Mexico’s Sheinbaum leads rivals for ruling party candidacy -poll

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum holds a 10 percentage point lead in voter preferences in the contest to be the Mexican ruling party candidate for the 2024 presidential election, an opinion poll showed on Thursday. According to the June 30-July 4 survey by polling firm Parametria, the ruling National Regeneration…

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Ambitious liberal fails in first bid to become Thailand’s next leader

By Devjyot Ghoshal and Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) – In the 60 days since a stunning election victory, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward party forged and managed a coalition, cajoled the royalist military establishment and rallied his troops with a single goal – to become prime minister. On Thursday, 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat failed in…

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Mitsubishi’s China JV to cut staff costs after SUV sales dive

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Mitsubishi Motors’ joint venture with China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) on Thursday said it would cut staff costs to try to revive its fortunes after sharp sales declines for sport utility vehicles (SUV) such as the Outlander. State-owned automaker GAC said in a statement the venture would look to “optimise” its employment…

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Exclusive-Ivory Coast halts cocoa forward sales as rains hit production

By Ange Aboa ABOISSO, Ivory Coast (Reuters) – Ivory Coast has stopped selling contracts for cocoa exports for the 2023-2024 season after heavy rains battered and flooded farms in the world’s top cocoa-producing nation in recent weeks, the head of the country’s cocoa sector regulator told Reuters. With cocoa prices currently at record levels due…

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Chile miners, facing higher taxes, seek faster permits, lower energy costs

By Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Now that Chile has passed an increase in mining royalties, copper miners are pushing for incentives to keep investing in production of the metal needed for the renewable energy revolution, with steps such as cuts in energy costs, speeded-up permit approvals and other incentives.  Beginning in 2024, mining royalties…

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Thailand’s Pita defeated in parliament in bid for PM

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s Pita Limjaroenrat failed on Thursday in his initial bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister, after he was thwarted in a high-stakes parliamentary vote that included a host of no-shows and nearly 200 abstentions. The leader of election winners Move Forward was unopposed in the…

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Surging Guayaquil violence highlights security ahead of Ecuador presidential vote

By Yury Garcia and Alexandra Valencia GUAYAQUIL/QUITO (Reuters) – Violence is rising sharply in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, as criminal groups brawl to control transport of drugs despite increased seizures, security forces and residents say, highlighting broader public fears about spiraling crime ahead of presidential elections next month. The murders, gun battles and even cases…

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