Category: Americas

Mexico Finds 652 Migrants in Truck Trailers Near Border

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico—Mexican authorities have discovered 652 Central American migrants in six trailers near the United States border. The trucks stopped at a military checkpoint Thursday night on a highway between Ciudad Victoria and Monterrey in the northern state of Tamaulipas. The state public safety agency said Friday that four suspects were arrested. Among the…


Bayer Blasts ‘Unscientific’ Rejection by Mexican Regulator of GMO Corn Permit

MEXICO CITY—Bayer is evaluating its legal options after Mexican health regulators for the first time rejected a GMO corn permit it was seeking, the German pharmaceutical and crop science giant said in a statement to Reuters on Friday, blasting the decision as “unscientific.” Reuters reported earlier in the day that regulator Cofepris rejected the corn…


US Dollar Net Long Bets Jump to Largest Since Mid-June 2019: CFTC

NEW YORK—U.S. dollar net longs in the latest week surged to their highest level in more than two years, according to Reuters calculations and Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Friday. The value of the net long dollar position was $22.89 billion in the week ended Oct. 5, compared with $16.37 billion in the…


Argentines Speak Out Amid Dire Economic Struggles

Argentines are growing increasingly frustrated with inflation, soaring poverty, and unemployment rates in their country, which stem from the government’s socialist economic policies. “Our situation wasn’t good even before the pandemic. My family can barely afford basic things. Inflation has been out of control for years. One of our neighbors asked my father to borrow…


In Bolivia, Coca Farmers Find Exploitation Replaces Abuse

A coca farmer in Bolivia lives in poverty, while others reap wealth from the crop he grows. He and his family earlier suffered persecution at the hands of the police, which, with the election of the socialists, was replaced by what he regards as exploitation by the government. Agustin Calichu, 60, has been working as…


World Food Prices Hit 10-Year Peak: FAO

PARIS—World food prices rose for a second consecutive month in September to reach a 10-year peak, driven by gains for cereals and vegetable oils, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also projected record global cereal production in 2021, but said this would be outpaced by forecast…


Emerging Market ‘Cryptoization’ Threatens Financial Stability: IMF

LONDON—The advent of digital currencies in emerging markets could spark “cryptoization” of local economies, potentially undermining exchange and capital controls and upsetting financial stability, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday. Bitcoin and its kin have in the last year soared in price and popularity, with emerging and developing market economies such as Vietnam, India,…


1 Dead, 3 Missing in Attack on Nicaragua Indigenous Miners

MANAGUA, Nicaragua—One member of an Indigenous community in Nicaragua was killed and three others were missing after assailants shot at them on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, activists said Wednesday. Environmentalist Amaru Ruiz, director of the Del Río Foundation, suggested it was the latest attack by settlers who have invaded Indigenous lands. The Nicaraguan army and national…


Nissan Plans Mexico Work Stoppages in October Due to Chip Shortage

MEXICO CITY—Japanese automaker Nissan will carry out temporary work stoppages at two Mexican plants for several days in October because of production adjustments needed to manage a shortage of semiconductor chips, its Mexico unit said on Wednesday. Nissan will halt operations at its plant 2 in the central state of Aguascalientes for 11 days in…


Chinese State-Subsidized Vessels Near South America Raise Concerns About Illegal Fishing

Hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels fill the seas near the maritime borders of South American countries. While appearing modest, the fleet of small fishing vessels is among an armada of ships financially supported by the Chinese regime, with a portion potentially involved in illegally fishing other nation’s territorial waters. Off the coast of Argentina, some of these…