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☆ Skull reshaping was practiced for centuries in ancient Japan by men and women
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Modified skulls found in an ancient burial site in Japan were deliberately reshaped in both men and women as an expression of collective identity. It’s possible, the researchers suggested, that the Hirota cranial reshaping played a part in their trading success. For the new study, the scientists 3D-scanned and digitally modeled 19 adult Hirota skulls to conduct more detailed morphological analysis. Certain indentations were also identified in Hirota skulls but were absent in those of Jomon and Doigahama individuals. At the Hirota site, each marker indicates where burials were found along with the notes on their sex and approximate age group.

Persons: ”, Noriko Seguchi, James Frances Loftus III, ” Seguchi, Loftus, Seguchi, —, crania Organizations: CNN, Faculty of Social, Studies, Kyushu University, Kyushu University Museum Locations: Japan, Tanegashima, Asia, Europe, Germany, Croatia, China, Central America, Mexico, Americas

The price list, updated after a primary election shock led to a sharp devaluation of the peso and interest rate hike on Monday, underscores the scale of Argentina's challenge to avoid inflation, already at 113%, climbing faster. "We kiosko owners don't know if we should increase prices each day, or by how much." The price list offers a window into how these market shocks are passed on to small business owners, and eventually customers. Reuters GraphicsSince March, business owners have received updated price lists from their suppliers twice a month, double the frequency of a year ago, said Acuna. "Prices have gone through the roof, in every way," Leguizamon said, adding that she didn't blame the store owners and small businesses who were just trying to survive.

Persons: Ernesto Acuna, Agustin Marcarian, Acuna, Juan Pablo Spagnolo, Spagnolo, Javier Milei, Maria Leguizamon, Leguizamon, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Wednesday, Owners, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Acuna

☆ Presidential hopeful Sandra Torres pitches experience as Guatemala seeks change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Presidential candidate Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) political party, greets supporters during a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 17 (Reuters) - Sandra Torres is pitching her two decades as a leading figure in Guatemalan politics as she tries to woo disenchanted voters ahead of a presidential runoff on Sunday and avoid a third straight election loss. Torres, who hails from a poor town in Guatemala's Peten region, has promised to expand the social safety net if elected. But while her party's last government did reduce poverty, Torres' efforts have also drawn criticism for being "clientelistic," said Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Torres has sought new allies as she seeks to reverse her election losses, analysts said.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Cristina Chiquin, Torres, Bernardo Arevalo, Alvaro Colom, Will Freeman, June's, Brendan O'Boyle, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: National Unity of, REUTERS, of, Council, Foreign Relations, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America's, United States, Guatemala's Peten, Arevalo

☆ Factbox: Top five candidates vying for presidency of Ecuador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

She was leading voting intention with about 30% in recent polls, though no polls have been published since Villavicencio's killing. The 54-year-old widower has promised to fight crime with better social programs and data-driven security policies. OTTO SONNENHOLZNERSonnenholzner, a 40-year-old businessman and economist, has promoted himself as a young policymaker seeking to bring "peace, money and progress" to Ecuador. JAN TOPICTopic, 40, a private security and telecommunications businessman, has promised security would be his first and most important focus if elected. Already-printed ballots will show Villavicencio's name and photo, but the electoral authority has said votes will be counted for his replacement.

Persons: Yaku Perez, Henry Romero, Guillermo Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, LUISA GONZALEZ Lawyer Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Correa, YAKU PEREZ, Perez, Carlos, Yaku, OTTO SONNENHOLZNER Sonnenholzner, Lenin Moreno, Moreno, Sonnenholzner, El, Nayib Bukele, CHRISTIAN ZURITA Zurita, Zurita, Fernando, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, French Foreign Legion, Central, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Here's, Belgium, Choco, Ukraine, Central American

☆ How a badly timed vacation to Costa Rica completely changed this woman’s life
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —She flew into Costa Rica with her partner and baby for an extended break in February 2020. “People often say that as soon as they’re at the hotel, they feel part of Nosara.”Community hotelStefanie Tannenbaum co-founded boutique hotel Sendero, located in Nosara, Costa Rica after getting stuck there during the pandemic. Costa Rica is famous for its wonderful nature, and with a 90-acre biological reserve where howler monkeys and turtles, can be found, along with 270 of bird species including herons and toucans, Nosara is no exception. Big leapSendero is described as a "neighborhood hotel" that aims to allow guests to feel part of the Nosara community. “Costa Rica is a very open country, they’re very into community and supporting one another.

Persons: Stefanie Tannenbaum, Tannenbaum, ”, Kirsten Ellis Tannenbaum, “, Kirsten Ellis “, ” Tannenbaum, Sarah Kosterlitz, Kirsten Ellis, “ It’s, they’d, They’re, ” She’s Organizations: CNN —, CNN Travel, “, Central American, Costa, Liberia Airport, San Jose Airport Locations: Costa Rica, Nosara, ”, Massachusetts, San Jose, Costa Rican, “, “ Costa Rica

☆ China military action to US stopover would be election interference, Taiwan VP says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaks during a welcome dinner in Asuncion, Paraguay, in this handout picture released on August 15, 2023. Taiwanese officials say China could launch military drills this week, using Lai's stopovers in the United States as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of an election next year and make them "fear war". China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has an particular dislike of Lai who has in the past described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence". China considers Taiwan to be its most sensitive and important political and diplomatic issue, and it is a constant source of Sino-U.S. friction. China says Taiwan has no right to state-to-state ties and has been trying to pick off Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Lai's, Li Shangfu, Deb Haaland, King Felipe VI, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Taipei's, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Presidential, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Taiwan, Central News Agency, U.S, Chinese Defence, Thomson Locations: Asuncion , Paraguay, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, U.S, China, Paraguay, United States, January's, New York, California, Central America, York, San Francisco, Taipei, Moscow, Asuncion, Honduras, Beijing

Argentine presidential candidate Javier Milei of La Libertad Avanza alliance looks on as he casts his vote at a polling station during Argentina's primary elections, in Buenos Aires, Argentina August 13, 2023. REUTERS/Mariana NedelcuBUENOS AIRES, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Argentina's presidential election race has an unpredictable X factor: Javier Milei, a fiery and wild-haired libertarian who wears leather jackets, belts out rock songs to his supporters, calling his political opponents "thieves." He has railed against the "caste" of the political elite who he calls "robbers" taking money out of voters' pockets. "We are facing the end of the caste model," he said after the primary election results. I think that Javier is the right person," added Zoccola, who said he had previously voted for Together for Change.

Persons: Javier Milei, Mariana Nedelcu, Donald Trump, Benjamin Gedan, Milei, Al Capone, Adriano Gabriel Zoccola, Javier, Diana Mondino, He's, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Maximilian Heath, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Argentine, La Libertad, REUTERS, American, Wilson, Peronist, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mariana Nedelcu BUENOS AIRES, America, Washington

☆ Taiwan will not back down to threats, Taiwan VP says on US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Taiwan's Vice President William Lai speaks during a luncheon in New York City, New York, U.S., in this handout picture released on August 14, 2023. Lai told a supporters lunch in New York on Sunday that "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful", according to Taiwan's presidential office. China considers Taiwan its most important diplomatic issue, and is a constant source of friction between Beijing and Washington, which is the island's most important international backer and arms supplier. Lai's speech was attended by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan. China carried out war games around Taiwan in April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from California where she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy while also on a transit on her way back from Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Ingrid Larson, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Ben Blanchard, Lincoln Organizations: Taiwan Presidential, REUTERS, American Institute, U.S, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, Taiwan, Central America, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Taiwan, REUTERS TAIPEI, Beijing, China, United States, Paraguay, San Francisco, New York, Washington, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, Taipei, California, Central

☆ China condemns visit of 'troublemaker' Taiwan VP to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly denounced Lai's trip, which includes another stopover in San Francisco on Wednesday on his way back to Taipei. In a statement issued shortly after Lai landed in New York on a scheduled flight from Taipei, China's foreign ministry said it opposed any form of visit by "Taiwan independence separatists" to the United States. "Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through," the ministry said. China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan over the past three years, seeking to force the island into accepting Beijing's sovereignty. In April, China staged war games around Taiwan in an angry response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meeting U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on a stopover on the way back to Taipei following her visit to Central America.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Lai's, Washington's, Laura Rosenberger, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Ryan Woo, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard, Jamie Freed Organizations: Taoyuan International Airport, REUTERS, Carlos Garcia Rawlins BEIJING, Taiwan, U.S, American Institute, Eastern Theatre Command, Liberation Army, Chinese Foreign, Central America, Thomson Locations: Taoyuan, United States, New York, Paraguay, Taiwan, U.S, Beijing, China, San Francisco, Taipei, Taiwan Strait, Washington, California, Central

☆ Nicaragua freezes bank accounts of top university led by Jesuits - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Nicaraguan authorities froze the bank accounts of the country's top private university, a source from the institution told Reuters, marking the latest move against a Catholic-led institution in an ongoing crackdown by the government. The Jesuit-run Central American University (UCA) is the alma mater of many youth leaders who protested the government of President Daniel Ortega in 2018, which were initially triggered by old-age pension cuts. Earlier on Wednesday, digital news outlet Divergentes reported that UCA officials sent an email to staff and students advising that they were not receiving any payments due to reasons beyond their control. In May, authorities also froze bank accounts belonging to Catholic parishes across the country as prosecutors launched what they called a money laundering investigation. The university had already been singled out for budget cuts and its leaders targeted, including UCA rector and Jesuit priest Jose Idiaquez who last year was barred from returning to Nicaragua after traveling to Mexico.

Persons: Daniel Ortega, Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Ortega, Jose Idiaquez, Ismael Lopez, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Michael Perry Organizations: Nicaraguan, Reuters, Catholic, Central American University, UCA, Sandinista, Thomson Locations: Nicaragua, Mexico

But some of its beans, known as unwashed or 'natural' arabicas, have not previously been used for high-end benchmark coffee contracts around the world. Unwashed coffee is so-called because its fruit is left to dry whole before the bean is extracted. He added that relatively little Brazilian coffee ends up in ICE warehouses because it usually fetches higher prices in the physical markets. The two companies declined to comment on whether they had got a mix of semi-washed and unwashed beans certified by ICE. Zooming out to inflation adjusted terms however, coffee prices in 1980 were equivalent to about $8 per lb - a whopping 500% higher than they are today, according to Reuters calculations.

Persons: Juan Carlos Ulate, Dagoberto Suazo, unwashed, Marcio Ferreira, Cecafe, Ferreira, Louis Dreyfus, Pedro Mendoza, Maytaal Angel, Gustavo Palencia, Marcelo Teixeira, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: Workers, REUTERS, LONDON, Agricultural, Intercontinental Exchange, Reuters, Producers, IF IT, ICE, Central, Thomson Locations: Grecia, Costa Rica, TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Brazil, America, Africa, Cafetaleras, Colombia, Central America, Peru, Europe, Swiss, Sucafina, U.S, London, Tegucigalpa, New York

Until last week, Corona Plaza in Queens was bustling: taqueros flipping fresh tortillas and vendors hawking Central American crafts over a soundtrack of cumbia and train traffic. There were produce stands, live bands and surging crowds, all in a public square that was named one of the 100 best places to eat in the city. But last Thursday and Friday, sanitation workers swept through the plaza, removing several stalls and threatening to penalize vendors who did not have a city permit to operate — nearly all of the more than 80 who regularly work there. In the days since, the grilled-meat stands and jugs of agua fresca have been replaced with protest signs. A spokesman for the Sanitation Department said removing the unpermitted vendors was necessary because the plaza had become so crowded that it was impassable, “with dirty conditions, with semi-permanent structures bolted into the ground, illegal vending right in front of storefronts.”

Organizations: Corona, hawking, Sanitation Department Locations: Corona Plaza, Queens, American, New York

☆ This couple are driving around the world in a Land Rover together
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“It all started with a road trip in Belgium,” says 29-year-old Chazee, who was born in Thailand. Shared dreamNicolas Chazee and Mathilde Vougny are driving around the world in a Land Rover Defender named Albatross. Epic adventureVoughny, seen in Finland, says that she and Chazee thought their dream road trip was "unachievable" until they began researching it. “People joke that if you have a Land Rover, you’re also going to end up being a mechanic,” says Chazee. Next Meridian ExpeditionAside from the car problems, the couple say that the extreme weather conditions they’ve experienced have been among their biggest challenges so far.

Persons: Nicolas Chazee, Mathilde Vougny, ”, “, we’ve, ’ ”, they’d, Chazee, Vougny, ” Vougny, who’ve, they’ve, They’ve, you’re, I’ve, I’m, ” Chazee, he’s, they’ll, Next Meridian Expedition They’ve Organizations: CNN, Rover, Meridian Expedition, Rover Defender, Next Meridian, YouTube, Central America, “, Next, Next Meridian Expedition Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Thailand, Europe, France, Finland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Halifax, Canada, Alaska, Wyoming , Colorado , Utah, Arizona, California, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Australia, Chile, “, Central America, USA, Argentina, Antarctica, Asia, Africa

☆ Brazil's Ambev Q2 net profit falls 15%, misses estimates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Natalia Siniawski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Paulo WhitakerAug 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian brewer Ambev (ABEV3.SA) on Thursday reported a 15.2% decline in second-quarter net profit, narrowly missing market forecasts. The subsidiary of Belgium's Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR) posted profit of 2.60 billion reais ($540.34 million), below the 2.68 billion reais average estimate of analysts polled by Refinitiv. Revenue rose 20% from the same period a year earlier to 18.9 billion reais, as cost pressures continued to ease but missing the 19.80 billion reais consensus view. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) grew in all business units, though sales volume declined 2.2%. "Our top-line performance remained resilient and cost pressures continued to decelerate leading to bottom-line growth," CEO Jean Jereissati said in a statement.

Persons: Paulo Whitaker, Ambev, Jean Jereissati, Itau, Natalia Siniawski, Jane Merriman, Christopher Cushing, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Bebidas, REUTERS, Belgium's Anheuser, Busch InBev, Refinitiv, Petrobras, PETR4, Thomson Locations: Companhia, Fortaleza, Brazil, Central America, Caribbean, Panama, Dominican Republic, Vale, VALE3

☆ Bus plunges down ravine in Mexico, killing 17 and injuring 22
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A general view of the site of a bus crash in Barranca Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico, August 3, 2023 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. The bus, part of the Elite passenger line, crashed near Barranca Blanca on the highway outside state capital Tepic, the officials said. A source from Nayarit's firefighting service said six Indian citizens had been aboard the bus. Just last month, another bus crash in the southern state of Oaxaca left 29 people dead, and in February, another bus carrying migrants from South and Central America crashed in central Mexico, killing 17. Reporting by Mexico Newsroom; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, David Gregorio and Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jorge Benito Rodriguez, Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, David Gregorio, Alison Williams Organizations: Cero, REUTERS, REUTERS MEXICO CITY, Protection, Firefighters, Elite, Central America, Mexico, Thomson Locations: Barranca Blanca, Nayarit, Mexico, Cero Nayarit, REUTERS MEXICO, Tijuana, Tepic, Oaxaca, South, Central

☆ Guatemala president meets with OAS head, says committed to ensure elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei meets with the Organization of American States (OAS) chief Luis Almagro, as concerns escalate over alleged government interference in the upcoming presidential runoff vote, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 1, 2023. Almagro is set to stay in the Central American country until August 4. Guatemala is scheduled to hold a presidential runoff election on Aug. 20, with anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo facing off against former first lady Sandra Torres. The government guaranteed to OAS authorities it has the appropriate budget and can provide the infrastructure and security needed for electoral authorities to carry out the vote, according to a government statement on the meeting. Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Luis Almagro, Read, Almagro, Bernardo Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Sofia Menchu, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: Organization of American States, GUATEMALA CITY, Organization of American, Central American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala, Guatemala City, Presidencia, GUATEMALA

TAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan Vice President William Lai will stop in New York and San Francisco in the United States on his way to and from Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president, Taiwan's presidential office said on Wednesday. Taiwan's government last month announced Lai's transits without specifying details, drawing ire from Beijing, which slammed Lai as a separatist. Lai, the front-runner for the island's presidential vote in January, will stop in New York on Aug. 12 on his way to Paraguay and in San Francisco on Aug. 16 on his way back to Taiwan, the office said. Yui said the arrangement for the U.S. transit was based on the principles of comfort, safety, convenience and dignity. Reporting By Sarah Wu and Yimou Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Lai, Taiwan's, Lai, Alexander Yui, Yui, Nancy Pelosi, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Jacqueline Wong, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Taiwan, Presidential, ., Central America, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, New York, San Francisco, United States, Paraguay, Beijing, Taipei, China, Taiwan, Los Angeles, Central

☆ A couple hasn't paid for flights since 2018 and lives in homes for free. Here's how they quit their corporate jobs for house-sitting gigs all over the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Marco Ilagan, 42, and Fran Cassaniti, 30, left their jobs at Accenture to travel in 2018. The couple live in other people's homes for free in return for looking after their pets. The couple needed to look after a dog and a cockatiel called Tweetie who would fly free around the house. They also spent four months looking after two relaxed German Shepherds in a beach retreat in Grenada, as the retired owners would go sailing during the winter months. They are currently driving it in Costa Rica, where they will spend the next four months looking after two dogs and ticking off those goals they created.

Persons: Marco Ilagan, Fran Cassaniti, Ilagan, they'd, Instagram, Cassaniti, Tweetie, They've, they've, hasn't Organizations: Accenture, Service, Thrones Locations: Wall, Silicon, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chicago , Illinois, India, Thailand, Brazil, Krabi, Philippines, Hawaii, Anchorage , Alaska, TrustedHousesitters, Utah, Grenada, Chicago, Florida, Scotland, Inveraray, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, England, Ireland, Europe, America, Cozumel , Mexico, Mexico, US, Texas, Belize, Costa Rica

CNN —The number of migrants crossing the treacherous Darien Gap, a mountainous rainforest region that connects South and Central America, has broken a new record, according to immigration officials in Panama. The Panama migration authority’s deputy director Maria Isabel Saravia told media that 2022’s already-high number of crossings was surpassed on Monday. “With today and yesterday’s crossings of 1,869 people, there have been 248,901 crossings,” Saravia said Monday. As the figures anticipated, we exceeded last year’s number (…) The last three years have been much higher than the last 11 years in crossings,” Saravia added. The 60-kilometer (37 mile) hike through the Darien Gap brings migrants from Colombia to Panama and is a crucial passage for those hoping to reach the United States and Canada.

Persons: Maria Isabel Saravia, Saravia Organizations: CNN, Central America, “, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Darien, South, Central, Panama, Colombia, United States, Canada, Mexico, Texas

☆ Walmart Mexico posts slightly higher profit amid June sales uptick
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Carolina Pulice | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, July 27 (Reuters) - Walmart's Mexico and Central America unit on Thursday posted a 5% year-on-year rise in its second-quarter net profit, boosted by slightly higher sales especially in June, though earnings were slightly behind forecasts. Walmart de Mexico (WALMEX.MX), the largest retailer in Mexico, posted a net profit of 11.44 billion pesos ($668 million). The company posted a profit of 0.66 pesos a share, just below the Refinitiv estimate of 0.69 pesos. Same-store sales increased 8.5% in Mexico and 9.5% in Central America, and the firm expanded its physical footprint with 22 new stores in Mexico. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the quarter rose 8.5% to 21.9 billion pesos.

Persons: Paulo Garcia, Guilherme Loureiro, Monex, Loureiro, Carolina Pulice, Noe Torres, Kylie Madry, Lincoln, Christopher Cushing Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Central America, Walmart, America, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Central, Central America

☆ El Salvador backs mass trials for thousands held in crime crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Nelson Renteria | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele speaks during a ceremony to lay the first stone of a new public hospital, in San Salvador, El Salvador June 15, 2023. El Salvador has been under a state of emergency for 16 months, sparking the arrest of over 71,900 alleged gang members. Opposition politicians and rights groups say group trials risk depriving detainees of their right to due process and their individual presumption of innocence. On July 14 at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, rights organizations denounced the deaths of 174 people in state custody and over 6,400 documented human rights abuses during the state of emergency. Reporting by Nelson Renteria in San Salvador; writing by Sarah Kinosian; Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nayib Bukele, Jose Cabezas, Nayib Bukele's, Gustavo Villatoro, Manuel Melendez, Ingrid Escobar, general's, Nelson Renteria, Sarah Kinosian, Matthew Lewis Organizations: El, San Salvador , El, REUTERS, SALVADOR, Central American, Justice, Salvadoran, Harvard University, Legal, Inter, American, Human Rights, Lawmakers, Thomson Locations: San Salvador ,, San Salvador , El Salvador, El Salvador, San Salvador

☆ What happened to the Chinese travel boom everyone was waiting for? It stayed in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Lisa Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"However, another reason is that domestic tourism has won in prestige and also in quality," Arlt told CNBC Travel. Now, Chinese travelers may be looking to venture beyond the region. "This creates business need for increased flights but has also seen increased Chinese media coverage and general interest in the region which will have knock-on effects for more general travel interest." 3 on a list of expenditures where Chinese travelers said they would increase spending this year — after dining out, and fitness and wellness. Source: Morning ConsultThis mirrors Skift's report, which shows 50% of Chinese travelers say they plan to travel internationally in the next 12 months.

Persons: Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Skift, Arlt, Scott Moskowitz, Moskowitz, Zs Organizations: Tourism Research Institute, Domestic, CNBC Travel, Reuters, Morning Locations: China, Asia, Pacific, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Europe, Central America, Antarctica, East, Northern Africa, Egypt, United States, North Africa, North America, Canada, Ukraine

☆ Japan down Costa Rica to put one foot in last 16
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Playing through Mina Tanaka in an advanced midfield role rather than playmaker Yui Hasegawa as they had against Zambia, Japan were already well in the ascendant before the double blow that knocked the stuffing out of the Central Americans. Costa Rica, who were beaten 3-0 by Spain in their opener, were barely able to land a blow on their opponents and it looked from then on only a matter of many goals Japan would rack up. Despite having 25 attempts on goal, however, Japan were unable to add to their tally - a shortcoming that might concern coach Futoshi Ikeda with tougher challenges lying ahead. Japan face Spain in Wellington on Monday in a match that will almost certainly decide which of the two sides top the group, while Costa Rica will play Zambia in Hamilton at the same time as both sides continue to seek their first World Cup win. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aoba Fujino, Yui Hasegawa, Molly Darlington, Mina Tanaka, Hikaru Naomoto, Maria Paula Coto, Daniela Solera, Solera, Futoshi Ikeda, Nick Mulvenney, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Costa Rica, Forsyth Barr, Costa, Dunedin, Central Americans, Zambia, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Japan, Costa, Dunedin , New Zealand, Molly Darlington DUNEDIN , New Zealand, Costa Rica, Zambia, Spain, Wednesday's, Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Sydney

☆ Ocomtun: Laser mapping reveals a forgotten Maya city in the jungle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Maya civilization is best known for its pyramid temples and impressive stone structures that have been found across southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Pictured here are the remains of a building with a staircase in the city of Ocumtun. He’s mapped more than 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles) of Central American jungle and been involved in 45 archaeological projects, including the discovery of the largest and oldest Maya temple near Tabasco, Mexico, and tens of thousands of Maya structures and settlements in the Guatemalan jungle. Unraveling OcumtunIt could take years to fully excavate Ocomtun and get a deeper understanding of the site and why it was abandoned. A stone block with a relief, reused in a stairway in the city of Ocumtun.

Persons: Juan Carlos Fernandez, Diaz, he’s, they’ve, Juan Fernandez, Jonathan Burke, ”, Fernandez, LiDAR, Ivan Šprajc —, —, Šprajc, Ivan Šprajc, ” Fernandez, Založba Rokus, Ken, Julie Jones, it’s Organizations: CNN, University of Houston, National Center, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, ZRC, Ocumtun, SAZU, Adria, Kreditna družba, Ars Longa, Julie Jones Charitable Foundation, Milwaukee Audubon Society Locations: Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, America, Ocumtun, Central American, Tabasco, Guatemalan, Kreditna družba Ljubljana

☆ US urges Guatemala to ensure no interference in election after raid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GUATEMALA CITY, July 24 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. Department of State official Brian Nichols said on Monday he had spoken with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro to stress the need to hold a free and fair run-off in the Central American country's presidential election next month. Nichols said on Twitter he had highlighted the need to "proceed without interference or harassment of candidates and parties," following attempts to suspend the party of anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo. The U.S. had criticized police raids on the offices of Arevalo's center-left Semilla party on Friday. A senior Biden administration official last week described the raid as representing "authoritarian practices" and a violation of democratic norms by Guatemala's public ministry. Reporting by Mexico Newsroom and Matt Spetalnick in Washington Writing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brian Nichols, Mario Bucaro, Nichols, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Matt Spetalnick, Isabel Woodford Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Senior U.S . Department of State, Guatemalan Foreign, Central American, Twitter, U.S, Biden, Mexico, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, U.S, Washington

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