AGP Executive Report

Climate & Food Security: A “Godzilla” El Niño is intensifying under fossil-fuel warming, and researchers warn it could push up to 50 million people toward acute hunger by end-2027. Disaster Watch: Forecasters are tracking two Atlantic systems—Invest 97L in the Gulf and the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly—raising concerns for heavy rain and possible later-week impacts on Florida. Public Health & Environment: Trinidad and Tobago is pitching a regenerative medicine hub via a new Atunse Healthcare partnership, while Saint Lucia prepares a coastal cleanup across five sites to tackle marine litter. Health Equity: A Toronto-area program, PSA Detect and Protect, is expanding free prostate cancer screening for high-risk Black men, aiming to catch disease earlier. Crime & Justice: The Dominican Republic and Colombia signed a joint investigation team agreement to strengthen cross-border cooperation against organized crime. Economy & Fiscal Risk: Colombia’s budget deficit is projected worse than expected, with analysts warning the government may need multilateral lender support. Conservation: Colombia leads Latin America on the IUCN Green List, ranking among the top globally for national parks. Tourism & Wildlife: Mexico’s Caribbean faced fresh backlash after tourists filmed sea turtle hatchlings emerging amid beach furniture and no protective barriers. Energy/Industry Tech: Komatsu marked a 1,000th autonomous haul truck milestone, signaling autonomy is moving from trials toward repeatable fleet-scale mining.

El Niño Response: Ecuador declared a nationwide red alert over El Niño, triggering emergency committees for evacuations and drought/wildfire preparedness as the phenomenon could peak by year-end. Public Health & Climate: The wider region is already feeling El Niño’s strain, with Panama, Honduras and El Salvador also issuing emergencies and Peru warning of food insecurity risks in affected cities. Drug Trafficking: Brazil’s border with Paraguay is seeing a surge in smuggled GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, with seizures in 2026 already far outpacing last year, raising concerns about unsafe informal sourcing. Environment & Food Safety: Scotland’s “sustainable” salmon certification is under fire after inspections found widespread rule breaches at farms, including lice problems and misreported deaths, without accreditation being revoked. Mining Deal: Boliden agreed to buy Nexa Resources’ controlling stake in a $1.31B deal, reshaping zinc and silver production across Brazil and Peru. Venezuela Energy Politics: Trump announced a major oil-reserves deal giving the U.S. majority control of 65B barrels, while Venezuela says it retains ownership. Caribbean Tourism & Culture: The Virgin Islands is pushing tourism ties after ASTA’s Caribbean Showcase, while Paraguay’s “Crear en Libertad” festival marks 30 years with a 25th edition in September. Sports: Trinbago Knight Riders retired Dwayne Bravo’s No. 47 jersey in a historic CPL first.

Venezuela-US Energy Standoff: Trump says the U.S. has secured “majority control” over 65 billion barrels in Venezuela, via 17 “strategic fields,” but key deal terms and timing remain unclear, fueling fresh backlash over sovereignty and possible legal fights. Climate Shock Across the Region: New reporting warns El Niño is strengthening to levels not seen in about a millennium, raising risks for drought, heat, and wider knock-on effects for food and energy. Central America Tech Push: El Salvador won a $9 million KOICA grant to build a university tech hub focused on automation, prototyping, and industrial innovation. Wildlife Crime in Ecuador: Ecuador arrested a Russian woman at Quito airport for allegedly smuggling 32 marine iguanas from the Galápagos in containers. Haiti Security Urgency: Pakistan urged the UN Security Council to rapidly deploy support after a gang massacre killed at least 47 near Port-au-Prince. Maritime Drug Interdiction: The U.S., with Ecuador, boarded and sank a ship it says served as a floating refueling station for drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific.

Climate & Disasters: A glacier collapse in Nepal has killed hundreds and left thousands missing, with scientists warning more lake ruptures could worsen flooding; broader research says melting glaciers could trigger major water-security crises across Asia. Greenhouse Gas Risk: A new global assessment finds permafrost thaw is accelerating across continents, raising fears of a massive CO₂ release. Energy & Geopolitics: Reports on the Iran war’s impact show fossil-fuel importers paying huge extra costs while renewables gain momentum. Caribbean Diplomacy: King Charles III and Queen Camilla will tour the Caribbean for eight days in late 2026, ending with attendance at CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda. Public Health: Germany’s airport malaria cluster highlights how diseases can spread via travel routes. Migration Pressure: Salvadorans face a looming TPS deadline, with families weighing uncertain futures. Environment in the Region: Trinidad and Tobago will keep funding its International Coastal Clean-Up, with government support and local coordination. Economy: Mexico’s Q2 growth rebounded to 1.4%, easing some pressure even as inflation concerns linger.

El Niño Intensifies: New research says El Niño has grown about 40% over the past 40 years, with scientists warning it can supercharge global heating and trigger harsher droughts and downpours. Venezuela Oil Push: Trump says the U.S. has reached an agreement to take control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s oil reserves, a move critics call a “colonial” grab. Colombia Deportation Backlash: Colombia’s new president faces backlash over a plan to deport irregular migrants, targeting Venezuelans in particular. Food Safety Alerts: The FDA classified Whole Foods’ guacamole recall as highest-risk over possible Salmonella, while lettuce linked to a cyclospora outbreak also carries a Class I warning. Health in the Caribbean: Nevis urges men to get early prostate cancer screening ahead of awareness month. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Belize and FAO trained officers to protect the coconut industry from pests and disease. Biotech Expansion: Argentina’s Biosidus completed a $12.9m biomanufacturing expansion, boosting biosimilar production capacity. Aquaculture & Conservation: Studies and projects highlight everything from high-tech shrimp farming to fur seal tracking in Patagonia.

Climate Watch: NOAA says the odds of a very strong El Niño are now above 90% for Sep–Nov, with Pacific waters already running far hotter than normal—raising risks for drought, storms, and wider knock-on impacts across the region. Storm Updates: Tropical Storm Dolly is expected to weaken before landfall but could still bring heavy rain and flash flooding to the Leeward Islands, then move on toward the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. Public Health: A large registry study links moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in kids ages 5–11 to lower height outcomes, with boys showing the biggest growth deficit. Security & Tech: Motorola Solutions says it helped coordinate event security at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games using AI video analytics and broadband push-to-talk across dozens of venues. Business & Investment: Alibaba is launching cloud infrastructure in Brazil with São Paulo data centers, while Brazil’s private equity deal values reportedly plunged 94% in the first half. Environment & Wildlife: Mexican authorities say raids on a fuel smuggling ring in Tamaulipas turned up dozens of exotic animals, including endangered big cats.

Travel Safety: The U.S. State Department kept Bolivia at Level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution,” but put Chapare Province at Level 4 “Do Not Travel,” citing crime tied to narcotrafficking and illegal coca production; it also flags chikungunya outbreaks in Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Food Safety: Whole Foods recalled multiple dips across 13 states after jalapeños linked to possible Salmonella contamination; products include guacamole, salsa and pico de gallo varieties. Climate & Water: Jamaica is intensifying drought response, boosting water trucking to vulnerable areas as forecasts show little rainfall ahead of back-to-school demand. Environment & Wildlife: Costa Rica will require wildlife crossings for roads that disrupt habitat connectivity, with citizen science urged to identify where bridges are needed. Health & Research: Venezuela advanced IAEA nuclear cooperation talks focused on medical, industrial and research uses, plus safer radioactive source monitoring. Regional Agriculture: CARICOM and partners will host a Sept. 3 webinar on climate-resilient agriculture in the Caribbean.

EV Push: A new market outlook says battery electric vehicles led the EV powertrain market in 2025 and projects rapid growth to $1.355T by 2035, underlining how electrification is reshaping auto supply chains. Antimicrobial Resistance: A global study using deliberative polling finds broad public support for policies to tackle antimicrobial resistance, with Brazil and Colombia among the surveyed middle-income countries. Health & Community: Honduras’ Dinant says it’s expanding education and local services to more than 100 underserved communities, funding teachers, school kits, and water and health initiatives. Latin America Biotech: Regenerative Med’s Cellgenic launched a new MUSE cell product line for select international markets including Latin America, aiming to broaden physician access to advanced cellular tech. Water & Diplomacy: A new Global Ambassadors’ Forum for Water and Economic Diplomacy convened nearly 30 countries to push water investment and cross-border cooperation. Pope on Addiction: Pope Leo XIV urged Latin America’s Church to support families affected by drug addiction, combining prevention, scientific care, and justice with a human face. Drought Pressure: Panama and El Salvador declared emergencies over El Niño impacts, as drought threatens water and regional stability.

Cybersecurity in Brazil: EDGE and the Brazilian Army will set up a Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, a first in Latin America, using a tripartite model that links government, industry and academia to bolster cyber resilience for armed forces and federal institutions. Climate & disasters: Caribbean experts say climate change is blurring the region’s dry and wet seasons, extending droughts and concentrating rainfall into shorter, more volatile wet periods. Health & biosafety: Celltrion reported strong first-half sales for its infliximab family, with Remsima SC and U.S. Zymfentra driving growth. Public health & migration: Haiti’s gang violence has prompted a Miami archbishop to urge the U.S. to rethink ending deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians under Temporary Protected Status. Local governance: Vieux-Fort’s new mayor in Saint Lucia vowed a “new era” of community-led municipal management, with workers respected and development tied to local identity. Environment & biodiversity: A study highlights how biodiversity hotspots are emerging in unexpected places, expanding the map of where conservation pressure may grow.

Cybersecurity & Press Freedom: Costa Rica-linked reporting says Israeli Pegasus spyware has been used across Latin America to target journalists, activists, and politicians, with documented cases in Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, and Ecuador. Public Safety & Governance: A new NASA analysis warns that El Niño is already disrupting the Pacific marine food web, with falling chlorophyll tied to weaker upwelling—raising risks for fisheries from Peru to the wider region. Climate & Disaster Preparedness: Central America faces a state of emergency over severe drought, while forecasters watch Atlantic tropical development that could become “Dolly.” Health Tech in Latin America: Qure ai appoints Mihir Bhanushali to expand AI-powered healthcare across Africa and Latin America, focusing on infectious diseases like TB and HIV. Water Security: TSG Water Resources commissioned a high-recovery desalination train at Chileno Bay in Mexico’s Los Cabos, boosting potable output with BiTurbo™ technology. Trade & Regional Economy: Afreximbank reports a 30% profit jump to $534.7m in H1 2026, citing stronger lending and trade support across Africa and the Caribbean. Business & Connectivity: Veea and Mexico’s Totalplay advance plans for secure, AI-powered edge services for business customers.

Wildlife & Conservation: A Nat Geo photographer spent three years documenting how Brazil’s agriculture boom and new highways are killing giant anteaters—often leaving orphaned pups that struggle to survive. Public Health: A tuberculosis awareness push warns the disease remains deadly and under-discussed, even as treatment requires long antibiotic courses and drug-resistant strains drive additional deaths. Maternal Health: In the Dominican Republic, the National Health Service launched a maternity-hospital tour demanding “zero tolerance” for preventable maternal and infant deaths and tighter emergency protocols. Climate & Disaster Risk: Forecasters say this year’s El Niño is likely to be among the strongest on record, with knock-on effects for storms, drought, and flooding risks across the Americas. Ports & Clean Shipping: Peru’s Port of Callao became the first in South America to use shore power (“cold ironing”) for merchant ships, cutting emissions and improving air quality for nearby communities. Regional Agriculture Finance: FAO urged bigger, better-coordinated investment in Latin America and the Caribbean agrifood systems, citing hunger, climate risks, and fragmented funding. Caribbean Governance: Guyana’s president urged Caribbean media to use AI as a tool while keeping journalism human-centered and accountable. Immigration Policy: A U.S. judge struck down a Trump policy suspending immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Saint Lucia, prompting calls for caution as appeals loom.

Earthquake Recovery Watch: ECLAC says reconstruction spending after Venezuela and Colombia’s earthquakes could give a modest lift in 2027, but warns the outlook depends on governments mobilizing financing and getting housing and infrastructure projects moving. Public Health: A large global study finds pediatric antibiotic resistance is rising fast, with South America already seeing high resistance to key cephalosporins and more expected by 2035. Caribbean Fiscal Policy: The IDB urges Caribbean governments to rethink tax holidays and discretionary investment concessions, pushing for transparent, rules-based, time-limited incentives tied to real spending. Regional Climate Risk: El Niño concerns keep building, with forecasts highlighting potential impacts for the Americas and renewed attention to drought and extreme weather pressures. Food & Trade: Chile has started shipping salmon to Nicaragua after sanitary approvals, opening a new export destination for the sector. Mining & Environment: St George Mining begins environmental permitting for its Araxá rare earths and niobium project in Brazil, starting the state’s licensing process. Tech & Skills: Ecuadorian students in China are pursuing training in areas like traditional medicine, with plans to bring blended know-how back home.

Climate & Oceans: Copernicus says the world’s oceans hit record heat over the weekend, with 21.1°C sea-surface temperatures likely to keep rising—raising risks for storms, marine life, and food security. Health & Policy: Colombia’s new president orders immigration raids and vows deportations of migrants without legal status, mainly Venezuelans, as part of a crime crackdown. Environment & Trade: A leaked U.S. diplomatic memo shows Washington pushing for a plastic treaty loophole based on “national security,” aiming to avoid binding limits on plastic production. Caribbean Media & Skills: Grenada hosted a regional workshop with UNESCO and partners to boost media and information literacy across the Eastern Caribbean. Energy & Public Health Finance: Barbados plans a $1.2B debt-for-social swap to fund programs tackling non-communicable diseases and childhood obesity. Agriculture & Prices: Coffee prices jumped as Brazil’s harvest lags and inventories fall, while Colombia’s quake-hit coffee regions add supply pressure. Mining & Permitting (Brazil): St George Mining begins environmental permitting for rare earths and niobium at its Araxá project in Minas Gerais. Immigration & Courts (U.S.): A judge struck down a policy suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 nations.

Panama Canal Disruption: El Niño-linked drought is set to cut daily transits starting mid-September, with four fewer ships allowed per day—raising shipping costs that could filter to U.S. consumers. Climate & Food Security: War, extreme weather and El Niño are battering wheat “breadbaskets,” threatening harvests and pushing up global prices. Development Finance: The IDB and JICA expanded their partnership to $14 billion in financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, adding focus on critical minerals and agriculture plus health and care systems. Energy Transition (Caribbean): Nevis Electricity Company sent a geothermal drilling rig to Iceland for final inspection before drilling five wells at the Hamilton site. Biodiversity & Conservation: Barbados rediscovered the world’s smallest-known snake after nearly 20 years; the Philippines freed a critically endangered hawksbill turtle after a fisherman’s call for help. Health & Society (Honduras): Rural poverty in Honduras is driving chronic malnutrition and pushing families off farms, with outreach programs trying to stabilize livelihoods.

Critical Minerals Push: Gulf states are ramping up investment in copper, lithium, cobalt and rare earths, with Africa leading and Latin America drawing more selective interest as supply chains tighten. Climate Risk Watch: El Niño is strengthening and could peak in 2026-27, with UN and health agencies urging Latin America to prepare for heat, storms and food shocks. Public Health & Mental Health: Trinidad and Tobago’s health ministry is calling for more openness around men’s mental health, citing depression reporting gaps and higher male suicide rates. Disaster Response: Caracas Metro fully restored commercial service after Tropical Wave 40 flooding, while crews keep clearing roads and maintaining Metrocable. Environment & Community Action: Trinidad and Tobago will keep funding its International Coastal Clean-Up, backing logistics and volunteer efforts that remove thousands of kilograms of debris. Archaeology: China and Peru signed new agreements to jointly study Peru’s Caral civilization, extending cooperation to Inca sites. Sports Governance: Nordic football associations jointly demand FIFA President Gianni Infantino resign and call for binding safeguards against private ownership.

US Immigration Courts: A federal judge struck down the Trump-era policy suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, saying the State Department exceeded its authority and violated federal immigration law—impacting applicants from parts of Latin America including Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. Public Health & Wildlife: Australia confirmed its first H5 bird flu case in a mainland mammal—a long-nosed fur seal—prompting a major penguin vaccination push on Phillip Island as authorities warn losses may be unavoidable. Human Rights in El Salvador: A new report details how El Salvador’s “state of exception” has become a permanent repression tool, with over 91,000 people jailed and rights curtailed, including due process protections. Regional Health Policy: The first KPMG Caribbean Healthcare Summit (CariHealth 2026) is set to bring Caribbean governments and investors to Miami to discuss resilient, equitable healthcare delivery amid climate pressures. Biodiversity Research: Ecuadorian scientists described three new micromollusk species in the Amazon and expanded known ranges for the Habeastrum genus. Trade & Industry: Brazil’s rare-earth rush is accelerating, with foreign-backed mining applications surging—raising alarms about environmental and Indigenous impacts.