Category: Americas

Thousands of Haitians Leave Colombia for the United States

NECOCLI, Colombia—In the Colombian beach town of Necocli, thousands of Haitian migrants live in a makeshift tent city while waiting to cross the Gulf of Uraba into Panama through the Darien Gap. While Necocli always has been a stopover point on the caravan route to the United States, the number of migrants has increased dramatically since…


Ecuador’s President Declares 60-day State of Emergency Over Rising Crime

QUITO—Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso late on Monday declared a state of emergency in the Andean country as part of a crackdown on the consumption and trafficking of drugs. Lasso, a conservative who took office in May, said the move was a response to rising homicide figures nationwide and other crimes related to narcotic seizures, which…


Haiti Gang Demands $17 Million to Release US and Canadian Missionaries

A notorious Haitian gang accused of abducting 17 missionaries, most of them Americans, demanded $17 million in ransom for the kidnapped individuals’ release, according to multiple reports. Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel said the gang dubbed “400 Mawozo” demands $1 million per person in order to set the missionaries free, the Wall Street Journal reported, which…


Brazil Suffers Inflation in the Wake of Pandemic Restrictions and Drought

With inflation hitting 10 percent, Brazilians are dealing with significantly higher electricity and food prices, brought about by the economic consequences of pandemic restrictions and a historic drought. The country’s National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC) published a list of 15 common consumer goods that contributed to the significant inflation rate, which hit double digits as…


US Should Secure Freedom of Missionaries in Haiti Without Ransom: Rep. Kinzinger

The United States should free missionaries in Haiti without ransom, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on Sunday, shortly after a U.S. Christian aid organization said a group of its missionaries had been kidnapped in the Caribbean nation. The Illinois Republican told CNN that the United States must find the group and see if it can…


Gang With Past Abductions Blamed for Kidnapping 17 US Missionaries

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—A notorious Haitian gang known for brazen kidnappings and killings was accused by police Sunday of abducting 17 missionaries from a U.S.-based organization. Five children were believed to be among those kidnapped. The 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped the group—which also included some elderly people—in Ganthier, a commune that lies east of the capital of…


American Christian Missionaries Including Children Kidnapped in Haiti: Officials

As many as 17 American missionaries including women and children were reportedly kidnapped in Haiti over the weekend, according to a message sent to several religious missions. The missionaries were on their way home from building an orphanage when the incident occurred, the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a message. “This is a special…


Up to 17 American Missionaries Including Children Kidnapped in Haiti: Christian Group

As many as 17 American missionaries including women and children were reportedly kidnapped in Haiti over the weekend, according to a message sent to several religious missions. The missionaries were on their way home from building an orphanage when the incident occurred, the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries said in a message. “This is a special…


17 Missionaries Including Children Kidnapped in Haiti, Says US Christian Group

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—A group of 17 U.S. missionaries, including children, was kidnapped by a gang in Haiti on Saturday, according to a voice message sent to various religious missions by an organization with direct knowledge of the incident. The missionaries were on their way home from building an orphanage, according to a message from…


Maduro Regime Suspends Negotiations With Opposition as Venezuelans Continue to Suffer 76 Percent Poverty

CARACAS/PRAIA—Venezuela on Saturday said it would suspend negotiations with the opposition that were set to resume this weekend. The announcement was made by Socialist party legislator Jorge Rodriguez, who heads the Maduro regime’s negotiating team. Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government would not attend the talks set to begin on Sunday after Cape Verde extradited Colombian…