Dealflow.la #64 - Brazil ๐ง๐ท to join OPEC+, Paraguayan Official ๐ต๐พ who was duped by fictitious country resigns, & Venezuelans ๐ป๐ช vote YES to steal part of Guyana ๐ฌ๐พ?
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Funding
Construex ๐ช๐จ raised a $4.6 Million Seed round led by Zacua Ventures ๐บ๐ธ and Fifth Wall ๐บ๐ธ, with funding Terracotta Ventures ๐ง๐ท and ABSeed Ventures ๐ง๐ท to build a SaaS-based construction marketplace intended for construction contractors to buy and rent multiple categories of products and services. The company connects construction suppliers with real estate developers and users of construction supplies and services, enabling clients to get construction products and services easily.
Brinta ๐บ๐พ raised a $5 Million Seed round led by Kaszek ๐ฆ๐ท, with funding from Latitud ๐ง๐ท, Gilgamesh ๐บ๐ธ, DST Global ๐ฌ๐ง, Broadhaven Capital Partners ๐บ๐ธ, and 17Sigma ๐ฆ๐ท to create a tax compliance platform intended to calculate taxes in real-time. The company's platform specializes in calculating taxes by using one single application programming interface for all countries and preparing customizable reports to fit users' needs, enabling users to save time and submit returns.
Livance ๐ง๐ท raised a $13.1 Million Venture round led by Monashees ๐ง๐ท, with funding from Terracotta Ventures ๐ง๐ท and Cadonau Ventures ๐ง๐ท to a build space as a service platform designed to reinvent medical offices. The company's platform provides pay-per-use office space for healthcare professionals to see and captivate their patients and provides amenities such as common areas, acoustic systems, cleaning services, gynecology rooms, and more, enabling healthcare professionals to reduce fixed costs and administer tasks easily.
Zubale ๐ฒ๐ฝ raised a $25 Million Venture round led by QED Investors ๐บ๐ธ, with funding from NFX ๐บ๐ธ to build business management software designed to connect brands and retailers with independent workers. The company's platform connects businesses directly with consumers on their smartphones to crowdsource multiple digital tasks and lets consumers complete tasks and earn mobile phone credit and other digital rewards, enabling clients to streamline and optimize business productivity and efficiency and extend their reach in markets.
Sociopolitical News
๐ฆ๐ท Argentina
President-elect Javier Milei of Argentina plans to introduce a "shock" package of economic reforms including tax, labor law changes, and deregulation, immediately after his inauguration on December 10th. (Bloomberg)
The future of the EU-Mercosur trade deal hinges on the new Argentine government led by President-elect Javier Milei, with negotiations delayed due to his impending inauguration. (Reuters)
Opinion: Argentina's new president, Javier Milei, presents a dual image: a pragmatic statesman and a radical ideologue. His governance approach remains uncertain amidst Argentina's challenging economic and political landscape. (El Paรญs)
Argentine President-elect Javier Milei visited Washington to discuss foreign policy and economic strategies, including reshaping relations with the U.S. and addressing Argentina's economic crisis with IMF officials. (Reuters)
๐ง๐ด Bolivia
Bolivia has been approved for full membership in the Mercosur trade bloc, a decision finalized by the Brazilian Senate, enhancing regional integration and offering new markets for strategic resources like natural gas and lithium. (Reuters/US News)
๐ง๐ท Brazil
Brazil is set to join the OPEC+ oil alliance in January 2024, as announced during a meeting to discuss oil output strategy for the coming year. The impact of this membership on Brazil's production policies remains unclear. (CNBC)
Brazil's Porto Alegre City Council passed an ordinance written entirely by ChatGPT, revealed post-approval by Councilman Ramiro Rosรกrio, sparking debate on AI's role in public policy. (AP)
At COP28, Brazil's President Lula faces criticism for his dual approach to climate leadership, advocating strong climate policies while also growing Brazil's oil and gas sectors. (Al Jazeera)
President Lula da Silva of Brazil visits Berlin for the first Brazil-Germany talks in eight years, aiming to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations. (Reuters)
Brazilian President Lula da Silva selects Justice Minister Flรกvio Dino for a position on the country's Supreme Court, marking a significant political appointment. (ABC)
๐จ๐ฑ Chile
Chile's richest families lead funding for a campaign supporting a new business-friendly constitution, with 56% of 3.1 billion pesos raised going to pro-charter parties, despite likely public rejection. (Bloomberg)
๐จ๐ด Colombia
Colombia joins an international alliance at COP28, advocating for a treaty to phase out fossil fuels, aligning with nations prioritizing climate action despite its fossil fuel-reliant economy. (The Guardian)
Colombia's state-run oil company Ecopetrol plans to invest $5.7 to $6.7 billion in 2024, focusing on maintaining production and transitioning towards lower emissions and decarbonization. (Reuters)
๐จ๐ท Costa Rica
Former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla criticizes the rising homicides in the country, citing decreased resources for public security and a 40% increase in violent deaths. (Tico Times)
๐ช๐จ Ecuador
Ecuador's Vice President Veronica Abad and President Daniel Noboa, newly in office, already show significant discord, with Abad assigned an ambitious peace role in the Middle East, indicating political tensions. (France 24)
๐ธ๐ป El Salvador
El Salvador's Congress grants President Nayib Bukele six months' leave to campaign for reelection, despite constitutional prohibition, with his private secretary appointed as interim leader. (ABC)
๐ฌ๐นย Guatemala
Guatemala's Congress removed immunity from four electoral judges amid allegations of fraud, sparking fears of obstructing President-elect Bernardo Arevalo's upcoming inauguration, inciting international concern and domestic protests. (Reuters)
๐ญ๐ณ Honduras
David Chรกvez Madison, leader of Honduras' main opposition party, fled the airport to avoid arrest over dual passports and a 2016 corruption complaint, amidst political turmoil and allegations of power consolidation by the ruling party. (AP)
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico
In Chilpancingo, Mexico, four news photographers were shot by unidentified assailants, leading authorities to consider it attempted murder amidst ongoing violence and frequent attacks on journalists in the region. (ABC)
Samuel Garcia, a key opposition figure in Mexico's 2024 presidential race, withdrew to resume his role as Nuevo Leon's governor, amidst a dispute over his replacement and trailing in polls with 10% support, behind MORENA's front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum. (Reuters)
Samuel Garcia, an opposition candidate in Mexico's 2024 presidential race, has withdrawn to return as governor of Nuevo Leon. His departure follows a dispute over his gubernatorial successor; while Garcia preferred a Citizens' Movement ally, the opposition-led legislature elected former prosecutor Luis Enrique Orozco. Garcia's reversal coincided with Orozco assuming power. In the presidential race, Garcia had around 10% support, trailing behind MORENA's front-runner, Claudia Sheinbaum, and other main opposition candidates. Garcia's decision reflects the complex political dynamics in Nuevo Leon and his party's strategy for the upcoming national elections. (Reuters)
A Mexican drug cartel, operating bold frauds targeting elderly Americans, posed as U.S. Treasury officials, scamming victims out of $40 million. U.S. authorities have sanctioned those linked to the Jalisco cartel for these timeshare scams and other violent activities. (AP/US News)
๐บ๐ธ Miami
Former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, was arrested in Florida, accused by the FBI of secretly acting as an agent for Cuba's government, amidst a counterintelligence investigation. (AP)
๐ณ๐ฎ Nicaragua
Nicaraguan police seek to arrest the Miss Nicaragua pageant director, Karen Celebertti, accusing her of rigging contests for anti-government winners as part of a plot to overthrow the government, amidst a politically charged environment. (AP)
๐ต๐ฆ Panama
Panama's Supreme Court declared a Canadian copper mine's 20-year concession unconstitutional, triggering its closure amid environmental and human rights concerns. This historic decision follows massive protests and highlights tensions between economic interests and environmental protection. (AP)
Opposition to a Canadian mining deal has become a central issue in Panama's 2024 presidential election, with the Supreme Court ruling the contract unconstitutional and candidates debating the mine's future amidst public protests and calls for greater state control. (Reuters)
๐ต๐พ Paraguay
A Paraguayan official resigned after unknowingly signing an agreement with the fictional 'United States of Kailasa,' a scheme by a fugitive Indian guru, causing a scandal and highlighting international deceptions by this fictitious entity, including infiltrations into the UN and agreements in the U.S. and Canada. (AP/US News)
๐ต๐ช Peru
Peru's President Dina Boluarte vehemently rejected a formal complaint by the attorney general, labeling it a 'despicable' political maneuver amidst controversy and social unrest following her predecessor's ouster. (Reuters)
Armed men raided Peru's Poderosa mine with explosives, killing nine and injuring 15, taking hostages. Police have regained control, arresting seven from the criminal group La Gota del Norte, responsible for illegal mining and violence in the region. (Reuters)
Peruvian courts blocked former President Alberto Fujimori's pardon and authorized the trial of his daughter, Keiko Fujimori, for alleged money laundering, marking a significant legal development for the family. (Reuters)
๐บ๐พ Uruguay
Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou is optimistic about preventing Spotify from leaving the country, following the company's announcement to users about discontinuing its service due to Uruguay's new law impacting copyright and making its operation unsustainable. The government is in talks to resolve the issue, considering the interests of users, musicians, and authors. (Barrons)
๐ป๐ช Venezuela
Venezuelan voters overwhelmingly rejected the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction in a territorial dispute with Guyana, favoring the creation of a new state in the oil-rich Esequibo region, despite the ICJ's order against altering the status quo. The referendum, seen as a political move by President Maduro, received high approval amid low turnout and no organized opposition campaign. (Reuters)
In a referendum, Venezuelans approved a claim to sovereignty over the Esequibo region of Guyana, an area rich in oil and minerals. President Maduro's government pushed for this vote despite the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order against altering Guyana's control over the territory. The referendum's practical and legal effects are unclear, but it has heightened tensions between Venezuela and Guyana. (VOA)
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