AGP Executive Report

Climate Risk for Children: UNICEF warns El Niño could hit 25.8 million children across Latin America, with drought threatening crops and malnutrition in parts of Central America and wildfire risk rising in the Andes and Amazon, while heavier rains raise flooding dangers on Mexico’s Pacific coast and elsewhere. Caribbean Aviation Safety: CARICOM and ICAO convened a regional aviation safety symposium in Guyana, with officials urging stronger cross-border cooperation, harmonized rules, and sustained investment in technical capacity as new tech and climate shocks strain regulators. Health Research: Mount Sinai received a $2 million NIH grant to launch a U.S. feasibility phase of an international trial to determine whether aspirin alone or stronger blood-thinning therapy is best for spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Energy & Industry: Guyana marked Agriculture Month by pushing a tech-driven food security push—precision farming, digital extension, hydroponics, protected agriculture, and agro-processing—while highlighting a sharp rise in the agriculture budget. Art & Culture: A Chile exhibition of Mathaf’s “Your Ghosts Are Mine” opens a new Arab-Latin American artistic dialogue at Centro Cultural La Moneda in Santiago.

Sports & Tourism: Guyana has set up a Local Organising Committee for the 2027 CARIFTA Games, with a new CARIFTA secretariat handling logistics as the country prepares to host about 1,100 athletes in March 2027. AI & Skills: Caribbean leaders are warning that workers need AI upskilling fast, arguing the region risks being left behind as employers demand AI literacy, data skills, cybersecurity and critical thinking. Business & Payments: Visa says stablecoins are gaining traction in business and commercial card programs, with stablecoin-linked business volume up sharply year over year. Climate & Food Security: UNICEF warns millions of Latin American children are at risk from El Niño impacts, as climate chaos threatens rainfall, crops and nutrition. Trade & Industry: Mercosur tensions are pushing Brazil to consider free-trade deals on its own, after Argentina applied to join the CPTPP. Health & Community: Turks and Caicos held a Caribbean Wellness Health Fair with screenings, blood bank activity and nutrition education. Tech & Cybersecurity: Symantec reports the Warlock ransomware group is targeting Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking organizations by exploiting Microsoft tools.

Big Tech vs. Brazil’s Election: Meta temporarily disabled Lula’s campaign Facebook ads days before the vote, prompting an appeal and raising fresh claims that U.S.-based platforms lean toward political rivals, with the case potentially headed to Brazil’s top electoral court. Health & Food Safety: A new study on Argentine feedlots found antibiotic residues in soil, including compounds not listed in treatment records, renewing EU pressure on beef imports and fears of market access fallout. Mining & Environment: Panama’s government commission recommended reopening the Canadian-owned Cobra copper mine, weighing major damages claims against a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the concession over environmental and bidding issues. Climate Risk Across the Region: Coverage highlights how a “super El Niño” could intensify extreme weather, with UNICEF warning millions of Latin American children face heightened risk. Caribbean Development & Culture: CARIF marked its 10th infrastructure forum push in Miami, while the Caribbean mourned calypso legend Mighty Sparrow, underscoring the region’s cultural and resilience priorities.

El Niño and health risks: UNICEF says about 25.8 million children across Latin America face rising drought and flood threats as this year’s El Niño intensifies. Climate and air quality: A Copernicus analysis finds nearly 40% of the world’s population was exposed to harmful ground-level ozone in 2026, with severe impacts in Asia and parts of South America. Caribbean health cooperation: Curaçao’s health minister is in Washington for CARICOM and PAHO meetings focused on disease prevention, chronic illness care, and medicine access. Regional diplomacy: Taiwan and Belize signed deals on a Taiwan-Caribbean Academy and diplomatic training. Environment and agriculture: Research highlights the spread risk of Panama disease TR4 threatening Cavendish bananas. Politics in Brazil: With Lula’s election vote starting Sunday, coverage spotlights how social programs like Bolsa Família still shape women’s support—while some remain undecided.

Animal Health: Texas’ screwworm outbreak has sharply eased, with active cases down to just one in Texas after 48 cases since June 3, triggering inspections and short-term animal movement restrictions. Food Safety: A cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce sickened nearly 13,000 people across 21 U.S. states, with the CDC declaring it over Sept. 11 while the FDA investigation continues. Argentina Politics: President Javier Milei sent Congress a “National Sovereignty Defense Law” citing Malvinas offshore oil drilling, pairing island penalties with a broader push for domestic repression and expanded security powers. Caribbean Agriculture: Caribbean agriculture ministers say the region is producing more but can’t reach food security without better trade links, logistics, cold chains, and financing; they’re calling for a new regional model. Climate & Disaster Prep: Peru’s Coastal El Niño alert rose to 88%, with extraordinary intensity expected into early 2027, threatening rainfall, rivers, and marine resources. Public Health: Dengue is driving emergency measures in Florida counties, where locally acquired cases have surged and mosquito-control operations are being expedited.

Brazil Election: Reuters reports President Lula is using the UN stage to frame the race as a fight against “foreign interference,” warning of undemocratic forces as he campaigns for what could be his final presidential bid against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. UN Diplomacy: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima says Abuja will back UN Secretary-General candidate Rebeca Grynspan, citing equity, justice, fairness, and Africa’s aspirations, and recommending her based on ties to Latin America and gender inclusion. Lithium & Environment: Lilac Solutions says Argentina’s Catamarca province issued the Environmental Impact Declaration for Lake Resources’ Kachi lithium brine project, marking Lilac IX’s first commercial technology permit in South America and the first commercial-scale DLE approval in the region with reinjection. Climate & Food Security: A banana industry update warns that El Niño-linked weather volatility, disease, and rising costs are squeezing growers across Latin America, threatening supply reliability for U.S. supermarkets. PV Automation: TrinaTracker rolls out Buildex and Aurora robots aimed at automating utility-scale solar construction and improving installation and O&M quality. Health & Trade: Getnet and Nayax announce a partnership to expand integrated cashless payments for unattended machines across Chile first, then Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

Caribbean Diplomacy & Investment: Trinidad and Tobago’s envoy to India says he’ll target India’s smaller cities and push joint ventures with Indian manufacturers, aiming to turn manufacturing and scale into new Caribbean investment. Brazil Election & Betting Crackdown: With Brazil’s presidential vote looming, Lula’s government moved to ban fixed-odds betting platforms, removing hundreds of sites and setting up a political flashpoint that could sway voters. Colombia–Israel Realignment: Colombia’s new president has reversed parts of Petro’s approach to Israel, including resuming coal exports and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, amid shifting diplomatic and security ties. Climate & Coastal Risk: Scientists warn a Kelvin wave could raise sea levels along California’s coast by up to a foot, worsening flood risk during an already dangerous winter. Health & Research: Hutchmed said AstraZeneca filed a US NDA for ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO for MET-driven lung cancer after EGFR therapy, while PAHO highlighted health gains across the Americas despite ongoing challenges. Environment & Community: Carnival reported fleetwide coastal cleanups across the Caribbean and beyond, collecting thousands of pounds of trash.

Climate & Nature: FAO urged large-scale forest and landscape restoration as a cost-effective way to boost food security, biodiversity and climate resilience, warning that restoring degraded land could generate major annual benefits. Caribbean Jobs & Tourism: An ILO study says informal work and weak labor protections are holding back Eastern Caribbean tourism, despite tourism’s outsized role in GDP and employment. Blue Carbon Finance: The Bahamas pledged $25 million for a national blue carbon program to generate Article 6.2 ITMOs, using seagrass carbon-removal data for official emissions accounting. Disaster & Forecasting: Google DeepMind’s WeatherNext Cyclones model won a science award for giving forecasters an extra day of warning, as Tropical Depression Fay and Pacific storms keep attention on hurricane season. Connectivity & Agriculture: Sateliot and Grupo Constanta signed a Brazil alliance to expand satellite connectivity, starting with livestock monitoring. Energy Transition: Proparco and Santander backed Peru’s 467MW solar PV project for Grupo Enhol. Governance & Data Sovereignty: Bahamas PM Philip Davis called for small nations to govern their own data at the UN, framing it as “colonization by data.” Culture: Peanuts Entertainment launched in London with a Mirabal Sisters-inspired period drama.

UN Accountability & Health: Mexico’s Sheinbaum wrapped her Zócalo accountability tour before 70,000 people, spotlighting social programs, healthcare, transport, water and housing. Climate & Disaster Risk: Caribbean and Latin America are bracing for a powerful El Niño, with warnings tied to heat, storms and food security stress. Education in Crisis: Education Above All (EAA) pushed at UNGA81 to protect schooling during conflict and displacement while closing a widening education funding gap. Health Promotion: Aruba’s Parlatino delegation visited Pius X School to highlight its “Healthy School” model, combining nutrition with “Movement and Health” and emotional well-being. Environment & Crime: UAE officials, with UNODC and INTERPOL, urged stronger action against transnational environmental crime. Energy & Trade: European gas prices are expected to stay high this winter as LNG supply from the Middle East lags and storage remains tight. Regional Culture: The Caribbean mourned calypso legend Slinger Francisco (“Mighty Sparrow”), who died in New York at 91.

El Niño Fallout: A record-breaking “super El Niño” is already reshaping weather and health risks, with forecasters warning of drought in parts of Asia and major food-security pressure across regions, while UN agencies urge preparedness as impacts intensify. Tourism Recovery & Tech: Jamaica is nearing recovery after Hurricane Melissa, with most hotel inventory back online and a push for longer-term tourism upgrades; meanwhile World Tourism Day 2026 spotlights how AI and digital identity are changing travel, but insists people must stay at the center. Public Health & Pandemic Politics: The US and EU rejected a UN declaration on preparing for future pandemics, sharpening disputes over intellectual property and technology transfer. Caribbean Resilience Push: St. Kitts and Nevis used UNGA to stress sovereignty, international law, and resilience amid climate shocks and debt strain. Brazil Crime Debate: Ahead of Brazil’s election, Rio residents are frustrated with violence-focused approaches and are backing community-led initiatives to curb gang recruitment. Health Systems Agenda: “Future Health” at UNGA81 urged shifting health systems toward prevention, early intervention, and better data and financing.

Caribbean Health & Prevention: St. Kitts and Nevis held National Testing Day with free HIV screening, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, nutrition counseling, mental health support, and dental services to push early detection and healthier living. UN & Regional Diplomacy: Nicaragua’s foreign minister used the UN General Assembly to call for peace and poverty reduction, warning that foreign intervention fuels instability across Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba Sanctions Pressure: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned U.S. fuel restrictions as “economic warfare” and a de facto naval blockade, saying shortages are hitting food, medicines, and medical supplies. Climate & Public Health Alarm: UN-linked reporting highlights the “super El Niño” threat, with warnings that health risks could escalate and Latin America and the Caribbean face major adaptation pressure. Innovation & Biotech Investment: Europe’s EIB backed Colombia’s VaxThera with a venture-debt loan aimed at scaling vaccine and biopharma production, targeting 250 million doses annually. Security & Organized Crime: INTERPOL warned that criminal networks in the Americas now operate like diversified corporate enterprises, infiltrating legitimate supply chains to move drugs, weapons, people, and launder money.

Climate Finance & Food Security: FAO says it has raised only $40m of the $202m needed to help nearly 9 million people across 22 countries as El Niño intensifies, warning the Oct–Dec peak could be among the strongest on record and hit Latin America and the Caribbean hardest. El Niño “Godzilla” Alert: Scientists describe this year’s El Niño as potentially the most severe in a thousand years, with sea temperatures already near 3°C above average and forecasts toward 4°C. Haiti Security Push: The OAS asks the UN Security Council to extend and fully deploy Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force, calling for personnel, funding, equipment and logistics to restore territorial control and public safety. Public Health—HIV & Drugs: Fiji declares a national emergency as HIV cases surge alongside crystal meth use, with health officials warning transmission is accelerating among young adults. Health Policy & Rights: Guttmacher highlights that fully funding sexual and reproductive health care across Latin America and the Caribbean can cut maternal deaths and unsafe abortions while delivering economic returns.

El Niño Alarm: UN-linked forecasts warn a “super El Niño” could bring record heat and major health risks across the Americas, with global agencies citing mounting danger for vulnerable communities. Brazil Election Fallout: President Lula signed an order banning fixed-odds online betting and pushing debt relief, aiming to curb gambling-driven household indebtedness ahead of the Oct. 4 vote. Guatemala Anti-Crime Training: Guatemala’s Kaibiles and U.S. special forces trained in jungle tactics and comms to target transnational criminal groups near Mexico-border corridors, with analysts urging stronger intel-sharing. Caribbean Climate Resilience: The Bahamas’ PM Philip Davis used the UNGA to defend small-state sovereignty and press for action on Cuba and Haiti, while Caribbean officials also urged preparedness for climate shocks. Water Security Push: Mexico’s Rosarito desalination plant finally broke ground, billed as a step toward “water sovereignty” after delays. Cyber Defense Drill: Brazil’s Army ran Guardião Cibernético, simulating coordinated cyberattacks with public and private partners amid election-interference warnings. Biodiversity Breakthrough: Bolivia researchers announced a new wild cat species, Leopardus tilcayo, the first cat described in over a century.

UN Diplomacy & Security: Netanyahu returned from UNGA with meetings with Bolivia, Panama and Paraguay, inviting them to join Israel’s “Isaac Accords” on security, innovation and trade. Caribbean Climate Resilience: Saint Kitts and Nevis urged stronger global partnerships, faster climate finance and more renewables to help SIDS withstand mounting pressures. Regional Business Ties: Trinidad and Tobago’s Amcham welcomed Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s meeting with Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez as a push for cooperation across trade, energy, disaster risk, environment and tourism. Health & Society: Argentina’s poverty rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, with children hit hardest, as inflation and living costs eroded gains. Energy Transition: The Bahamas is exploring ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) via a feasibility study, including possible links to desalination and data-center cooling. Public Debate: A Dominican bill to add Haitian Creole in schools sparked strong anti-Haitian backlash. Aviation & Fees: Airlines for America objected to proposed new Bahamas overflight charges as unjustified and duplicative.

Climate Justice at UNGA: Nepal’s FM Shisir Khanal urged climate action as “justice,” calling for faster, predictable climate finance, stronger early-warning systems, and better Loss and Damage support. El Niño Health Warning: Multiple reports warn that a strengthening “super El Niño” could drive extreme heat and raise health risks across the Americas and beyond, with death toll estimates climbing. UN Security Council Reform: Caribbean and G4 diplomacy pushed for earlier UN Security Council changes, while leaders argued the current structure can’t meet today’s threats. Caribbean Climate Diplomacy: Venezuela backed a UNGA consensus declaration on tackling sea-level rise, stressing both mitigation and adaptation for small island states. Regional Partnerships: The Pacific Islands Forum and CARICOM formalized a MoU to coordinate on shared SIDS priorities. Argentina Economy: Argentina’s poverty rate rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, hitting children hardest, a setback for President Javier Milei’s early gains. Bolivia at UNGA: President Rodrigo Paz defended free-market reforms while blaming prior left-wing governments for the crisis. Panama Indigenous Debate: The Guna people are weighing a major power-line and road project that could boost access but threatens sovereignty and environmental impacts.

El Niño Health Alarm: A record-breaking El Niño is already intensifying, and a new UN-linked warning says the “super El Niño” could drive major heat-related harm across the Americas, with health systems urged to prepare for drought, floods, and extreme temperatures. Climate Risk for Latin America: Ecuador issued a nationwide red alert over El Niño, warning Israelis and other travelers to avoid flood- and landslide-prone areas as rainfall and river levels could swing sharply by region. Caribbean Diplomacy & Reparations: CARICOM backed India’s bid for a UN Security Council non-permanent seat (2028-29), while Ghana’s President Mahama laid out “Next Steps” pillars for reparatory justice at the UN. Regional Tech Push: Google says it will double its technical infrastructure in Brazil by 2030, expanding cloud capacity as demand grows. Energy & Mining Watch: Tungsten prices have surged sixfold as China tightens supply, renewing exploration interest including in Brazil; meanwhile Dynacor reported major progress on gold plant rehabilitation in Ecuador. Tourism Shift: Santorini says visitor demand holds up but spending is down, with a push toward culture-focused, year-round tourism and new Latin American markets.