Every morning and afternoon PanAm Post gives you a briefing on the most important news from the Americas.
These are the top stories this afternoon, 4:10 PM on Feb 23rd:
1. Fitch downgrades Brazil after pension climbdown | FT (paywall $)
“Fitch has lowered its rating on Brazil following a government decision to shelve an overhaul of the country’s generous pension system, sending the South American country deeper into junk territory.”
2. Mexico finds 103 migrants abandoned in freight trailer – The Washington Post SJ
“Mexican immigration agents say they have found 103 Central American migrants in a freight trailer left by a roadside near the U.S. border.”
3. GRAINS-Soybeans near one-year high as Argentina dryness hurts crops | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters
“U.S. soybean futures neared a one-year high on Friday as concerns mounted about crop losses from a searing drought in Argentina, the world’s biggest exporter of soymeal and soyoil.
4. ‘We are dying’: Venezuela’s oil workers have become so hungry they are too weak to do their jobs | Financial Post
“Food has become more important than employment, and thousands are walking off the job to find it, leaving few left to produce the oil that keeps the economy going”
5. A Bird-Lover’s Paradise in the Mangroves Outside of Cartagena, Colombia – Barron’s
“Cartagena, Colombia, might not seem like the most obvious place for a beach holiday but after a multitude of hurricanes battered most Caribbean resorts last year and the rebel faction FARC signed a peace agreement with the Colombian Government in 2016, record numbers of tourists have suddenly started to see Colombia as an refreshing alternative.”
6. Argentina used flour to bust a huge cocaine-smuggling ring run out of the Russian embassy – VICE News
“Police in Argentina have busted a drug-smuggling ring running high-quality cocaine to Europe through the diplomatic courier service of the Russian embassy, Argentina’s government revealed Thursday.”
7. Wheatley to hold talks with Venezuela on Petrojam shares buy-back | Jamaica Gleaner
“Energy Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley says he will hold talks with his Venezuelan counterpart in the first week of March regarding proposals by the Jamaican Government to repurchase the 49 per cent shares in Petrojam, owned by the Venezuelan state-owned oil refinery — PDVSA.”
8. Colombia’s Least-Known But Most-Wanted Public Enemy No. 1 | InsightCrime
“Ex-FARC commander “Gentil Duarte” has risen to the top of Colombia’s most-wanted list, but the relatively unknown figure turned public enemy number one may be a less significant threat than the hefty price on his head suggests.”
9. Why President Maduro may have just killed bitcoin fever | Global Americas
“If I were a holder of bitcoin or any of the other recently issued cryptocurrencies, I’d be worried.”
10. Venezuela, where it’s more expensive to go to work than it is to stay home
“In Venezuela, devaluation has made it more expensive to go to work than it is to stay home. Instead of paying for the transportation, clothing, and food they can’t afford, many Venezuelan employees prefer to simply leave their jobs.”
These are the top ten stories making the rounds this morning:
1. Cash-strapped Venezuela faces eviction from Miami consulate | Seattle Times
Cash-strapped Venezuela faces eviction from Miami consulate Seattle TimesFull coverage
2. Venezuela’s ‘Crypto’ Con | WSJ
Venezuela’s ‘Crypto’ Con Wall Street JournalFull coverage
3. Argentina foils diplomatic luggage cocaine plot | BBC
Arrests are made in Argentina after 400kg of cocaine was found in Russian diplomatic luggage.
4. Fearing Corruption Inquiry, Former Mexico Party Chief Moves to Block Arrest | NYTimes
Manlio Fabio Beltrones has been implicated in a far-reaching graft investigation, according to documents and testimony reviewed by The New York Times.
5. Mexico buying more Brazilian corn over concern with NAFTA negotiations | MercoPress
Mexican buyers imported ten times more corn from Brazil last year amid concern that NAFTA renegotiations could disrupt their U.S. supplies, according to government data and top grains merchants.…
6. Pimco Skips Brazil for `Reform Play’ as Pension Revamp Falters | Bloomberg
Pimco Skips Brazil for `Reform Play’ as Pension Revamp Falters BloombergFull coverage
7. Why Venezuela’s Citizens Should Worry About a National Cryptocurrency | CoinDesk
Why Venezuela’s Citizens Should Worry About a National Cryptocurrency CoinDeskVenezuela’s Maduro calls for ‘mega-election’ that could cement his power Washington PostVenezuela’s ‘Crypto’ Con Wall…
8. US Sanctions On Venezuela Hold Up Aruba Refinery Renovations | OilPrice
US Sanctions On Venezuela Hold Up Aruba Refinery Renovations OilPrice.comFull coverage
9. From Africa to South America, China’s fishing fleet outstrips the competition | South China Morning Post
From Africa to South America, China’s fishing fleet outstrips the competition South China Morning PostFull coverage
10. Brazil’s underdog bobsled team, the Frozen Bananas, is basically a real-life ‘Cool Runnings’ | The…
Brazil’s underdog bobsled team, the Frozen Bananas, is basically a real-life ‘Cool Runnings’ Washington PostFull coverage