Analysis-Peru copper miners say red tape snarling red metal production ramp-up

By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) – Copper miners in Peru, already battling political uncertainty and regular protests, say they have another hurdle to revving up stalled production of the red metal: too much red tape. The South American country, the world’s No. 2 copper producer, has seen output plateau in the last five years as…

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Analysis: Decades of US corn export dominance fade as Brazil seizes top supplier crown

By Karl Plume CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. corn export dominance is fading in an increasingly competitive global marketplace as Brazil, aided by a new supply agreement with China, is set to out-ship the U.S. for just the second time ever this season. Meanwhile, Mexico, America’s other top market, is preparing to limit imports of genetically…

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Catholic clergy report surveillance, beatings amid Nicaragua’s crackdown

By David Alire Garcia MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The police showed up two days after a Catholic clergyman at a church near the Nicaraguan capital Managua delivered a Sunday sermon in May that included a prayer “for our priests.” The officers played an audio clip of the prayer and warned: These kinds of things are…

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USTR flags energy concerns going into Mexico talks; urges steel monitoring

By Daina Beth Solomon and Cassandra Garrison MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The U.S. sees some progress on an energy dispute with Mexico, although “deep-seated” concerns persist, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Thursday shortly before talks in Mexico with top Mexican and Canadian trade officials. The U.S. and Canada demanded dispute settlement talks over energy…

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Delayed Guatemalan election results to be made official next week

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Official results from Guatemala’s first-round presidential election late last month will be released next week, the country’s electoral court announced on Thursday, following a extended delay triggered by challenges from parties. A court spokesperson told Reuters that final results in the presidential race from the June 25 vote did not change….

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Florida bans driver’s licenses of immigrants living in US illegally

By Rachel Nostrant (Reuters) – Florida will no longer accept driver’s licenses issued by some other U.S. states to immigrants living in the country illegally under a law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis as he seeks the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The Florida law, which took effect on July 1, is “the strongest anti-illegal immigration…

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Brazil real to take near-term support from improving economic outlook: Reuters Poll

By Gabriel Burin BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Brazil’s currency will likely enjoy some support in the near term from faster economic growth and progress on reforms, despite the prospect of less favorable interest rate spreads ahead, a Reuters poll showed. The real appreciated last month to its firmest level in a year after several forecasts…

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Guatemala anti-graft candidate says govt trying to remove him from race

By Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemala presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, the surprise second-place finisher in first-round elections, said the government is behind attempts to question the result and wants to remove him from the run-off. The country’s top court called for a ballot review of the June 25 vote after the ruling party…

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EMFX will hold gains into 2024 provided central banks hold rates: Reuters poll

By Vuyani Ndaba JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Emerging market currencies will hold on to gains into next year provided their respective central banks hold or only moderately prune already-high interest rates that have boosted carry trades, a Reuters poll found on Thursday. The June 30-July 5 poll of 52 currency strategists found as long as most…

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