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HAVANA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Cuba on Tuesday said it had signed 30 foreign investment deals valued at around $400 million this year, more than in 2021 but far short of pre-pandemic levels of at times around $2 billion. Cuba is struggling through its worst economic crisis in decades, and desperately needs foreign investment to help underwrite the purchase of food, medicine, fuel and raw materials needed to jumpstart sputtering output. “We have to banish all that unnecessary bureaucracy and generate new opportunities that are attractive to foreign businessmen,” Marrero said at an investment forum in the capital. Some at the trade fair told Reuters they were willing to bet on Cuba despite the downturn. "Definitely we are not afraid as investors in Cuba, we are already making arrangements and making alliances with a well-established (private) company,” he said.

☆ Argentina agrees $5 bln China currency swap extension, President says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Argentina has agreed to expand its currency swap deal with China by $5 billion, the South American country's President Alberto Fernandez said on Tuesday, a move that would give it more firepower to defend the embattled local peso. Reporting by Eliana Raszewski; Writing by Adam JourdanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Coca chewing gets chic makeover with bubblegum flavor and TikTok fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Monica Machicao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A demonstrator uses coca leaves during clashes with police over a new coca market, in La Paz, Bolivia August 8, 2022. REUTERS/Claudia Morales/File PhotoSANTIAGO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - With flavors ranging from bubble gum to passion fruit and TikTok stars promoting it, chewing coca has become the latest chic trend in Bolivia. Andean villagers have chewed coca leaves - the base ingredient of cocaine - for centuries to help ward off the effects of high altitude and hunger. Consumption of the leaves is legal in Bolivia and coca is considered by many in the region as a sacred plant. To the traditional "bolo" of coca leaves and baking soda enterprising locals are adding sweeteners and flavoring.

☆ Factbox: G20 summit: Which leaders will attend Bali summit?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It will also mark the first face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping since Biden became president. CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPINGXi's visit to Southeast Asia will be only his second foreign trip since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY (VIRTUAL)Indonesia invited Zelenskiy to attend the summit as an obsever, although the Indonesian foreign ministry has said he will appear at the summit virtually. INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODIModi is due to symbolically take over the G20 presidency from current chair Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali. He also committed to work closely with the Indonesian president to help deliver a successful summit.

Young Latino voters were a crucial voting bloc in slowing down the so-called Republican red wave in the 2022 midterm elections, according to early exit polls. Thirty percent of young Latino voters favored the Republican House candidate. Additionally, 41% of young Latino voters identify as liberal, while 34% identify as moderate and 25% as conservative. Young Latino voters under 30, alongside young Black voters, showed stronger support for Democrats on Election Day compared to young white voters, according to the analysis by CIRCLE. "The ranking for those two states is really heavily influenced by the big presence of young Latino voters," Medina said.

☆ Factbox: Advertisers react to Twitter's new ownership
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Advertisers are grappling with Twitter's new ownership under Tesla boss Elon Musk, who once tweeted "I hate advertising". General Motors Co (GM.N)The largest U.S. automaker temporarily paused paid advertising on Twitter after Musk completed his takeover of the social media company. The Detroit automaker said it was "engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership." The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc (IPG.N)The global advertising and marketing services firm recommended that its clients temporarily pause their advertisements on Twitter, The Wall Street Journal reported. Compiled by Alberto Chiumento, Philipp Krach and Antonis Pothitos; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Analysis: Argentina's embattled left hopes for Lula bump. That looks a long shot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Nicolás Misculin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

President Fernandez, powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Economy Minister Sergio Massa, all languish on around 30% positive image, according to an October survey by pollster Ricardo Rouvier & Associates. I don't think this will change the electoral scenario in Argentina at all," political analyst Sergio Berensztein told Reuters. Lula, after his win, wore a cap in support of VP Fernandez de Kirchner. President Fernandez meanwhile said Lula would make his first overseas visit to Argentina once in office, a reversal from cool ties under Bolsonaro between the trade partners. "I think this has more to do with politicians' views than the real effect of the election on actual people," he said.

☆ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Napoli’s Georgian sensation billed ‘Kvaradona’
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But none have been more famous – or loved by Napoli fans – than Diego Maradona. “I have a video of Napoli fans chanting the names of the players before the game against Liverpool. “But Kvaratskhelia is shrugging defenders off the ball.”According to Badalashvili, the reciprocated love Kvaratskhelia and the Napoli fans have for one another is what jumps out to him most. His surname is already ‘Kvaradona.’ Napoli fans gave him the nickname ‘Kvaradona.’ And when I spoke with Napoli fans, they said when they see Kvara, they see Maradona.”Kvaratskhelia attempts a shot against Rangers in the Champions League. In the cities in Georgia, you will see very many people in shirts of Kvara: either Napoli shirts or Georgian national team.

His complete radio silence has raised concerns about the orderly handover of power, while also adding to doubts about how long the blockades could last. However, Normando Corral, president of farm group Famato, said the roadblocks in the top grains-growing state of Mato Grosso could disrupt agricultural shipments if they persist. One of the state's main exports this time of year is Brazil's winter corn crop, which is planted after soybeans are harvested. Evandro Lermen, a member of grain cooperative Coacen in the Brazilian 'soy capital' Sorriso, Mato Grosso, told Reuters corn shipments were not being disrupted by the protests. Rumo, a leading rail company that operates Latin America's biggest grain terminal in Rondonopolis, Mato Grosso, said none of its operations in Brazil had been affected so far.

☆ The first Mexican American woman in Congress leaves a legislative legacy focused on children and families
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Edwin-Head-Shot-Copy.Jpg | Edwin Flores | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The first Latino from California elected to Congress since 1879, he would become one of the most influential Latino politicians on Capitol Hill. “The white establishment of that time was not happy that a Latino was elected to the City Council,” Roybal-Allard said. The Dream Act has since gone through 11 variations and has been stuck in the Senate since. As the Dream Act stalled in Congress, President Barack Obama in 2012 announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, through an executive order. Asked how she wants to be remembered after her retirement at the end of this Congress in January, Roybal-Allard focused on the work.

☆ Mediobanca open to talks on Banca Generali buyout if asked
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last month a source said insurer Generali (GASI.MI) could sell Banca Generali (BGN.MI) to Mediobanca to raise cash for a potential big deal of its own in the United States. If we are contacted, we are willing to talk about it," Nagel told a briefing call when asked about a possible interest in Banca Generali. "This applies to every asset," he added, not only to Banca Generali. To grow Mediobanca's wealth management operations, Nagel in 2020 considered swapping the group's 13% stake in Generali with Banca Generali. Net income in the quarter came in at 263 million euros ($264.2 million), above an analyst consensus provided by the bank of 230 million euros.

☆ Universal film boss Donna Langley reveals how her studio changed the way you see movies and her hopes for an all-female 'Fast & Furious'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Universal film chief Donna Langley says movies will never go back to "those exclusive traditional windows" in theaters. "I would love to see a female 'Fast,'" she said about the future of the "Fast & Furious" franchise. Though it seems Langley has an insatiable drive to dominate the cutthroat film industry, she revealed to Insider in a recent phone interview that her mission is simple: "Make the right kind of movies that fit the cultural zeitgeist globally." Steven Spielberg and Donna Langley at "The Fabelmans" world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. We are a theatrical business and theatrical will always lead our business.

☆ France and Germany's relationship questioned as Scholz goes alone on policy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Officials have denied problems in the Franco-German relationship, but Chancellor Scholz's focus on domestic politics is upsetting some lawmakers in Europe. Fresh tensions between France and Germany are challenging their relationship at a time when their unity is critical for broader European policy in tackling the energy crisis. The leaders of the two nations will meet in Paris on Wednesday, but this encounter almost got canceled. He added that the action of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is "creating the deepest divides within the Union." France and Germany are the two largest economies in the European Union and two of the founding nations of this political grouping.

☆ Test scores dropped to lowest levels in decades during pandemic, according to nationwide exam
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject. Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades.

☆ New contemporary art event boosts Paris scene
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Elizabeth Pineau | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A visitor walks past the "Buste de Diego" (1961) by artist Alberto Giacometti as Paris+ par Art Basel international contemporary art fair opens in Paris, France, October 19, 2022. The event, "Paris+ par Art Basel", was awarded to Art Basel, one of the giants in the art world, which hosts fairs in Switzerland as well as Miami and Hong Kong. Contemporary art, dating roughly from 1945 onwards, made up 23% of the art market in 2020-2021, compared with 3% in 2000-2001, according to the Artprice data bank. The Paris event replaces the International Contemporary Art Fair (Fiac) and follows the high-profile Frieze fair in London. Paris is the only big city in the continent, the only important city for contemporary art, so it was an obvious choice," Kilchmann told Reuters.

☆ A former lawyer bought an entire Italian village and transformed it into a thriving tourist destination — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Claire Turrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Cesidio Di Ciacca bought his ancestral village in Italy in 2013 and turned it into a business. Many former residents settled in Scotland, as the Di Ciacca family did. After buying the home, Di Ciacca went on to own the entire village and run it as a business. "One year into the renovation, I started to get itchy and look at how I could buy I Ciacca," Di Ciacca said. Di Ciacca's wife, Selina Di Ciacca, suggested they make it a place of learning again.

☆ Madrid exhibition shines a light on the scars of breast cancer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - An art exhibition in Madrid seeks to shine a spotlight on breast cancer and the physical and psychological scars left by mastectomies. 1/5 A woman stands in front of a replica of Peter Paul Rubens' "Venus and Cupid" showing a mastectomized breast, as part of a project between the Cultura en Vena Foundation and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum on International Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Susana Vera Read More"With this intervention we're calling attention to the process of the illness," said Juan Alberto Garcia de Cubas, president of the Fundacion Cultura en Vena (Culture in Your Veins Foundation), which organised the exhibition. Gema Salas, a 44-year-old architect who underwent a mastectomy to treat breast cancer, said the exhibition had a profound effect on her. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlie Devereux Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ With no monkeypox vaccine at home, frustrated Mexicans go abroad
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Brendan O'Boyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MEXICO CITY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - As monkeypox continues to impact gay and bisexual men in dozens of countries around the world, at-risk Mexicans are going abroad for vaccines they say their government has not bothered to make available at home. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHerbel, 38, said he wanted the vaccine because half of his friends currently have or have had monkeypox. Mexico City resident Juan David Zuluaga, 32, flew to Tijuana last week to get vaccinated across the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego. Mexico's government has reported 2,147 confirmed cases of monkeypox since May, a number advocates in the gay community say far undercounts cases. "Those with visas and money will get vaccinated and those without will have to resign themselves to eventually getting monkeypox," Baruch said.

☆ Mariachi bands fire up fading memories of Mexican Alzheimer patients
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Alberto Fajardo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Henry RomeroMEXICO CITY, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Mariachi bands have long been a staple of Mexican culture, and now their lively songs are finding a new use: reawakening the memories of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The Mexican Alzheimer's Center is promoting the therapy, hoping the music will stir up recollections of times past among patients with the degenerative illness, encouraging them to sing or even dance to familiar old tunes. Originally developed in Germany 11 years ago, the therapy was given a mariachi twist to adapt it for Mexican use. Camacho, who has had Alzheimer's for five years, is one of an estimated 1.8 million people with dementia in Mexico. Since Camacho began the mariachi therapy, Maria del Rocio said her mother had become livelier, and taken up a more active role in family life again.

☆ Argentina inflation undershoots, easing pressure to hike rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Walter Bianchi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The government's INDEC statistics agency reported on Friday the monthly inflation was 6.2% last month, slower than in August and undershooting analyst forecasts of a 6.7% increase. Aldo Abram, executive director at consultancy Libertad y Progreso, said inflation would remain high into next year, before easing back ahead of presidential elections. Argentines on the street said they were increasingly struggling to afford things as prices outstripped salaries. "You have to pay attention to how much things cost because there are things that you can't pay for. You have to eliminate things from your diet because wages can't keep up," 53-year-old housewife Claudia Villalba told Reuters.

☆ Cezanne, Seurat works headline $1 bln sale from late Microsoft co-founder's estate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Described as "the sale of this century" by auction house Christie's, the collection of more than 150 pieces spans 500 years of art history from Sandro Botticelli to David Hockney. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterChristie's Global President Jussi Pylkkanen said he expected overall proceeds "well in excess of $1 billion." Allen, who together with school friend Bill Gates started Microsoft in 1975 before leaving the software company several years later, died in 2018, aged 65. Hockney's "Queen Anne's Lace Near Kilham" has a price estimate of $8 million-$12 million and Alberto Giacometti's sculpture "Femme de Venise III" $15 million-$20 million. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Argentine executives expect already sky-high inflation to go higher
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jorge Otaola | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Argentina's surging inflation will just keep rising, according to the vast majority of executives surveyed in a poll released on Thursday, even though consumer prices are already on pace to end this year in triple digits. The poll conducted by D'Alessio IROL consultancy showed that 70% of executives who responded to the survey believe inflation will increase "significantly" this year while another 21% see a "moderate" rise in consumer prices. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOnly 4% think the inflation rate will stay flat, while 5% think it will go down a little. Some of the executives surveyed were also downbeat on their general expectations for Argentina's financial and economic wellbeing, with 10% saying the future will get "much worse" and nearly 40% expecting the future to be only "moderately worse." The business leaders criticized government's efforts to rein in price spikes, which include foreign exchange interventions, as well as some trade barriers.

Some may want to see the explosive, racist diatribes of a handful of prominent Los Angeles City Council members as an unfortunate incident that will eventually fade away. But the reality is that such prejudice from Latino to Latino and Latino to other racial groups is not so uncommon. That was on stark display in the conversation among former Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, council members Kevin De León and Gil Cedillo and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, who resigned Monday. "If you’re going to talk about Latino districts, what kind of districts are you trying to create?” she asks her colleagues in frustration. Zapotecs, or Indigenous people of Oaxacan descent, number about 200,000 in Los Angeles County, one of the largest Oaxacan communities outside Mexico.

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso insisted he's not white, but really Italian — and thus "Latin" — during an awkward debate moment Tuesday in the nation's second-largest city. Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso speaks at Emerson College Los Angeles on Oct. 7, 2022. The mayoral hopeful said he's, for decades, led efforts to bring more education opportunities and healthcare to Black and Latino communities in Los Angeles. "I connect with the Latino community but quite frankly my job as mayor is to connect with every community — the Latino community, the Black community, the Asian community, right? Caruso' "Latin" identity comment drew a harsh reaction, ranging from scorn to mockery.

☆ Sikh family kidnapped, killed in California, emigrated from India looking for safety and the American Dream, relative says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Sakshi Venkatraman | Sakshi Venkatraman Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

She was calling for her dad, Jasdeep Singh, 36, and it would turn out to be the sole time she would ever get to do so. The days that followed the news of the deaths have been a calvary for those left behind, Amarinder Singh said. Amandeep left a widow and two young children, Jasdeep left his parents. The two babbled back and forth together as Singh, Jasdeep and Jasleen looked on fondly, he said. But after the chaos, Singh’s family is left with a hole, he said, and he feels their loss everywhere.

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