Latest news with #Bogotá
Bloomberg
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Latin America's Security Crisis Is the Right's Stuff
Almost two weeks after an assassination attempt, Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains in critical condition in a Bogota hospital. The attack against a charismatic 39-year-old presidential hopeful shocked Colombia, with thousands taking to the streets in solidarity, demanding peace and an end to the country's wave of violence. The cruel episode rekindled memories of the tragic Pablo Escobar years, when drug cartels and guerrillas ruled over life and death in Colombia in the 1980s and early 1990s. There are resemblances: The damaging combo of billion-dollar illegal businesses, ever-growing drug demand, brutal fights for markets and territory and ineffectual government security policies is destabilizing the Andean nation. Yet the feeling of insecurity isn't unique to Colombians: From Mexico to Ecuador and Peru, most of Latin America is going through a dark period where personal safety is uncertain and crime and corruption dominate public discussion. Worse, this is increasingly spilling into vicious political violence, as we saw with Uribe and the equally callous assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Colombian ‘Narcos' Producer Dynamo Hires Angélica Guerra to Drive International Growth (Exclusive)
Angélica Guerra, a former top executive at Apple, Sony, Colombian free-to-air network Caracol Televisión and Telemundo, has joined Dynamo, the Colombian production company and production services firm that has worked on the likes of hit crime drama Narcos and One Hundred Years of Solitude, as a partner and chief strategy officer. She will also lead two newly launched business units called Franchises and Unscripted. The hire underlines Dynamo's ambition for international growth. With it, the company said it 'is poised to accelerate its global ambitions, innovate across genres, and further solidify its position as a leader in premium content production.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Israel-Iran Conflict Dominates Global News Peter Chan's Noir Drama 'She's Got No Name' Debuts in Shanghai After "Experimental" Two-Part Overhaul 'Ne Zha 2' Director: China's Animation Boom Must Lead to Creative Risk, Not Repetition With offices in Bogota, Mexico, New York, and Madrid, Dynamo, founded in 2006, has so far developed and produced 26 series and 49 feature films for the likes of Netflix (Narcos, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Wild District etc), Amazon (Falco, Medellin, The Head of Joaquin Murrieta etc), and Starzplay (Malayerba). Its films have included The 33, Mile 22, American Made, and Gemini Man. With more than 25 years of experience in the audiovisual industry, Guerra's leadership of the two new divisions will also help with 'further broadening the company's footprint in both scripted and unscripted formats,' Dynamo said. 'In her most recent role, Guerra spent five years as head of Apple TV+ for Latin America, leading the content strategy for Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide,' Dynamo said. As senior vp of production for Latin America and U.S. Hispanic at Sony Pictures Television, she oversaw a slate of original primetime series that included the likes of Metastasis, the Spanish-language adaptation of Breaking Bad, and local-language versions of such nonscripted formats as Shark Tank, X Factor, and Got Talent. Before that, during her tenure at Caracol, she helped the company expand its international presence. 'Angélica's arrival as a partner marks a milestone in our growth strategy, propelling us into newbusiness areas that align with the evolving needs of our industry,' said Dynamo CEO Andrés Calderón. 'Her leadership, experience, and strategic vision are widely recognized, and we're confident she will be instrumental in Dynamo's international expansion.' Guerra is ready for her new challenge. 'Dynamo has built an extraordinary legacy of bold, high-quality storytelling that resonates globally. I'm thrilled to join this talented team at such a pivotal moment, as we expand into new formats and push creative boundaries,' she said. 'With the launch of the Unscripted division, we'll focus on discovering, creating, and adapting the most innovative formats for Latin American audiences and beyond. Meanwhile, our Franchises division will develop fiction properties with the potential to grow across multiple seasons and platforms.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Colombian High Court Blocks Petro's Referendum on Labor Rights
One of Colombia's highest courts blocked President Gustavo Petro's proposal to hold a referendum on boosting labor rights. Petro had sought the vote for Aug. 7, anticipating a a big show of public support for measures such as boosting overtime pay and making it harder to fire workers.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Colombian Designer Who Turned Beach Waste Into Fashion Gold
Baobab's high summer collection 2025 features vibrant designs in candy hues The scene is vivid: a 22-year-old law student in Bogotá, Colombia, surrounded by legal textbooks, bra cups, stretchy fabrics, and scissors, working late not for her upcoming exams, but for her passion project. What came after was no surprise in hindsight — instead of pursuing a career in law and politics, Isabella Espinosa saved her lunch money to buy bikini materials and began building what seemed like an impossible dream. 'It started as an emotional decision rather than a logical one,' Espinosa speaks of the early days of her brand Baobab, a sustainable swimwear brand that has exploded from $250,000 in revenue in 2020 to over $9 million in 2024. Today, Espinosa's stylish and versatile range of resort- and swimwear has drawn a loyal fanbase — counting close to half a million followers on their Instagram account alone; her flagship stores span from Bogotá to New York's West Village, with her designs sold in boutiques in over 450 locations across 50 countries, all topped with a growing B2C strategy to ensure direct engagement with customers. Baobab's humble beginning started with what can be seen on Colombian beaches in abundance: waste coconuts falling from trees. 'What if we pack the bikinis into coconut shells?' Espinosa thought, before going on to create the distinctive packaging that would catch the attention of Victoria's Secret and launch her brand into the global spotlight. Working with artist Pilar Hernandez, she transformed these discarded shells into the now-iconic 'Coco Bag' — sustainable packaging in its most original form, which also doubles as a beach bag. Baobab's line of resort-inspired accessories also contributed to the brand's popularity The innovation was born from necessity — 'I couldn't afford the high minimum orders required for traditional packaging,' Espinosa explains, before adding: 'It was sustainable, reusable, and completely plastic-free.' A perfect solution that summarizes her brand's philosophy (in a nutshell, literally): turning limitations into opportunities, waste into luxury. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, Baobab faced an existential crisis like many privately owned and funded fashion brands. Who needed swimsuits in a lockdown? 'I doubled down,' Espinosa says, and recalls how she spent her time during the pandemic to innovate with coral reef restoration programs, create versatile 'beach-to-bar' designs, and expand in wholesale by speaking to retailers. The strategy proved brilliant. Within a year of partnering with Intermix, one of the brand's first big account secured during this period, Baobab grew 2,250% within their stores. The 'Beach to Bar' philosophy subsequently became a crucial part to Baobab's DNA. To date, the brand's vibrant and joy-inducing pieces are created with versatility in mind, making them the perfect vacation picks allowing seamless transitions from swimwear to evening wear. 'It's not just about what we wear, but how we wear it,' Espinosa explains. As unconventional as its founder's journey, Baobab's marketing strategy is key in the brand's rise to stardom. Instead of reinvesting in seasonal trade shows, the brand focused on storytelling, launching stunning runways in iconic locations like the Seine River and the Amazon rainforest. These spectacular shows, including presentations in Madagascar's Baobab Tree Valley and Dubai's desert, have become signature events that spiked Baobab's brand awareness on a global scale with breathtaking content created for the brand's ever-growing online community, while ensuring the brand stay true to its nature-inspired ethos. Isabella Espinosa (center), founder of Baobab, with models at the brand's runway show at the Baobab Tree Valley in Madagascar Beyond fashion and vacation pieces, Baobab is working on a mission to better the planet. In 2023, the brand recycled three tons of waste through its Cascade program under the Baobab Foundation. Every piece is made from recycled ocean plastics and discarded fishing nets, while the dyeing process uses a steaming technique that generates zero water waste or chemical residues. Espinosa shows further commitment: for every swimsuit sold, a tree is planted, and proceeds go to supporting coral reef restoration in Colombia's San Andrés archipelago. Last year, Baobab made its debut at PARAISO Miami Swim Week and hosted its first Miami pop-up in the Design District, in addition to opening its first flagship boutique in New York. This year, the brand is showing no signs of slowing down, having launched on Moda Operandi and its high summer collection, 'Le Soleil', that continues to draw inspiration from Colombia's biodiversity. This week, Baobab announced its collaboration with New York It girl Leah McCarthy, unveiling a 30-piece range of swimwear, dresses and accessories that embodies a touch more playfulness on top of the brand's usual elevated aesthetics. Looking ahead, Espinosa's vision remains uncompromisingly ambitious. 'Growth should never come at the cost of our values,' she insists. With the Baobab Foundation pushing initiatives like the Latin American Cascade Challenge powered by LAFS, she's expanding her zero-waste mission across the region. 'For us, growth isn't just about revenue, it's about impact,' Espinosa reflects. 'We're not just building a brand; we're building a movement that can set fashion as a tool for change.'
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Colombia High Court Returns Petro's Pension Bill to Congress
Colombia's Constitutional Court returned the government-backed pension reform to Congress, citing a procedural error in a move that offers a glimmer of hope for President Gustavo Petro, whose ambitious social reforms have faced significant hurdles in the legislature. The nation's highest court gave the lower house 30 business days, starting from the ordinary congressional period on July 20, to correct the mistake. Meanwhile, the pension law's enactment, which was scheduled for July 1, was suspended. Its implementation now depends on a definitive ruling from the court on its constitutionality or a new enactment date set by Congress.
