Global Pulse

标签： South America

南美洲

  • Colombia’s budding tech scene needs a cash boost

    Colombia’s budding tech scene needs a cash boost

    Bogota’s streets serve as a dynamic showcase of Colombia’s technological transformation, where Rappi’s distinctive orange-bagged delivery bikes have become ubiquitous symbols of innovation. Hailed as the nation’s most triumphant tech startup, this delivery platform has achieved unicorn status with a valuation surpassing $5 billion while attracting more than 35 million active monthly users.

    Rappi’s extraordinary growth signals Colombia’s remarkable economic evolution, particularly following the landmark 2016 Peace Accord that helped transform the country’s international standing. Beyond attracting global tourists, Colombia has emerged as a magnet for immigrants from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with cities like Medellín and Bogotá becoming preferred destinations.

    The nation has established itself as a significant business hub with a rapidly expanding startup landscape. According to a recent KPMG analysis, Colombia now hosts approximately 2,100 startups, representing a 24% year-over-year increase. Maria Peñaranda, KPMG Colombia’s manager of emerging giants and innovation, confirms that “the country now occupies the second position among Latin America’s most promising startup ecosystems, trailing only Brazil.”

    Approximately 80% of Colombian startups remain in early developmental stages, demonstrating remarkable dynamism in new enterprise creation. Peñaranda emphasizes that “long-term success stories like Rappi continue influencing the ecosystem as catalysts for talent recycling and investor confidence.” She cites additional examples including global payments processor Yuno and renewable energy firm Erco Energy, both of which have evolved into established companies generating over $10 million in revenues while expanding across international markets.

    Among Colombia’s emerging success stories is Foodology, a virtual restaurant enterprise operating through strategically located dark kitchens. Since its 2019 Bogota founding, the company has secured over $60 million in funding, employs more than 800 staff members, and maintains full profitability. Co-founder and CEO Daniela Izquierdo explains her vision: “I sought to develop methods for Colombia to access exceptional cuisine through faster, more innovative channels.”

    The company operates thousands of digital storefronts managed by sophisticated software systems that coordinate inventory and maintain consistent menu offerings across approximately 400 different locations. Foodology has begun licensing this proprietary technology while expanding operations into Mexico and Peru, reflecting a common pattern among Colombian startups that quickly seek international growth due to domestic market limitations.

    Despite these success stories, Colombia’s startup landscape faces substantial investment challenges. The initial enthusiasm generated by SoftBank’s 2019 Latin America innovation fund has diminished, according to Daniel Vásquez, managing partner at US-based Actions Capital. He notes that “the majority of those investments haven’t produced successful outcomes for various reasons,” causing many investors to withdraw from the region.

    Izquierdo confirms this trend: “Latin America experienced tremendous growth between 2021 and 2022, but recent years have proven difficult. The US stock market decline triggered a global venture capital slowdown, and emerging markets typically suffer first during such contractions.”

    With limited domestic investment options, Colombian entrepreneurs must seek international funding sources. Vásquez observes that promising companies sometimes fail because “they exhaust resources before securing subsequent funding rounds necessary for achieving profitability.” He emphasizes that sustainable growth requires increased local institutional and family investments in technology, noting that “when venture capitalists observe limited local technology investment, they interpret this as indicating restricted opportunities.”

    Some companies have nonetheless thrived despite these challenges. Habi, a Bogotá-based property technology company co-founded by Brynne McNulty Rojas and Sebastián Noguera, achieved unicorn status following a $200 million funding round. The platform specializes in used home transactions while offering complementary services including financing, property listings, and mortgage brokerage.

    McNulty Rojas acknowledges benefiting from improved regional investment conditions compared to previous decades, though she expresses desire for greater local investor participation. Despite financial obstacles, she strongly recommends Colombia for entrepreneurship, citing abundant talent and market potential that have made her business journey exceptionally rewarding.

  • New study challenges a site that’s key to how humans got to the Americas

    New study challenges a site that’s key to how humans got to the Americas

    A groundbreaking archaeological study has ignited intense scholarly debate by challenging the established timeline of human settlement in the Americas. For over four decades, Chile’s Monte Verde site has stood as the most significant evidence of early human presence in the Western Hemisphere, with previous research dating artifacts and footprints to approximately 14,500 years ago.

    Published in the prestigious journal Science, the controversial new research presents a radically different interpretation of the site’s geology. Through extensive sediment sampling and analysis along the Chinchihuapi Creek adjacent to Monte Verde, researchers identified a volcanic ash layer dating back approximately 11,000 years. This geological marker suggests that any materials found above this stratum—including the famous wooden tools and structural remains—must be younger than previously believed.

    Lead researcher Claudio Latorre of Chile’s Pontifical Catholic University stated, ‘Our comprehensive reinterpretation of the site’s geology concludes that Monte Verde cannot be older than 8,200 years.’ The research team proposes that landscape transformations, including stream erosion that mixed geological layers, may have caused earlier dating inaccuracies.

    The scientific community has responded with significant skepticism. Several prominent archaeologists, including those involved in the original excavations, have raised substantial objections to the methodology and conclusions. Michael Waters of Texas A&M University commented that the study ‘provides, at best, a working hypothesis not supported by the presented data.’

    Critics highlight that the new analysis examined areas surrounding rather than directly within the protected archaeological site, where geology may differ substantially. They further note the absence of evidence that the volcanic ash layer uniformly covered the entire landscape. Most importantly, opponents question how the study accounts for directly dated artifacts from the site—including a crafted mastodon tusk tool and fire-hardened digging implements—that consistently yield dates around 14,500 years old.

    Tom Dillehay of Vanderbilt University, who led the initial Monte Verde excavations, emphasized that the new interpretation ‘disregards a vast body of well-dated cultural evidence.’

    The dating of Monte Verde carries profound implications for understanding human migration patterns. The site’s original dating helped overturn the long-standing ‘Clovis first’ theory of human arrival in the Americas. A revised timeline could reopen fundamental questions about migration routes—whether early humans traveled through ice-free corridors, along coastal waterways, or via combined land-and-sea routes.

    As the scientific debate continues, researchers acknowledge that further independent analyses of early settlement sites will be essential for resolving these fundamental questions about human history in the Americas.

  • Asylum claim denied for the family of the boy in a bunny hat detained with his father, lawyer says

    Asylum claim denied for the family of the boy in a bunny hat detained with his father, lawyer says

    MINNEAPOLIS — In a pivotal immigration case that has captured national attention, a United States immigration judge has rejected the asylum petition filed by the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old child whose photograph in a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack became symbolic of recent immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis. Immigration Judge John Burns issued a deportation order directing the family’s return to Ecuador, according to their legal representation.

    The child and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were apprehended by federal immigration officers in a Minneapolis suburb on January 20. Following their detention, they were transferred to a Texas detention facility where they remained for ten days until a judicial order secured their release.

    Legal counsel for the family has immediately filed an appeal against the judge’s determination. Danielle Molliver, the family’s attorney, expressed profound disappointment with the ruling, characterizing it as ‘misguided.’ She affirmed their commitment to pursuing all available legal avenues to challenge the decision, though she acknowledged that the appellate process could extend over several years.

    Meanwhile, Liam has resumed attendance at his suburban Minneapolis school. However, both he and his father continue to experience significant psychological distress stemming from their detention experience, with their attorney noting they remain ‘scared’ about potential outcomes.

    The initial arrests occurred during a large-scale immigration operation that deployed thousands of federal officers across the Minneapolis region. These operations triggered sustained public protests and were marked by the fatal shooting of two American citizens by federal agents.

    Controversy emerged when community members and school officials alleged that immigration officers utilized Liam as ‘bait’ by instructing him to knock on his residence’s door to prompt his mother’s appearance outside. The Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them an ‘abject lie.’ Government officials maintain that the child’s father attempted to flee on foot, leaving the boy unattended in a vehicle parked in their driveway—an assertion the father disputes.

    The central legal dispute concerns Adrian Conejo Arias’s immigration status. Federal authorities contend he entered the United States illegally in December 2024, while the family’s legal team asserts he entered lawfully while seeking asylum, which they argue permits his continued presence in the country during the adjudication process.

  • Spain’s king welcomes Mexico’s World Cup invite after ‘abuse’ comments

    Spain’s king welcomes Mexico’s World Cup invite after ‘abuse’ comments

    In a significant diplomatic gesture, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has extended a formal invitation to King Felipe VI of Spain to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup, signaling a potential reconciliation between the two nations after years of strained relations over colonial-era controversies.

    The invitation, dated February 24th and confirmed by the Spanish royal palace, comes as both countries seek to move beyond historical tensions that peaked during the administration of Sheinbaum’s predecessor. The Mexican president framed the sporting event—co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada—as “a timely opportunity to evoke the depth and unique character of the ties between Mexico and Spain.”

    This diplomatic overture follows the Spanish monarch’s unprecedented acknowledgment during a museum visit in Madrid that there had been “a lot of abuse” during Spain’s conquest of what would become Mexico. King Felipe notably stated that certain historical events, when judged by contemporary values, “cannot make us feel proud”—marking the first time a Spanish monarch has publicly recognized colonial-era abuses.

    President Sheinbaum, who had previously declined to invite the king to her 2024 inauguration in protest of Spain’s silence on colonial atrocities, cautiously welcomed the monarch’s comments as “a gesture of reconciliation,” though acknowledging it wasn’t “everything we would have wanted.”

    The royal palace has confirmed receiving the World Cup invitation and expressed appreciation for the gesture, though it remains unclear whether King Felipe will attend the tournament scheduled for June 11-July 19, 2026. The monarch, known as an avid football enthusiast and Atlético de Madrid supporter, recently attended the UEFA Euro final between Spain and England alongside the Prince of Wales.

    Meanwhile, Mexican authorities have intensified security measures ahead of the global event, launching a crackdown on violent drug cartels following the February killing of Jalisco New Generation cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, which triggered widespread violence. Despite security concerns particularly in host city Guadalajara—the epicenter of recent cartel violence—both Sheinbaum and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have assured visiting fans of adequate protection, with Mexico planning to deploy thousands of security personnel during the tournament.

    This diplomatic development represents a potential turning point in bilateral relations, with Spain demonstrating increased willingness to address historical grievances through Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares’ recent acknowledgment of “pain and injustice” in the countries’ shared history.

  • Dutch youth internationals cleared to play for Suriname in World Cup qualifying playoffs

    Dutch youth internationals cleared to play for Suriname in World Cup qualifying playoffs

    In a significant development for international football, FIFA has officially granted eligibility clearance for Netherlands youth internationals Joël Piroe and Melayro Bogarde to represent Suriname in upcoming World Cup qualifying playoffs. The authorization, published late Wednesday, enables both players with Surinamese heritage to switch national team allegiance ahead of crucial matches.

    Leeds United forward Piroe and LASK defender Bogarde, both products of the Dutch football system, will now bolster Suriname’s squad as they prepare to face Bolivia on March 26 in Monterrey, Mexico. This intercontinental playoff represents a critical pathway to World Cup qualification within the CONCACAF region, which encompasses Caribbean and Central American nations despite Suriname’s geographical position on South America’s northern border with Brazil.

    The strategic recruitment under former Ajax coach Henk ten Cate focuses exclusively on European-based talent, with none of the called-up players currently featuring for domestic Surinamese clubs. The playoff bracket winner will advance to face Iraq five days later, with the ultimate prize being qualification to a challenging World Cup group featuring football powerhouses France, Norway, and Senegal.

    In a parallel development, the Netherlands football federation has approved the international transfer of 18-year-old PSV Eindhoven midfielder Benjamin Khaderi, who will now represent Morocco. These eligibility changes highlight the increasing globalization of football talent and the complex relationships between former colonial powers and their independent territories in the sporting arena.

  • A baseball title unleashes the happiness Venezuelans kept bottled up for years

    A baseball title unleashes the happiness Venezuelans kept bottled up for years

    CARACAS, Venezuela — In a nation where genuine celebration has become increasingly rare, Venezuela’s dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final unleashed an unprecedented outpouring of collective emotion that transcended political divisions and economic hardships.

    The triumph sparked spontaneous celebrations across the capital city and beyond, with citizens embracing in streets, dancing with national flags, and filling the night air with honking horns and joyful chants. This display of unfiltered happiness represented a rare moment of national unity in a country deeply fractured by political turmoil and economic crisis.

    For many Venezuelans, the baseball victory provided their first opportunity in years to express joy without fear of government reprisal. The win came after months of heightened political tension following the controversial 2024 presidential election, during which public expressions of dissent or opposition sympathy were met with brutal suppression by security forces.

    The government’s response to the sporting victory stood in stark contrast to its usual approach to public gatherings. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez officially declared a ‘day of joy,’ making it a non-working holiday for most citizens. This gesture, however, was largely symbolic as celebrations had already begun spontaneously moments after the final out was recorded.

    The victory held particular significance given Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, which has pushed over 7.7 million citizens to emigrate and created economic conditions where triple-digit inflation has made all but the most basic necessities unaffordable luxuries for those who remain.

    As one hospital employee remarked while waving the national flag and high-fiving strangers, ‘This championship isn’t just about a baseball game. This game is historic.’ The sentiment was echoed by parents of young baseball players who saw in this victory a symbolic lifting of the nation’s spirits and perhaps the beginning of better times ahead.

  • US appeals court pauses investors’ efforts to trace Argentine assets in YPF case

    US appeals court pauses investors’ efforts to trace Argentine assets in YPF case

    A United States appellate court has issued a significant temporary suspension against investor efforts to locate and seize Argentine assets within American jurisdiction. This legal intervention stems from a monumental $16 billion judgment related to Argentina’s controversial 2012 nationalization of YPF SA, the nation’s premier energy enterprise.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York effectively froze all discovery procedures initiated by former shareholders Petersen Energía and Petersen Energía Inversora. These entities, financially supported by litigation specialist Burford Capital, had been pursuing comprehensive asset identification measures against Argentine holdings in the United States, including central bank gold reserves.

    This judicial pause means investors cannot advance their asset-tracing activities until all appellate proceedings conclude in this protracted legal battle. The case originated from U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska’s ruling that Argentina must provide substantial compensation to investors affected by the government’s seizure of YPF’s majority stake.

    Argentine President Javier Milei hailed the decision as “historic” and “unprecedented,” characterizing it as a major victory for Argentina’s legal defense strategy. In an official statement, Milei emphasized that this litigation has imposed “enormous economic, legal and reputational costs” on Argentina throughout its twelve-year duration.

    Legal experts caution that this procedural victory doesn’t necessarily predict the final outcome. Sebastián Maril, a Latam Advisors analyst and litigation specialist, clarified that the suspension merely halts secondary asset-discovery processes pending the appellate court’s ruling on the core compensation judgment, which has accumulated to over $18 billion with accrued interest.

    The case represents deeper complexities in Argentina’s economic history. The original nationalization occurred under former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-2015), further damaging Argentina’s standing in international financial markets. Current President Milei, who has committed to privatizing state-owned enterprises and rebuilding depleted foreign reserves, attributes the legal predicament to previous administrations.

    YPF’s unique position as a New York Stock Exchange-listed entity enabled U.S. jurisdiction over the matter. Despite the controversy, YPF has dramatically expanded Argentina’s shale gas production from the Vaca Muerta field in Patagonia, with crude output reaching approximately 600,000 barrels daily in January 2025 and achieving a decade-high profit of $5 million.

  • As Cuba struggles with power cuts, how is the island holding up?

    As Cuba struggles with power cuts, how is the island holding up?

    Cuba is confronting one of its most severe energy crises in decades as nationwide power grid failures plunge the island into darkness and disrupt daily life. The complete collapse of the national electrical system has created extraordinary challenges for Cuban citizens, who now face prolonged blackouts affecting homes, businesses, and essential services across the island.

    The energy infrastructure breakdown comes amid existing economic pressures and international sanctions that have complicated maintenance and modernization efforts. Electrical grids require consistent upkeep and investment, resources that have become increasingly scarce in Cuba’s current economic climate. The situation has forced communities to develop adaptive strategies, with neighbors sharing resources and establishing informal support networks to mitigate the crisis’s impact.

    Despite the severity of the power outages, there’s a notable demonstration of collective resilience among Cuban citizens. The population has shown remarkable ingenuity in coping with the emergency, developing community-based solutions to maintain some semblance of normalcy. This response highlights both the severity of the infrastructure challenges and the capacity of Cuban society to withstand adversity through cooperation and shared perseverance.

    The government’s response to the crisis has included emergency measures and public appeals for conservation, while acknowledging the system’s vulnerabilities. International observers note that resolving the structural issues within Cuba’s energy sector will require substantial investment and technical expertise, presenting complex challenges given the country’s current economic circumstances and geopolitical situation.

  • ‘One of a kind’ Messi hits 900 career goals – numbers behind milestone

    ‘One of a kind’ Messi hits 900 career goals – numbers behind milestone

    Lionel Messi has cemented his legendary status by becoming only the second footballer in history to achieve 900 top-level career goals. The Argentine maestro reached this monumental milestone during Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Nashville SC on Wednesday, finding the net merely seven minutes into the match at Geodis Park, Tennessee.

    This historic goal extends Messi’s remarkable scoring spree since joining the MLS franchise in June 2023, where he has contributed 81 goals across 92 appearances, instrumental in securing both the League Cup and MLS Cup for Inter Miami.

    The 38-year-old’s journey to this unprecedented achievement began nearly two decades ago when he became Barcelona’s youngest ever goalscorer at 17 years, 10 months and 7 days. His inaugural strike against Albacete in May 2005 marked the commencement of an extraordinary scoring legacy that would see him net 672 times during his 17-year tenure with the Catalan giants.

    Messi’s prolific career statistics reveal fascinating patterns: 755 goals scored with his lethal left foot, 111 with his right, 30 headers, and 4 classified as ‘other’. The scoring distribution shows 724 goals from inside the penalty area complemented by 176 spectacular long-range efforts, including 70 exquisite free-kicks and 112 converted penalties.

    His former teammate and current Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano, who shared the pitch with Messi at both Barcelona and Argentina, expressed awe at the achievement: ‘I’ve been a privileged spectator, witnessing most of his goals from closer proximity than anyone. The number we’re discussing is insane, confirming Leo as truly one of a kind.’

    Messi now joins long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached the 900-goal landmark in September 2024 and has since advanced his tally to 959. Together, these two icons have collectively won the Ballon d’Or 13 times, creating a scoring duopoly unmatched in football history.

    The Argentine captain’s international record remains equally impressive with 115 goals in 196 appearances for Argentina, including his iconic World Cup triumph in Qatar 2022. His career trajectory—from Barcelona prodigy to PSG veteran and now MLS superstar—demonstrates a consistent scoring prowess that has defied age, leagues, and evolving defensive tactics.

  • Ecuador gang leader wanted for murder of presidential candidate arrested

    Ecuador gang leader wanted for murder of presidential candidate arrested

    In a significant international law enforcement operation, Mexican authorities have apprehended Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, a high-ranking leader within one of Ecuador’s most formidable drug-trafficking syndicates. The arrest, which took place in Mexico City, marks a pivotal development in a transnational criminal investigation.

    Operating under the alias ‘Lobo Menor,’ Aguilar Morales was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and was wanted for his alleged involvement in the 2023 assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Ecuador’s Interior Minister, John Reimberg, confirmed that the suspect had been utilizing falsified Colombian identification documents to evade capture.

    Mexico’s Security Minister, Omar Garcia Harfuch, detailed the charges against Aguilar, linking him to extensive criminal operations including international narcotics trafficking, extortion, and multiple homicides. The successful operation was a collaborative effort, involving personnel from Ecuador’s navy, security forces, and migration officers.

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro hailed the capture, labeling Aguilar ‘one of the world’s most notorious assassins.’ President Petro emphasized that the arrest demonstrates the potent effectiveness of trilateral coordination between Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico in combating sophisticated multi-crime networks.

    The victim, Fernando Villavicencio, was a prominent journalist and member of the National Assembly. He was fatally shot in August 2023 after departing a campaign event in Quito. A year following the assassination, five individuals connected to the Los Lobos gang, including its alleged leader Carlos Angulo (known as ‘The Invisible’), were convicted and imprisoned for the murder. Prosecutors asserted that Angulo orchestrated the hit from within his prison cell, a claim he continues to deny.

    The U.S. government designated Los Lobos a Foreign Terrorist Organization last year, condemning the group for inflicting brutal violence and terror upon the citizens of Ecuador. The gang is reported to maintain deep operational ties with Mexico’s powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

    This arrest also highlights Ecuador’s critical and vulnerable position in the global drug trade. Situated between Colombia and Peru—the world’s primary cocaine producers—the nation has become a major transit hub. An estimated 70% of the cocaine originating from these countries is trafficked through its borders, fueling extreme violence and corruption.