Mexican President Says Immigration Deal with US Will Protect Migrant Rights

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rallied thousands of supporters in the northern border city of Tijuana on Saturday, saying that a new immigration deal with the United States would protect the human rights of migrants and maintain friendly ties with U.S. Lopez Obrador said he was reluctantly prepared to slap retaliatory tariffs on US goods if negotiators in Washington had failed to strike a deal. "We celebrate the important agreement of yesterday because it was a very difficult situation, very awkward doing the same and applying tariffs to some products of the US, the same measures, commercial restrictions similar to the ones that would be imposed on Mexican exports," he said. Under the deal, Mexico agreed to the immediate expansion along the entire border of a program under which the U.S. returns asylum-seeking migrants to Mexico to await adjudication of their cases. The program, commonly known as Remain in Mexico, has been operating since January in the border cities of Tijuana, Mexicali and Ciudad Juarez.  Mexico will also reinforce its southern border with Guatemala with thousands of National Guard officers. The deal, announced on Friday after three days of negotiations in Washington, averted President Donald Trump's threatened imposition of 5% import tariffs on all Mexican goods starting on Monday, June 10. "I am pleased to inform you that the United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," President Donald Trump said Friday on Twitter. "Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States," Trump said.      

Mexico-US Deal Leaves Questions, Concerns About Migration

As Washington and Mexico City both took victory laps Saturday over a deal that headed off threatened tariffs on Mexican imports, it remained to be seen how effective it may be, and migration experts raised concerns about what it could mean for people fleeing poverty and violence in Central America.      Other than a vague reiteration of a joint commitment to promote development, security and growth in Central America, the agreement focuses almost exclusively on enforcement and says little about the root causes driving the surge in migrants seen in recent months.      ``My sense is overall the Mexican government got out of this better than they thought. The agreement though leaves a lot of big question marks,'' said Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute. ``It's good that the two sides reached an agreement which allows both of them to save face, but it's not clear how easy it is to implement.''  Guard deployment   The deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops appears to be the key commitment in what was described as ``unprecedented steps'' by Mexico to ramp up enforcement, though Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero said that had already been planned and was not a result of external pressure.      ``I have said before, migration into Mexico also has to be regulated ... orderly, legal and safe,'' Sanchez Cordero told The Associated Press. ``So the National Guard that we were going to deploy anyway, we're going to deploy. It's not because they tell us to, but rather because we're going to do it anyway.''   ​Mexican measures    Mexico was already increasing enforcement with detentions, deportations and checkpoints. In recent weeks it broke up the latest migrant caravan, snuffing out most of the appetite for traveling in large, visible groups.      If Mexico does more as promised, it's likely to be seen in intensification of those same efforts, experts said — raids on hotels where migrants stay or on bus companies transporting them north to the U.S. border. The two countries also agreed to share information on and disrupt people-smuggling networks, a new focus seen earlier this week when Mexico arrested two migration activists and froze accounts of over two dozen people alleged to have organized caravans.      A concern is that even more aggressive enforcement could put migrants with legitimate asylum claims at risk of being deported from Mexico to the dangers they fled in the first place. Also, Mexican security forces are known for often being corrupt and shaking migrants down for bribes. A renewed crackdown is seen as making migration through Mexico more difficult and more dangerous, but doing little to discourage Central Americans desperate to escape poverty, hunger and violence.      ``People are fleeing their homes regardless of what the journey might mean and regardless of what chance they may have for seeking protections in Mexico or in the United States,'' said Maureen Meyer, an immigration expert at the Washington Office on Latin America, ``simply because they need to leave.''  Human element missing   ``It seems like in all these discussions [about tariffs and immigration], the human reality of these people and why they're leaving Central America was lost,'' she continued. ``It was 'what can we do to stop them,' and not 'what can we really do to create the conditions in their home countries so that people don't have to leave.' "      Another key element of the deal is that the United States will expand a program known as the Migrant Protection Protocol, or MPP. According to Mexican immigration authorities, since January there have been 10,393 returns by migrants to Mexico while their cases wend their way through U.S. courts.      MPP has been plagued by glitches and so far has been introduced only in California and El Paso, Texas, and Selee said there are logistical hurdles to further expansion. Right now the MPP figure of 10,000 or so represents ``a drop in the bucket'' compared with overall migration, he added.     Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who led the negotiations, said the agreement does not include any quotas.      If MPP does roll out on a mass scale along the United States' entire southern border, it could overwhelm Mexican border cities. Mexico promised to offer jobs, health care and education for returnees, but has little infrastructure to do so. Currently most shelters and support programs are run by the likes of NGOs and the Roman Catholic Church.      And if the program were to include places like Tamaulipas, the Gulf coast state where cartels and gangs control large swaths of territory, migrants could be at even greater risk.   Dangerous area    ``This is an area that the U.S. government considers that it's not safe for any American citizen,'' Meyer said, referring to the State Department's highest-level warning against all travel to Tamaulipas  because of crime and kidnappings. ``And yet it's OK for us to send people back there?''      Still, the deal was hailed by many in Mexican industry and politics.      Arturo Rocha, a Foreign Relations Department spokesman, tweeted late Friday that it was ``an unquestionable triumph for Mexico.'' Avoiding tariffs sends a calming message to ratings agencies worried about a possible trade war, he said, adding that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's government had won U.S. recommitment to Central American development and resisted ``safe third country'' designation, a concession sought by Washington that would have required asylum seekers to apply first in Mexico.      However, Abdel Camargo, an anthropologist at the Frontera Sur College in southern Mexico, said that by accepting MPP returnees, ``Mexico does not become a safe third country but de facto is going to act as one.''      Some such as ex-President Felipe Calderon of the conservative opposition National Action Party questioned whether Mexico was truly master of its own migratory policy. But Jose Antonio Meade, a five-time Cabinet minister who lost last year's election to Lopez Obrador, praised Ebrard for avoiding damaging tariffs ``in the face of very complex conditions.''      In San Jose del Cabo for a summit of North American mayors, Juan Manuel Gastelum of Tijuana, across from San Diego, said he's fine with more migrants being returned to his city as long as the federal government invests in caring for them. He added that the threat of tariffs may have been necessary to force his country's hand.      ``How else was Mexico going to understand that it is not right to leave migration uncontrolled?'' said Gastelum, who is also a member of National Action.   ​Tijuana rally    Meanwhile, a rally later Saturday in Tijuana that Lopez Obrador called to defend Mexican pride and dignity was expected to take on more of a festive atmosphere.      ``It was [originally supposed to be] a meeting to show support for the incoming governor ... that turned into a demand for peace and respect on the tariffs issue,'' local restaurateur and businessman Francisco Villegas said. ``But since the tariffs issue was sorted out by having Marcelo Ebrard and his team up there, it is now turning into a celebration.'' 

Haiti Braces for Anti-Corruption Protests Sunday

Jacquelin Belizaire in Washington, Matiado Vilme, Renan Toussaint, Florence Lisene in Port-au-Price, Yvan Martin in Cape Haitian, Jean Hernst Eliscar in Les Calles contributed to this report. WASHINGTON /PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti is bracing for more anti-corruption protests on Sunday. "PetroChallengers" — a grass-roots assortment of social media savvy millennials, activists, concerned citizens and diaspora, whose motto is: "What happened to the PetroCaribe money?" — are behind the initiative. They are calling for people nationwide to hit the streets to demand the president's resignation and justice for what they say was stolen from the people. "We're asking everyone in the poor neighborhoods for a repeat of what we did [massive protests] on Feb. 7, we're going to take to the streets in the same way," a member of the Petro Challengers group in the northern city of Cape Haitian told VOA Creole. "We the people have been victimized by a predatory government that must leave power," another PetroChallenger added. "That's why we the youth, activists from all political parties, must unite. You may not think people of different party affiliations can work together, but I'm here to tell you that this [corruption] issue concerns us all." The government denies the allegations, citing poor accounting. In the southern town of Les Calles on Friday, protesters camped out in front of the local courthouse holding posters and chanting, "Jovenel, you are going to jail!" "We want all the thieves who stole the PetroCaribe money to be arrested, especially the ones in the southern department," protest leader Carvens Laguerre told VOA Creole. "We're not playing. We are here today and we'll be back on Sunday at 9 a.m. to demand Jovenel Moise resign." What is PetroCaribe? PetroCaribe was launched in June of 2005 as a Caribbean oil alliance, with Venezuela giving members preferential treatment for energy purchases, at a discounted price with low-interest deferred terms and an option to pay in kind instead of currency. Several audits have shown that much of Haiti's PetroCaribe revenue (about $3.8 billion) disappeared, having been disbursed for government construction contracts on projects that were never finished. The funds had originally been earmarked for infrastructure, social and economic projects. Haiti's Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (Cour Superieure de Comptes et du Contentieux Administratif), a non-partisan institution tasked with overseeing the government's budget, spending and allocation of funds, was preparing a report detailing irregularities and alleged abuse of funds generated under the PetroCaribe agreement. The CSCCA's jurisdiction is both administrative and financial, and it arbitrates disputes over government spending when requested to do so. Its final report was delivered to Senate leader Carl Murat Cantave on May 31.  The contents, which included details of alleged fraud by the current and former presidents — Jovenel Moise and Michel Martelly — sparked outrage and prompted calls for justice. What President Moise is accused of  Andre Michel, a lawyer, opposition leader and frequent administration critic, is a member of a legal team who launched a civil lawsuit targeting those found guilty of fraud and embezzlement of the PetroCaribe funds. He detailed the alleged abuses by President Moise during a press conference on Tuesday.  "The report says the Borgne-Margaux Bridge construction project overseen by the racketeer Jovenel Moise was paid twice for the same project. He was paid under Agritrans, and he was also paid under Betex — which means what? Betex and Agritrans are two wings of the same bird, which bears the name of Jovenel Moise." Denials, criticism of methods Agritrans issued a statement defending the integrity of its projects. "We disagree with the allegations that AGRITRANS S.A. and BETEX received two payments to perform the same work. It should be noted that AGRITRANS signed a contract with the MTPTC [Ministry of Public Works] on a separate segment of the Borgne/Petit-Bourg de Borgne road section. Remember that this contract has been duly approved by the CSC/CA and that the relative payments are around 40% to date for 80% of executed works," the statement said. "Based on these considerations, among many others, AGRITRANS S.A. expresses its formal disagreement on the allegations of the CSC/CA and reserves the right to initiate proceedings before the Haitian justice to defend its integrity and rights," the statement added.  The president's special representative, Guichard Dore, said it was obvious the authors of the report were looking for "a scapegoat." "An audit is supposed to deal with facts — from the auditor and from the person who is being audited — but the document produced by the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation doesn't provide that," he told VOA Creole. "So to me this is not an audit, it's a political document." Dore cited several "technical errors" involving figures and conclusions that led him to the determination the audit lacks credibility. Meanwhile, PetroChallengers and their supporters across Haiti are preparing to march on Sunday.

Trump Announces Deal With Mexico Averting Tariffs

Cindy Saine at the State Department contributed to this report.    U.S. President Donald Trump said late Friday that the United States and Mexico had reached a deal on migration to avert tariffs. "I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico. The Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the U.S. on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended," he tweeted. "Mexico, in turn, has agreed to take strong measures to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border. This is being done to greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States," Trump said. Earlier Friday, Trump had tweeted that there was a "good chance" the two sides would reach a deal to avert tariffs over the surge of migrants across the U.S. border. However, he added, "If we are unable to make the deal, Mexico will begin paying Tariffs at the 5% level on Monday!"   U.S. and Mexican officials returned to the negotiating table Friday for a third day of talks to find a way to stem the migrant flow. Effect on hiring? Trump's trade wars with Mexico and other countries appeared to have spooked American companies into putting the brakes on hiring. They added just 75,000 jobs in May, far fewer than the 180,000 economists expected, the Labor Department reported Friday.     Although the jobless rate held steady at a 50-year low of 3.6%, Friday's figures were the latest signal that the U.S. economy, while healthy, is weakening. Manufacturers, which are particularly sensitive to trade disputes, added only 3,000 jobs, extending an anemic streak of hiring in the sector. U.S. and Mexican officials discussed a deal calling for Mexico to sharply increase patrols of its border with Guatemala to curb migration, The Washington Post reported, with the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops. The newspaper said Mexico and the U.S. could overhaul asylum rules throughout the region, requiring Central Americans to first seek refuge in Mexico rather than traveling through it to reach the U.S.    With such a plan in place, the United States could send Guatemala asylum seekers to Mexico, and those from Honduras and El Salvador to Guatemala.   Earlier Friday in Mexico City, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reiterated his own optimistic position.  Causes of 'chaos'   "There is dialogue and an agreement can be reached," Lopez Obrador said. "I'm optimistic we can achieve that." He added it was a mistake, though, for the U.S. to link migration with trade, saying again that migration must be addressed by solving social and economic problems in Central America. "The causes of the migratory chaos aren't being analyzed, only the effects," he said.   U.S. authorities have said more than 100,000 undocumented migrants, mostly from the three Central American countries, have crossed into the United States in recent months. The U.S. government announced Wednesday that in May, 144,000 migrants were detained at the border, up 32% from April. It was the highest monthly figure in 13 years.    Some Republican lawmakers, normally close political allies of Trump, had said they would try to block any potential tariffs with legislation, which would have drawn wide support from opposition Democrats. Numerous lawmakers feared rising consumer costs for Americans if the tariffs were imposed on Mexican goods, including cars and numerous food products exported to the U.S.

Norway Mediation Effort in Venezuela's Crisis Slows

Venezuelan leader Juan Guaido said Friday that the opposition's demand for presidential elections is not negotiable, slowing mediation efforts by Norway aimed at resolving Venezuela's political crisis.    "A new meeting isn't planned at the moment, we can get what we've proposed on the agenda," Guaido said at an event in the central city of Valencia, dismissing earlier comments from Russia's foreign ministry that a third round of exploratory talks with representatives of Nicolas Maduro would take place next week.    "Nobody who is straight in the head would sit across from a dictator thinking he is negotiating in good faith," he added. Guaido's biting comments, coming as mediators from Norway were in Caracas trying to prevent the talks from derailing, highlight the huge obstacles to negotiating a peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela, which has endured economic and political turmoil for years.    Guaido, who heads the opposition-controlled congress, revived a flagging opposition movement in January by declaring himself Venezuela's rightful leader, quickly drawing recognition from the United States and more than 50 nations that say Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate. But Maduro, backed by the military as well as Cuba and Russia, has held on to power in the face of U.S. oil sanctions that are adding to misery in a nation hit hard by hyperinflation and widespread fuel, food and power shortages. Norway has hosted two rounds of exploratory talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition in an attempt to break the ongoing stalemate.    The opposition, mindful of the collapse of past dialogue attempts that only served to strengthen the government's hand, has insisted the starting point for negotiations be a willingness by Maduro to hold presidential elections within a reasonable time frame. Maduro has balked at that call, blaming the opposition for boycotting last year's presidential ballot and insisting instead on elections to revamp the opposition-controlled legislature. "As long as both sides are hurting and don't see a way out, there's a possibility negotiations can succeed," said James Dobbins, a senior fellow at the Rand Corporation who served as special U.S. envoy to several crisis hotspots including Haiti and Afghanistan. "It's really the only hope left." The setback in Norway's mediation effort comes amid a frenzy of regional diplomacy tied to the Venezuelan crisis. Talks with Cuba Also on Friday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez traveled to Toronto for talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, hours after he met Venezuelan socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello in Cuba.  "Cuba has a different position and that's one reason why it's important for us to talk to Cuba" about a solution to the Venezuelan crisis, Freeland said after meeting Rodriguez. She said "free and fair elections" is the way forward for Venezuela. Canada has joined the Trump administration in pressuring Maduro to resign. Cabello had arrived in Cuba on Thursday. One of his first meetings was with Rodriguez, who said on Twitter they "discussed themes of international interest."  Maduro's alleged crimes   Also Friday, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, urging him to set up a unit to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes by Maduro and his associates.    "The long list of Maduro's crimes includes the illegal mining and trafficking of minerals, transnational drug trafficking, and theft of substantial sums of money from the Venezuelan government and hiding it in offshore bank accounts worldwide," Rubio said.    Maduro has denied any illegal activity and says the U.S. wants to overthrow him as a way to exploit Venezuela's vast oil resources. Venezuelan passports In another development, the Trump administration said it will recognize the validity of Venezuelan passports for five years beyond their printed expiration dates. The State Department announced that the passports will be considered valid for visa applications and entry into the United States in recognition of a decision by Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly. Getting a new passport or an extension is expensive and lengthy for many Venezuelans. Many of the more than 4 million Venezuelans who fled the country in recent years had left without a valid passport.

Five Countries to Join UN Security Council Ranks in January

Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam were elected Friday to two-year terms on the U.N. Security Council. The five will join the 15-nation body responsible for maintaining international peace and security on Jan. 1, 2020. There is usually little suspense in the General Assembly for the vote, as regional groups typically pre-select a candidate from within their bloc to run uncontested. This year, Tunisia, Niger and Vietnam ran unopposed. So did Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, until just hours before Friday morning's vote, when El Salvador announced it would challenge the tiny island nation for the one open seat in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Diplomats expressed surprise ahead of the vote as to why El Salvador would come in at the last minute, when the regional bloc had agreed in December to put up Saint Vincent as their candidate. "You don't do it like that," one western diplomat said disapprovingly. Most other countries appeared to agree, with El Salvador winning only six of the 193 votes cast. Eastern Europe did run a contested race this year, endorsing two candidates, Estonia and Romania. Estonia, which joined the U.N. in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has never served on the Security Council. It beat four-time council veteran Romania after two rounds of ballots, exceeding the necessary two-thirds majority needed. Member states cast secret ballots and candidates must win a two-thirds majority of votes to succeed, even if they are running uncontested. Candidate countries cap off their often years-long campaigns with parties in the lead-up to the vote. Reaction "I want to reiterate that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines views this as an historic occasion," Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told reporters after the election. "We are the smallest country ever to be elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council." The island nation has a population of just 110,000. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has aligned with the Maduro regime in Venezuela. "Non-interference, non-intervention, peaceful settlement of serious difficulties pertaining to governance," the prime minister said when asked what his government's policy is toward Venezuela.   Vietnam had nearly unanimous support in the General Assembly, winning 192 of 193 votes. "As Vietnam went through decades of war, we hope that we can bring to the council the experience of Vietnam, the country that has been able to rebuild after the war and deal with many other issues," said the president's special envoy Le Hoai Trung. Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui said his nation would try to be a "bridge builder" on the council and contribute to trying to solve some of the most important peace and security issues. Council dynamics "With the election of Saint Vincent and Vietnam, the Security Council could tilt a little towards China and Russia next year," said Richard Gowan, U.N. Director, International Crisis Group. "Saint Vincent has stuck with Maduro in Venezuela, and Vietnam hews to a pretty robust anti-Western line in U.N. debates."  Tunisia and Niger will represent Africa on the council. Gowan told VOA they could figure prominently if Libya and the Sahel continue atop the agenda. "It will be hard to ignore their views on issues like the spillover of violence from Libya and the worsening security situation in Burkina Faso," he said. The five new council members will replace Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru and Poland, whose terms end Dec. 31, 2019. They will join the other non-permanent members — Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa — as well as the permanent five members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Canada Details Plans for 5G Internet Rollout

Canada on Wednesday said it was preparing for the arrival of ultra-fast 5G internet service as it outlined plans to make more 5G spectrum available starting next year. The federal Innovation Ministry released a paper outlining changes to an auction expected next year, a decision on a higher frequency millimeter wave spectrum in 2021, and a proposal for a new frequency in 2022. “The next steps in our plan will continue to improve rural internet access and allow for the timely deployment of 5G connectivity while increasing the level of competition to lower prices for Canadians,” Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said in a statement. The government estimates that 5G wireless technologies could be a C$40 billion ($29.8 billion) industry in Canada by 2026, and it is investing C$199 million over five years to modernize spectrum equipment. Canada has not yet said whether or not it will use 5G equipment provided by China-based Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. The United States has accused Huawei of being tied to China’s government, and has effectively banned U.S. firms from doing business with the company for national security reasons.

US Cruise Operators Stop Sailing to Cuba, Travelers Vent Anger Online

Major U.S. cruise operators said on Wednesday they will no longer sail to Cuba following the Trump administration's ban on travel to the Caribbean island, angering travelers and prompting worries about trip cancellations and company earnings. The new restrictions are aimed at pressuring Cuba's Communist government to reform and stop supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. "Due to changes in U.S. policy, the company will no longer be permitted to sail to Cuba effective immediately," Carnival Corp said. A spokesman for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said the company had ceased all calls to Cuba and was modifying previously scheduled sailings. The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday the country would no longer permit visits to Cuba via passenger and recreational vessels, including cruise ships and yachts, as well as private and corporate aircraft. Airlines review regulations American Airlines Group Inc, JetBlue Airways Corp and United Airlines, which started flying to Cuba in 2016, said they were reviewing the revised regulations. Delta Air Lines Inc said it had stopped accepting bookings to Cuba under the so-called people-to-people license as of midnight on June 4. Customers who booked under the exemption before that time will be allowed to travel. "The reduction in the number of travelers will probably mean the end of U.S. commercial air flights from places outside Florida because there won't be sufficient demand to fill regular flights," said William LeoGrande, a Cuba expert and a professor of government at American University. The ban was effective as of Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department told Reuters, giving cruise lines no grace period to change destinations and sowing confusion among cruise passengers. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean said they would stop at different non-Cuban ports and would offer compensation to travelers. Carnival said the guests currently aboard its Carnival Sensation cruise that set sail on June 3 would now stop in Mexican island Cozumel on Thursday instead of Havana. The company said the guests would receive a $100 onboard credit for the inconvenience. "We are working as quickly as possible to secure alternative itineraries for the remainder of our Cuba voyages and expect to have information for sailings further out in the next 2-3 days," Carnival said. It has three cruise lines that sail to Cuba. Royal Caribbean said all cruises on the 'Majesty of the Seas' and 'Empress of the Seas' this year will have alternative ports in the Caribbean. It is also working on alternate itineraries for 2020 sailings. Guests can cancel their current booking for a full refund, or can keep their sailing date with a new itinerary and receive a 50% refund, Royal Caribbean said. Travelers frustrated  On Tuesday, Royal Caribbean said its ships sailing Wednesday and Thursday would no longer stop in Cuba. Travelers took to Twitter to vent their anger and frustration over the forced changes in their vacation plans. "Has anyone's cruise to Cuba from @CruiseNorwegian been rerouted yet? If so where did they change the port of call to? Im (sic) booked for July and PISSED! Thanks Trump!" tweeted Sabrina Carollo @superbri_22. Susan Berland, a parenting coach from Huntersville, North Carolina, said she was enraged that a vacation designed around visiting Cuba had been upended by the Trump administration. "To say I'm angry is an understatement. This whoe (sic) cruise was chosen around going to Cuba and now we can't," tweeted @SusanBerland. Neither responded to requests for further comment. Small  percent of sailings Cuba accounts for a small percent of sailings at about 4% for Norwegian Cruise, about 3% for Royal Caribbean, and about a percent for Carnival, Wolfe Research analyst Jared Shojaian wrote in a note. Shojaian said that while cruise lines can easily swap a Cuban port for another non-Cuban port, guests may have purchased the itinerary entirely for Cuba. "That means cruise lines may need to issue refunds or future cruise credits to compensate guests, which makes forecasting the earnings impact to 2019 even harder, and potentially more of a headwind," he said. Shares of Norwegian Cruise closed down 3.5%, while Royal Caribbean and Carnival ended about 3% lower. 

Peru Congress Gives Vote of Confidence to Government

Peru's government won a confidence vote in the country's Congress on Wednesday after a marathon debate centered on President Martin Vizcarra's effort at passing anti-corruption measures. The president had asked the opposition-controlled Congress for a confidence vote as part of his effort to pressure the legislature into approving a reform package, which includes measures aimed at cleaning up campaign financing and curbing the immunity against prosecution enjoyed by lawmakers. The vote passed with 77 in favor, 44 against and three abstentions. Debate on the confidence motion had started on Tuesday and lasted for more than nine hours before resuming on Wednesday. A vote of no confidence would have triggered the disbanding of the cabinet and allowed Vizcarra to call special legislative elections.    

Brazil's Bolsonaro Formally Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Envoy

Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro received the diplomatic credentials of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's envoy to Brazil, formally recognizing her as the ambassador of the neighboring country. Ambassador Maria Teresa Belandria had said on Friday that the Brazilian government withdrew its invitation to present her credentials at the presidential palace. But her spokeswoman told Reuters on Tuesday the government had changed its mind. Bolsonaro's spokesman General Otavio Rego Barros said Brazil was adopting the stance of other members of the so-called Lima Group of countries that back Guaido and the holding of democratic elections in Venezuela. Belandria, however, will not be able to move in to the Venezuelan embassy in Brasilia because it is still occupied by diplomats representing Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro, and they will not be expelled from Brazil, Rego Barros said. Diplomatic analysts said last week that the military wing of the Bolsonaro government was reluctant to recognize Guaido's envoy because officials do not see an imminent change of government in Venezuela. Guaido's call on the Venezuelan military to abandon Maduro and join the opposition movement went largely unheeded last month, leading many to think he had overplayed his hand with the support of the U.S. government. Bolsonaro, like many leaders in the region, has been sharply critical of Maduro and has recognized Guaido as the country's legitimate leader. Former military officers, who make up about a third of Bolsonaro's cabinet, have been wary of provoking Maduro, warning against moves that could tip an economic and political crisis into violence across Brazil's northern border. Bolsonaro's top security adviser, retired General Augusto  Heleno, told Reuters earlier this month that Venezuela's armed forces will decide Maduro's future and could depose him to lead a transition to democratic elections.

Argentina Supreme Court Upholds Glacier Protection Law

Argentina's Supreme Court upheld the country's glacier protection law Tuesday, rejecting an effort by mining giant Barrick Gold Corp. to have it declared unconstitutional. The decision was praised by environmentalists and marked a setback for one of the world's biggest gold miners.    Barrick argued that the 2010 law could affect its projects near glacial areas in Argentina. But the top court said Barrick had not proved that the law curbing mining on and around the country's glaciers to protect water supplies caused any damage to the company. Barrick owns Pascua-Lama, a high-altitude mine that straddles the Argentina-Chile border. It also runs the Veladero mine in Argentina's San Juan province. The Argentine law broadly defines glaciers, so it protects not only the icy masses most people think of but also "rock glaciers" and frozen groundwater on mountaintops where glaciers have melted away from the surface. The Argentine National Glacier Institute, which had a big hand in drafting the law, pushed the definition because it is believed most glacial water actually comes from such reserves. "We celebrate the ruling because there's no doubt that glaciers must be protected," Greenpeace Argentina spokesperson Gonzalo Strano said in a statement. "Barrick's request to declare the unconstitutionality of the national law was a perverse play that fortunately lost," Strano said. "Now, the law must be followed and Veladero must be closed. We can no longer allow mining on Argentine glaciers."    Representatives at Barrick could not immediately be reached for comment.

Trump Administration Ban on Cruises to Cuba Creates Chaos for US Travelers

The Trump administration banned cruises to Cuba under new restrictions on U.S. travel to the Caribbean island imposed on Tuesday to pressure its Communist government to reform and stop supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The tightening of the decades-old U.S. embargo on Cuba will further wound its crippled economy, as well as hurt U.S. travel companies that had built up Cuban business during the brief 2014-2016 detente between the old Cold War foes. The State Department said the United States will no longer permit visits to Cuba via passenger and recreational vessels, including cruise ships and yachts, as well as private and corporate aircraft. The U.S. Commerce Department told Reuters the ban would be effective from Wednesday, giving cruise lines no grace period to change destinations and creating confusion among cruise passengers. "Please tell me that my cruise to Cuba (in 18 days) is still going to be a cruise to Cuba," beseeched Matthew Watkins on Twitter. Royal Caribbean Cruises announced that ships sailing Wednesday and Thursday would no longer stop in Cuba and it would provide updates on future cruise destinations. Carnival Corp said it would have additional information in "the very near future." Norwegian Cruise Line likewise said it was monitoring the situation. The United States will also no longer allow so-called group people-to-people educational travel, one of the most popular exemptions to the overall ban on U.S. tourism to Cuba. Travel experts said some groups may get around that by instead using one of the 11 other categories still allowed. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had announced the new restrictions in April as part of its rollback of the U.S.-Cuban detente under former President Barack Obama and its broader battle against socialism in Latin America. Cuba experts say the Trump administration appears to be partly eyeing the presidential elections next year, with the key swing state of Florida home to many Cuban-American exiles who welcome the harder line on Havana. "The Administration has advanced the President’s Cuba policy by ending “veiled tourism” to Cuba and imposing restrictions on vessels," said a tweet from Trump's national security adviser John Bolton, who has led the U.S. campaign against what he has called the "troika of tyranny" of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. "We will continue to take actions to restrict the Cuban regime’s access to U.S. dollars.” Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the island would not be intimidated. "They have not been able to asphyxiate us, they will not be able to stop us, we will continue to live and we will conquer," he wrote on Twitter. Many analysts have said the Trump administration is pursuing a failed policy of trying to overthrow Cuba's government through sanctions, which has served only to give Havana an excuse for its own economic failings over the past 60 years and a pretext to clamp down on domestic opposition. This is the second time the Trump administration has tightened U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba. While the measures are designed to hit government coffers, they are also hurting Cuba's fledgling private sector, which the United States has said it wants to support. "This is another hard blow," said Miguel Ãýngel Morales, owner of La Moneda Cubana, a restaurant in Old Havana. "Around 50% of our business comes from the cruise ships." Strangling the economy The Trump administration is hitting the two areas of the economy, tourism and investment, that have helped Cuba keep the economy afloat even as it has faced declining Venezuelan aid and exports in recent years. Last month, the administration allowed U.S. lawsuits against foreign companies for the use of property confiscated after Cuba's 1959 revolution, a move that will likely dampen future foreign investment. Meanwhile, U.S. travel to Cuba had boomed in recent years after Obama loosened restrictions, allowing the re-establishment of regular commercial flights and cruise services. The United States became the second-largest source of travelers to the island after Canada, with a majority arriving on cruises ships. According to the Cuban government, 257,500 U.S. citizens, not including those of Cuban origin, visited Cuba from January through March, with 55% arriving on cruise ships. But critics of the Cuban government said much of this travel was not for educational but rather for recreational purposes, which contradicted the ban on tourism. "He thinks we are just coming here as a tourist but you are learning so much. It's ridiculous we won't be able to come anymore," said Cheryl Kolar, 68, a retired nurse who had traveled to Havana by cruise ship. "Cuba is the only country we are not allowed to go to. We can go to Russia, but for some reason Trump has something against Cuba."

Mexico Warns US Tariff Would Hurt Both Nations

Michael Bowman contributed to this report. Mexico warned Monday that President Donald Trump's threatened new tariff on its exports to the United States would hurt both countries' economies and cause even more Central American migrants to travel through Mexico to reach the United States. At the start of talks in Washington, Mexican officials said they could only go so far in meeting Trump's demand to block migrants' passage through Mexico to avert Trump's imposition of a 5% tariff next week. The officials specifically ruled out a "third safe country" agreement requiring U.S. asylum-seekers to first apply for refuge in Mexico. ​"There is a clear limit to what we can negotiate, and the limit is Mexican dignity," Mexico's ambassador to the United States, Martha Barcena, said. Barcena added that U.S. tariffs "could cause financial and economic instability," reducing Mexico's capacity to address the flow of migrants and "offer alternatives" to people fleeing Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Mexican officials contended that an additional quarter million migrants could try to reach the U.S. if the tariff is imposed, on top of the tens of thousands already reaching the southern U.S. border each month. Trump showed no sign of softening his demand as he tweeted during a visit to London. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador remained confident the two sides would reach an agreement, telling reporters Monday that he was optimistic. He said his government would not engage in confrontation, and would always defend those who migrate out of necessity due to violence or a lack of food or job opportunities. He also remained positive that no matter what happens in the dispute with the United States, Mexico has "exception, extraordinary," people and can push through any adversity. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard are due to hold further talks about the dispute on Wednesday. U.S. lawmakers returning to Washington after a weeklong congressional recess sharply criticized Trump's latest tariff tactic aimed at a major U.S. trading partner. "This (tariffs) is not a popular concept," Republican Sen. John Cornyn said of public opinion in Texas, which he represents. "Mexico is our biggest export market." Another Republican, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, expressed concerns that trade friction could harm a newly negotiated free trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada. "I'm not a big advocate of tariffs, and I'd like to get the USMCA agreement approved," Blunt told VOA. "I don't see how the addition of a tariff (on Mexican goods) right now helps make that happen." "Mexico is a critical trading partner of the United States," Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland said. "You put up barriers, it's going to end up costing us jobs, and it's going to cost consumers." Cardin added that Trump's threatened tariff "would be counterproductive," as far as boosting U.S. border security. "If we need cooperation on the southern border, they (Mexican officials) are not going to give us cooperation. Why bother if we're going to have an antagonistic relationship?" Cardin said.

US, Mexican Officials to Meet on Immigration and Tariff Threat

As U.S. and Mexican teams launch talks this week in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump says he is "really okay" proceeding with his threat to impose tariffs on Mexican goods unless Mexico does more to cut the number of Central American migrants reaching the border. "Everyone is coming through Mexico -- including drugs, including human trafficking -- and we're going to stop it or we're not going to do business and that's going to be it. It's very simple," Trump told reporters late Sunday."We'll see what can be done. But if it's not done, you know what we're going to be doing." U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Mexican Economy Secretary Graciela Marquez lead off with talks Monday, and there is a scheduled meeting Wednesday between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard said he will be "firm and defend the dignity of Mexico." The Mexican delegation is set to lay out more of its position for the talks Monday morning at a news conference. But as Trump reiterated his willingness to go forward with the tariff plan, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his government is a friend of the U.S. government, that he wants to remain a friend of Trump, and that the Mexican people are friends with the people of the United States. "Let us swear that nothing and nobody separates our beautiful and sacred friendship," Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. He has called for dialogue in resolving tensions rather than "coercive measures." Trump issued his threat last week, saying the United States would impose a 5% tariff on Mexican goods beginning June 10, and would continue to raise it each month to as much as 25% by October 1. The U.S. president said on Twitter the tariffs would remain "until such time as illegal migrants coming through Mexico, and into our country, STOP."

Mexican President Urges Oil Independence Amid US Trade Tensions

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reiterated on Sunday the need for oil independence as his government said it would tender six construction contracts in June for a planned oil refinery in the southern state of Tabasco. Tensions between Mexico and the United States have been running high in recent days after President Donald Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Mexican goods unless Mexico halts a surge in illegal migration. "We, our children and grandchildren aspire to live in a free, independent, sovereign country and we do not want to be a colony of any foreign country," Lopez Obrador told a cheering crowd at an event to mark the start of the refinery's construction. "The most important thing at this moment in time is producing petroleum," he added, saying the country needed to work toward "energy self-sufficiency." Much of Mexico's gasoline need is met by U.S. imports, and Lopez Obrador wants Mexico to be able to cover its own demand. "We have, I repeat, a good relationship with the United States, and with all governments in the world, but we do not want to be exposed and therefore it's important that we are self-sufficient," the president added. Lopez Obrador has used similar language in the past when talking about oil, but his comments were lent extra weight because of the recent flare-up in tensions with Trump. At the event, he repeated his desire to have good relations with Trump, but was at pains to say that maintaining the friendship of the American people was of paramount importance. Mexican Energy Minister Rocio Nahle said at the same event that Mexico would tender six contracts for the plan to build the country's first oil refinery in four decades. "We will be tendering six construction contracts at the end of June so that all the parts that are under construction can start at the same time and we can finish the refinery in three years," she said, without giving more details. Investors in highly indebted state oil company Pemex, which will build the refinery, have repeatedly expressed concern that the project would divert funds from the more profitable exploration and production business. 

Canada Suspends Operations at Embassy in Venezuela

Canada suspended operations at its embassy in Venezuela on Sunday, saying the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro regime would not renew visas for its diplomats. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement that Canada had no choice. "The regime has taken steps to limit the ability of foreign embassies to function in Venezuela, particularly those advocating for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela," Freeland said. "Unfortunately, at the end of this month, Canadian diplomats in Venezuela will no longer be in a position to obtain diplomatic accreditation under the Maduro regime, and their visas will expire. Therefore, we are left with no choice but to temporarily suspend our operations at the Embassy of Canada to Venezuela, effective immediately." Freeland said Canada is evaluating the status of Venezuelan diplomats appointed by the Maduro regime to Canada. Canada has played a key role within the Lima Group, which is made up of nearly a dozen Latin American nations and Canada. It has led the push to recognize opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader and seeks ways to remove Maduro. Freeland said Canada will continue to speak out against the Maduro regime. Freeland is attending a Lima Group meeting in New York on Monday. The U.S. withdrew its remaining embassy staff from Venezuela in March, citing a deteriorating situation. Venezuela is in the throes of a historic political and social crisis marked by shortages of food and medicine that has driven 3 million people to flee the country in recent years. Canada will continue to provide consular assistance to Canadians in Venezuela through its embassy in Colombia. For several months, Canada has advised Canadians to avoid all travel to Venezuela.  

Comfortable State Wins Forecast for Mexico’s President

Mexico’s president is expected to score comfortable election wins Sunday in the first test of his popularity since taking office, despite a weak economy, rampant violence and troubled relations with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s party is tipped for victory in state gubernatorial races in Baja California on the U.S. border and in the central region of Puebla, the two biggest posts among dozens up for grabs. Opinion polls give his leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) a commanding lead against a divided opposition in both states, even as clouds have gathered on the horizon because of a potentially calamitous trade row with Trump. Trump tariff threat Trump said Thursday that he would hit all Mexican exports to the United States with an escalating 5% tariff from June 10 unless Mexico stops a surge in illegal immigrants from Central America reaching the U.S. border. Lopez Obrador sent his foreign minister to Washington to try to broker an accord, and hinted Saturday that he could agree to toughen migration controls to reach a deal, forecasting “good results” from bilateral talks next week. Around 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, giving Trump plenty of leverage to put pressure on Lopez Obrador, who took office in December. Since assuming the presidency, Lopez Obrador has repeatedly vowed to root out political corruption, which he says is a legacy of his adversaries’ years in power. Mixed record Disheartened and disorganized, the opposition has yet to recover public trust despite concern about Lopez Obrador’s economic management and his polarizing instincts. Indeed, some prominent figures from the main opposition parties have declared their support for MORENA. Lopez Obrador’s fight against graft has yet to show tangible results, but this week the government began stepping up a major probe into suspected financial wrongdoing by a former boss of struggling state oil company Pemex. Still, the 65-year-old’s efforts to run a tight budget have caused shortfalls in public services, and helped prompt the first major resignation from his government last month. His abrupt decisions on economic policy and doubts about the future of Pemex have rattled financial markets, and the economy contracted 0.2% quarter-on-quarter during the first quarter. Meanwhile, murders are on track to surpass last year’s record of nearly 29,000, official data show.

El Salvador’s President Vows to Cure Country’s Ills

El Salvador’s new President Nayib Bukele took office Saturday pledging to cure the Central American country that he described as a “sick child” following years of violence and migration that has strained relations with the United States. The 37-year-old former mayor of San Salvador, who won more votes than all other candidates in the February presidential election, brought an end to a two-party system that has held sway over the country for three decades. “Our country is like a sick child, now it’s up to all of us to take care of it,” Bukele told the crowd. “We have to suffer a little now, we have to have a little pain, assume our responsibility and all as brothers to bring forward that child.” Accompanied by his pregnant wife, Gabriela Rodriguez, Bukele vowed to make bitter decisions for the impoverished and violence-plagued Central American country during his five year term. He did not give details. His presidency breaks three decades of bipartisanship between the conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and the outgoing Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). ​Trump sends congratulations Bukele must now contend with U.S. President Donald Trump’s frequent threats to cut aid to El Salvador, as well as neighboring Guatemala and Honduras, if they do not do more to curb migration to the United States. Trump congratulated Bukele on Saturday on Twitter. Tensions over migration have been running high between the United States and its southern neighbor Mexico, with Trump threatening earlier this week to impose punitive tariffs on Mexican goods exported to the United States on June 10. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez were not invited to the ceremony, since Bukele considers them “undemocratic” governments.

A Look at Mexican Efforts to Stem Tide of Migrants

President Donald Trump says he's imposing tariffs on all goods from Mexico until the country stops the flow of undocumented migrants from Central America who cross its territory and enter the United States. Trump tweeted Friday that Mexico ``can easily fix this problem. Time for them to finally do what must be done!'' Here's a look at what Mexico has done so far:    The problem    In the first three months of 2019, as many as 300,000 migrants — mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador — crossed through Mexico to reach the United States. Many were families with children, who cannot be detained for long in the United States. ​How did Mexico's new president look at immigration? Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office on Dec. 1, intending to reduce migration by addressing its root causes: joblessness, poverty and violence in such countries as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. He proposed creating a plan to develop the economies of Central America and southern Mexico, while creating humanitarian and work visas so that Central American migrants could stay in Mexico instead of heading to the U.S. Did that cause a spike in migration? The biggest drivers of the migrant exodus were in place before Lopez Obrador took office, and the first massive caravan of migrants formed last year, months before he took office. The caravans came about after tens of thousands of poor Central Americans decided they were a safer option than paying smugglers. New immigration routes for Cubans, Haitians and people from Africa also had opened up through Central America. Lopez Obrador's offers of visas may have made it easier or safer to cross Mexico, but probably didn't play a key role in most people's decision to leave their home countries.  What changed in Mexico? A first huge caravan of migrants crossed Mexico headed for the U.S. border in November, before Lopez Obrador took office. The arrival of over 10,000 migrants taxed border facilities and angered Mexicans living in border cities. In January, another caravan crossed Mexico. By the time the third formed in April, it was clear that Mexico could no longer maintain an open-door policy. In April, the United States began slowing border crossings by reassigning border inspection personnel to deal with the influx of migrants already inside the United States. That started hurting Mexico's economy, especially as time-sensitive shipments were held up at the border. Separately, migrants began forcing their way across the border with Guatemala, overwhelming border forces and sometimes refusing to register once they arrived.  ​Did U.S. pressure affect Mexican policy? The border crossing slowdown in April and repeated threats by Trump to close the border or impose tariffs have played a role in changing Mexico's policies. But Mexicans' attitudes are also shifting. Increasingly, many Mexicans see large-scale movement of migrants across their country as a threat to their own safety and economy. Has Mexico helped the U.S. at all? Mexico is only bound to take in its own citizens when the U.S. expels people at border crossings, and has traditionally refused to take in people from other countries. But starting in late January, Mexico has allowed the United States to return over 6,748 Central Americans to Mexican border cities as they wait to hear about their U.S. asylum claims. The Remain in Mexico policy, as it is known, is meant to reduce the attractiveness of U.S. asylum requests that in the past had allowed claimants to remain in the United States for years as their cases wound their way through the courts. Has Mexico done more to limit migration? Mexico staged one of its first large-scale raids on a migrant caravan in April, detaining 371 people on a highway in the southern state of Chiapas. At the same time, Mexico announced that it would no longer grant humanitarian visas at the border with Guatemala after 15,000 people applied in the course of a few weeks. Instead, Mexico encouraged potential migrants to apply for such visas at Mexican consulates in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Humanitarian visas are still being issued for migrants already in Mexico, but at a very slow pace. Work visas are now limited to only a few southern border states in Mexico where wages are low and few migrants want to stay. When migrants began to hop freight trains toward the U.S. border, as they did in past decades, Mexico started police raids on the train. When Lopez Obrador took office, detentions of migrants were relatively low, with 5,884 migrants deported in January. By the end of May, the figure had risen to 15,654. ​Why don't migrants ask for asylum in Mexico? Some do. There have been over 18,000 requests for asylum filed in Mexico in the first four months of 2019, several times the levels of a few years ago. But many migrants say they either don't feel safe in Mexico, or they want to join relatives already in the United States. Many want to earn more money than is possible in Mexico. Has Mexico yielded to U.S. immigration pressure in the past? During a previous surge in unaccompanied minors at the U.S. border in 2014, Mexico's president at the time, Enrique Pena Nieto, tightened security at Mexico's porous southern border, including immigration checkpoints and raids on freight trains used by the migrants. 

Strong Earthquake Hits off Coast of El Salvador

A strong earthquake hit off the coast of El Salvador early Thursday, sending frightened residents running out of their homes in the predawn hours. Authorities said a small tsunami was possible, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries. “Monitoring of the entire country reflects that there has not been grave or widespread damage,” El Salvador's Civil Defense agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6. Its epicenter was about 17 miles (28 kilometers) south-southeast of La Libertad, a suburb of the regional capital, Santa Tecla, and it was recorded at a depth of 65 kilometers (40 miles). Via Twitter, El Salvador's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources warned people to stay away from the Pacific Ocean for the next four hours. The ministry said sea-level rises of up to 30 centimeters (11 inches) were possible along the length of El Salvador's coast. It reported that seven aftershocks of between magnitude 4.1 and 5.0 were recorded. The earthquake was felt strongly in the capital, San Salvador. People left their homes with flashlights, and power was knocked out in at least some areas. Firefighters said they were monitoring various areas but did not report any damage or injuries. Classes were canceled in coastal areas as a precaution.