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LATEST NEWS
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Medellin-based Publicize hosts Miami event for startups to pitch the media
On Wednesday, March 20th, startups and entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to network with distinguished members of the media during a Publicize Connect Event in Miami. The event, which is free admission, will follow the format of a pitch competition, allowing for each of the participating entrepreneurs to pitch their startup to a panel of media judges and then receive feedback. At the time of publishing, registration for the event is still open. Publicize Connect Miami will be the fourth in a series of Publicize Connect events held this year—the first three were held in Bogota, Medellin, and Mexico […]Read more...
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Bolsonaro’s weaponized social media
On Sunday, March 10, Bolsonaro published a defamatory tweet about Brazilian journalist Constança Rezende, falsely accusing her of wanting to ruin the life of his son Flavio Bolsonaro and seeking his own impeachment. According to sources obtained by The Guardian, Rezende was forced to suspend her social media accounts after “receiv[ing] veiled threats,” Estado de São Paulo’s director of journalism João Caminoto told the UK newspaper. The Estado journalist and subject of the attack had been looking into corruption allegations surrounding Fabrício Queiroz, advisor and driver for Bolsonaro’s son. Bolsonaro’s latest tweet falls in line with an onslaught of hostile tweets […]Read more...
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Latin America leads the way for women working in STEM
Thirteen-year-old Wendy Estefanía Giraldo Estrada, from the Antioquian municipality of Rionegro, likes building and programming robots. “It has always been thought of as only for men,” she told Latin America Reports at ForoMET Medellín, an event designed to celebrate women’s achievements in the fields of science and information technology, and promote gender diversity in the industry. “I would like to change this thought process.” Giraldo Estrada was given the opportunity to learn about robotics thanks to a programme that arrived at her school, Institución Educativa Santa Bárbara, through Medellin’s local government in 2017. ‘Girl Powered’ is a programme offered to girls between the […]Read more...
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Mexico City’s air is bad for you
MEXICO CITY – Roma. Well known among the capital’s citizens as being a bohemian mecca for artists and expats, and recently even more renowned after director Alfonso Cuarón chose it as the backdrop for his latest Oscar-winning film of the same name. It is here in the lush, tree-lined avenues that the roads are relatively quiet. Dog walkers descend onto the promenades and brush shoulders with joggers and families, all while the European-looking cafes buzz with remote workers tapping away on their keyboards. There is an air of tranquillity here which is a far cry from chaos just a few blocks away […]Read more...
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Gun laws where guns take the most lives
A study released last year revealed that just six countries make up over half of all gun-related deaths, and they’re all in the Americas. Topped by Brazil with 42,000 deaths, the macabre list is followed by the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Guatemala. One in four people murdered annually is a Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican or Venezuelan, reported the Igarape Institute, and although Latin America only holds 8% of the world’s population, 38% of the world’s murders occur on the continent. Between 2000 and 2006 in South America, 53% of all murders were committed with a firearm, a statistic which […]Read more...
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Chilean president proposes Venezuela-less alternative to UNASUR
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera issued a Twitter statement on Monday, February 18, outlining his intentions to create a new regional bloc which will put an end to UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) on account of its “failure,” which he attributes to “excess ideology.” A replacement coalition, which has now been proposed by both Piñera and Colombian President Iván Duque, will be an “ideology-less” union named ‘Prosur,’ comprised of all South American nations apart from Venezuela. Formed in December of 2008, UNASUR was spearheaded by Brazilian leadership during the socialist presidency of Lula da Silva at a time when Latin America was experiencing a surge in […]Read more...
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Don’t mess with my kids: Why Argentina still doesn’t have comprehensive sex education
Sex education is a tricky topic all over the world. When is too early to teach it? When is too late? But, in Latin America, throw in a hefty dose of conservatism and a pervasive Catholic culture and you’ve found yourself an explosive mixture. Argentina passed a law in 2006 that proposed a country-wide comprehensive sexual education curriculum (ESI), that would include teaching children about contraception and promote non-discrimination against LGBT individuals. Thirteen years later it is sporadically being implemented and to varying degrees across provinces and in schools. Last year a follow-up commission was created to bring the ESI […]Read more...
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Environmental costs mounting but EPM pushes forward with controversial dam project
An early estimate has been made into the environmental damage caused by closing the floodgates to troubled dam Hidrotuango. In a press release issued by EPM, the owner of the project, the energy company stated that 12,300 fish had died as a result of precautionary measures carried out on 29 January. It has been estimated by EPM that a total 228 kilos of fish died during the emergency procedure. The vast majority (96%) of fish were a species of freshwater fish, Astyanax microlepis (pictured below), which is abundant but unique to the Cauca river. Commonly referred to as ‘sardinas‘ in […]Read more...
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Fintech first for Latin America
Latin America will be at the forefront of fintech next year with Peru and Colombia tipped to host the first continental editions of one of the world’s most revered financial sector conferences. Finnovating will bring their global event Unconference to Latin America for the first time following strong interest from startups and banks alike. The event pairs the biggest players from fintech startups and global banks to work through the implications of technology on the world of finance – and 66 Peruvian startups from the fintech sector have already been chosen to attend along with the leaders of large companies. Unconference director Pedro […]Read more...
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Six countries demand International Criminal Court investigates Venezuela
Six countries have signed and presented a formal request for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity and human rights violations taking place in Venezuela. Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Paraguay were the first four countries to express their plan at the the UN General Assembly to undertake such a measure, and now Peru and Canada have added their signatures to the document that was presented to the ICC on Wednesday September 26. IMPORTANTE| 6 gobiernos han dado un paso sin precedentes al solicitar una investigación de CPI sobre Vnzla. Esta acción refleja la creciente […]Read more...
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Chilean President announces plan to help indigenous group
On Monday, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announced a development plan which will invest US$8 million between 2018 and 2026 in improving Mapuche quality of life in the Araucania region. Chile’s private and public sectors have historically clashed with indigenous Mapuche groups who believe that the government and companies are stealing their ancestral land and draining natural sources. Violence has been increasing in Mapuche protests who often commit arson in order to have their voices heard. What does the plan entail? The US$8 billion will be invested in 491 projects over the next eight years, Piñera explained, and will be be […]Read more...
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Peruvian President enjoys popularity boost
Martín Vizcarra’s approval rating is back on the rise after having cooled off in his first months as Peru’s President. According to the latest official polls, Vizcarra has been positively graded by 52% of Peruvians, which is a significant boost from last month’s numbers and is on the rise from his 37% rating this summer. Per a report from Andina news agency, the east region (69%) and Lima (53%) were the two regions where Vizcarra was most popular for September’s polling. Vizcarra recently put a confidence vote into Congress to speed up a decision regarding judicial reforms as people protested lawmakers’ delay in responding […]Read more...
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Four years on: Mexican disappearance case earns legal win
Four years after 43 students disappeared, in what has become known as the Ayotzinapa case, a special commission has finally been opened into the Mexican mystery. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the students has been heavily criticized by the international audience. Branded a crime against humanity, the disappearance and apparent cover-ups from leading players called into question the former government’s ability to control crime in a country rife with corruption. In March of this year, the UN accused Mexico of torture in the aftermath of the disappearances and inadequate answers to the events, and the most recent accusations against how […]Read more...
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Collective opts against military action in Venezuela
The majority of Lima Group member states have refused to take part in a military intervention against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia belong to the collective, which was created last year in an attempt to find a solution to Venezuela’s economic and humanitarian crisis. At the start of this week, those ten governments out of the 14 member states released a statement which pointed to their refusal to take part in any military action. The message was made in response to a statement made last Friday by the director […]Read more...
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Cuba and its coming crop of digital innovators
Fifty years is a long time, and especially so under imposed isolation. Cuba’s economic freeze from the international community may be starting to thaw but citizens’ conservative approach to resources is unlikely to alter. Cars can always be repaired and appliances always fixed on the island nation. It is this mentality – this resolver – which is driving tech opportunities in the Communist state. The people of Cuba have spent the the better part of a century making do with what they have, and their unique approach is influencing a current wave of digital ingenuity. Case in point: accommodation application […]Read more...
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Walmart expands digital empire into Latin America
And just like that: Walmart laid out its $225 million plan to further digital domination in Latin America. The American retail giant confirmed its purchase of grocery delivery platform Cornershop on Thursday with the clear intent of extending its international focus on digital commerce and home convenience. The purchase of the on-demand delivery app, which operates in Chile and Mexico, gives an important indication of where the world’s biggest retailer by sales is headed. The Cornershop investment follows similar moves from Walmart in other corners of the world. The company made recent agreements with Chinese online grocer Dada-JD Daojia and Japanese […]Read more...
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Convicted ex-leader Lula ends political push in Brazil
Former Brazilian President and current jail inmate Lula da Silva has officially pulled out from this year’s leadership race, ending months of speculation. The PT (Workers’ Party) leader was jailed in April, accused of having accepted $12 million reais in bribes from privately-owned Brazilian conglomerate OAS. On these grounds, he is ineligible to run for President this October due to the country’s ‘clean slate law’ which prevents politicians with previous criminal convictions from holding public office for eight years. Both Lula himself, as well as his party, retained an optimistic attitude that he would be eligible to run again, even if it were from […]Read more...
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Latin America named top region for ecommerce growth
It’s official: Latin America is of the top global regions for growth in the ecommerce sector. The title, awarded in a report from the eCommerce Foundation last week, noted the region’s increased population and higher rate of internet penetration as leading the charge in growth. An average of 59 per cent of the region’s population use the internet, with Argentina as the most connected. More than 70 per cent of Argentines are connected to the web on a regular basis, followed by Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica tying for second place with 66 per cent. Following these nations are Brazil, […]Read more...
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Fall to Brazilian real hits domestic travel agency
The falling value of the Brazilian real is starting to impact on some of the nation’s biggest companies as the main shareholder of travel agency Decolar decided to sell its stake in the company last month. Decolar is the Brazilian subsidiary of Latin America’s largest online travel agency Despegar, and represents 40 percent of its total revenue. Only 11 months after Despegar debuted on the New York Stock Exchange, the decision from main shareholder Tiger Global to sell all of its 43.7 per cent stake in the company caught many off guard. Prior to the decision, the Argentine-based company Despegar had released a 2Q18 growth […]Read more...
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El Niño warned before the end of this year
Weather forecasters believe there is a high chance the El Niño weather event – which has the ability to drastically alter weather patterns across South America and the globe – could return before Christmas. The World Meteorological Organisation announced on Monday that there is a 70 per cent chance El Niño could return before the end of this year. Regular weather patterns are thrown into disarray by El Niño, which can cause drought, tropical cyclones and intense storms across different regions. The most recent El Niño event, from 2014 to 2016, was one of the strongest ever recorded and caused […]Read more...
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Reggaeton faces ban in Mexican state
Reggaeton fans beware: the Mexican state of Veracruz may not be the place for you come the national Day of Independence. In what will be viewed as either a government overreaction or necessary measure, the popular genre of music will be banned during the holiday later this month. According to local reports, the music ban is due to the lyrics and subject matter in many of the songs. Raggaeton, it has been deemed, fail to relate to heroism and independence as well as failing to project a family image. Further to this, as pointed out by Doble Clic, the ban was also imposed […]Read more...
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Peru private investment poised for growth
Peru’s economy continues to see significant boosts in the private sector. Estimates from the nation’s Economy Ministry predict investments will continue at a five percent increase this year while increasing by 7.5 percent in the following 12 months. According to Peru’s state-owned news agency Andina, private investment will be one of the major driving factors behind improving the overall economy. Earlier this year, private investment began to grow significantly following 14 quarters of recession. “That (recovery) has been driven by global growth, the rebound in public investment that is delayed, and the Central Bank’s monetary policy,” saidCentral Reserve Bank (BCR) President […]Read more...
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Alfonso Cuarón: Mexico’s true aetuer
This article is part of a series by Latin America Reports chronicling the most important cultural, artistic and political figures in Latin American society. Trouble in space, global apocalypse, coming-of-age road trips and Harry Potter – it could only be the filmography of Alfonso Cuarón. The eclectic writer and director has released a steady stream of high-quality, boundary-pushing films over the past three decades to become one of Mexico’s most respected film auteurs. Really, who else but Cuarón could follow up the third installment of the world’s most popular boy wizard with an apocalypse film depicting a harrowing world where humans can […]Read more...
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Bolivian leader slams Argentina’s plan for border base
The leader of Bolivia has come out swinging against Argentina and its proposal to construct a military base between their shared border, claiming that the country seeks to “intimidate” them. Bolivian President Evo Morales said at a public event that he believes the proposed military base is simply a scare tactic from the southern neighbour. “They will try to scare us; we are not going to be scared, we are a united people, with social forces,” he said. “They will try to intimidate us, they will not be able to.” However, the view of the nation’s armed forces starkly contrasted […]Read more...
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Mexico’s incoming government signals energy sector nationalization
Mexico’s incoming government has signaled that changes to bolster hydrocarbon regulations could be on the horizon. The news comes amidst a pause in the auctioning of new oil blocks as the nation appears to further increase nationalization of the energy sector. Reuters reports that oil auctions were set for September before the decision to postpone was announced. The sale would have seen 45 onshore areas go under in the hammer in one of the final “energy overhaul” endeavours since current President Enrique Peña Nieto began the project in 2013. Since then, it has been reported that more than 100 private contracts have […]Read more...
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Massive cocaine haul incinerated in Russia
In the final chapter of a long-running drugs bust, Russian and Argentine authorities used a crematorium to burn the 389 kilograms of cocaine seized in December 2016. The cocaine was incinerated on Tuesday Aug. 21, and is estimated to have a market value of $2.8 billion pesos (US$93 million). It was discovered more than a year ago in 12 suitcases in an annexed area of the Russian Embassy. The suitcases were taken by police, who re-filled the bags with flour and inserted GPS trackers, waiting to see where the suitcases would be taken. The operation took 14 months, and to date […]Read more...
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Olympic Games after-effects continue in Rio de Janeiro
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Hotel Industries published by Brazilian newspaper O GLOBO, a total of 16 hotels in the city of Rio de Janeiro have been forced out of business over the last two years. Around two years ago, Rio’s tourist industry took serious measures to accommodate the 572,961 visitors who arrived to the city between July 1 and August 15 for the 2016 Olympic Games. Having failed on three separate occasions to win an Olympic bid, the city of Rio de Janeiro submitted a fourth campaign in 2007 under the guidance of ex-President Lula da Silva, which eventually […]Read more...
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Brazil sends troops to border after attack on migrants
Brazil will step up its security presence in Pacaraima, in the northern state of Roraima that borders Venezuela, after residents attacked migrant encampments. The attacks occurred on Saturday, August 18, after reports emerged that four Venezuelans had robbed and beaten a local merchant on Friday night. Groups of male residents armed with sticks and stones descended on the camps, chanting “Out, out, out! Go back to Venezuela,” whilst setting fire to the migrant’s tents and belongings. A video of the attacks shows one man using a bulldozer to destroy a migrant shelter whilst local residents watch and cheer. Residents also set fire to tires to […]Read more...
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Hundreds of dead turtles found on Mexican coast
Over 100 dead turtles have washed up at a wildlife sanctuary on the Pacific coast of Chiapas state, and thus far no known cause of death has been confirmed. Since July 24, the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) have been recording and investigating the deaths of these turtles. Since that time, numbers vary from 100 to 122, but the Mexican government places the number of deceased turtles at 113, with 102 Ridley turtles, 5 Green turtles and 6 Hawksbill turtles. All of these turtles are in danger of extinction according to Mexican […]Read more...
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Pope Francis addresses sexual abuse scandals in open letter
For the first time in Vatican history, the Pope read a letter to all of the 1.2 billion Catholics across the world in response to the growing sexual abuse crises within the church. The letter, titled “His Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God” was three pages long, reported The Guardian. His address to the people broke a tense Papal silence since the release of a US Grand Juror report revealing and documenting the abuse of 1,000 children in the state of Pennsylvania by 300 clergymen. “With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where […]Read more...
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Debate continues over Mexico’s new international airport
Incoming President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s political team have presented a number of opinions on the prospect of the construction of the new International Airport of Mexico (NAIM). According to El Financiero, there are a number of prospective ideas that have been suggested by the team, which bring into question whether the ongoing construction will continue at Lake Texcoco. It comes amidst further demands by the People’s Front in Defence of Land-Atenco (FPDT) for AMLO to honour campaign promises and cancel the construction of the airport and the currently selected location. According to local reports, in the run-up to the election, […]Read more...
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US and Mexican authorities to align against organised crime
Agreements between Mexican officials and the United States in an attempt to battle Mexico’s rising drug cartel crisis are to receive increased focus going forward. Recognising the mutual threat which is having vast implications in both countries, the partnership has agreed to work together to reduce cartel activity and organised crime, which is currently on the rise. According to Al Jazeera, the new agreement is set to target cartel finances. The report claims that Mexico’s leading organised crime groups boast earnings of up to $29 billion which comes not just from drug trafficking but also increase fuel theft, kidnapping and a […]Read more...
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Abortion denied in Argentina: What each side is saying
After 16 hours of debate, the senators cast their final vote. With 38 Senators against the legislation, 31 for it and two abstentions, the word RECHAZADO (denied) was displayed on the screen for the two camps to see at around 3 a.m. August 9. Even though the pro-choice side were out in force, the majority of Senators had already announced which way they would be voting, with a majority declaring themselves pro-life. “The atmosphere was always super positive, even knowing that it wasn’t going to be passed,” pro-choice supporter Agustín Segura, who was in the plaza during the vote, told Argentina Reports. […]Read more...
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Four nations to bring human rights case against Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro
President Mauricio Macri announced on Sunday that he will request the International Criminal Court to investigate Venezuela’s government for violating human rights laws. Macri has the support of three other South American presidents in this decision, reported Bloomberg, namely Iván Duque of Colombia, Sebastián Piñera of Chile and Mario Abdo Benítez of Paraguay. They hope to file something in the court in the coming weeks. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Macri explained that the situation in Venezuela was not going to improve without outside help. “There is no doubt that human rights have been violated,” he said, reported in El Universal. […]Read more...
