UN Leadership Race: Six candidates, including Chile’s Michelle Bachelet and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, faced a televised UN town hall ahead of the formal selection process, as they try to restore credibility in a crisis-hit organization. Argentina-Brazil Politics: President Javier Milei is set to back Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s bid in Brazil, aiming to energize right-wing momentum after months of scandal and internal strain. Venezuela Connectivity: Cirion says it restored Venezuela’s main submarine fiber cable within 29 days after June earthquakes severed it, reopening international communications. Venezuela Earthquake Costs: The World Bank estimates damage from the quakes at about $19.6 billion, adding pressure on recovery financing. Digital Finance for LatAm: Cosmos Labs and Peersyst signed an MOU with LNET to explore CBDC and tokenized-asset interoperability across Latin America under an IDB Lab-funded project. Trade & Tariffs Shock: New US forced-labor tariffs on 60 partners take effect, with rates from 10% to 12.5%, raising uncertainty for major economies tied to US supply chains. Energy Transition Deals: Greenvolt agreed to sell a 57.47 MWp solar park in Hungary, with an option for co-located battery storage, signaling continued renewables investment flows. Regional Trade Links: Taiwan’s Latin America trade office expanded in Taipei to cover six allies, aiming to boost business matchmaking and investment. Drug Trafficking Crackdowns: Liberia seized nearly four tons of cocaine worth over $317 million, arresting two foreign suspects and pointing to a long-running network.