Across Colombia, the earthquake has left 23,392 homes destroyed and 127,608 damaged, while 287 people have died and 4,147 have been injured, according to Sunday's update from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. Survivors in Cali say rebuilding will be difficult and could take years, but they remain determined to start again.

Mexico has also sent humanitarian aid to Colombia following the earthquake, with the government saying 58.5 tonnes of food, water and medicines would be delivered between 12 and 14 August. Juan Carlos Valencia, president of the Risaralda Departmental Assembly, thanked Mexico for its support. Meanwhile, queues continue at registration points as authorities assess damaged properties and document the losses of affected families.

Images show damage in central and western parts of the country, including Cali, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó. In Quibdó, a four-storey building collapsed, trapping people inside, while authorities assess the damage and emergency services work to determine the full extent of the impact.

The situation remains developing, with injuries and serious damage to buildings reported. This is the report from Carolay Morales in Colombia, from Global South Voices Network.

He said housing offenders in El Salvador would cost half as much as keeping them in the UK and would free up prison space . Farage also repeated his proposal for “Nightingale prisons”, saying Reform UK believes it could provide 12,000 additional prison places within the first 18 months of a Reform government. The comments came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced an “early release” controversy over plans to release around 6,000 criminals early to ease prison overcrowding.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is heading into Brazil’s 2026 presidential campaign with an important advantage over Senator Flávio Bolsonaro: more free electoral advertising time on television and radio. Under calculations based on congressional representation and Brazil’s electoral rules, Lula’s coalition is positioned to command a larger share of the country’s highly valuable broadcast slots. Before the final coalition arrangements, CNN calculated that Lula would have approximately 5 minutes and 28 seconds in each fixed presidential advertising block, compared with 4 minutes and 24 seconds for Flávio Bolsonaro, giving the incumbent roughly 24% more airtime. Ronaldo Caiado was projected to receive 2 minutes and 3 seconds and Augusto Cury 36 seconds. Candidates divide two 12-minute-and-30-second blocks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, alongside 14 minutes of shorter daily insertions. The arithmetic helps explain Flávio’s push to attract Republicanos. Had the party joined his coalition, CNN estimated his allocation could have risen to 5 minutes and 20 seconds, ahead of Lula’s 4 minutes and 47 seconds. The contest is particularly significant because 90% of broadcast time is allocated according to the congressional strength of the parties in each coalition, while only 10% is divided equally.

With few women on presidential tickets, campaigns turn to ‘godmothers’ for the female vote

Brazil’s presidential campaigns are increasingly relying on prominent female political figures , or “madrinhas” (godmothers), to reach women voters, even as women remain under-represented at the top of the major tickets themselves. The briefing highlights this as a defining feature of the emerging campaign strategy. The electoral incentive is considerable. Recent polling has shown Lula holding a significant advantage among women. A Datafolha poll cited by UOL put him at 50% among female voters compared with 40% for Flávio Bolsonaro. An earlier Genial/Quaest survey produced an even wider first-round divide, with 41% for Lula and 24% for Flávio among women. Flávio’s campaign has consequently sought to strengthen its appeal to women through female conservative leaders. Michelle Bolsonaro remains an important electoral figure for the right, while Flávio has also brought former Caixa president Daniella Marques into his economic policy team and publicly discussed increasing women’s representation in leadership positions. Before the final ticket negotiations, names including Júlia Zanatta, Bia Kicis, Priscila Costa, Tereza Cristina and Simone Marquetto had circulated as possible running mates.

STJ weighs punishment for Marco Buzzi over sexual harassment allegations

Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ) scheduled 6 August to consider the disciplinary case against Justice Marco Buzzi , who faces allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct from two women. Buzzi has been removed from judicial duties since February 2026, and the court formally opened administrative disciplinary proceedings in April. He denies the accusations. One complainant is an 18-year-old daughter of family friends, who alleges that Buzzi harassed her while they were swimming at Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, in January 2026. Another allegation came from a woman who worked in a subordinate position in Buzzi’s STJ office. CNN reported that testimony from the latter complainant was considered significant when the court unanimously decided to suspend him in February. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) has asked for Buzzi to receive the maximum administrative sanction of compulsory retirement, arguing that the evidence demonstrates conduct incompatible with the dignity and standards expected of the judiciary. Buzzi’s defence has submitted medical evidence and challenged the allegations. The MPF rejected one element of that defence, saying a medical report identifying moderate sexual dysfunction contained nothing that would rule out the alleged conduct.

Entrepreneurs warn that legal uncertainty is becoming a brake on Brazilian investment

Brazil’s business environment is facing renewed scrutiny over legal uncertainty, with Rodrigo Marinho arguing on CNN Talks that unpredictable regulation and inconsistent interpretation of rules are damaging entrepreneurs’ ability to invest and plan for the future. The issue is one of the major economic themes identified in the briefing. For companies, legal certainty is more than a technical legal issue. Investment decisions involving factories, infrastructure, employment and long-term financing depend on businesses having a reasonable understanding of taxation, contracts, regulation and property rights over the lifespan of an investment. When those rules become unpredictable, investors price the uncertainty into projects, delay decisions or redirect capital elsewhere. The argument is particularly relevant as Brazil attempts to attract more private capital into infrastructure and raise productivity. Marinho’s intervention places institutional predictability alongside taxation, financing costs and bureaucracy as a competitiveness issue, suggesting that improving Brazil’s business environment requires not only economic reform but clearer and more consistent application of the law.

Port executives say Brazil is ignoring 40% of a contested market

Brazil’s ports are emerging as another potential constraint on growth. The briefing highlights a warning from NeoWise that approximately 40% of the market contested between ports is being overlooked, alongside a stark assessment from André de Seixas on CNN Talks: “Without a port, I can’t grow Brazil.” The argument goes well beyond the maritime industry. Brazil is a major exporter of agricultural commodities, minerals and manufactured products, making port capacity and efficiency integral to the competitiveness of the wider economy. Congestion, inadequate capacity or weak connections between ports and inland transport networks can increase freight costs and undermine Brazilian exporters in global markets. The problem becomes particularly visible in agriculture. Brazil remains heavily dependent on imported fertilisers, while geopolitical disruption has made those supply chains more vulnerable. CNN reported that Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East collectively account for roughly 30% to 40% of internationally traded NPK fertilisers, meaning global disruption can quickly translate into higher costs and logistical pressure for Brazilian producers.

Political analyst Gustavo Pedraza has warned that the erosion of public confidence is beginning to undermine President Rodrigo Paz’s administration. In response to an Ipsos Ciesmori survey, Pedraza attributed the decline in support to unmet expectations and argued that the deterioration could deepen unless the government changes how it manages the state. His conclusion was blunt: “If the same thing continues to be done, the result will be the same.” Political scientist Carlos Cordero separately said the survey should be treated as an alert for the government, particularly given the level of rejection recorded in El Alto. He linked the disapproval directly to public perceptions of the economy, repeated fuel-supply problems and dissatisfaction with the president’s overall management. The falling approval comes after months of political and economic turmoil. Paz entered office in November 2025, promising market-oriented reform and an end to fuel shortages, but subsidy cuts, price increases, allegations of contaminated fuel and protests weakened the early optimism surrounding his government. By May 2026, widespread blockades and clashes had exposed deep divisions between the administration and Indigenous, labour and rural organisations that had expected greater inclusion.

Civic leader alleges profiteering from fuel resale and smuggling

Stello Cochamanidis, president of the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee, has accused unnamed actors of profiting from the resale and smuggling of fuel while Bolivia continues to suffer from shortages. He declared: “Someone is profiting from the resale of fuel, from the smuggling of fuel.” Cochamanidis said the most immediate problem was the absence of diesel, stating plainly: “We do not have diesel.” He accused the central government of lacking the political will to resolve the shortage and stressed that responsibility for national security and fuel control ultimately rests with the central authorities. The consequences are already spreading through the productive economy. Cochamanidis warned that the diesel shortage had disrupted the end of the agricultural harvest and interfered with the collection of sorghum used for animal feed. His accusations follow earlier investigations into the alleged theft, adulteration and cross-border diversion of fuel imported through Chile, with Bolivian authorities examining supply chains involving Chile, Argentina and Paraguay.

Government and governors agree to begin the 50/50 model in 2027

President Rodrigo Paz and Bolivia’s nine departmental governors have signed a 13-point agreement in Sucre to begin implementing the government’s proposed 50/50 model from 2027. The agreement is intended to redistribute tax revenue, responsibilities and decision-making power between the central government and Bolivia’s regions. The agreement was signed at the Casa de la Libertad and establishes a technical route for gradually dismantling the country’s highly centralised fiscal structure. A special law will be submitted to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly to provide the legal framework for implementation, while the first changes are expected to be reflected in the 2027 General State Budget. La Paz Governor Luis Revilla called the meeting “historic” and said the future law would establish a progressive rather than immediate application of the 50/50 system. Santa Cruz Governor Juan Pablo Velasco said departments that currently receive no share of national tax co-participation would begin receiving funds gradually from 2027.

Sucre agreement rests on debt relief, revenue sharing and transferred responsibilities

The 50/50 agreement is built around three central pillars : financial relief for departmental governments, a new distribution of national revenue, and the transfer of responsibilities and tax powers. The objective is not simply to move money from the centre to the regions, but to align funding with the public services and duties that governors are expected to perform. The financial-relief component is intended to address debts and fiscal pressures affecting regional governments. The revenue-sharing element would bring departmental administrations into the national tax co-participation system, while the competencies component would clarify which level of government is responsible for specific services and how those services will be financed. Governors described the deal as a first step towards ending a model in which the central government controls most public revenue while regional governments carry substantial responsibilities for health, infrastructure and development. However, implementation remains dependent on legislation, technical negotiations and inclusion in the 2027 budget, meaning the political agreement must still be converted into enforceable rules.

Pork producers warn prices could rise to Bs40 as diesel shortages cut production

Bolivian pig farmers have warned that pork could rise to 40 bolivianos per kilogramme because agreements with the state energy company YPFB have not resolved fuel distribution problems at service stations. Producers said the shortage is disrupting transport, feed deliveries and the movement of animals and meat to markets. The warning follows reports that the lack of diesel had already reduced pork production by approximately 20 per cent. Henry Chávez, manager of the Santa Cruz departmental pig farmers’ association Adepor, said the industry previously produced about 100,000 pigs per month, but output had fallen because feed could not be transported normally to farms. The risk extends beyond meat prices. Sorghum and maize are central to animal feed, so interruptions in harvesting and transport raise farmers’ costs throughout the supply chain. Producers argue that official agreements are insufficient unless diesel is physically available at filling stations. Without a reliable supply, they expect reduced production and higher retail prices to continue affecting Bolivian households.

In a security alert issued on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Mexico announced the suspension but did not disclose the nature of the threat. Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla later said the inspections had been paused to protect personnel after recent arrests linked to extortion activities in the state.

The inspections, conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, are required before Mexican avocados can be exported to the United States. USDA personnel oversee plantations and packing facilities to ensure fruit complies with US phytosanitary standards. Similar security incidents have forced temporary suspensions in the past.

Michoacán, the source of most Mexican avocado exports to the United States, has long been a hotspot for organised crime, with several cartels operating in the region. Beyond drug trafficking , criminal groups have built lucrative extortion rackets targeting the avocado industry, often referred to locally as "green gold".

This paints a picture of a region where safety is a daily concern. For many outsiders, “Latin America” has become almost synonymous with insecurity.

Yet, not every nation fits that narrative. Some countries are breaking the stereotype, combining stronger institutions, lower levels of organised crime, and robust governance to offer a more secure environment for residents, investors, and travellers.

Drawing on data from Global Citizen Solutions , World Visualized highlights Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Ecuador as the safest places to live in South America, based on homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants.

Chile leads with just 4.4 homicides per 100,000 people , followed by Argentina (5.0), Uruguay (8.0), Paraguay (8.7), and Ecuador (14.0), all of which are well below the regional average of roughly 18.

Although Ecuador has, in the last few years made headlines for gang violence, it still stands out as a rare example of relative peace and stability.

These security rankings arrive as Argentina, one of the safest countries on the list, is at the centre of major economic developments. The World Bank recently announced that it will accelerate support for the country with up to $4 billion in funding, targeting sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and supply chains.

At the same time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed talks over a potential $20 billion currency swap line , fueling a rally in Argentine bonds and a strengthening of the peso.

Chile and Uruguay, meanwhile, continue to position themselves as havens of economic predictability. Despite a massive blackout earlier this year that tested Chile’s infrastructure resilience, the country remains one of the region’s most investor-friendly markets.

For expats and travellers, this means these nations are among the best bets for a secure life in the region, provided one pays attention to local variations.

For investors, it signals environments where property rights are protected and contracts are enforceable, crucial ingredients for long-term growth.

This success reflects the growing momentum of C2C platforms , driven by cost-conscious buyers and the increasing appeal of second-hand commerce.​

Originally launched in Argentina , MercadoLibre now operates in 18 Latin American countries. The company's growth has been remarkable, with 2024 revenues reaching $6.1 billion in the fourth quarter alone—a 37% year-over-year increase. This contributed to a net income of $639 million for the quarter, up 287% from the previous year.

The platform's gross merchandise volume (GMV) also rose 8% year-over-year, driven by a 32% growth in its main market, Brazil . ​

MercadoLibre's fintech operations have also seen significant expansion, with total payment volume increasing by 33% year-over-year. The company's credit portfolio grew to $6.6 billion, slightly improving its default ratio. ​

Other apps also doing very well are Vinted and eBay.

Vinted, Europe's leading online marketplace for second-hand fashion, has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. In 2023, the company achieved a significant milestone, reaching profitability with a net income of over $19.2 million, a substantial turnaround from its net loss of over $22 million in 2022.

eBay's growth has also been steady, with the company reporting a revenue of $10.3 billion in 2024, a significant increase from previous years. The company's growth can be attributed to its strong online presence, with 132 million yearly active buyers worldwide, and its ability to handle $73 billion in transactions in 2023.