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<sub>[Original Source](https://deepdreamgenerator.com/ddream/6m95zsakv0p) (Edited with [Canva](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFghA8gELQ/at0sWU_3Jyeo4eo13xhGSQ/edit?utm_content=DAFghA8gELQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton))</sub>
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Hello, hivers. Here you have the 27th edition of *The Latin American Report*, a space where we review the more sound political and economic events of the region in the last 24 hours. To do so, I constantly monitor the cables and journalistic works from leading press agencies and media. I also appeal to **Twitter**, still the best network to be informed about the latest events. We have a varied report for this edition, with several countries and topics to tackle, so let me get on it now.<br>
## Latin America: the invisible region
The **Bilderberg Club** is meeting by these days. I have always been very interested in this *rare* council, active since 1954, where people with the influence to twist the world's fate discuss how to save it or continue to ruin it. As expected, in this edition, based in Lisbon, [crucial issues are discussed](https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2023/press-release-2023): **artificial intelligence** (with **Sam Altman** at the head) and the global **banking** system seem to set the agenda, but also, among others, **China**, **Europe**, **Russia**, **Ukraine**, and the leadership of the **United States**.<br>
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<sub>"*The world is run by a few people*" ([Source](https://deepdreamgenerator.com/ddream/5xiigmwmy5q)).</sub>
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Two-thirds of the attendees are from **Europe**, and the rest are from the United States and **Canada**; 25% are involved in **politics** or are **government** representatives. This year's participants [also include](https://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/meetings/meeting-2023/participants-2023) the **Spanish Chancellor**, the chief international advisor to **[Goldman Sachs](https://leofinance.io/posts/@leoglossary/leoglossary-goldman-sachs)**, the CEO of **Pfizer**, the **Supreme Allied Commander Europe**, the **Danish Prime Minister**, the head of the **US intelligence community**, the **Secretary General of NATO**, the **British Security Minister**, and so a whole constellation of "stars" who strategically don't receive media attention for this meeting.<br>
The attendees can use all the information they gather at these annual sessions, but must conceal the identity and affiliation of the speaker. In this way, these people adopt positions "without compromising" their office. Now, what am I doing opening this report with something so "distant" from Latin American business? Well, because there is a lot of **history** and **politics** in the fact that we don't have *any* voice there for speaking out our problems and wounds, nor those of **Asia** or **Africa** (that elitism portrays the *real* world order and the "importance" of the *periphery*). Because the *mobile* Bilderberg Club is more "United Nations" than the very United Nations, which in the end becomes an *entelechy*. So today, from Lisbon, Latin America remains invisible.<br>
## Perú
The Peruvian government [announced yesterday](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/agencias/peru-lanza-un-nuevo-paquete-de-1480-millones-de-euros-para-avanzar-en-la-reactivacion-de-la-economia-nid19052023/) a second economic boost trying to ease the country's situation, still immersed in a sort of institutional crisis after the debacle of **Pedro Castillo**'s government, which was coupled with structural problems of Peruvian society, such as **poverty** (the **World Bank** said in April that 70% of Peruvians living in urban areas are poor or vulnerable to fall into that category). The program is called "ConPunche2", and is aimed at social projects (**access to quality water**, **student loans**), the historic **textile** sector, **citizen security**, **health**, and the **airport** and **naval industry**. The total investment is projected [at more than US$ 1.6 billion](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/segundo-plan-de-reactivacion-economia-peru-tendra-costo-equivalente-a-1620-millones-dolares-ministro/). On the financial front, official sources stated that the Executive aspires to issue **sovereign bonds** when the international market [gains stability](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/gobierno-peruano-busca-el-mejor-momento-y-que-no-haya-volatilidad-en-mercado-internacional-para-emitir-bonos-soberanos-ministro-de-economia/), an indirect allusion to the most recent bank failures and the **debt ceiling** talks in the United States.<br>
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<sub>**Dina Boluarte**, the disputed Peruvian President ([Source](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/gobierno-peruano-busca-el-mejor-momento-y-que-no-haya-volatilidad-en-mercado-internacional-para-emitir-bonos-soberanos-ministro-de-economia/)).</sub>
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### The people don't forget
On the other hand, Peruvian judicial authorities [questioned former president **Alberto Fujimori**](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/chile-interroga-a-fujimori-para-decidir-si-autoriza-juicio-por-esterilizaciones/), in response to a request from the **Chilean Supreme Court**, the body responsible for authorizing his prosecution for the blessing he allegedly gave to a **non-consensual sterilization program**, aimed at **poor women** who were *deceived* or *subjected to coercion* as part of "health festivals". The macabre intention was to reduce the **birth rate** in these *vulnerable* social groups in order to claim that there was economic growth in the country.<br>
More than 273,000 women were subjected to sterilizations, and in almost 1,600 cases there were complications; five women reportedly died and some 1,300 suffered serious health consequences. The Chilean approval is required here because the former president was extradited from that country in 2007 to stand trial for other equally serious reasons.<br>
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<sub>Alberto Fujimori, a polemical former president from Perú ([Source](https://twitter.com/Agencia_API/status/1659570875430043648/photo/1)).</sub>
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## The border at stakes
We continue to monitor here the development of events at the US southern border. Yesterday, [the **Department of Homeland Security** stated](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/encuentros-migrantes-en-frontera-eeuu-mexico-se-reducen-mas-de-70-con-fin-titulo-42-funcionario-eeuu/) that the number of encounters with **irregular migrants** has been reduced by more than 70%, which for the moment seems to validate the Biden administration's strategy after the end of the regulation known as **Title 42**, and the application of a [strengthened **Title 8**](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-208/subpart-C/section-208.33) of the **Code of Federal Regulations** to deter. If you ask me, I think the program itself has more lights than shadows. It's not perfect and it doesn't fix everything, but it has indeed expanded the opportunities for many people who would now be in **human trafficking networks** to reach the United States.<br>
[About 1,000 people](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/hemos-admitido-alrededor-de-mil-personas-diarias-de-cuba-niracagua-venezuela-como-parte-del-programa-parole-funcionario-eeuu/) daily among Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans are benefiting from the **[humanitarian parole](https://www.uscis.gov/CHNV)** that, based on the application of a sponsor with a certain level of solvency in the United States, allows them to reside and work there for two years. This amount must be sustained in order for Joe Biden's government to comply with the **30,000 monthly cap** to which it committed itself. In addition, 11,000 individuals have been repatriated this week. Let us remember that [there is still a path](https://hive.blog/hive-122315/@limonta/the-latin-american-report-24), although difficult, to remain in the United States and secure an **asylum** hearing; if the presumption of ineligibility can't be rebutted, the migrant is exposed to a five-year entry ban.<br>
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<sub>The Texas National Guard is deployed at the direction of **Greg Abbott** —a hardliner on migration issues— to actively repel irregular migrants ([ Source](https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1659618754135834626/photo/1)).</sub>
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## Colombia
Colombia [was still awake](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/agencias/lo-que-se-sabe-y-no-se-sabe-de-los-ninos-perdidos-en-la-selva-de-colombia-nid19052023/) for definitive news about **four indigenous children** who presumably survived a **plane crash** where three adults perished; governmental communication has been chaotic at times. A grandfather of the children, including an 11-month-old boy, has told the media that they are used to the jungle and could be scared after the psychological trauma caused by the accident. Hope this ends well 🙏.<br>
### One time a soldier, always a warrior
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<sub>[Source](https://twitter.com/elespectador/status/1659628734289199121)</sub>
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With the confrontation between the "**Second Marquetalia**" and "**Estado Mayor Central**", the two main groups formed by members of the FARC-EP that ended up rejecting the **peace agreement** with the government of former president **Juan Manuel Santos**, tranquility in the municipality of **San Vicente del Caguán** (south) [has been compromised](https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/colombia-conflicto_enfrentamiento-entre-dos-disidencias-de-las-farc-causa-zozobra-en-el-sur-de-colombia/48526770). Some families have been forcibly displaced as a result of the conflict between the two groups, which technically continues under a *ceasefire* with the government decreed in December, as part of **Gustavo Petro**'s *Total Peace* project.<br>
## Finance
The **currencies** of the region [ended with an uneven performance](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/mercados-alatina-monedas-ceden-en-semana-dominada-por-preocupacion-sobre-techo-de-deuda-eeuu/) in the last market date this week, without taking advantage of the global decline of the **dollar** dragged by the negotiations between **Congress** and the **White House** on the **debt ceiling** (currently set at 31,4 trillion dollars according to **Reuters**), with the latent danger of the world's maximum power going into ***default***. The dollar also received "friendly fire" as part of these apparently irrational dynamics of the financial world via **Jerome Powell** —the Fed's commander-in-chief—, who, with a single comment, can raise or lower it. In this case, he stated that they could pause **interest rate** hikes.<br>
Three currencies from the regional basket of six rose, led on this occasion by the **Peruvian sol**, which climbed +0.32 %, followed by marginal gains of the **Chilean peso** (+0.09 %) and the **Colombian peso** (+0.07 %). The **Brazilian real** (-0.61 %) was the biggest loser. In Mexico, the downward trend infected both the currency and the **stock market**, with the **S&P/BMV IPC** —measuring the performance of the most liquid companies in the country— falling by 1.66 %. The benchmark indexes **Bovespa**, of the **B3 Sao Paulo Stock Exchange**, and the Argentinean **Merval**, closed higher in contrast to the respective local currencies.<br>
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<sub>Merval Argentina ([Source](https://twitter.com/trading_alerts_/status/1659559464389804036/photo/1)).</sub>
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| **Countries** | **Local currency balance** | **Local stock index balance** |
|:-------------:|:--------------------------:|:-----------------------------:|
| Colombia | +0.07% | -1.13% (MSCI COLCAP) |
| México | -0.36% | -1.66% (S&P/BMV IPC) |
| Perú | +0.32% | +0.03% (S&P/BVL) |
| Argentina | -0.32% | +2.25% (S&P Merval) |
| Chile | +0.09% | +0.16% (IPSA) |
| Brazil | -0.61% | +0.58% (Bovespa) |
<sub>Daily balance of main currencies and stock indexes in Latin America ([ Source](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/mercados-alatina-monedas-ceden-en-semana-dominada-por-preocupacion-sobre-techo-de-deuda-eeuu/)).</sub>
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## Regional quicks
- **Chile** continues to take concrete steps in its strategy to make better use of its **lithium** reserves (40% of the world's total), now with the [approval of two subsidiaries](https://www.lanacion.com.ar/agencias/la-chilena-codelco-crea-dos-filiales-para-desarrollar-la-estrategia-nacional-del-litio-del-gobierno-nid19052023/) in which the State, through **Codelco**, the state-owned company focused primarily on **copper** exploitation, will become involved in the production cycle. Lithium, as **Máximo Pacheco**, president of Codelco, has stated yesterday, is essential for the **energy transition**, which makes Chile a *strategic* pole to advance in this global challenge.<br>
- In a dialogue with **Reuters**, former President **Rafael Correa** jumped headlong into the battle for Ecuador's democratic destiny, [vindicating his 10-year term in power](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/expresidente-correa-pretende-reconstruir-ecuador-si-su-partido-tiene-exito-en-comicios-anticipados/) between 2007 and 2017. The leader of the "Citizen Revolution", which I truly think brought much more good than bad to that country —a house indeed for many of my colleagues—, promised to work on eradicating the problem of insecurity and generally "rebuilding" the Andean nation. Current president **Guillermo Lasso** has said he will not run in these emergency elections, which could be held next August 20, and whose winners for legislative and executive posts will take office until 2025. **Yaku Pérez**, a former candidate who campaigned on a *bamboo bicycle* to draw attention to his environmentalist views and indigenous ancestry, [is already aiming high](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/ecuador-en-medio-de-la-crisis-politica-emergen-los-posibles-candidatos-para-nuevos-comicios/) again for the nation's top office.<br>
- A major consulting firm [has revised upwards](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/safras-eleva-la-prevision-de-cosecha-de-soja-brasilena-a-15566-millones-de-toneladas/) the projections for the current **soybean** production campaign in Brazil, which would now be growing +21.1% compared to the previous one. By the end of the 2022/2023 exercise, the country should accumulate 155.66 million tons produced. In other good news, economic activity in the South American giant [advanced by 2.41 %](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/la-actividad-economica-de-brasil-aumenta-un-241-en-el-primer-trimestre/) in the first quarter, and everything seems to indicate that there will be growth towards the end of the year, although analysts outside the Government lower its projection from 1.9 % to 1.02 %, always in any case below last year's 2.9 %.<br>
- **Andrés Manuel López Obrador** [disregarded a determination of the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice](https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/05/19/expropian-tramos-de-ferrocarril-en-el-sur-de-mexico/) and sent the military to temporarily occupy three **railroad** segments belonging to one of the most relevant conglomerates in the Mexican business world. AMLO invoked **national security** reasons to protect his bet on the **Inter-Oceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec**, better known as the "***Tren Maya***", but the judicial instance had rejected that strategy. We will return to this fight many times, be sure of that.<br>
*And this is all for our twenty-seventh report. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work [here](https://www.ecency.com/hive-122315/@limonta/the-infinite-world-of-news). Have a nice day*.<br>
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<sub>Edited with [Canva](https://www.canva.com/design/DAFeWgJk2ZY/yBj8yxag10qunKlgWYBJQg/edit?utm_content=DAFeWgJk2ZY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton).</sub>
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