AGP Executive Report

AI, religion, and power politics: Pope Leo publicly challenged Donald Trump over the Iran war, then Trump fired back—turning a Vatican message into a fresh global flashpoint. Media business: Dropout’s CEO says the streaming playbook can be different—building comedy without chasing growth-at-all-costs. Fintech expansion: India’s UPI will go live in Cyprus next year after a 2025 Modi visit deal, pushing real-time payments further into Europe. Migration crackdown: The US Coast Guard warned smugglers “do not value human life,” citing cases where migrants were padlocked below deck. Peru tech & policy: Peru’s President Balcázar visited Chepén to kick off electrical expansion and deliver computers/tablets to a school. Peru research: New DNA work suggests coastal migration in Peru started centuries earlier than the Inca era. Peru culture & heritage: Excavations at Kuelap uncovered a Late Horizon funerary structure with offerings including pacay/guaba.

Peru Tech & Beyond: El Niño watch: Scientists and forecasters say a “super El Niño” could be forming, but they stress it’s still early—so prepare, don’t panic. Climate + risk: NOAA is also pointing to a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, even as Pacific conditions drive uncertainty. Peru on the ground: A new archaeological find at Kuelap uncovered a funerary structure with remains of five people and offerings tied to the Late Horizon period. Digital + governance: In the ID4Africa ecosystem, governments and funders pushed for open-source identity systems with local ownership, focusing on sustainable financing and capacity building. Global tech signals: Align Technology gathered ~400 orthodontists in Barcelona for its Invisalign EMEA summit, while GLI became a Diamond-Elite sponsor of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, with a regulators workshop planned in Lima. Local business + culture: Peru’s Chinese investment presence keeps expanding across mining, energy, infrastructure, and tech.

US-Iran Fallout: A new Congressional Research Service report says at least 42 US military aircraft were lost or damaged in the Iran war, including F-15s, F-35s and 24 MQ-9 Reapers, while Pentagon costs for “Operation Epic Fury” are already near $29B. Peru Defense Politics: Peru’s F-16 purchase is back in focus as analysts argue the real issue isn’t just jets—it’s how politics and trust shape long-term defense ties. Amazon Crime Network: A Peru-based report warns drug trafficking and illegal mining have fused into one criminal system across the Amazon, exploiting weak state presence and local governance. Peru Tech & Finance: ReLeaf Financial and Inspira Te ilumina are piloting a fraud-resistant digital rewards loyalty system for 150,000+ users in Peru. Indigenous Languages Push: Peru’s government is rolling out tools to expand Quechua and Aymara access in schools and services, including an IRTP portal and a 24/7 interpretation line. Climate Risk: Scientists warn a “super El Niño” could be even worse than 1877, with potentially massive food and health impacts.

Peru Tech & Digital Rewards: ReLeaf Financial and Inspira Te ilumina launched a secure digital rewards pilot for 150,000+ users in Peru, aiming to use ReLeaf’s authentication and trust tech to cut fraud in loyalty programs. Peru Earth & Response: Peru’s authorities coordinated response actions after a strong Ica earthquake, with another quake reported near the coast of Peru. Peru Mining Signals: Tinka Resources says it’s starting a magnetotellurics survey at its Silvia copper-gold project and is advancing Ayawilca target work after revising its 3D model. Global Tech Push: Google rolled out major AI upgrades to Search, including agent-style help for finding what you need—while Apple teased new iOS 27 accessibility features powered by Apple Intelligence. Energy & Ports: Kempower and APM Terminals signed a global framework to expand DC fast-charging infrastructure, with a first pilot already in Callao, Peru.

Ukraine Diplomacy: Zelenskyy accepted new ambassador credentials from Panama, Mongolia, and Peru, signaling renewed top-level ties on trade, agriculture, mining, and humanitarian support. Peru Tech & Fintech: ReLeaf Financial and Inspira Te ilumina launched a secure digital rewards pilot for 150,000+ users in Peru, aiming to cut fraud in loyalty programs with stronger authentication. AI Meets the Real World: Google kicked off I/O with Gemini 3.5 and “AI Mode” upgrades, including a redesigned experience and new ways to generate video—while search gets a major interface refresh. Peru Earth & Response: Peru reported a strong Ica earthquake with injuries and school/road impacts, as authorities coordinate assessments and traffic controls. Climate Pressure: A WMO report flags extreme heat and disasters across Latin America and the Caribbean, with glacier loss and stronger storms already hitting communities. Local Conservation: In Lambayeque, Peru is backing pollinator-friendly forest restoration—using native bees and trees to protect biodiversity and livelihoods.

Peru Earthwatch: A magnitude 5.9 quake hit near Peru’s coast at about 10 km depth, with reports of shaking but no immediate tsunami alerts. Google & AI: At Google I/O, Gemini 3.5 is rolling out (starting with Gemini 3.5 Flash), plus a major Search box upgrade and new AI “agents” that can scan for updates and notify users. Digital trade: A new ranking puts Peru among the top digital-trade negotiators, tied at 12 agreements, as countries race to set rules for cross-border data and online services. Peru conservation with a twist: In Lambayeque, a bee-and-forest program is using honey to fund tree restoration and protect native pollinators. Climate pressure: A WMO report flags extreme heat as a growing Latin America and Caribbean threat, with 2025 bringing record temperatures and major disasters. Tech in Peru’s orbit: Peru’s agribusiness push continues—exports reached 115 markets in 2025, with more products gaining access in early 2026.

AI & Faith: Pope Leo XIV says an “AI version” of him would be “horrifying,” warning that avatars can create a fake world and erode dignity and jobs. Archaeology in Peru: A new find in Chachapoyas—an 80cm carved stone lintel with a human face—was uncovered beneath the Qhapaq Ñan road system during conservation work. Peru Tech & Policy: Peru is rolling out AI-backed surveillance to protect vicuñas from poaching, pairing smarter monitoring with tougher penalties. Mining Watch: Coppernico reports fresh surface channel results at its Nioc target in Peru, including 70.1m grading 0.92% Cu and 0.25 g/t Au, expanding the skarn footprint. Global Tech Trend: Titan OS is integrating Mercado Play into smart TVs across LATAM, including Peru, pushing more local streaming into the living room. Quick context: Peru also marked Google’s 16 years in the country and faced a 6.1 quake felt in Lima and Ica.

Peru Politics: Peru’s June 7 runoff is shaping up as a legal mirror match: leftist Roberto Sánchez faces a Lima court on May 27 over alleged falsified campaign finances, while Keiko Fujimori’s similar case was annulled last January without declaring innocence—so both candidates are effectively running through the same institutional stress test. AI for Conservation: Peru also just moved to protect vicuñas with an AI-enabled surveillance push, backed by tougher penalties for poaching tied to the luxury fiber market. Regional Climate Pressure: Across Latin America, the latest WMO reporting warns of “hydrological whiplash”—droughts and extreme downpours hitting at once—after 2025’s heat and flood impacts, including major effects in Peru. Tech & Policy Watch: Outside Peru, APEC SOM2 in Shanghai is pushing AI cooperation and trade resilience, while the U.S. faces fresh scrutiny over border surveillance tools reportedly used against citizens.

Border Tech Backlash: Reports say U.S. immigration surveillance tools bought for border enforcement were used against American citizens, including a case where agents allegedly warned a Maine resident after she photographed an operation. APEC AI Push: Delegates at APEC SOM2 in Shanghai urged AI cooperation and trade resilience, with Peru highlighting plans to plug AI into trade systems. Peru Crime Tech Angle: Peru’s “Tren de Aragua” next-gen gang network was dismantled in a major operation, underscoring how organized crime keeps evolving. Netflix Ads Expand: Netflix is rolling out an ad-supported tier to more countries next year, including Peru, as it tries to grow ad revenue without killing subscriptions. Public Health Alarm: WHO declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC a public health emergency of international concern, with spread now reaching Uganda. Rail Upgrade: Southern Railway eased speed restrictions after track rectification work, aiming to improve service efficiency.

U.S. Border Tech Under Fire: Reports say surveillance tools bought for immigration enforcement are being used against American citizens, including a case where agents allegedly warned a resident after she recorded an operation—raising fresh alarms about a “dragnet” that can reach hundreds of millions of people. Middle East Naval Move: Italy has sent mine-countermeasure ships from Augusta to support efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz navigable, pending parliamentary approval and a stable truce. Peru Tech & Culture: Peru shows up in the global spotlight via a new Peru–UW Oshkosh academic partnership and a Peru-linked archaeology story: hairless dogs preserved at a 1,200-year-old Wari site. Climate Watch: A “super El Niño” is being discussed, but forecasts remain uncertain—still, preparation is urged. Regional Trade: APEC officials in Shanghai pushed paperless trade and digital customs to cut cross-border friction.

Border Wall Clash: Indigenous leaders in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands say new wall construction is desecrating sacred sites, with blasting and bulldozing hitting places they describe as spiritual “healers.” Peru Tech & Policy: Peru’s election watchdog is moving to tighten the runoff process, with the JNE forming an expert committee and planning stronger polling oversight and contingency monitors. Trade & Connectivity: APEC economies met in Shanghai to push trade and investment priorities, including digital customs, paperless trade, and reducing cross-border barriers—Peru’s foreign trade ministry is represented in the push. Culture Spotlight: Beijing Museum Season kicks off with an exhibition linking ancient Maya and Andean civilizations, featuring hundreds of artifacts from Mexico and Peru. Health Watch: A new U.S. study presented at AACR links higher fruit/veg intake to lung cancer in young non-smokers—an unexpected finding that still needs peer-reviewed confirmation.

Peru Election Tech & Markets: Peru’s June 7 runoff is set: left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez will face conservative frontrunner Keiko Fujimori, after Sanchez secured 12.03% and Fujimori 17.18% in the first round—Sanchez’s push for a new constitution and mining-sector overhaul is already spooking investors. Academic Links: UW-Oshkosh is formalizing a Peru partnership with Universidad Católica de Santa María in Arequipa, aiming for faculty/student exchanges and research in nursing and health education. Food Economy Pressure: Peru’s culinary boom is hitting strain as supply chains and high-altitude farming ecosystems struggle to keep up with demand. Global Climate Watch: “Super El Niño” talk is intensifying, with scientists saying preparation makes sense even if forecasts remain probabilistic. Health & Safety Signals: A new study flags a surprising link between lung cancer in young non-smokers and higher conventional produce intake—still not peer-reviewed.

Peru Politics: Roberto Sanchez is set to face Keiko Fujimori in Peru’s June 7 runoff after securing 12.03% in April, with Fujimori on 17.18%—Sanchez’s push for a new “plurinational” constitution is already spooking investors. Climate & Health: A new global study finds rivers are losing oxygen as warming accelerates, raising the risk of fish die-offs and dead zones. Tech & Discovery (Peru): AI-assisted scans in Peru’s Nazca Pampa have identified 303 previously hidden relief geoglyphs, nearly doubling what’s known. Global Watch: The U.S. is reportedly using border-surveillance tools on American citizens, while CDC travel warnings flag mosquito-borne chikungunya risks in multiple destinations. Business: India’s April exports jumped 13.59% to about $80.8B as imports rose 7.67%, narrowing the trade deficit.

Peru Politics: Roberto Sanchez is set for Peru’s June 7 runoff against Keiko Fujimori after securing 12.03% in the April vote, with Sanchez pushing a new “plurinational” constitution and a major mining-sector overhaul that’s already spooked investors. Climate & Health: A new global study finds rivers are losing oxygen as warming accelerates, raising the risk of fish die-offs and “dead zones” by century’s end—while Peru also shows up in the wider 2026 chikungunya spread, prompting CDC travel warnings for mosquito-borne risk. Tech & Discovery: AI and high-tech scans in Peru’s Nazca Desert helped identify 303 hidden relief geoglyphs, nearly doubling the known catalog. Gastronomy Under Pressure: Peru’s culinary boom is still rising, but Bloomberg reports the farm-to-plate ecosystem behind it is straining to keep up. Global Signals: El Niño odds remain high, with NOAA putting the May–July chance at 82%.

Peru Politics: Roberto Sanchez, the left-wing presidential hopeful pushing a new “plurinational” constitution, is set to face Keiko Fujimori in Peru’s June 7 runoff after securing 12.03% in the April vote. Climate & Health: A global study using satellites and AI finds rivers are losing oxygen as warming accelerates, raising the risk of fish die-offs and “dead zones.” Peru Tech & Science: AI helped researchers in Peru’s Nazca Desert identify 303 hidden geoglyphs—nearly doubling the known catalog—showing how scans plus machine learning can speed up archaeology. Global Tech/Health: A new mitochondrial research grant backs work on how cells clear damaged mitochondria, aiming at therapies for Parkinson’s and other diseases. Aviation (Peru): Peru’s Air Force ordered a fifth C-27J Spartan, with deliveries due in 2027 to expand transport and disaster-response missions. Travel/Health Alert: The CDC issued a travel advisory for Mauritius over chikungunya, urging enhanced precautions.

Netflix Ads Expansion: Netflix says its ad-supported tier will roll out to 15 more countries in 2027, including Peru—pushing the ad plan to 27 markets and claiming 250M monthly active viewers on the tier. Peru Mining Push: At Peruvian Mining Day in Congress, officials argued mining is key for jobs and investment as global demand rises for copper, zinc, silver and other strategic minerals—while stressing projects must be socially legitimate and sustainable. Aviation for Peru: Peru’s Air Force ordered an additional C-27J Spartan, bringing its fleet to five, with deliveries due in 2027 and upgrades aimed at better performance across the Andes. Health & Food Watch: A new study links higher conventional produce intake with lung cancer in young non-smokers, raising questions about possible environmental risks. Caribbean Travel Signal: A Caribbean travel trends report highlights a shift toward higher-value, year-round demand, with Latin America— including Peru—standing out.