Brasil's Embraer Has A Recod Of Unfilled Orders!

Dodging Trump's tariffs, Brazil's Embraer lands record orders By Miguel SCHINCARIOL, 10 hours ago Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva christens the Embraer E2-190 aircraft in April 2024 /AFP/File Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Tuesday reported a record order backlog in the third quarter of $31.3 billion after dodging the worst of US tariffs. The world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer hailed an "unprecedented high" in orders led by the commercial aviation sector with a backlog of 490 aircraft. US President Donald Trump in August imposed a further 40 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, but exempted aircraft. This was crucial for Embraer as the United States represents 45 percent of its commercial aircraft market and 70 percent of its executive aircraft market. The company was still affected by the baseline 10 percent tariff applied to all imports in April and has called for a swift return to "zero tariff rules for all aviation and aerospace industry." Brazil was slapped with higher rates over what Trump termed a "witch hunt" against his ally, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting to overthrow President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro's trial and the resulting tariffs and sanctions on Brazil strained diplomatic ties between the two countries. However, in recent weeks there has been a thaw in tensions, with a 30-minute phone call between Lula and Trump and a meeting between the countries' top diplomats in Washington. Brazil's presidency has said it is possible that the two leaders could meet this weekend at the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Malaysian capital. A European diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity earlier this month that lobbying by Embraer and other major Brazilian companies had helped unlock the dialogue. Embraer said it had delivered 62 aircraft in the third quarter, including 41 business jets, 20 commercial aircraft, and one military aircraft. The order backlog represented a 38 percent increase from the third quarter of 2024. 25

China Accumulates Projects Worth $14 Billion In Argentina

Politics China accumulates projects worth $14 billion in Argentina By Banyeliz Muñoz, 13 hours ago BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- With $14 billion in investment projects and rising exports, China has consolidated its position as a key trading partner for Argentina. China is a growing investor and a major lender to Argentina, making it nearly impossible for the South American nation to distance itself from the Asian country, analysts say. File Photo by Enrique Garcia Medina/EPA The relationship between the two countries has been at the center of debate as the U.S. Treasury agreed to a $20 billion currency swap to support the economic reform program led by President Javier Milei. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the agreement with Argentina's Central Bank on X on Tuesday, describing it as "a bridge to a better future, not a bailout." "We don't want another failed state in Latin America, and a strong, stable Argentina as a good neighbor is explicitly in the strategic interest of the United States," Bessent said. Earlier, the Treasury secretary expressed an intent to limit China's presence in Argentina, particularly in strategic sectors such as ports, military bases and observation centers. China is a growing investor and a major lender to Argentina, making it nearly impossible for the South American nation to distance itself from the Asian country, analysts say. Under the Strategic Dialogue for Economic Coordination and Cooperation, China has 10 projects in Argentina worth $14 billion at various stages of implementation. Among them are a nuclear power plant, a hydroelectric complex and the rehabilitation of railway lines. They also include a power transmission project in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and several renewable energy generation initiatives. Argentina is also part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which includes a memorandum of understanding and 13 cooperation agreements in areas such as energy, transportation and major infrastructure projects. However, none of those projects has begun. Other bilateral agreements include a Chinese-operated deep-space tracking station in Neuquén and the CART radio telescope in San Juan, which is being assembled. The Argentine Chamber of Exporters also notes the growing presence of Chinese brands in the country, mainly in technology and automobiles, as well as mergers and acquisitions abroad that have domestic effects. Fernando Landa, the chamber president, told UPI that the $18 billion currency swap the Central Bank of Argentina maintains with the People's Bank of China represents 43% of Argentina's gross reserves. The mechanism allows the country to access Chinese currency in times of need, serving as a financial cushion. Commenting on the U.S. Treasury secretary's remarks, Gonzalo Ghiggino, a professor at Zhejiang University of International Studies, told UPI, "It is very difficult to replace China in trade and investment. China is an important source of support for Argentina; the swap is a crucial backstop for the Central Bank's reserves." He added, "China's investment potential is enormous. It is technically impossible to set the country aside, and given the current situation and future outlook, Argentina needs China." According to Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, China surpassed Brazil in September for the first time since 2023 to become Argentina's top trading partner. Trade with the Asian giant totaled $3.11 billion, leaving Buenos Aires with a $523 million deficit. Argentine exports to China rose 31.3% to $1.82 billion, while imports surged 201.7% to $1.29 billion. "China is a major buyer of agricultural products, but also a key player in mining," Landa said. The Central Bank of Argentina reported that as of the first quarter, China ranked 14th in accumulated foreign direct investment at $4.29 billion, just 2% of the total, with interests in agriculture and mining, among other sectors. "The investments are tied to China's interest in raw materials, especially lithium, where it holds a strong global position," Landa said. Ghiggino said Chinese companies are investing the most in the mining sector. "In recent years, they have invested heavily in infrastructure. A notable example is the Belgrano Cargas railway. But with the high demand for lithium, much of the investment is now concentrated in northern Argentina. Mining is a major draw and has enormous potential," he said.

Trump's $40 Billion Argentine Giveaway Hits Major Snag

Trump's $40B Argentine giveaway hits major snag as banks balk at loan: report By Tom Boggioni, Updated 03:43 PM PDT, Tue October 21, 2025 Raw Story Follow U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media aboard Air Force One after participating in a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, on his way back to the U.S., October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein A Donald Trump proposal to bail out struggling Argentina with a $40 billion loan is bumping up against economic reality with banks being asked to provide half of the amount demanding collateral or federal assurances. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, are “struggling” to come up with a loan they would feel comfortable with. Also Read: 'Fully MAGA now': Latest case has experts finally writing off 'arrogant' Supreme Court With Trump pushing to assist Argentine President Javier Milei’s government, the plan was to create a financial package made up of a “$20 billion currency swap with the U.S. Treasury Department and a separate $20 billion bank-led debt facility,” the Journal is reporting. According to the report, it is turning out to be far easier to make the proposal than it is to make it a reality. Want more breaking political news? Click for the latest headlines at Raw Story. “While banks normally arrange these types of rescue facilities on their own, Treasury has been controlling the broader package and banks feel they can’t act without backing from Washington, some of the people said," the Journal reported. "The loan facility hasn’t been finalized and might not come together if the banks’ collateral question isn’t resolved, they said. U.S. banks haven’t been lending to Argentina, and the country has been shut out of the international capital markets for years.” The report adds that Argentina has already been the recipient of 20 bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since the 1950s — and that has bankers nervous. There is also a risk to the U.S Treasury which would “swap $20 billion for a roughly equivalent amount of Argentine pesos,” which are rapidly depreciating. According to Brad Setser, a former deputy assistant Treasury secretary for the Obama administration, ”The risks from these operations are unusually large. Should the peso depreciate, which many think is not only likely but necessary, the Treasury would be left holding assets that have fallen in value.” Subscribe to Trump Tracker's newsletter to receive the latest news and updates directly in your inbox. Subscribe →

Centrist Candidate Wins Bolivia's Presidency

Centrist Candidate Wins Bolivia’s Presidency, Ending 20 Years of Leftist Rule Bolivia Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia’s presidential runoff Sunday, ending nearly two decades of dominance by the leftist Movement Toward Socialism Party (MAS) of former President Evo Morales, the Wall Street Journal reported. Preliminary results showed Paz secured almost 55 percent of the vote, while his conservative opponent, former President Jorge Quiroga, received about 45 percent. Bolivia’s electoral court said the figures are “preliminary and not definitive,” noting that official results will be released within seven days, according to The Guardian. In his victory speech, Paz thanked supporters and vowed to build “a new path after 20 years that have left us out of the economy … and geopolitics.” He has pledged to revitalize Bolivia’s struggling economy by attracting foreign investment, particularly in mining and lithium development – the country holds the world’s largest lithium reserves. He also plans to improve relations with the United States after years of left-wing rule saw Bolivia foster closer relations with Washington’s rivals, including China, Iran, and Venezuela. Sunday’s runoff comes after a first round of voting in August, which saw Paz and Quiroga in the lead. MAS candidate Interior Minister Eduardo Del Castillo only won around 3 percent, a stinging defeat for the socialist party that has dominated Bolivian politics since 2006. Observers attributed the party’s collapse to internal divisions between Morales and outgoing President Luis Arce, as well as public anger over the country’s deepening economic crisis. The deeply unpopular Arce decided to sit out the election. Analysts said the new president will inherit a nation facing its worst economic crisis in 40 years, marked by high inflation, fuel shortages, and falling bank reserves. The centrist leader said he would take a gradual approach to reduce the country’s massive budget deficit and cut spending, including slashing fuel subsidies that cost the state about $3 billion a year. Political analysts cautioned that Bolivia’s powerful unions and social movements will strongly oppose such moves. Another challenge will be to bring the country’s large underground economy – around 80 percent of the workforce is made up of self-employed or informal workers – into the formal market. Although Paz’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC) won the most legislative seats, it lacks a majority, and it will be forced to cooperate with Quiroga and moderate left-wing factions to pass key reforms. Share this story

Mexico And Colombian Cartel Members Reportedly Infiltrating Ukraine's International Legion To Boost Drone Warfare Skills

Military Mexican and Colombian Cartel Members Reportedly Infiltrating Ukraine's International Legion to Boost Drone Warfare Skills By Héctor Ríos Morales, 3 days ago Intelligence officials said individuals are joining Ukraine's International Legion to learn how to operate first-person view kamikaze drones AFP For years, authorities in both Mexico and the United States have known that drug trafficking organizations use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), such as drones, to carry out attacks on rival factions, transport drug shipments, and, in some cases, forcibly displace entire communities in northern Mexico through the use of explosives. However, according to a recent investigation, some cartel operatives from Mexico and Colombia are now infiltrating Ukraine's foreign fighter groups to strengthen their drone warfare capabilities. As reported by The Telegraph, Mexican intelligence officials alerted their Ukrainian counterparts in July about the presence of cartel members embedded in these groups. Officials said the individuals are joining to learn how to operate first-person view kamikaze drones, which give pilots a live aerial feed as they guide explosive-laden aircraft toward their targets. One of the most recent recruits is a drone pilot who goes by the callsign Aguila 7, or Eagle 7. According to intelligence reports, the individual is linked to the Los Zetas cartel and enlisted with Ukraine's International Legion to acquire drone combat skills for use in cartel conflicts back home. "Ukraine has become a platform for the global dissemination of first-person view drone tactics," a security official in Kyiv told Intelligence Online, a French security website that first reported on the investigation into Aguila 7, as cited by The Telegraph. "Some come to learn how to kill with a $400 drone, then sell that knowledge to whoever pays the highest price." The number of cartel members who have joined Ukraine's foreign fighter ranks remains unknown. However, previous investigations have identified at least three former members of Colombia's disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) among the ranks. Reports suggest cartel operatives are taking advantage of Ukraine's limited capacity to properly vet foreign volunteers. Several international fighters told The Telegraph that background checks are rare, and military or civilian credentials are often not reviewed, allowing individuals with criminal ties to enlist with little oversight. Alexander Marciniak, a Latin American intelligence analyst interviewed by The Telegraph, said cartel operatives are not joining Ukraine's military to support the war effort but rather to master combat tactics they can later use against rival groups in Mexico. "The cartels can use drones for all sorts of purposes, including attacks and surveillance on other cartels and security forces, and for smuggling contraband," Marciniak said. As reported by The Latin Times, criminal groups in Mexico have significantly modernized their tactics in recent years, with many investing heavily in drone operations. One example is the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," which counts with its own elite unit that operates modified drones. U.S. officials have warned that the increasing use of drones by cartels poses a growing threat to national security. In July, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security said it is only a matter of time before American personnel are targeted. Steven Willoughby, deputy director of DHS's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, said cartels already use drones routinely to smuggle drugs and contraband into the United States and are also conducting what he described as hostile surveillance of law enforcement operations. "During the last six months of 2024, over 27,000 drones were detected less than 500 meters from the southern border. Most were flying at an altitude above 120 meters," Willoughby said. The Jalisco cartel is not the only Mexican group adopting this kind of technology. In June, The Latin Times reported that La Mayiza, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, the son of longtime cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, had obtained military-grade drone-jamming equipment. According to the report, the group acquired the devices by exploiting legal loopholes and was using them to interfere with federal operations. In other parts of northern Mexico, groups including Los Salazar, one of the most violent factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, have deployed explosive-equipped drones to terrorize civilians and forcibly displace communities in areas believed to hold gold deposits. © 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Venezuela Condemns US Moves Targeting the Country

Venezuela Condemns US Moves Targeting the Country Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize CIA covert operations and potential land strikes in Venezuela, denouncing it as a severe violation of international law and an attempt at regime change, MercoPress reported. Maduro’s administration said this week that it would file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General, calling for accountability and urgent measures to avoid military escalation in the region. Trump confirmed Wednesday that his administration secretly cleared the CIA to carry out covert and potentially deadly operations on Venezuelan territory, escalating a campaign against Maduro and his alleged role in smuggling drugs to the US. The US recently deployed about 10,000 troops, eight warships, a nuclear-power submarine, and fighter jets to the Caribbean. Over the past month, the US military has carried out at least five strikes targeting boats off the Venezuelan coast, arguing they are smuggling drugs, Politico noted. The operations have killed 27 people so far, including six during the latest strike on Tuesday. United Nations officials said the raids amount to “extrajudicial executions.” Trump told reporters that his administration has “almost totally stopped” drug trafficking by sea and is now considering strikes on Venezuelan territory. “We are certainly looking at land now because we have the sea very well under control,” Trump said. Maduro ordered military exercises and said he was mobilizing the military, police, and civilian militia to defend the oil-rich country. While the US emphasized that the recent strikes were carried out in international waters, the new clearance by the White House would allow the CIA to conduct lethal operations in Venezuela as well as a range of other activities throughout the Caribbean. While it remains unclear whether the CIA is planning attacks on Venezuela, the spy agency has previously conducted numerous operations in South America, a legacy that prompted Maduro to say “No to CIA-orchestrated coups d’état” while appealing for peace on TV on Wednesday. US officials have privately acknowledged that the ultimate goal of the campaign is to remove Maduro from power, the New York Times reported. The Trump administration does not recognize him as a legitimate president because of an election last year it deems fraudulent. At the same time, the US has accused him of leading the Cartel de los Soles – an accusation that he has denied. The US has also offered a $50 million bounty for Maduro, the BBC wrote. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize last week, has been calling for greater US support to fight what she considers a “war” on her country by Maduro, and has praised Trump’s efforts to counter the Venezuelan leader, she told CNN.

Peru: Violent Anti-Crime Protests Leave One Dead

Violent Anti-Crime Protests in Peru Leave One Dead as Government Fails to Quell Unrest Peru One person died and more than 100 were injured Wednesday after protesters clashed with police at anti-crime demonstrations in the Peruvian capital of Lima, as weeks of unrest continued despite the ouster of the president over corruption and security failures, France 24 reported. During a protest organized on Wednesday by Gen Z groups, transport workers, and civil society organizations, some demonstrators tried to tear down metal barriers protecting Congress, while others threw stones and lit fireworks. Riot police responded with tear gas, Reuters noted. One death, of a 32-year-old male, was reported: According to prosecutors, he was shot to death but they did not identify the shooter. Newly appointed interim President Jose Jeri said the killing would be “objectively” investigated. Jeri blamed the violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos.” In an effort to de-escalate the unrest, Jeri vowed to “declare war” on organized crime and make it his top priority. The government’s perceived failure to deal with a worsening crime crisis has been drawing thousands of people to youth-led protests in Lima and other cities in recent weeks. Following demonstrations by bus companies, merchants, and students against extortion by criminal gangs, and attacks on those who refuse to pay protection money, lawmakers voted last week to impeach President Dina Boluarte, blamed by critics for the crisis. Extortion and contract killings have become daily events in the South American country. Gangs like Los Pulpos and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, active across Latin America, have escalated their kidnapping and ransom operations in the country. The impeachment, however, failed to quell the unrest. Jeri, meanwhile, will remain in office until next year’s elections. However, he already faced serious scandals, including corruption allegations and a now-suspended investigation for sexual assault. He has denied any wrongdoing and said he would cooperate with investigators. Still, analysts believe he won’t last long running the country. He is the country’s seventh president since 2016. Three of those are in prison.