AGP Executive Report

Returned-Missionary Support: The LDS Church is expanding “My Plan For Returned Missionaries” to help young proselytizers handle the tough shift back to normal life after rigid mission rules. Press Freedom Under Pressure: A report on the anti-ICC US campaign shows mixed results across Latin America, with Venezuela the only country so far signaling withdrawal. Censorship & Access to Scripture: A new Bible Access List 2026 says 500M Christians face restrictions, with believers in some countries risking imprisonment or death for possessing Scripture. Publishing Industry Watch: Daniela Schlingmann Literary Scouting promoted Isabel Martin and Tom Taylor, highlighting how literary scouting keeps expanding across borders. Brazil Election Culture Clash: Brazil’s patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, is emerging as an election flashpoint amid claims Bolsonaro could “decree” Brazil belongs to Jesus. Bolivia Legal Maneuver Claims: A SinEmbargo report links the arrest of Bolivia’s attorney general to possible moves tied to Fernando Cerimedo and US sanctions. Climate Strain on Schools: El Niño fears in California point to leaky, aging school buildings and potential closures as storms intensify.

Publishing & Books: Princeton anthropology professor Amelia Frank-Vitale visited TCNJ to discuss her new book Leave if You Can: Migration and Violence in Bordered Worlds, drawing on decade-long fieldwork across Honduras and Mexico. Press Freedom: Cuba’s independent journalist Austin Llerandi was forced into exile after state security threatened prison over his newsletter Amanecer Habanero; he’s now in Brazil. Book Culture & Events: A Santo Domingo Book Fair spotlighted literature and poetry, while a new Latino horror anthology taps regional folklore for scares. Industry & Media: Netflix’s awards push spotlights the Spanish-language epic La Bola Negra as it chases major Oscar momentum. Tech & Publishing Adjacent: A report on AI drug discovery market growth highlights how forecasts vary widely as the sector shifts toward deployment. Latin America Travel (book-adjacent): Aeroméxico announced nonstop Mexico City–Nassau service starting March 19, 2027.

Local Publishing & Community: Reading, Pennsylvania’s first-ever “Story Lane: Book Fair and Market” brings authors, artisans, and workshops under one roof at the Reading Public Library, with panels and writing sessions plus an outdoor evening market. Book Industry Spotlight: Kirkus Reviews spotlights “The Food Business Blueprint” as a “Get It” pick, boosting a new practical guide for building and scaling food enterprises in the AI age. Latin American Literary Culture: A new bilingual horror anthology, “Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror,” gathers 17 stories by Latin American authors, including Puerto Rico-set undead tourism and demon possession tales. Publishing & Translation: Chicago translators discuss how they “inhabit” texts amid rising AI tools, with a focus on translated fiction and the craft of voice. Books & Heritage: Trinidad and Tobago’s Bocas Lit Fest honors historian Angelo Bissessarsingh, keeping local memory alive through readings and a growing virtual museum. Market Watch: MercadoLibre shares rebound in Frankfurt after a rough September, as investors weigh growth against thinner margins.

Brazil Publishing & Media: A new legal fight over journalist source confidentiality is heating up in Brazil after a search-and-seizure operation targeting Maranhão journalist Luís Pablo over a Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino story sparked a wider debate on whether source protection can be invoked. Indigenous Voices: A Brazilian/Paraguay border writer reflects on Guarani-Kaiowá knowledge and why refusing to “archive” in notebooks can be survival—an argument that lands squarely in the publishing conversation about who gets recorded. Books & Scholarship: Davidson College professor Angela Willis launches Reinaldo Arenas and the Cultural Canon, revisiting the Cuban writer’s queer legacy and censorship. Literary Culture in the Region: The Santo Domingo Book Fair spotlights literature and poetry, while Mexico’s journalists face rising lawsuits—another reminder that publishing and press freedom are tightly linked. Publishing Events: Kansas City author Angela Cervantes (American Girl’s 2026 Girl of the Year) brings Kansas storytelling and Mexican American heritage to KU Libraries for Hispanic Heritage Month. Latin American Arts: A revival of David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and the Railroad runs in Los Angeles, pairing immigrant labor history with Chinese opera.

Press Freedom Under Pressure (Mexico): A new AP report says Mexico is seeing a surge in lawsuits aimed at journalists—Article 19 counts 69 cases in 2025, up sharply—highlighting how legal action is being used to silence outlets, with the Tribuna case in Campeche as a flagship example. Literary Culture Spotlight (Paraguay): Asunción’s Port hosts the free Words & Sound 2026 festival and book fair on Oct. 3, mixing writer talks, workshops, and live performances, with Argentine authors Agustina Bazterrica and Loyds among the headline guests. Argentina Media War (Argentina): RSF analyzed Javier Milei’s X posts and says he attacked journalists and the media 1,674 times in 47 days, with corruption accusations dominating—fueling concerns about press freedom. Publishing/Books & AI (France): Multiple reports note France’s top literary prize dropping a novel after AI/plagiarism accusations, underscoring how AI authorship claims are reshaping book awards and publishing trust. Tourism + Books (Caribbean/ABC islands): Coverage on Aruba/Curaçao points to capacity strains and booking pressure for travelers—useful context for regional cultural events and book tourism.

Rare Earths & Mining: Power Minerals extended high-grade rare earth mineralisation at Brazil’s Morro do Ferro, reporting 39m at 4.42% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 80m, with deeper assays still pending. Digital Rights & Consumer Protection (Mexico): Mexico’s lawmakers are pushing a consumer-rights initiative for digital goods, aiming to force clearer disclosure of “license vs. purchase” terms—after related antitrust complaints involving Sony’s reported shift away from physical PlayStation games. Publishing & Culture (Colombia): A Colombian educator released Despertar de la conciencia, saying she received messages from Jesus and archangels since 2023 and turned them into a spirituality-focused book. Books on Screen (US-Mexico/Tejano History): Los Tejanos: A 500-Year History won Best Documentary at the 2026 South Texas International Film Festival, with screenings continuing in Texas and a Hispanic Heritage Month tour. Caribbean Diaspora & Voting: USCIS-backed cases in Florida and New Jersey charged Caribbean immigrants tied to noncitizen voting schemes. Tech/Logistics: Flexport launched an AI agent server to help shippers track, quote, and book freight via connected agents.

Publishing & Screen Adaptations: Spain’s Movistar Plus Original series The Castle (based on Mabel Lozano’s non-fiction book El proxeneta) is making waves at San Sebastián with a brutal, fictionalized look at trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. Photography & Creative Industry: The Sony World Photography Awards open entries for 2027, with a $25,000 overall prize and a judging panel that includes Colombia’s Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo. Latin Music Spotlight: Melissa Aldana and Gonzalo Rubalcaba bring their Latin American songbook to El Tiny for Latin Music Month, blending Cuban ballads with jazz-led performances. AI Safety & Media Tech: Anthropic warns advanced AI could pose “catastrophic or existential risks,” while Meta’s “Muse” and OpenAI’s testing raise fresh safety concerns. Tourism in the Mexican Caribbean: Fairmont Mayakoba launches a “Beach Promise” guaranteeing a free night if sargassum disrupts beach access during fall 2026. Health & Pharma in the Region: Knight Therapeutics signs an exclusive distribution deal for mogamulizumab (POTELIGEO®) across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. Brazil Legal/Regulatory: Brazil’s Supreme Court is asked to suspend a provisional measure that shut down the licensed online gambling market.

AI & Publishing Ethics: France’s Goncourt prize dropped a novel after AI-writing accusations, reigniting debate over authorship and detection. Tech Labor & Latin America: A new analysis argues AI platforms rely on “extractivism,” including labor exploitation tied to data work, with Venezuela highlighted as an attractive pool. Church Listening Process: Canada’s bishops heard a “synodal” update that contrasts with Latin America’s more “organic” Church culture, underscoring how regional publishing of ideas shapes reform. Manga & Global IP: Captain Tsubasa: Rising Sun Finals returns to serialization Oct. 6, a reminder of how Latin American audiences keep tracking Japanese publishing pipelines. Caribbean Business Links: Trinidad and Tobago’s envoy to India pitches joint ventures beyond metro hubs, a publishing-adjacent story about cross-border dealmaking and manufacturing partnerships. Tourism Spotlight: Colombia is shortlisted for a major “Most Desirable Country” travel award, boosting visibility for bookish cultural tourism and literary festivals.

FILBo International Book Fair: Colombia’s Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo) names Sharjah as its first Arab Guest of Honour for the 39th edition, running April 20–May 3, 2027, spotlighting publishing and translation ties between the UAE and Latin America. Iberseries & Platino Industria: Madrid hosts the 2026 edition of the Spanish- and Portuguese-language screen industry event, with AI, microdramas, co-productions and literary adaptations on the agenda. Press Freedom in Mexico: Mexico faces a surge in lawsuits targeting journalists and outlets, with watchdogs warning legal action is being used to silence reporting. Amazon Climate Impact: Analysis credits Brazil’s Lula-era policies with avoiding at least 20,000 km² of deforestation since 2022, with the next election seen as pivotal for forest protection. Literary AI Scandal (France): Haiti-Canadian author Thélyson Orélien’s novel is pulled from France’s Prix Goncourt shortlist amid AI-writing accusations, reigniting debate over detection and fairness. Sustainable Palm Oil (Latin America): RSPO’s 2026 impact report says certified sustainable palm oil is expanding fast, with Latin America a major driver of growth.

Payments for games: EBANX and NetEase Games Club are teaming up to expand local payment methods across Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Peru (Pix, SPEI, PagoEfectivo, and Mercado Pago), aiming to close the credit-card gap for players. Book-to-screen buzz: Prime Video’s “You+Me – Against the World” is being framed as a major book-to-screen hit after topping streaming charts shortly after release. Tourism + tech: Guyana marks World Tourism Day 2026 by pushing AI and digital tools to modernize tourism—while insisting the human side of hospitality stays central. Climate + energy reliability: A feature highlights Guyana’s oil wealth alongside persistent blackouts, pointing to grid strain and looking at microgrid-style solutions. Cruise disruption in Mexico: Carnival Panorama and Virgin Voyages reroute away from Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán (and other Mexican ports) due to Hurricane Polo, with refunds for booked excursions. Global publishing-adjacent culture: A literary/film adaptation angle pops up again with “Wild & Award-Winning” entertainment coverage and screen-to-page crossover chatter.

Publishing & Screen Adaptations: Iberseries & Platino Industria’s new pitch initiative is lining up Spanish, Mexico, and Argentina literary titles for TV and streaming, including Xavier Bosch’s cross-border affair novel Alguien como tú—a reminder that LatAm publishing is increasingly built for audiovisual life. Venezuela Media & Dialogue: Venezuela’s government says it has wrapped a second round of talks with 2015 former lawmakers, agreeing to keep expanding the lifting of administrative measures against news portals and electronic media, while also signaling a review of the radio spectrum framework. Venezuela Politics: María Corina Machado says a path out of Venezuela’s crisis could come “in the coming weeks,” pushing for electoral participation that includes Venezuelans abroad. Literary Culture: Nigerian American author Tomi Adeyemi talks about her new novel The Siren and why she chose an author portrait cover—plus the ongoing global conversation around authorship, ownership, and adaptation. Book Industry Watch: France’s Goncourt prize removed a Haitian-Canadian author’s novel from its longlist after AI and plagiarism accusations, reigniting the debate over originality in publishing.

AI vs. French Lit: Haitian-Canadian novelist Thelyson Orélien’s debut “It Was Either That or Die” was pulled from France’s Goncourt longlist after AI-writing and plagiarism claims—his publishers initially backed him, but the Académie says it acted to protect the prize’s integrity. Publishing & Ethics: The fallout spotlights how unreliable AI detectors can be, with conflicting test results fueling a wider debate about originality and race in literary gatekeeping. Caribbean Migration: Haiti’s PM Alix Didier Fils-Aimé urged UN members to treat returning migrants with dignity as deportations rise, citing nearly 200,000 forced returns in the first eight months. LatAm Politics: Mexico City will host “Foro América Libre,” a PAN-linked right-wing gathering backed by figures including Felipe Calderón and Luis Almagro, framing itself as defending democratic governments across the region. Books & Culture: A WKU visit by romance author Alexandra Vasti highlighted how genre fiction is taught (or not) in academia and why “commercial” writing still struggles for legitimacy. Sports & Identity: The USMNT opened its 2030 World Cup cycle with a youth-heavy 4-1 friendly win over Peru, with 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan among debutants.

AI & Publishing Integrity: France’s Prix Goncourt removed Canadian-Haitian novelist Thélyson Orélien’s debut from its longlist after AI-plagiarism allegations, while his publisher paused promotion amid ongoing questions about whether AI tools were used. Literary Tech Debate: The controversy is reigniting the wider fight over whether AI detectors can reliably flag machine-written text—especially when critics say tools can misread human style. Caribbean Tourism via Media: Antigua and Barbuda is betting on a new “dating tourism” angle with Love Link Caribbean, a YouTube reality series filmed across the islands and pitched as a fresh way to market travel beyond honeymoons. Regional Culture & Books: Iberseries & Platino Industria’s Madrid pitching slate includes “La librera,” a story about opening Spain’s first LGBT bookstore and how a community’s politics can later abandon its founder. Health & Rights (LatAm focus): Guttmacher’s SHE & Rights session highlights how fully funding sexual and reproductive healthcare across Latin America and the Caribbean can cut maternal deaths and unsafe abortions.

Boomtown Baja (Mexico): Los Cabos’ population jumped over 20% in five years, with the state now counting 961,514 residents and Los Cabos growing fastest—putting pressure on water, schools, clinics, and roads. Local Governance & Costs (Mexico/US): San Diego’s trash-fee rollout is under fire after reports of tens of thousands of homeowners being overcharged, with city leaders pointing to a technical glitch. Publishing & Culture (Latin America): El Salvador’s municipal libraries are running “Along the Paths of Knowledge” reading clubs to bring Latin American literature closer to students and communities. Literary Awards & AI (France): The Goncourt prize removed a debut novel from its longlist after plagiarism claims and findings suggesting it was largely produced with AI. Environmental Journalism (Latin America): Mongabay Latam marked its 10th anniversary with PUMA FEST in Bogotá, bringing together reporters across the region to focus on environmental crime, safety, and the role of AI in journalism. Music Publishing (Latin America): Warner Music reshuffled leadership, with Alejandro Duque moving to president of Warner Music International—an update that matters for Latin American music rights and publishing. Books & Identity (US/Caribbean): A new amika-curated exhibition, “Crowns in Bloom,” uses contemporary art to explore hair as identity and cultural memory.

Philippines & OFWs: The NBI is reportedly planning overseas cybercrime support, with the Middle East first, to help Filipino victims and coordinate cases abroad. Brazilian Film & Publishing: Rio Film Festival’s artistic director Ilda Santiago says the Oct. 1–11 edition will open with Cannes buzz “La Bola Negra” and close with “Club Kid,” with 270+ features and 16 Oscar submissions. Latin American Small Presses: Pomona College hosted “Latin American Small Presses,” spotlighting independent publishers from Mexico and the region, including Taller California and others. Packaging & Design (Brazil): Alzamora Group won three European Carton Excellence Awards for cardboard solutions, including a child-safety “single-piece” design. Art & Books (Brazil/Türkiye): Alex Cerveny’s “Atlas of Encounters” opens Sept. 24 in Istanbul, blending astronomy, architecture, and body through interventions on Ottoman manuscripts. Culture & Identity: A new controversy swirls around Karol G after a concert clip involving an Israeli flag sparked boos and polarized debate.

AI & Authorship Scandal: Quebec author Thélyson Orélien faces fresh plagiarism allegations after a La Presse report claims passages in earlier articles overlap with other works, as his debut novel “C’était ça ou mourir” is already at the center of an AI-writing controversy; his publisher says it’s suspending promotion while integrity concerns are reviewed. Publishing Industry Watch: The Orélien case spotlights how AI-detection tools like Pangram are being used in literary disputes, with conflicting results reported by outlets. Local Infrastructure Funding: In Mexico’s Baja California Sur, FAIS social-infrastructure funds reportedly fell 70% in 2026, and officials warn the cut may repeat in 2027—threatening roads, water, drainage, lighting, and community projects. Book & Culture Events: A Spanish-language literary festival (LéaLA) returns in Los Angeles, adding more workshops and author programming for readers. Rare Earths & Supply Chains: Axel REE says its Woolrich rare-earth resource in Brazil more than doubled, strengthening the basis for planned in situ recovery tests.