LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Cuba urges 'yes' vote on new LGBT-friendly laws

Sheinbaum, a loyal ally of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has held a slight lead over rivals in recent polls as she gears up to contend for the presidential candidacy of the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA). Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has also begun jostling for the candidacy, which should be settled by late 2023.

The latest in Latin American politics today: Cuba urges 'yes' vote on new LGBT-friendly laws

HAVANA - Cuba's government is urging citizens to vote "yes" on Sunday to a new progressive code that would cement laws around gay marriage, adoption for same-sex couples and women's rights. But analysts told Reuters many would vote in protest or in loyalty to the government, which, saddled by U.S. sanctions and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, is struggling to provide enough food, medicine, fuel and electricity to its people.

Though referendums have historically passed with huge majorities, Sunday's vote will be the first of its kind since mobile internet was legalized in 2018, allowing dissenting views to spread more widely. Mexico City mayor bidding to be first female president

MEXICO CITY - Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, a trained physicist vying to become the country's first female president, is hoping her environmental credentials and success in curbing crime will help set her apart in the race for the top job in June 2024. Sheinbaum, a loyal ally of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has held a slight lead over rivals in recent polls as she gears up to contend for the presidential candidacy of the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA).

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has also begun jostling for the candidacy, which should be settled by late 2023. Mexican, Russian foreign ministers discuss Mexican peace plan

MEXICO CITY - Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Friday he met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss a Mexican peace plan for the Ukraine conflict that he presented to the United Nations General Assembly this week. Ebrard said on Twitter they had a "cordial conversation," and also shared Mexico's ideas for the future of the U.N. Security Council.

Earlier this month, Mexico's president said the plan involved the creation of a "mediation committee" including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis. Mexican companies agree to maintain basic food prices

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he had reached an agreement with companies to maintain prices of basic food items, as annual inflation in Latin America's second-largest economy hit 8.76%. Lopez Obrador said it was a unanimous decision with producers and distributors of corn, chicken, eggs and beef, without confirming the final number of companies.

He said he will announce the new measures to tamp down on inflation on Oct. 3, but ruled out unilateral price controls on food. Brazil's Lula slightly boosts lead over Bolsonaro in election poll

SAO PAULO - Brazil's presidential frontrunner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slightly boosted his lead over incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro to 14 percentage points in a poll published on Thursday, less than two weeks before the Oct. 2 first-round vote. The Datafolha survey showed Lula with 47% voter support versus 33% for Bolsonaro in the election's first round, compared with 45% and 33%, respectively, in the previous poll.

Venezuela requests arrest warrants for 23 former petrochemical executives CARACAS - Venezuela has requested international warrants for the arrest of 23 former executives of a petrochemical company in Colombia, its oil minister said on Thursday.

President Nicolas Maduro's administration earlier this week said his government recovered control of the Venezuela-owned fertilizer maker Monomeros Colombo-Venezolanos, following a 2019 takeover by the opposition led by Juan Guaido. Venezuela is accusing the executives of improperly running the overseas unit of its state petrochemical firm Pequiven. (Compiled by Sarah Morland; Editing by Diane Craft)

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