Mexico: Disappearances increase by 213%. According to Mexico Evalúa, the number of missing persons has risen, while homicide rates have decreased. Only 3,377 permanent jobs were created last year, reports IMSS. The Mexican government collected 159.64 billion pesos in 2025 from taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks, gambling, and junk food. The highest revenues came from cigarette taxes (49.52 billion pesos) and alcoholic beverages (25.97 billion pesos). In Sinaloa, 10 bodies were found in mass graves in El Verde, five of which correspond to kidnapped miners. Cuba is facing an ongoing crisis, exacerbated by a lack of aviation fuel. Air Canada has suspended flights, while Viva Aerobus and Aeroméxico maintain routes with technical stops. Inflation reached 3.79% annually in January, a 22-month high. The underlying inflation rate rose to 4.52%. A significant drop in job creation was also recorded, marking the largest decline in a decade. A proposal has been made to mandate background checks for candidates to prevent ties to crime and to strengthen oversight of campaign finances.
