AGP Executive Report

Ecuador-Linked Crime Crackdown: Colombian police arrested the wife and daughter of Ecuador gang leader “Fito” José Adolfo Macías Villamar, extradited to the U.S. for drug trafficking; the women face money-laundering charges in Ecuador, with authorities saying Colombia won’t be a financial safe haven. Public Health Alert: The FDA warned that frozen black clams (La Serranita, imported from Ecuador) may be tied to a hepatitis A outbreak, with dozens sickened and most hospitalized. Culture & Community: The Dalí Museum hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration featuring Puerto Rican bomba and plena drumming, while a separate feature spotlights women reshaping kitchen culture and leadership. Food & Lifestyle: A fall bazaar guide rounds up seasonal fairs and pumpkin-season events. Travel & Nature: A look at what it’s like to lead cruise passengers in the Galápagos, plus a tsunami-preparedness workshop in Ecuador with UNESCO and local partners. Sports (Ecuador Connections): Air Canada adds Quito routes; and Ecuador appears in international sports coverage, including a table tennis match where Venezuela beat Ecuador.

Public Health Alert: The FDA and CDC are warning against eating or selling La Serranita “concha negra” (black clams) imported from Ecuador after a hepatitis A outbreak sickened dozens and hospitalized most of the 37 reported cases. Global Diplomacy: UN Secretary-General António Guterres is nearing the end of his decade-long tenure, with the race for his successor already shaping up amid questions about the UN’s future role. Ecuador Connections in Travel: Air Canada says it will add 31 new international routes, including new service to Quito—good news for Ecuador-bound culture and lifestyle travelers. Culture & Community: Homesickness at university is getting attention, with advice on building a “new sense of home” through clubs, familiar faces, and time. Sports Spotlight: Venezuela’s women’s table tennis team won bronze at Santa Fe 2026, beating Ecuador in the medal match. Lifestyle Travel Trend: A new take on luxury travel is emerging—less about hotels, more about immersive retreats, including an Ecuador Amazon experience centered on nature and Indigenous tradition.

UN Leadership Race: UN chief António Guterres is wrapping up his decade-long tenure, with the race for his successor now taking shape as the UN faces financial strain and mounting geopolitical limits. Global Women’s Leadership: Mexico’s foreign minister says it’s time for a woman to lead the UN, pointing to Michelle Bachelet’s exit and naming several contenders, including Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa. Ecuador on the Travel Map: Air Canada plans 31 new nonstop international routes, including new service to Quito—another sign of growing connectivity for Ecuador’s capital. Sports & Pride: Venezuela’s women’s table tennis team won bronze at Santa Fe 2026, beating Ecuador in the medal round; and the U-20 Women’s World Cup heads into its bronze-final day with free streaming options highlighted. Community & Wellbeing: A guide on homesickness at university focuses on building a “new sense of home” through clubs, familiar faces, and showing up even when it feels awkward. Culture in Cuenca: idiomARTE launches “Vientos Ecuatoriales,” a book and concert exploring Ecuador’s ancient sound world.

UN Leadership Talk: Mexico’s foreign minister says “the time for women” has come as Michelle Bachelet exits the UN Secretary-General race, with Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa listed among contenders. Coastal Resilience: UNESCO’s IOC and Ecuador partners trained communities on tsunami preparedness, focusing on local risk mapping, evacuation plans, and alert systems. Galápagos Culture & Work: A Quito-born guide explains what it’s like to lead cruise passengers in the Galápagos—blending science, conservation storytelling, and logistics. Spiritual Globalization: “Wisdom Without Borders” expands ancient philosophy into 14 languages, with new books and satsang centers reaching South America. Ecuador Lifestyle Travel: A new kind of luxury retreat is taking shape in the Ecuadorian Amazon—privacy, Indigenous tradition, and unplugged reflection. Health & Food Insight (Ecuador link): A WashU study tied healthier native-food diets in pregnant women in Quito to improved fetal brain development. Community Events: Cuenca’s idiomARTE launches “Vientos Ecuatoriales,” pairing a book on ancient Ecuadorian sounds with a live concert. Sports Spotlight: Ronal Longa’s sprint double at the South American Games included a close Ecuador finish in the 200m.

Environmental Journalism & Community: Mongabay Latam’s PUMA FEST (with Fundación Gabo) brought about 700 people to Bogotá to spotlight environmental crime, reporting safety, and new tools for investigative work across Latin America. Regional Security & Politics: The “Shield of the Americas” coalition says it will launch its first joint action against at least 24 narco-terrorist groups, including plans for sanctions and travel/visa restrictions. Indigenous Rights vs Conservation: A Nairobi Declaration from Indigenous groups denounces “fortress conservation” and carbon-market projects, demanding land returns and warning major conservation bodies to leave. Public Health & Travel: A Gates/Gavi-backed outlet links measles spread across the Americas to declining vaccination coverage plus mass travel around the 2026 World Cup. Ecuador in the Spotlight: Washington University’s Ecuador pregnancy nutrition trial (native foods, less processed diets) is informing similar research needs in St. Louis. Culture & Lifestyle: Bogotá’s Artbo fair keeps a Latin American focus with growing regional representation, while Sunset Park’s Fifth Avenue Festival drew 20,000 despite rain. Sports: Ronal Longa won 200m gold at the South American Games, edging Ecuador’s Katriel Angulo in a photo-finish.

Ecuador–U.S. Security: Ecuador’s foreign minister says U.S. intelligence and joint operations are boosting Quito’s fight against regional narco-terror groups, with Ecuadorian forces working alongside U.S. teams to disrupt high-value targets. Yasuní Watch: Three years after Ecuador’s Yasuní vote to end oil, extraction is still flowing and Waorani leaders warn biodiversity and isolated Indigenous communities face ongoing risk amid missed shutdown deadlines. Immigration & Rights: A report says 90% of LGBTQ and intersex rights groups worldwide have lost funding since Jan. 2025, with many pointing to U.S.-linked sources. Community & Culture: Cuenca’s STAR SINGER drops a new “NOW HEAR THIS” music video tied to local hostal life, while Cuenca’s Inmo Build Fair and UPS’s Cultural Friday (pasillo) highlight the city’s arts-and-lifestyle calendar. Lifestyle Abroad (Ecuador links): A Belarusian woman who worked as a flight attendant is opening a Russian language school in Mexico, and a missing Manchester man in Colombia has renewed attention on Ecuador-connected expat journeys.

Community Support for Pregnant Immigrants: A Minnesota nonprofit, founded by Ecuador-born volunteer Fernanda Honebrink, keeps helping pregnant immigrants during ICE crackdowns—delivering food and support to families forced into hiding. Local Culture & Food: Sunset Park’s Fifth Avenue Street Festival returned with 400+ vendors, Ecuadorian and Latin flavors, and dance performances, turning a city block into a community showcase. LGBTQ Funding Pressure: Outright International reports 90% of surveyed LGBTQ and intersex rights groups lost funding since Jan. 2025, with many pointing to U.S.-linked sources. Indigenous Water Defense in Cuenca: Indigenous and campesino groups marched in Guapondelig for the second Quinto Río (“Fifth River”) to protect páramos and water amid mining concerns. Ecuador Study Abroad (Health + Language): UWL launched a Medical Spanish Immersion in Ecuador, pairing students with Quito buddies, host families, hospital observation, and Amazon/Highlands visits. Rights of Nature Push: Panama urged UN support for a declaration recognizing nature’s inherent rights, building on Ecuador-linked rights-of-nature momentum. Cuenca Trans Rights Case: Ecuador’s justice system delivered a historic sentence against “conversion therapy” violence in the Karlina Quiroz case.

Water Defenders in Cuenca: Indigenous women, youth, and community groups marched in Guapondelig for the second Quinto Río (“Fifth River”) to defend páramos and water sources tied to mining concerns. Regional Security Pact: Ecuador signed on to the U.S.-led “Shield of the Americas,” a coordinated push for sanctions, asset freezes, and visa restrictions targeting 24 narco-terrorist groups across the hemisphere. LGBTQ Rights in Ecuador: A historic Chone ruling sentenced six people for hate crimes against trans woman Karlina Quiroz, spotlighting the ongoing harm of “conversion therapy” clinics. Public Health Watch: The CDC is investigating 37 hepatitis A cases linked to imported frozen clams, with many patients reporting raw shellfish and ceviche. Child Nutrition in Ecuador: Italian Ambassador Giovanni Davoli helped close AVSI’s “Raíces” project, which supported prevention and treatment of chronic childhood malnutrition in Santa Elena and Sicalpa, reaching 1,000+ people. Global Culture & Sport: The Messi Cup returns to Miami with 16 elite Under-16 academies, including Independiente del Valle from Ecuador.

LGBTQ Rights in Ecuador: A landmark Chone ruling sentenced six people for hate crimes against trans woman Karlina Quiroz, after she was forcibly held in a “conversion” style rehabilitation center in 2021—another reminder of how gender-based violence and coercive “therapy” practices still haunt Ecuador. UN Leadership & Climate: As the UN searches for a new secretary-general, experts warn the next leader could downgrade climate action, while Jewish leaders worldwide call for a UN reset that puts antisemitism at the center. Regional Security & Migration: Ecuador is among 14 countries backing the “Shield of the Americas” coalition to sanction narco-terrorist groups, while separate reports highlight ongoing migrant smuggling interdictions near Florida involving Ecuadorians. Nature & Culture: UNESCO marked Ecuador’s Galápagos tsunami preparedness with new Tsunami Ready designations, and a new push for “rights of nature” continues to spread globally. Sports & Youth: The Messi Cup returns to Miami with 16 elite youth clubs, including Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle.

Ecuador & Rights of Nature: Waorani communities in Puyo marked three years since Ecuador’s Yasuní referendum—yet oil is still flowing, with leaders warning biodiversity and the Tagaeri and Taromenane in voluntary isolation remain at risk. Ecuador & Public Safety: Cuenca activated its emergency committee as El Niño approaches, preparing for flooding and landslides in lower areas while drought hits higher elevations; the city also faces criminal charges against former mayor Cristian Zamora. Ecuador & Human Rights: Amnesty International says progress is still blocked by the Armed Forces’ refusal to cooperate in investigations tied to enforced disappearances from Ecuador’s Phoenix Plan. Ecuador & Culture/Community: Illinois State University students helped refurbish and paint a Quito preschool for low-income families, blending service with learning. Ecuador & Civic Space: A new report warns Latin America is using “foreign agent” laws, heavy registration burdens, and punitive sanctions to control civil society—explicitly naming Ecuador among affected countries. Ecuador & Environment/Disaster Readiness: Ecuador’s Galápagos received UNESCO IOC Tsunami Ready recognition, highlighting community preparedness and early-warning capacity. Regional Politics & Lifestyle: The “Shield of the Americas” coalition expands sanctions and restrictions tied to “narco-terrorist” groups, with Ecuador listed among participating countries.

Militarization & Accountability: Amnesty International says Ecuador’s Armed Forces still won’t fully cooperate in investigations tied to enforced disappearances from the “Phoenix Plan,” leaving families without key information for truth, justice, and reparations. Indigenous Rights & Oil: Three years after Ecuador’s Yasuní vote, oil is still flowing; Waorani leaders warn decommissioning delays and lack of consent put biodiversity and isolated peoples at risk. Water Activism in Cuenca: Thousands marched in Cuenca for the September 16 “Great March for Water,” pushing for stronger protections amid mining-and-water concerns. Health & Community (Quito): Illinois State University students supported a Quito preschool with gardens, play upgrades, and a mural—service learning with a local impact. Culture & Diaspora: Q39’s Ecuadorian director of operations brings his heritage to Kansas City barbecue, highlighting “family” values behind the scenes. Food Safety: A hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported black clams includes Ecuador’s La Serranita-brand concha negra; authorities warn restaurants and consumers not to serve or eat it. Learning & Access: A UN process advances a treaty push for free education, including early childhood care and pre-primary schooling.

Ecuador Health & Aging: Cuenca retirees are challenging changes at the IESS senior center (CAAM), saying medical and physiotherapy reorganization has forced older patients to travel between facilities and left them with fewer on-site professionals. Ecuador Food & Culture: A study on an ancestral prenatal diet in Ecuador reports improved fetal brain development, linking locally adapted nutrition education and food distribution to better outcomes during pregnancy. Ecuador Sports & Family Life: UFC bantamweight Marlon “Chito” Vera bounced back with a third-round TKO at UFC 331, and the spotlight also turns to his family life with wife María Paulina Escobar and their three children. Ecuador Crime & Justice: Ecuador’s military says it arrested “La Muerte,” an alleged Los Lobos enforcer accused of forcing victims to dig their own graves, as part of wider operations targeting criminal groups. Ecuador Global Connections: Ecuadorian nationals were among people intercepted in a maritime smuggling case near Florida, underscoring how migration routes keep shifting. Regional Environment: A Global Witness report says Latin America accounted for 85% of land and environmental defender killings in 2025, with Colombia and Brazil the deadliest.

Ecuador Security: Ecuador’s Defense Minister says alleged “La Muerte” (Hermes Ponce) was arrested in Guayas, accused of forcing victims to dig their own graves, as authorities also detained an alleged Los Choneros leader in El Oro. Cultural Diplomacy: Seongbuk District in Seoul hosted its 13th Latin American Festival with embassies, food stalls, and performances that included Ecuadorian music and dance. Film & Women in Media: San Sebastián’s WIP LatAm and Europa awards shortlist features 10 filmmakers/projects, including Mexico’s Tatiana Huezo and Ecuador-linked regional co-productions, with attention to women directors. Nature & Climate: TEDxAmazônia speakers in Ecuador warned the Amazon’s “rain machine” is weakening as drought, fire, and deforestation threaten water cycles across South America. Global Rights of Nature: The 20th anniversary of “Rights of Nature” in the U.S. highlights how ecosystems gained enforceable legal standing, spreading to dozens of countries. Sports (Ecuador Connection): Great Britain booked the Davis Cup Finals after beating Ecuador in London, with Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel winning singles and the doubles clinching the tie. Public Safety: The FBI warns of scams impersonating law enforcement, with tens of thousands of complaints and major reported losses.

Davis Cup Drama: The Czech Republic stunned the U.S. 3-2 in Prague to reach the Final 8, with Ben Shelton and Learner Tien both losing singles as Jiri Lehecka sealed the deciding rubber. Ecuador in the Mix: Great Britain also booked its Final 8 spot after beating Ecuador in London, where Arthur Fery and Toby Samuel won singles and the doubles pair finished the job. Amazon “Rain Machine”: A TEDxAmazônia talk in Ecuador spotlighted how the forest powers South America’s water cycle, describing the Amazon as the planet’s biggest “rain machine” and “flying rivers.” UN & Resilience: Panama’s First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino heads to New York and Guatemala for UNGA 81 events, including presenting a Global Resilience Vocabulary with UNICEF and WHO. Venezuela Youth Futsal: Venezuela’s U-20 women’s futsal team completed a comeback to reach the South American final, overturning Argentina 3-2. Ecuador Connection in Sports: Ecuador’s Natalia Pesantez won the women’s elite race at the NorthShore Inline Marathon.

Sports (Ecuador ties): Ben Shelton’s Davis Cup hopes ended as the Czech Republic beat the U.S. 3-2 in Prague, with Jiri Lehecka sealing the deciding singles; Britain also pushed ahead against Ecuador as Toby Samuel and Arthur Fery won their matches. UFC (Ecuador): Marlon Vera snapped a four-fight slide at UFC 331, knocking down Charles Jourdain to set a bantamweight knockdown record. Youth football (regional): Venezuela’s U-20 women’s futsal team completed a dramatic 3-2 comeback over Argentina to reach the final, while Venezuela’s U-15 women stayed undefeated to win the CONMEBOL Evolution League on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay. Culture & travel: New Zealand published which nationalities can transit through Auckland without a visa—Ecuador is included, but travelers still need an NZeTA. Global spotlight (Ecuador): Ecuador’s Mariscal Sucre airport is one of the Americas’ Level 5 passenger-experience leaders, renewing top accreditation. Migration & community: New AP data maps where millions of migrants released after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border initially reported going, including large Ecuadorian numbers.

UN Diplomacy: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan surged back to the lead in the UN secretary-general race after the Security Council’s third straw poll, with Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett close behind—though no clear front-runner has emerged. Ecuador & Culture: Ecuador’s presence stood out at Bogotá’s “The World in the Heart” festival, where Ecuadorian dishes like encebollado and figs with cheese joined a 12-country lineup. Lifestyle & Travel: New Zealand published its list of 25 transit visa waiver countries for Auckland Airport—Ecuador is included—but travelers still need an NZeTA before boarding. Sports (Ecuador-linked): Davis Cup qualifying delivered more drama for Ecuador’s opponents as Britain beat Ecuador 2-0, while the Czech Republic stunned the U.S. to reach the Final 8. Arts & Community: Bogotá’s ARTBO returns Sept. 24–27, and the Bronx opened “Public Address,” a street-level art project featuring handwritten testimonies from unhoused New Yorkers and shelter staff.