mexico late last year, in a bid to expand its footprint in the Latin American country. In addition to its new savings accounts, Nubank has issued 3.2 million credit cards in Mexico, a country with more than 126 million people. The bank announced last month it expects to launch digital checking accounts in the South American country by the end of 2023.

Persons: Nubank, Valentine Hilaire, Sonali Paul Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Buffett, Nu Holdings, Citi, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Nubank's, Colombia, American

MEXICO CITY, May 30 (Reuters) - Mexican firm KIO is aiming to double the capacity of its data centers over the next two years, taking advantage of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's drive to boost nearshoring and tech firms' expanding Latin American footprint. "Our growth plan involves creating over the next two years the same capacity we have accumulated in the last 22 years. Sapien added that the adoption of data centers in the region has been slow due to companies' apprehension towards outsourcing the hosting of their data. KIO, which operates in five countries and has 20 data centers in its portfolio, is expanding operations in the northern Mexican city Monterrey after acquiring land for its new data campus. The expansion is strategic for the company as it expects to serve firms coming to Mexico due to the nearshoring trend, said Sapien.

Persons: KIO, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's, Jorge Sapien, Sapien, Nearshoring, Valentine Hilaire, Christopher Cushing Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Monterrey, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexican, Mexico, American, Asia, Panama, Guatemala, Colombia, Spain

Calling the move "surprising", the transport unit Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT.MX) said the Navy had occupied its facilities at the Coatzacoalcos-Medias Aguas section at 6 a.m.(1200 GMT), and that it was weighing up its options. Grupo Mexico Transportes will keep providing services under supervision of the armed forces, it said. The section "expropriated" is about 1.1% of the 11,137 km run by Grupo Mexico's transport division, analysts at brokerage Vector said in a client note. Grupo Mexico, owned by tycoon German Larrea, has been closing in on the acquisition of U.S. Citigroup Inc's retail banking operations in Mexico. Shares in Grupo Mexico were down by more than 4% on Friday afternoon, a drop mirrored by Grupo Mexico Transportes' stock.

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