El pasado 7 de abril la Corte de Apelaciones del Distrito de Columbia determinó la validez de la decisión tomada por el Tribunal Arbitral que ordenó al Estado mexicano pagar 47 millones de dólares a la empresa canadiense “Lion México Consolidated” (Lion).

México buscó anular ese laudo alegando que los árbitros excedieron sus poderes y actuaron con desprecio manifiesto por la ley mexicana.

Sin embargo, la Corte de Apelaciones confirmó su validez, concluyendo que las inversiones garantizadas mediante hipotecas estaban protegidas por el Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN); que México violó su artículo 1105 (1) al no brindar un trato justo a ese inversionista; y que el Tribunal Arbitral no actuó fuera de su autoridad e interpretó el Tratado en su contexto y en consonancia con la jurisprudencia internacional.

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Madrid, Spain – A chant at a rally for Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado – referring to interim president Delcy Rodríguez as a monkey — has sparked backlash across political divides and forced a well-known Venezuelan singer to apologize.

The chant of “fuera la mona” (get the monkey out) resounded through Madrid’s Puerta del Sol on Saturday as thousands convened to show their support for Machado.

Although it lasted only seconds, the chant drew widespread criticism from both Venezuelan government supporters and the opposition; some denounced it as racist, while others said that, regardless of intent, it was derogatory and inappropriate to comment on someone’s appearance.

Latin America Reports was a few rows from the stage and observed that Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute had been calling for free elections when a small group began chanting.

The slogan quickly spread through parts of the crowd.

As it grew louder, Baute joined in and turned his microphone toward the audience, prompting even more people to repeat the chant.

By Sunday afternoon, clips were circulating on social media showing Baute joining in the chant on stage.

The singer, who has more than a million followers on Instagram, issued a video apology on Monday.

He said he had got caught up in the atmosphere of the rally, but insisted he is not racist.

“I let myself be carried away by the emotion of a very powerful moment… and I also know when something wasn’t right,” the 52-year-old said.

“All my life I have sung about love, life and unity.

I am not racist.

I am a singer who loves his country, his family and God.” Some on social media who had been at the rally blamed the incident on “infiltrators” and said only a small number of people had taken part.

Not everyone in the crowd participated and some attendees appeared visibly uncomfortable.  Although the chanting lasted only seconds and were followed by upbeat performances and Machado’s speech, by the following day the footage had gone viral.

Machado, leader of Venezuela’s opposition, moved quickly to distance herself from the remarks, criticizing the chant in an interview with EFE on Sunday: “No one will ever hear me say anything that judges or disqualifies a person based on their religion, gender or race.” The same day, the Venezuelan Embassy in Spain condemned the remarks, describing them as “a form of political violence rooted in misogyny and racism.”Others, however, defended the moment, pointing to what they described as a double standard and to language often used by government supporters against opposition figures, including insults directed at Machado such as “bruja” — meaning witch — and “sayona,” a reference to a Venezuelan legend about an evil female spirit.

Prominent Venezuelan journalist, Nicmer Evans, described Baute’s remarks as “racist” but also criticized the government, particularly Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, for frequently using similar language against opponents.

“Just as I have made clear the racism  and therefore the idiocy of calling Delcy ‘mona’, it is impossible not to point out the cynicism of someone who insults Venezuelan women every day, when he calls Machado ‘sayona’ or ‘bruja,’” he wrote.

Machado is currently in Madrid as part of a European tour, meeting Venezuelan diaspora supporters and political figures.

She has not, however, met Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Featured image description: Delcy Rodriguez.

Featured image credit: Government of Russia via Wikimedia Commons The post Backlash over chants calling Delcy Rodriguez a ‘monkey’ at Venezuela opposition rally appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Un tiroteo en las Pirámides de Teotihuacán, uno de los emblemas arqueológicos más importantes de México, ha dejado este lunes dos muertos y al menos seis heridos.

Un hombre ha matado a una turista canadiense, antes de suicidarse, al abrir fuego con un arma corta desde lo alto de la Pirámide de la Luna contra cientos de turistas que paseaban por la explanada del monumento histórico, construido entre los años 100 y 650 d.C.

El ataque ha generado escenas de caos y pánico en uno de los lugares más visitados del país.

Los disparos del atacante han alcanzado al menos a cuatro personas más de diferentes nacionalidades, que han sido trasladadas a un hospital de la zona.

Otras dos han resultado heridas con fractura y esguince al caerse por las escaleras de la pirámide, y una más ha sido atendida por crisis de ansiedad.

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Un hombre que se identifica como Andrés denunció en la mañana de este lunes en Caracol Radio que el cardenal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz, fallecido en abril de 2024 y quien fue durante décadas la máxima autoridad de la Iglesia católica en Colombia, abusó sexualmente de él en reiteradas ocasiones a partir de 1983, cuando Andrés tenía 15 años.

El testimonio fue dado a conocer pocas horas después de que EL PAÍS publicara un informe con ocho casos de presuntos abusos cometidos por 13 sacerdotes y religiosos colombianos, que este diario entregó al Vaticano para que los investigue.

El caso de esta víctima forma parte de ese dosier, frente al cual este medio ha consultado a la Arquidiócesis desde la semana pasada.

No ha respondido hasta el momento de publicar esta nota.

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La presidenta de México, Claudia Sheinbaum, se ha reunido este lunes en Palacio Nacional con el representante comercial de Estados Unidos, Jamieson Greer.

La segunda ronda de conversaciones entre México y EE UU sobre el acuerdo comercial forma parte del proceso que desembocará en la máxima revisión del TMEC, en julio próximo, en Washington.

“Estoy muy contento de estar hoy aquí en México.

Hemos estado trabajando de manera muy constructiva con el secretario Marcelo Ebrard y su equipo.

Es un gran honor poder estar con la presidenta Sheinbaum en este momento y confío en que logremos avances”, ha declarado Greer a su llegada a Palacio Nacional.

Tras el encuentro de poco más de una hora, el funcionario estadounidense abandonó el recinto para dirigirse al club de banqueros para continuar los trabajos con la Secretaría de Economía.

Su visita también incluyó un encuentro con empresarios de la talla de Carlos Slim Domit, de América Móvil y Daniel Servitje, de Grupo Bimbo.

La mandataria expresó en sus redes sociales: “Seguimos avanzando positivamente”.

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La confusión reinó en el centro de Bogotá en la tarde del sábado tras un brutal crimen en el rodaje de la telenovela Sin senos sí hay paraíso.

Una cámara de seguridad captó cómo, en la entrada de un hospital que servía como punto de apoyo del set de grabación, un transeúnte se acercó a un trabajador de la producción televisiva y lo degolló.

Después, asesinó a otro integrante de la producción e hirió a un tercero que se encuentra en cuidados intensivos.

Los compañeros de las víctimas lo mataron.

Las imágenes eran claras, pero nada tenía sentido: no hubo ningún intento de robo, ni interés del transeúnte en ingresar al hospital en el que se encontraban los camerinos de los actores, el Instituto Roosevelt.

Las autoridades han señalado este lunes que las investigaciones han descartado las hipótesis de un hurto o un sicariato.

Han enfatizado que el agresor padecía de psicosis y esquizofrenia.

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Cuba's government on Monday confirmed that a meeting with US representatives recently took place on the island, in the latest sign of a diplomatic approach between both countries amid a severe energy crisis caused by Washington's blockade of oil supplies.

NASSAU, Bahamas, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) today announced the appointment of Dareo McKenzie as Chief Executive Officer and Gladys Fernander, CPA as Chief Financial Officer, marking the company’s transition to a fully independent, all-Bahamian-led operating model.

This leadership transition follows the conclusion of Island Grid Solutions’ (IGS) management role on April 20, 2026, and the stepping down of Eric Pike and Mei Shibata from their positions at BGC.

“We are honored to have had the opportunity to set up BGC and conduct the biggest grid upgrade project for New Providence, over the past two years,” said Eric Pike, Former Chairman of BGC.

“I would like to recognize the dedicated employees of IGS, Pike, and BGC, whose hard work and commitment were instrumental to this achievement, and extend our best wishes for BGC’s continued success.” “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Eric, Mei, and the entire IGS team for their leadership and expertise in building BGC into a fully operational utility and strengthening New Providence’s transmission and distribution system,” said Anthony Ferguson, Chairman of BGC.

“We now move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organization, focused on delivering long-term performance for our country, our children, and our grandchildren.” Mr.

McKenzie brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including senior operational roles at GE Vernova and Consolidated Edison of New York.

He has led large-scale grid modernization and construction programs, managed billion-dollar capital portfolios, and delivered complex energy projects focused on reliability, resilience, and operational performance.

Ms.

Fernander is a Certified Public Accountant with more than two decades of executive financial leadership in regulated environments.

As former Chief Financial Officer of Commonwealth Bank, she oversaw enterprise-wide financial strategy, capital planning, treasury, and regulatory compliance, and brings deep expertise in governance, financial discipline, and institutional accountability.

“Together, Dareo and Gladys bring the operational and financial leadership required to grow a resilient, high-performing utility,” Ferguson added.

“Just as importantly, this transition reflects the strength and capability of Bahamian leadership at every level of the organization.” Over the past two years, BGC has made meaningful progress in strengthening New Providence’s electricity network, improving reliability by almost 50% and updating its critical infrastructure through a $130M grid upgrade project.

With the transition to full independence, the company will now be focused on the disciplined management of the system to ensure its long-term system performance.

About Bahamas Grid Company Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) is a utility company in New Providence that is responsible for upgrading, maintaining, and operating New Providence’s transmission and distribution infrastructure, with the goal of delivering reliable, resilient, and sustainable power to all residents and businesses.

As President José Antonio Kast's government ramps up its campaign against irregular immigration with deportation flights and promises of mass expulsions, thousands of undocumented Venezuelans in Chile face a paradox: they want to leave but cannot do so legally.

Without valid passports, without Venezuelan consular services in the country and without a formal voluntary return mechanism, they are trapped between a government that does not want them and a homeland they cannot reach.

Madrid, Spain – Venezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, drew thousands of supporters to Madrid’s Puerta del Sol on Saturday, telling them that they would soon be able to return to Venezuela.“Today we begin our return home,” she said to raucous applause from the crowd.Machado appeared on a balcony draped with the Spanish and Venezuelan flags overlooking the square and flanked by members of her team.

It was a moment that felt closer to a presidential address than a political rally, followed by chants calling for elections to vote her in and cries of “president, president, president” filling the square at various points throughout her speech.The Madrid rally marks an attempt by Machado to build momentum, amid uncertainty over the opposition’s next steps and anticipation about when she will go back to Venezuela.Machado won the opposition’s 2023 primary by a landslide but was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election.

Edmundo Gonzalez ran in her place and is widely believed to have won.  But since the capture of Nicolas Maduro by U.S.

forces on January 3, many Venezuelans want fresh elections and do consider Delcy Rodriguez, now interim president, to represent them.

A few minutes after Machado’s balcony appearance, she stepped onto a stage in her signature white top and jeans — the same look she wore during dozens of rallies in Venezuela ahead of the 2024 elections — as well as rosary beads around her neck, gifted by supporters.

Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, lifted small children onto the stage to hug them, as various gifts were passed through the crowd towards the stage — pictures, flowers, and more rosary beads.

She said that on January 3 a huge hole opened up, and that force and energy had begun to flow: “Now, having lived through what we’ve lived through, having endured the worst repression and persecution, having overcome fear, we are now unstoppable — unstoppable.”While she criticized interim president of Venezuela, Rodriguez, she praised the U.S.

president.“There is one leader in the world, one head of state, who has risked the lives of his country’s citizens for the freedom of Venezuela.

And that is Donald Trump,” Machado said, referring to the U.S.

capture of Maduro in January.

Machado also paid tribute to the city of Madrid, which she said had welcomed and integrated Venezuelans at their time of need — but said soon they would be able to go back to Venezuela.

“Today the whole world has its eyes on this Plaza del Sol, because it knows that here today we are beginning the return home,” she shouted.

“Pack your bags, because we’re going back.”Spain hosts one of the largest Venezuelan communities in Europe, making it a key base of support for the opposition abroad.

Many Venezuelans at the gathering said that they did want to return home.

“We were nurses, eighteen years of service, and we had to leave home, we had to leave work, we had to leave everything,” a woman called Nazareth told Latin America Reports.

She had left with her friend in September 2025 because of persecution by authorities in Venezuela.  Nazareth, pictured right, holds a sign reading: “Madrid receives me, Guasdualito (a town in Venezuela) defines me.

With MCM until the end!” Image credit: Catherine Ellis But she said she wants to  go back as soon as it is safe enough — and believes Machado can make that happen: “I’m with María Corina to the very end and beyond.

She is a warrior woman, a woman who represents all of us.” Others who had lived in Spain for years said Madrid was now their home, although some were beginning to consider a return.

Liliana Urbina came to Spain 20 ago, when Hugo Chávez was still in power.

But she said the changes since January 3 and Machado’s leadership now had her considering a permanent return to her home country.

“When I arrived here, I forgot about the idea of returning, but María Corina has changed that.

She has shown the world that we can rebuild the country, that we are united, and that we will move forward,” she told Latin America Reports.

“So it is feasible, and it is possible, and it is a dream that we too now have — of returning.” The event was at times more like a concert than a rally, with musical performances from well-known Venezuelan performers such as Carlos Baute and opera singer Víctor García Sierra.Many Venezuelans had arrived as early as 2 P.M.

to secure their spots, bringing supplies as well as musical instruments to play for others around them.

Others dressed up as President Trump or Nicolas Maduro, and posed for photos with the crowd.

MCM supporters dressed as Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro.

Image credit: Catherine Ellis.

As the day progressed and the crowd increased, several people fainted due to the heat and lack of shade.

Earlier in the day, Machado had attended a second symbolic ceremony during her visit.

This time, she was awarded the Medal of the Community of Madrid.

Edmundo González also received the honour but was unable to accept it in person as he is currently in hospital.

On Friday she received the “llave de Oro” — golden key — an honour usually reserved for heads of state.

On Friday and Saturday, María Corina met with the country’s two main opposition leaders — Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the PP and Santiago Abascal of Vox.

But she did not meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was hosting a conference of left-wing leaders — including Petro, Lula and Sheinbaum — in Barcelona.

However, Sánchez said he had offered to meet her.

María Corina will visit the Spanish Senate on Monday.

Featured image description: Maria Corina Machado spoke to a crowd of supporters on Saturday, April 18.

Featured image credit: Catherine Ellis.

The post ‘The return home begins today!’: María Corina Machado rallies thousands in Madrid appeared first on Latin America Reports.

The leaders of Mexico, Spain and Brazil called for Cuba’s sovereignty to be respected as it continues to face threats by Washington.

The joint statement came during a meeting of left-wing leaders in Spain and also vowed to send humanitarian aid to the crisis-ridden island.

The plea comes as the President Donald Trump administration ratchets up punitive measures on the communist-run island in the hopes of forcing political regime change.  “We express our deep concern regarding the serious humanitarian crisis the Cuban people faces … [and] we reiterate the need to respect at all times international law and the principles of territorial integrity, sovereign equality and the peaceful settlement of disputes”, said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva in a joint statement on Saturday.  Although the U.S.

was not directly mentioned, the plea appears to be aimed at the White House as tensions rise between the two neighbors.

Since news broke on Wednesday that the Pentagon is ramping up preparations for an operation against Cuba, a U.S.

Navy surveillance drone has been observed flying over Cuba’s coast for several hours and Trump has promised that “a new dawn for Cuba” is imminent.  Hope for a peaceful solution, however, remains.

Havana and Washington are currently engaged in official diplomatic negotiations; a U.S.

government delegation visited Havana on Friday, marking the first visit of an official U.S.

government plane since former President Barack Obama’s trip in 2016.

The U.S.

delegation reportedly informed their Cuban counterparts that they saw an end to political repression, the liberation of high-profile political prisoners and economic liberalization as prerequisites for easing the longstanding economic and commercial embargo on the island.  These sanctions, which have historically been condemned by the vast majority of the international community at the United Nations General Assembly, have caused far-reaching material shortages on the island and hindered the island’s ability to engage in international trade and commerce, according to UN experts.  Recently, the U.S.

intensified sanctions, declaring Cuba a national security threat and blockading the vast majority of oil destined for the island, which is now facing an acute humanitarian and economic crisis as a result of the intensified measures.

Sheinbaum, Lula and Sánchez’s promise of support represents the latest in a series of international offers and shipments of aid.

Sheinbaum’s own government has already sent humanitarian shipments to the island, and the Chinese, Chilean and Canadian administrations have also sent or pledged to send aid to the island.  Furthermore, a civilian humanitarian aid mission to Cuba, which brought food, medicine and solar equipment to the island, was organized in March.  Featured Image: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva during the former’s visit to Brazil in 2024.

Image Credit: Ricardo Stuckert via Flickr License: Creative Commons Licenses The post International calls for US-Cuba de-escalation grow amid latest threats appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Voters in five Bolivian departments went to the polls on Sunday to complete the regional elections that began on March 22, in a runoff that consolidated a fragmented political map: President Rodrigo Paz's Patria coalition retained just two of nine governorships, while seven went to different opposition forces.

News Americas, PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mon.

April 20, 2026: The United States has renewed its travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago, urging travelers to reconsider travel due to ongoing concerns about crime and public safety.

The updated advisory, issued April 13th, comes amid heightened security measures in the twin-island nation following recent violent incidents, including the killing of a municipal police officer in San Fernando.

In response, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has moved to an “elevated operational posture” to support ongoing investigations and national security efforts.

The US State Department advisory also follows the government’s declaration of a nationwide State of Emergency on March 2nd, aimed at addressing a spike in violent criminal activity that authorities say could threaten public safety.

Under the State of Emergency, law enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers, including the ability to arrest individuals on suspicion, conduct searches of properties, and suspend bail for certain offenses.

While officials note that crime levels have declined compared to previous years, concerns remain, particularly in parts of Trinidad.

Tobago continues to experience lower crime rates.

As of early April 2026, Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing a high-stakes struggle with violent crime, including a reported 92 murders by April 4th, prompting a State of Emergency declared on March 2nd to combat escalating violence.

Despite initial reports claiming a sharp decrease in the number, and conflicting reports suggesting a surge in January, the country faced 11 deaths in the first 24 hours of 2026 The U.S.

advisory highlights specific areas in Port of Spain where government personnel are restricted from traveling, including Laventille, parts of Charlotte Street, Piccadilly Street, Besson Street, and communities such as Beetham and Sea Lots.

Additional restrictions apply at night in areas including downtown Port of Spain, beaches, Fort George, and the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The advisory also warns of a potential risk of terrorist activity, as well as limited access to healthcare services in rural areas across both islands.

Travelers are being urged to exercise increased caution, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid displaying signs of wealth, and take additional safety precautions, particularly at night.

Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have emphasized that security operations remain ongoing, and the situation continues to be monitored closely, with the potential for changes to restrictions under the State of Emergency.

The renewed advisory underscores ongoing concerns about safety and security in the Caribbean nation, even as officials continue efforts to stabilize conditions and reduce crime.

The travel advisory comes also on the heels of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar close alignment with U.S.

President Donald Trump on security and anti-drug trafficking initiatives.

She has supported U.S.

military actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela, resulting in meetings, such as at the Shield of the Americas Summit.

By Dr.

Isaac Newton News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon.

April 20, 2026: After years of absence, a mentor posed a question that resisted an immediate answer: How do we engage with each other and the wider world if not through relationships?

It did not feel like a request for information.

It felt diagnostic.

Beneath its simplicity lies an unsettling implication: much of what we call engagement may, in fact, be performance, transaction, or control, each imitating relationship while quietly replacing it.

Relationships are not merely part of how we engage the world.

They are the only way we do.

Every decision, every exchange, and every system we build is carried along invisible currents of trust, perception, and shared meaning.

Even in the most technical domains, strategy moves through conversation, authority rests on belief, and execution depends on alignment that cannot be forced into being.

Remove relationship, and what remains is not efficiency but resistance, not progress but strain.

The evidence is not argued; it is lived.

The longest running longitudinal study on human flourishing found that the clearest predictor of life satisfaction is not wealth, intelligence, or achievement, but the quality of close relationships.

Neuroscience arrives at the same conclusion from another direction.

The human brain is organized for connection.

It registers safety through belonging and threat through isolation.

Even judgment, often described as rational, is shaped by networks of trust and social context.

Where trust is present, complexity becomes navigable.

Where it is absent, even simple coordination begins to unravel.

Yet, the modern world is increasingly structured against the very medium on which it depends.

We have built systems that scale productivity but not presence, and networks that expand reach but dilute depth.

Communication is constant, while understanding is sporadic.

In organizations, relational work is treated as secondary to measurable output, even though it is the condition that makes meaningful output possible.

The result is a quiet fragility.

Performance holds until pressure reveals what connection was never built to sustain.

RELATIONSHIPS Relationships do not glide toward strength; they recede without attention.

They require presence that cannot be automated, attention that cannot be outsourced, and a willingness to remain when convenience suggests withdrawal.

This is why they are universal, yet uncommon in their maturity.

Everyone participates in them, yet few cultivate them with the discipline they demand.

The cost is cumulative: trust thins, misalignment grows, and the capacity for shared progress weakens.

For leaders, this reframes the work entirely.

The task is not only to decide, but to create the conditions in which decisions can be understood, trusted, and carried forward.

Influence does not move through authority alone; it moves through relationship.

This requires a shift from control to connection, from communication as delivery to communication as shared understanding.

It calls for environments in which people are seen clearly enough to contribute and engaged deeply enough to grow.

Such environments are not accidental; they are formed through consistent acts of attention, clarity, and integrity.

If relationships are the medium of all engagement, then their quality becomes the measure of both leadership and life.

Every interaction carries weight.

Every exchange shapes what becomes possible next.

The question is no longer whether relationships matter.

It is whether we recognize, before it is too late, that nothing meaningful in our lives has ever happened outside of one.

Editor’s Note: Dr.

Isaac Newton is a leadership strategist and change management expert specializing in governance and ethical leadership.

Educated at Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, he is co-author of Steps to Good Governance and has advised boards, educators, and public leaders across the Caribbean and internationally, integrating policy, psychology, and ethics to strengthen institutional performance.

RELATED: CARICOM Governance Under Scrutiny: Why Process and Legitimacy Matter In Regional Leadership

News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mon.

April 20, 2026: Long before reggae became a global force, Ernie Smith was telling the everyday story of Jamaica through music – blending humor, social commentary, and melody into songs that captured the spirit of a generation.

Ernie Smith, born Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith on May 1, 1945, was a Jamaican reggae singer known for his deep baritone voice and storytelling style, with his greatest success in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Smith died Thursday, April 16, 2026 at age 80 at a hospital in Miami, Florida, following complications linked to cardiac issues, according to his family.

Born in Kingston and raised in St.

Ann and May Pen, Smith’s musical journey began early.

Influenced by his father, who played guitar, he picked up the instrument as a teenager and later performed with the band The Vandals.

Initially pursuing a career in radio, he eventually turned to songwriting and recording, carving out a distinctive space in Jamaica’s evolving music scene.

His breakthrough came in the late 1960s with hits such as Bend Down, followed by a string of Jamaican number one songs including Ride on Sammy, One Dream and Pitta Patta.

In 1972, he gained international recognition after winning the Yamaha Music Festival in Japan with Life Is Just For Living, a song that would become one of his signature works.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness led national tributes, describing Smith’s voice and storytelling as “unmistakable” and central to Jamaica’s musical identity.

“His contribution to Jamaican music is profound,” Holness said, noting that Smith earned admiration both locally and internationally.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange said his voice “will resound in hearts and memories forever,” while the opposition People’s National Party described him as a creative force whose music captured “the everyday spirit of the Jamaican people.” Opposition Leader Mark Golding also praised Smith’s ability to deliver “sweet melodies and profound lyrics” that have become part of Jamaica’s cultural fabric.

Beyond his chart success, Smith’s music stood apart for its authenticity.

His songs reflected life as it was lived – simple yet complex, humorous yet deeply observant – resonating across generations in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean diaspora.

In 1973, he was honored by the Jamaican government with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in Music, recognizing his contribution to the country’s cultural landscape.

During the late 1970s, political tensions surrounding his music, including The Power and the Glory, prompted him to relocate to Canada before later moving to the United States.

Despite personal and financial challenges, he continued to create and perform, returning to Jamaica in the years following Hurricane Gilbert and reconnecting with audiences through live performances and new recordings.

Over a career spanning decades, Smith released numerous albums, including Life Is Just For Living, To Behold Jah, and Country Mile, cementing his place as one of Jamaica’s most distinctive musical voices.

For many, his songs were more than entertainment – they were reflections of identity, memory and shared experience.

As Jamaica and the wider Caribbean diaspora reflect on his passing, Smith’s legacy endures not only in his music, but in the stories he told – stories that continue to echo across generations.

Funeral arrangements and memorial details have not yet been publicly announced.

Celebrate Ernie Smith’s legacy with some of his music here.

RELATED: Caribbean Roots, Hip-Hop Pioneer Afrika Bambaataa Dead At 68

Left-wing presidential candidate Roberto Sánchez, who with 93.48% of ballots counted holds second place in Peru's election and is headed for a June 7 runoff against Keiko Fujimori, ruled out expropriations as part of his governing program and accused economic elites of spreading "financial panic" around his candidacy.

By Felicia J.

Persaud News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Sun.

19, 2026: America’s immigration system is often described as “broken.” But that word does not quite capture what is happening inside U.S.

immigration courts right now.

Because what we are witnessing is not just dysfunction.

It is delay – on a scale so large that it is quietly reshaping what justice even means.

According to new data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), there are now more than 3.3 million cases pending in U.S.

immigration courts as of February 2026.

Let that number sit for a moment.

More than three million people – families, workers, asylum seekers – are waiting for a decision that will determine whether they can stay in the United States or be forced to leave.

And many of them will wait not months, but years.

In fact, more than 2.3 million of those cases involve asylum seekers, people who have come to the United States seeking protection from violence, persecution, or instability in their home countries.

Yet, the narrative around immigration continues to focus on crime.

But the data tells a very different story.

Only 1.64% of new immigration court cases involve any alleged criminal activity, beyond possible illegal entry.

That means the overwhelming majority of people caught in this system are not criminals.

They are waiting.

Waiting for a hearing.

Waiting for a decision.

Waiting for a future that remains indefinitely on hold.

And that waiting comes at a cost.

It means children growing up in uncertainty.

Parents unable to plan their lives.

Workers unsure if they will be allowed to remain in the country they are helping to sustain.

This is not just a legal backlog.

It is a human one.

Because justice delayed, as we have long been told, is justice denied.

But in immigration courts, delay has become the system itself.

As TRAC noted: “The latest case-by-case Immigration Court records show that at the end of February 2026, the Immigration Court backlog stands at 3,318,099 active cases, a decrease from the 3,377,998 cases pending at the end of December 2025.

The court has closed 333,957 cases so far in fiscal year 2026 as of February 2026, while receiving 201,878 new cases during the same period.

This represents a case completion rate of approximately 1.65 times the rate of new case intake.” And the consequences are not evenly felt.

Black and brown immigrants – including those from the Caribbean and across the African diaspora – are disproportionately caught in this limbo, navigating a process that is often complex, under-resourced, and increasingly politicized.

At the same time, enforcement continues.

New cases are filed.

Detentions increase.

Deportation efforts expand.

But the system tasked with deciding these cases cannot keep up.

The result is a growing gap between enforcement and resolution – a space where people exist not as citizens or non-citizens, but as something in between.

Waiting.

Uncertain.

Unresolved.

And that raises a deeper question.

What does justice look like when it takes years to arrive?

Because immigration policy is often framed around who should be allowed to stay and who should be removed.

But far less attention is paid to what happens in between.

What happens when millions of people are left in legal limbo, neither accepted nor rejected?

What happens when a system meant to deliver decisions becomes a system defined by delay?

The answer is already unfolding.

A generation of immigrants living in uncertainty.

A court system under strain.

And a definition of justice that is slowly being stretched beyond recognition.

Because when more than three million cases are waiting to be heard, the issue is no longer just immigration.

It is whether the system designed to deliver justice can still do so at all.

Felicia J.

Persaud is the founder and publisher of  NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.

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Lima, Peru — Peru’s general election, held Sunday, April 12, has been thrown into uncertainty following a series of logistical failures, contested tally sheets, and newly reported irregularities that have raised doubts about the integrity of the process—even as authorities insist there is no evidence of fraud.

With partial results still being processed several days later, no clear contender has emerged to face Keiko Fujimori in the runoff, despite her leading the vote with around 17%.

The tight race for second place—separated by a razor-thin margin—between right-wing candidate Rafael López Aliaga and leftist Roberto Sánchez could ultimately be decided by thousands of challenged votes.

Delays, missing materials, and ballots found in the trash Election day was marked by widespread delays in the delivery of voting materials, especially in Lima, forcing authorities to extend voting into Monday in several districts.

Officials are now facing scrutiny over more troubling incidents.

In one of the most widely reported cases, sealed boxes containing 1,200 ballots—distributed across four tamper-evident containers—were found discarded in the trash in the Lima district of Surco.

The National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) attributed the incident to negligence during the transport of ballot boxes and tally sheets to its central headquarters.

It maintained, however, that the chain of custody was not compromised, noting that a coordinator, a police officer, and an electoral observer from the National Jury of Elections were present in the vehicle.

However, Roberto Burneo, president of the National Jury of Elections (JNE), told a congressional oversight committee on Friday that the ONPE’s statement was “false.” “It is important to clarify that, regarding those boxes, contrary to what ONPE indicated, there was no observer accompanying them nor a police officer.

They were transported in unregistered private vehicles, and the JNE was not present,” he said.

Burneo added that evidence has already been submitted to prosecutors.

“Serious irregularities,” but no fraud, observers say Despite the growing list of incidents, international observers from the Organization of American States and electoral experts have drawn a distinction between administrative failures and deliberate manipulation.

“There have been serious irregularities that must be investigated and sanctioned, but this is not a fraudulent situation,” former Justice Minister Aldo Vásquez told CNN.

“At least up to now, there is no evidence supporting that claim.” Observers from international organizations echoed that assessment, noting that while “egregious irregularities” were documented, they do not amount to systemic fraud.

Still, the scale and variety of problems—from late poll openings to missing materials—have eroded public confidence.

Thousands of disputed votes could decide the runoff At the center of the uncertainty are more than 5,000 tally sheets marked as “disputed”—representing just over one million votes—due to inconsistencies such as missing signatures, illegible figures, or arithmetic errors.

These votes are now under review by electoral authorities and, in such a close race, could determine who advances to the runoff.

“Of course they can change the outcome,” said electoral lawyer Silvia Guevara.

“The difference between candidates is so small that these votes could tip the balance.” “This is a situation that won’t be resolved tomorrow or in two or three days.

Citizens will need to be patient,” she added to Canal N.

Institutional crisis and ongoing investigations The fallout has triggered multiple investigations.

The Public Ministry and the Comptroller General have launched inquiries, while the National Board of Justice—the body responsible for overseeing judicial appointments—has opened a preliminary investigation against Piero Corvetto Salinas, head of the ONPE.

According to Vásquez, the process could lead to disciplinary sanctions or even suspension, noting that “it is highly likely that a formal proceeding will be opened.” Meanwhile, electoral authorities have confirmed that at least 85 requests to annul the election have been filed, further complicating the timeline.

With the runoff scheduled for June, the coming days will be decisive not only in determining who advances, but also in whether Peru’s electoral institutions can restore public trust after one of the most controversial elections in recent years.

The post Mounting irregularities cloud Peru’s 2026 general election as runoff remains unclear appeared first on Perú Reports.

The post Mounting irregularities cloud Peru’s 2026 general election as runoff remains unclear appeared first on Latin America Reports.

World Bank President Ajay Banga (left) with Argentina’s Economy Minister Luis Caputo (right) Image Source: Luis Caputo via X Buenos Aires, Argentina – The World Bank announced on Thursday that it is preparing to back up to US$2 billion worth of loans in order to help Argentina refinance its debt at a lower cost.

The loans – which Argentina is negotiating with private banks – would be repayable over six years, and would be almost fully backed by two World Bank institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Bloomberg reported.

Meanwhile, the IMF is gearing up to disburse another US$1 billion of the $20 billion it had made available to the country last year, as the White House rallies support for its ally, Argentine President Javier Milei.  The guarantee will come as welcome news for Milei, who has seen his approval drop to a low of 36.4% in recent polls as monthly inflation soared to its highest rate in a year.  The World Bank’s announcement followed a meeting between Argentina’s Economy Minister Luis Caputo and World Bank President Ajay Banga.  Caputo posted a photo with Banga on social media after the announcement, captioned “Thank you Ajay and team!” The minister is currently in Washington for IMF meetings, as he looks for funding in order to refinance Argentina’s debt.

He told investors earlier this week that Milei’s government will not need to access global capital markets this year due to cheaper financing options.

Argentina is reportedly negotiating an interest rate of about 5%, which would be a far better outcome than the 9% bond yields that it faces if it returns to global capital markets.  A separate agreement was reached with the IMF on Wednesday, which will see Argentina gain access to US$1 billion if approved by the organization’s executive board.  The country already has an ongoing US$20 billion IMF program and access to an additional US$20 billion through a swap line with the U.S.

Treasury.

In the World Bank Group’s announcement released on Thursday, it also “reaffirmed its strong support for Argentina’s reform efforts to strengthen the conditions for growth, investment, and job creation, including measures to improve financing conditions and reinforce market and investor confidence.” The post World Bank prepared to guarantee up to $2 billion in loans for Argentina appeared first on Argentina Reports.

The post World Bank prepared to guarantee up to $2 billion in loans for Argentina appeared first on Latin America Reports.

The government of Chilean President José Antonio Kast carried out its first deportation flight of irregular migrants on Thursday, expelling 40 people on a Chilean Air Force (FACh) Boeing 737 that made stops in Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.

The 19 Colombians, the last group to disembark, arrived in Bogotá shortly after 8:00 p.m.

local time.

The 17 Bolivians and four Ecuadorians were dropped off previously in La Paz and Guayaquil, respectively.

Each deportee traveled accompanied by an officer from Chile's Investigative Police (PDI).