By Silvana Solano – May 28, 2026 A close look at how data‑fusion platforms embed into public health, education, and corporate systems to create states’ long‑term dependencies. Palantir Technologies is aggressively expanding its operations into Latin America. While the company, a Denver-based data analytics firm founded with early funding from the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) investment arm,...
By Silvana Solano – May 28, 2026 A close look at how data‑fusion platforms embed into public health, education, and corporate systems to create states’ long‑term dependencies. Palantir Technologies is aggressively expanding its operations into Latin America. While the company, a Denver-based data analytics firm founded with early funding from the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) investment arm, built its reputation serving Western military and intelligence agencies, its regional expansion targets civil government operations and corporate infrastructure under the banner of state modernization. This article examines how Palantir embeds its proprietary platforms within Latin American public health, education, and private sectors. By analyzing specific corporate agreements and cloud procurement strategies, it is possible to see how these data-fusion technologies establish long-term technological dependencies that ultimately align regional public infrastructure with the strategic interests of the US–Israel defense axis. Researcher Craig Jones explains how AI technology peddled by companies like Palantir and OpenAI is helping militaries speed up the "kill chain," likely resulting in the deadly massacre of over 100 children at an elementary school in Iran. "Everything in a society that the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/sifQdTryFr — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) March 18, 2026 How Palantir’s systems function To understand Palantir’s operations in Latin America, it is necessary to examine the technical architecture of its primary software platforms: Palantir Gotham, Palantir Foundry, and the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). Gotham is primarily tailored for defense, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement applications, allowing analysts to identify deep patterns within complex intelligence environments. Foundry functions as a central operating system for enterprise and civil government data, enabling non-technical users to interact with vast data ecosystems. The fundamental...
Hong Kong’s taxi trade has warned that 10 per cent of the cab owners in the city could soon default on vehicle mortgages as licence values plunge, with many drivers switching to the new ride-hailing regime where 10,000 permits will be issued. The market value of a taxi licence has plunged over the past two decades, from a historic high of HK$7.66 million (US$970,163) in 2009 to HK$2.62 million for...
Hong Kong’s taxi trade has warned that 10 per cent of the cab owners in the city could soon default on vehicle mortgages as licence values plunge, with many drivers switching to the new ride-hailing regime where 10,000 permits will be issued. The market value of a taxi licence has plunged over the past two decades, from a historic high of HK$7.66 million (US$970,163) in 2009 to HK$2.62 million for urban or red cabs and HK$1.45 million for green or New Territories taxis as of May this year, according to the Hong Kong Taxi Exchange. Licence values hit a record low of HK$1.99 million for red cabs and HK$1.25 million for green taxis in July last year, amid the government’s move towards introducing a regulatory regime for ride-hailing services. Advertisement Chau Kwok-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association, estimated about 1,800 out of the city’s 18,163 cabs would soon be repossessed by banks as owners fail to meet mortgage payments. He sounded the warning after authorities decided to set a cap of 10,000 vehicles for ride-hailing permits on Tuesday, marking a major step in their long-running effort to establish a regulatory framework for the service. Michael Tien estimates that about 11,000 of the 16,000 urban taxis are already on the Uber platform. Photo: Karma Lo He said that taxi licence values have depreciated greatly over the years and now that ride-hailing firms can roll out 10,000 service permits, their drivers could work a full 10 hours a day, compared with two hours in the past.
One of the most dreaded terms in dentistry is “root canal,” but at least we get to enjoy the perks of modern medicine. Now, imagine enduring that painful process nearly 60,000 years ago. An international team of scientists believes they have found evidence that Neanderthals, the closest relatives of modern humans, deliberately drilled a hole in a lower molar tooth to remove infected tissue. The di...
One of the most dreaded terms in dentistry is “root canal,” but at least we get to enjoy the perks of modern medicine. Now, imagine enduring that painful process nearly 60,000 years ago. An international team of scientists believes they have found evidence that Neanderthals, the closest relatives of modern humans, deliberately drilled a hole in a lower molar tooth to remove infected tissue. The discovery represents the oldest known example of invasive dental treatment, and it occurred tens of thousands of years before the earliest known example of dentistry in Homo sapiens. Advertisement The news serves as another example showcasing that Neanderthals were remarkably complicated ancient relatives. A collection of experimental tools crafted from local jasperoid raw material. Dotted lines illustrate the functional parts of these tools. Photo: journals.plos.org “[The medical treatment] brings Neanderthal behaviour closer to modern humans and differentiates that behaviour from the instinctive actions of other primates,” wrote the authors in a study published in PLOS ONE, an open-access science journal, on May 13.
Each week we bring you insights into one of Asia’s most dynamic economies. If you haven’t yet, please sign up here . Welcome to our 100th edition, and our sincere thanks for your support over the past two years. In our recent reader survey we heard your feedback, and one common theme was for more Southeast Asia news. So today, Haslinda Amin takes us behind the scenes at her Latitude interview with...
Each week we bring you insights into one of Asia’s most dynamic economies. If you haven’t yet, please sign up here . Welcome to our 100th edition, and our sincere thanks for your support over the past two years. In our recent reader survey we heard your feedback, and one common theme was for more Southeast Asia news. So today, Haslinda Amin takes us behind the scenes at her Latitude interview with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace in Manila. We’ll keep incorporating your suggestions in future editions. In the meantime, 12 lucky readers will receive an email about their free subscription with thanks for offering insights in the survey. But first, Ramsey Al-Rikabi ponders the significance of a second no-show by China’s defense minister to counter US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue; and Bernadette Toh enjoys the lively vibe at Sabòr, a new Spanish restaurant at Chijmes. Geopolitical Platform, Sans China Great-power competition might not be front-of-mind as you shelter under the shade in tropical Singapore, better known for its mountains of private wealth and multinational-friendly business environment . But we get a reminder this week at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s top security summit, named after the posh hotel where it’s hosted. The can’t-skip balmy weekend of geopolitics and high-level gathering of defense officials is organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. In recent years, of course, the conversation has been about China versus the US . It was here in 2012 that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta detailed the military dimensions of the pivot to Asia, as Beijing became more assertive in the South China Sea. Ten years later, it was where China’s defense chief said “we will not hesitate to fight” over Taiwan, responding to his American counterpart in one of the strongest warnings over the island. The summit has tracked their superpower ups and downs since. These days ...
Maryland's Glock Ban Aims At The Gun, Not The Criminal Authored by David Manney via PJ Media , Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed SB 334 into law Tuesday , putting the state on a collision course with gun owners , firearm dealers, and 2nd Amendment groups. The law targets " machine gun convertible pistols ," mainly Glock-style semiauto handguns that use a cruciform trigger bar. Maryland lawmakers argu...
Maryland's Glock Ban Aims At The Gun, Not The Criminal Authored by David Manney via PJ Media , Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed SB 334 into law Tuesday , putting the state on a collision course with gun owners , firearm dealers, and 2nd Amendment groups. The law targets " machine gun convertible pistols ," mainly Glock-style semiauto handguns that use a cruciform trigger bar. Maryland lawmakers argue criminals can convert those firearms into fully auto with illegal devices called Glock switches. The question remains: Why is Maryland banning future sales of common handguns because criminals already break the law with illegal conversion devices? SB 334 bars manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, receiving, or transferring covered pistols after January 1, 2027. Current owners won't have to surrender their firearms, and like hell they should. Active and retired law enforcement officers receive exemptions , and the law also allows immediate family transfers, inheritances, and certain gunsmith repairs. State Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery County) sponsored SB 334. Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George's County) sponsored HB 557, the companion bill in the House of Delegates. The Senate passed SB 334 by a 28-16 vote on March 19. The House passed it 91-40 on April 9 before Moore approved the bill as Chapter 771. Supporters frame the law as a public safety measure. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, and other officials have also pursued Glock through litigation, arguing Glock pistols can be converted too easily with auto sears. Police officials have warned about converted weapons appearing in crimes and threatening officers. A fully automatic weapon in criminal hands can turn a street dispute into a massacre in seconds. Yet the constitutional problem remains . Glock switches are already illegal under federal law and Maryland law. The new law burdens future lawful buyers because criminals misuse illegal parts. The National Shoot...