Costa Rica unlocks $519 million from IMF for economic reform, climate programs

(Reuters) – Costa Rica has unlocked a total of around $519 million for its economic reform program and a climate and sustainability program, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Monday. Around $274 million went to the economic reform program, which is one installment in the more than $1 billion Costa Rica has received from…

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Guatemala election heads for run-off, leftists in lead amid voter anger

By Sofia Menchu and Diego Oré GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – Guatemalans voted for a new president on Sunday in an election headed for an August run-off, with early results putting the center-left in the lead but also appearing to show widespread voter frustration over the exclusion of an early favorite. The contest, dominated by international…

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America Movil announces foreign debt offering of up to 20 billion pesos

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican telecommunications giant America Movil, controlled by the family of tycoon Carlos Slim, announced the launch of a foreign debt public offering of up to 20 billion pesos ($1.17 billion), the company said in a statement on Monday. The issuance will take place on July 6, part of a five-year overall…

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Mexico’s Ebrard pursues presidential prize as unifier in polarized times

By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Urbane, socially progressive and eager to put Mexico on the world stage, Marcelo Ebrard presents a sharp contrast to the popular, sharp-tongued defender of the country’s impoverished hinterlands he hopes to succeed as president. Having followed once in the footsteps of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as mayor…

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Analysis-Latin America, after record tightening, could lead way on rate cuts

By Marion Giraldo MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Latin America’s major central banks, which have led some of the most aggressive tightening over the last two years, may now be poised to lead the world on interest rate cutting amid clear signs of slowing inflation in places like Chile and Brazil. The potential key inflection point…

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Factbox-Recent policy decisions from Latin America’s central banks

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A stubborn surge of inflation has led central banks worldwide to adapt monetary policy to protect people and businesses from price increases, with many raising interest rates in step with the U.S. Federal Reserve. However, the central banks of major Latin American economies have been holding their rates even as those…

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Mexico City holds mass celebration for same-sex weddings, gender ID changes

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Hundreds of same-sex couples and transgender people in Mexico City celebrated weddings and the completion of administrative processes to change their gender on Friday, in a mass ceremony a day before the city’s annual gay pride march. Some 120 couples met the requirements to get married under the slogan “Hand in…

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Panama Canal postpones depth restrictions after much-needed rain

By Elida Moreno PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – The Panama Canal will postpone depth restrictions that were set to affect the largest ships crossing the key waterway, the canal authority said, after much-needed rain provided relief to the strained maritime passage. A series of measures were scheduled to go into effect on June 25 and July…

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World Bank approves $700 million for Mexico to boost women’s economic opportunities

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The World Bank said it had approved on Friday a $700 million operation for Mexico to promote public policies to create economic opportunities and expand social security for women. The operation is set to help close gender gaps, provide access to better jobs, improve safety on public transport and systems to…

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Exclusive-Fast-fashion giant Shein plans new Mexico warehouse in Latin America push

By Daina Beth Solomon MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Fast-fashion giant Shein is seeking more warehouse space in Mexico as it expands e-commerce operations in the country, part of the company’s budding plans to gain a bigger foothold in Latin America, said three people familiar with the project. The Singapore-based retailer that was founded in China…

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