News Americas, ROSEAU, Dominica, Thurs.

April 23, 2026: Dominica has revoked the citizenship of an Iranian national linked to a widening international sanctions probe, in a move that underscores growing scrutiny of the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment, (CBI), programs.

The decision follows an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which found that Abolfazl Shamkhani and his brother, sanctioned oil trader Hossein Shamkhani, used Dominican-issued identities to quietly build a luxury real estate portfolio in Dubai valued at approximately $29 million.

According to documents obtained by OCCRP, Dominica revoked Abolfazl Shamkhani’s citizenship – which had been granted under the name “Sami Hayek” – citing the concealment of key information during the application process.

Officials said Shamkhani failed to disclose his connection to his father, Ali Shamkhani, a senior Iranian political figure, when applying for citizenship in 2020.

The revocation letter also cited actions deemed incompatible with loyalty to Dominica, and gave Shamkhani 25 days to request a formal review of the decision.

The move mirrors a similar action taken in 2025 against his brother, Hossein Shamkhani, who has been sanctioned by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom for his alleged role in a large-scale oil smuggling network tied to Iran and Russia.

Authorities allege that the network used offshore companies, global shipping operations, and foreign passports to evade sanctions and move funds across borders.

U.S.

officials have further claimed that the Shamkhani network funneled millions into international real estate holdings and shell companies to conceal the origins of its wealth.

While Abolfazl Shamkhani has not been criminally charged, U.S.

prosecutors have linked him to companies associated with the broader network and are currently pursuing the seizure of millions in assets connected to those operations.

The case is also drawing renewed attention to the use of Caribbean citizenship programs by high-net-worth individuals seeking global mobility, and the risks of such programs being exploited.

In response, Dominica has begun tightening its CBI program, including restricting new applications from Iranian nationals unless strict residency and financial disclosure conditions are met.

The government says the changes are aimed at protecting the integrity of the program and ensuring compliance with international standards.

The developments highlight the increasing pressure on Caribbean nations to strengthen due diligence frameworks, as global scrutiny intensifies around the intersection of citizenship programs, financial networks, and geopolitical risk.

RELATED: The Top 10 Caribbean Passports For 2026

On Monday, El Salvador’s Attorney General announced the beginning of a mass trial of 486 alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, who are accused of more than 47,000 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022.

Among the defendants, 413 are already detained in different penitentiary centers, while 73 have arrest warrants issued against them.  The Attorney General said that 22 historical kingpins of the Ranfla, MS-13’s top leadership structure, will be prosecuted in the trial, along with 212 other Ranfla members and 152 program coordinators.

Charges include aggravated homicide, disappearance of persons, extortion, arms trafficking, and femicide.MS-13 was founded in Los Angeles as a street gang in the 1980s by Salvadoran refugees who fled the civil war.

It spread to Central America when many of its members were deported to their home countries during the 1990s and has been designated as a terrorist organization both by El Salvador and the U.S.

The trial takes place amid El Salvador’s state of emergency, which President Nayib Bukele declared in March 2022 under Article 29 of the country’s Constitution.

Under the emergency act, security forces have broader powers to arrest and detain suspects, while certain constitutional protections have been suspended.   Once among the most violent countries in the world, El Salvador has managed to reduce its murder rate to 1.3 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the lowest in the whole continent.  More than 91,000 suspected gang members have been arrested since the implementation of the state of emergency, according to the government.

These measures have drawn criticism from several human rights organizations, which accuse Bukele’s government of rights violations and abuses.In a statement published on April 21, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed concerns that the prolonged state of emergency “suspends the rights to a legal defense and to the inviolability of communications, and also extends administrative detention timelines.”In a report published last March, Salvadoran rights group Cristosal said that critics of the government, including journalists, activists, and opposition figures, have faced increasing criminalization since 2021.

Despite the critics, the latest data published by CID Gallup show that Nayib Bukele has reached a 94% approval rating, the highest level since he came into power in 2019.

Featured image description: MS-13 gang members sat through a mass trial on April 20.

Featured image credit: El Salvador Attorney General’s Office.

The post El Salvador begins mass trial for 486 suspected MS-13 members appeared first on Latin America Reports.

El jolgorio que desata una Copa del Mundo marca al país que lo organiza.

El 11 de junio, en el arranque del Mundial, México podrá decir que es el único país del mundo en hospedar el máximo torneo de fútbol tres veces, cuatro si se contempla el femenino de 1971.

Sin embargo, a diferencia de 1970 y 1986, el negocio alrededor del balón ha despuntado y, con ello, también se ha encarecido todo.

De camisetas a las entradas para ver un partido, mismas que alcanzan cifras de más de 50.000 pesos.

Hasta para ver los partidos en la televisión cualquier aficionado debe pagar hasta 1.000 pesos para seguir los 104 partidos.

Ante la opulencia, miles de jóvenes mexicanos han preferido sumarse a la ola mundialista a través de casi 5.000 murales y todo tipo de actividades para no quedarse fuera de la fiesta.

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México afronta una nueva temporada de huracanes con la mira puesta en la muy probable formación de ‘El Niño’ para este verano, un fenómeno natural que provoca anomalías en la temperatura de las aguas superficiales del Pacífico que influyen directamente en el clima global y la formación de huracanes.

Aunque no se puede saber con certeza cuántos ciclones tropicales ganarán fuerza y se convertirán en huracanes, cuál será su trayectoria, ni cuándo tocarán tierra, el pronóstico de la Comisión Nacional del Agua para la temporada 2026 que va de mayo a noviembre prevé una actividad por encima del promedio en el Pacífico, y cercana o por debajo de la media histórica para el Atlántico.

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El Ejército de México ha capturado a tres hombres claves dentro del círculo de confianza de Aureliano El Guano Guzmán, hermano mayor del Chapo y uno de los líderes del Cartel de Sinaloa.

Durante un operativo de seguridad en Tamazula, Durango, han caído Abel N, mano derecha y persona de mayor confianza del narcotraficante; Eber Israel N, su operador financiero y logístico; y Etzair Lugo N, jefe de seguridad y encargado de combatir al Cartel de los Beltrán Leyva y la facción del Mayo Zambada.

Los militares, junto a la Guardia Nacional y la Marina, han detenido a un total de 10 integrantes del grupo La Gente del Guano (GDG), parte del Cartel del Pacífico.

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Bogotá, Colombia – Mexican authorities have said they will tighten security around tourist sites following a shooting on Monday that killed a Canadian tourist and injured twelve others.

The attack at the Teotihuacan pyramids by a lone gunman has renewed concerns about fan safety ahead of the 2026 World Cup Games, which will be co-hosted by Mexico.  But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sought to re-assure visitors, maintaining that mass shootings are rare in the country and describing the incident as a one-off.

“Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again,” said Sheinbaum on Tuesday morning.

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch added that state security forces had been ordered to “immediately strengthen security” at tourist destinations across the country.   The Teotihuacan pyramids are a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological complexes.

But Sheinbaum was also careful to stress that attacks like the one on Monday are incredibly rare in Mexico: “Clearly, we all know — Mexicans know — that this is something that had not previously taken place.” Claudia Sheinbaum pictured in 2020.

Credit: Maritza Ríos / Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México Unlike in the United States, guns are difficult to obtain legally in Mexico and mass shootings targeting members of the public are uncommon.

While Mexico has grappled for years with high homicide rates, shootings tend to happen in specific areas marked by cartel violence and rarely affect tourists.

Ideological motivations Rather than a sign of broader security struggles, authorities maintain that Monday’s shooting was perpetrated by a ‘lone wolf’ actor driven by extremist views.

Sergio Ortiz Borbolla, head of campaigns and communications at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, maintained that Julio César Jasso Ramírez, 27, was a Nazi sympathizer inspired by other mass shootings.  “Although the investigation is still ongoing, several factors point to an ideological motive,” said Ortiz.

He noted that Monday’s shooting happened on Adolf Hitler’s birthday and the anniversary of the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in the U.S., which killed 14.  The perpetrator’s social media included posts where he performed a Nazi salute and a framed AI-generated photo of him side-by-side with the Columbine shooters was found at the scene of the attack, according to authorities.  “The incident… highlights the growing influence of extremist online communities on acts of violence, a trend that transcends national borders,” noted Ortiz.  Mexican Attorney-General Cervantes also described “a psychopathic profile of the attacker, characterized by a tendency to imitate situations that occurred in other places, at other times, and involving other individuals – this tendency can be referred to as copycat behaviour”.

Countdown to the games Monday’s shooting is the latest headache for the Mexican government ahead of this summer’s soccer competition.  A wave of cartel violence in February, including in World Cup host city Guadalajara, sparked concerns about the threat posed by organized crime in the country.  But the government has been engaged in a push to assure visitors that the country is safe, announcing plans to mobilize 100,000 security forces this summer.

It also said it will deploy an additional 2,100 military vehicles, 24 aircraft, and 33 drones.

But, as Ortiz noted, the type of violence seen in Mexico this week is “not common.”  “There is no indication that this type of attack poses a widespread risk to tourists,” he concluded.

Featured image description: The Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan – one of the largest in Mesoamerica, México.

Featured image credit: Marcelosan via WIkimedia Commons The post Mexico boosts security after pyramid attack but plays down shooting risks appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Brazilian group BTG Pactual, Latin America's largest investment bank, is awaiting authorisation from Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) to begin operating in the local financial market following its $175 million acquisition of HSBC Uruguay, agreed in July 2025.

Group executives expect regulatory approval to come through by mid-year, allowing them to begin operations gradually in the second half of 2026.

Buenos Aires se ha convertido en el último destino de Peter Thiel, el oligarca tecnológico dueño de Palantir y PayPal que lleva su cruzada anti woke y belicista allí donde va.

Tras su paso por Roma para hablar sobre la llegada del anticristo, este defensor de las ideas de ultraderecha muy cercano a Donald Trump mantiene estos días una agenda reservada en la capital argentina que incluye encuentros políticos al más alto nivel, entre ellos uno con el presidente Javier Milei, con quien ya se reunió en 2024.

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NASSAU, The Bahamas, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) today announced the appointment of Nikolai Sawyer and Debra Symonette to its Board of Directors, effective April 20, 2026.

These appointments follow the company’s recent transition to a fully independent, Bahamian-led operating model, including the conclusion of Island Grid Solutions’ management role and the appointment of new executive leadership.

Mr.

Sawyer is a senior financial attorney with over 20 years of experience across corporate law, banking, and financial services.

He brings deep expertise in regulatory strategy, risk management, and corporate governance.

Ms.

Symonette is President and Director of Super Value Food Stores Limited and a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of financial leadership experience.

She has held senior roles in accounting, audit, and corporate governance, and currently serves as a Director of Commonwealth Bank.

“With these appointments, BGC continues to strengthen its governance as we move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organization,” said Anthony Ferguson, Chairman of BGC.

“Nikolai and Debra bring extensive legal, financial, and operational experience that will support the company’s long-term performance and accountability.” “This is an important step in BGC’s continued evolution,” said Dareo McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer.

“I look forward to working with the Board to drive long-term performance and reliability across the system.” The company’s Board of Directors now comprises Anthony Ferguson (Chairman), Nikolai Sawyer, and Debra Symonette.

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

Piero Corvetto resigned as head of Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) on Tuesday, ten days after the April 12 first-round presidential vote, amid judicial investigations and an institutional credibility crisis deepened by the logistical failures recorded during the election.

The National Justice Board (JNJ) accepted the resignation unanimously.

By NAN Travel Editor News Americas, TORONTO, Canada, Wed.

April 22, 2026: Canada has issued updated travel advisories for three Caribbean destinations, urging travelers to exercise a high degree of caution due to ongoing safety and security concerns.

The Canadian advisory, issued on April 21st, highlights The Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, citing crime, safety risks, and other potential hazards that could impact visitors.

THE BAHAMAS In The Bahamas, Canadian officials warn of high crime rates, particularly in Nassau and Freeport, where both petty and violent crimes have been reported.

Travelers are advised to remain vigilant, avoid isolated areas, especially at night, and refrain from displaying signs of wealth.

Authorities note that robberies have occurred in tourist areas, including cruise ship terminals and resort zones, even during daylight hours, while incidents of violent crime are often linked to gang activity in non-tourist areas.

JAMAICA In Jamaica, the advisory points to persistent concerns about violent crime, particularly in certain parts of Kingston, Montego Bay, and St.

Catherine.

While tourist areas are generally more secure, incidents of robbery and assault have been reported.

Canadian officials also caution travelers to remain alert, avoid high-risk areas, and exercise increased personal security awareness, particularly when traveling at night or in unfamiliar locations.

TURKS & CAICOS The Turks and Caicos Islands are also included in the advisory, with warnings about crime across the territory, particularly on the island of Providenciales.

Visitors are advised to stay aware of their surroundings, avoid deserted areas, and take precautions to protect personal belongings.

Officials note that while tourists are not typically targeted, they may still be affected by criminal activity, including armed robberies and theft.

Beyond crime, the advisories also highlight additional risks, including road safety concerns, water-related hazards, and the potential for fraud or scams targeting travelers.

Travelers to all three destinations are encouraged to take standard safety precautions, including securing valuables, avoiding isolated locations, and following local authorities’ guidance.

The updated advisories reflect Canada’s ongoing monitoring of global travel risks and are intended to help citizens make informed decisions when traveling abroad.

While the warnings do not advise against travel entirely, they underscore the importance of awareness and preparedness when visiting popular Caribbean destinations.

RELATED: US Travel Warning Issued For Trinidad and Tobago

BY NAN SPORTS EDITOR News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs.

April 23, 2026: The 130th running of the Penn Relays opens today, with Jamaican athletes once again poised to dominate the track while Caribbean pride and culture take center stage in Philadelphia.

Set to run through Saturday, April 25th at the Ben Franklin Field in Pennsylvania, the historic relay carnival continues to serve as one of the premier showcases for Caribbean athletic excellence – with Jamaica leading the charge year after year.

From high school phenoms to elite collegiate competitors, Jamaican teams enter the 2026 edition with momentum and high expectations, particularly in the sprint relays where their rivalry with U.S.

teams consistently delivers some of the meet’s most electrifying moments.

All eyes will be on rising 15-year-old standout Jason Pitter of Kingston College, who has already made headlines this season after shattering records at Jamaica’s Boys and Girls Championships.

His anticipated showdown with U.S.

star Quincy Wilson is shaping up to be one of the marquee matchups of the meet.

Jamaican powerhouse Kingston College will also be aiming to extend its dominance in the 4×400-m relays, while Edwin Allen High School’s girls team enters as a strong favorite in the 4x100m, bringing speed, experience, and championship pedigree.

This year’s meet will also highlight Caribbean legacy, with Jamaican long jumper Elva Goulbourne and Jamaica College’s historic 1999 4x800m team set to be inducted into the Penn Relays Wall of Fame – further cementing the region’s enduring influence on the event.

Adding to the moment, history will also be made for St.

Lucia, as St.

Mary’s College becomes the first team from the island to compete at the prestigious meet, signaling continued growth of Caribbean track and field on the global stage.

TEAM JAMAICA BICKLE But beyond the competition on the track, the Penn Relays is equally defined by the Caribbean community that surrounds it – and at the heart of that experience is Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB).

Now celebrating more than three decades of service, the New York-based organization plays a critical role in supporting Caribbean athletes competing at the meet.

Founded to ensure Jamaican athletes had access to familiar meals, TJB has grown into a full-service support network providing transportation, medical care, lodging assistance, and mentorship.

Often described as the backbone of the Caribbean presence at Penn Relays, TJB creates a home away from home for athletes, helping them perform at their best while reinforcing a sense of unity and cultural pride.

Its impact has been so significant that the Jamaican flag became the first foreign flag flown at the Penn Relays – a testament to the deep connection between the event and Caribbean participation.

With rising stars, fierce rivalries, and deep-rooted Caribbean traditions, the 130th Penn Relays is shaping up to be another powerful display of athletic excellence – and once again, Jamaica will be at the center of it all with thousands of Jamaican fans in the stadium to cheer on their home teams.

RELATED: Team Jamaica Bickle Honors Jamaican Athletes For Record-Breaking Penn Relays Performances

A week after remarks by Argentine Rear Admiral Hernán Montero on the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan went viral, the Chilean government has consolidated a unified stance in defense of its sovereignty, while internal debate has shifted toward the executive's handling of the communications response.

Argentine President Javier Milei fell to 14th place out of 18 leaders in the regional approval ranking for April 2026, consolidating his entry into the group of six worst-rated heads of state in Latin America.

The survey, carried out by polling firm CB Global Data, registered a 36.2% positive image and a 59.7% negative reading, a 23.5-point gap that represents the widest imbalance since the start of his administration.

News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Weds.

April 22, 2026: Florida’s first Haitian-American congressmember, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, has resigned from the U.S.

House of Representatives ahead of a possible expulsion vote – placing renewed focus on the allegations she now faces.

Cherfilus-McCormick stepped down Tuesday just minutes before a scheduled House Ethics Committee hearing that could have paved the way for a full vote on her removal from Congress.

Her resignation comes as she faces both ethics violations and federal criminal charges tied to the alleged misuse of millions of dollars in federal disaster funds.

WHAT SHE IS ACCUSED OF According to the allegations, Cherfilus-McCormick’s family-owned healthcare company received an estimated $5 million overpayment from Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), funds during the COVID-19 pandemic due to what has been described as a clerical error.

Prosecutors allege that instead of returning the funds, portions of the money were distributed to associates, friends and family members, who then made donations to her 2022 congressional campaign – a practice known as “straw donations,” which violates federal campaign finance laws.

The Justice Department indicted Cherfilus-McCormick and several others, including her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, and a tax preparer,  David K.

Spencer, 41, of Davie,  in November.

If convicted, she could face up to 53 years in prison.

Separately, a bipartisan House Ethics Committee investigation found that she violated more than two dozen House rules following a years-long probe into her conduct.

Despite the mounting legal challenges, Cherfilus-McCormick has denied the allegations, describing them as “unjust” and characterizing the ethics proceedings as a “witch hunt.” “Rather than play these political games, I chose to step away so that I can devote my time fighting for my neighbors,” she said in a statement announcing her resignation.

HER FULL STATEMENT ““This was not a fair process.

The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney’s reasonable request for time to prepare my defense.

By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself.

I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt.

I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished.  Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida’s 20th district.

I hereby resign from the 119th Congress, effective immediately.  But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting.

In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete.

We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people.

That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party.

To my constituents, it has been the honor of my life fighting for you in the U.S.

House of Representatives.

Thank you for standing with me and fighting alongside me.

This fight is far from over.” AHEAD Her departure comes at a critical moment, as lawmakers were preparing for what could have been a rare expulsion vote – a move that requires a two-thirds majority and has occurred only a handful of times in U.S.

history.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s resignation also carries broader significance beyond Washington.

As the first Haitian-American Democrat elected to Congress, she represented a historic milestone for Haitian and Caribbean communities in the United States.

Her time in office was marked by efforts to highlight issues affecting underserved communities, both domestically and within the Caribbean diaspora.

With her resignation, Florida’s 20th Congressional District will now face a special election to fill the vacancy, while her legal battle continues in federal court, with a trial expected next year.

For many in the Haitian-American community, the moment represents a complex mix of disappointment, uncertainty, and reflection – as the focus shifts from political representation to the legal process ahead.

RELATED: Indicted Haitian-American Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Says She Is Innocent

Medellín, Colombia – Hundreds of Mexican human rights groups presented an open letter to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Monday calling for action to combat forced disappearances.

The letter was signed by over 100 collectives representing disappeared people from Mexico and Central America, over 300 families of the missing, and various civil society organizations, shelters, and individuals.  According to the NGO Foundation for Justice and the Democratic Rule of Law (FJEDD), one of the signatories of the open letter, over 132,000 people are classed as missing in Mexico.  “Mexico requires independent mechanisms to establish the truth, locate the disappeared, conduct serious investigations and combat impunity, under the auspices of the United Nations,” said the FJEDD following their meeting with Türk.

They also called on the High Commissioner to raise the issue in his meeting with president Claudia Sheinbaum, and to urge the Mexican state to help affected families “achieve truth, justice, and reparations.” The letter also requested that Türk back the recent decision by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) to refer the crisis to the General Assembly, the organization’s highest authority.  When taking the “exceptional step” on April 2 to request that the situation be referred to the General Assembly, the CED also said that the 72,000 unidentified human remains found in 4,500 covert graves suggested the crisis could likely amount to crimes against humanity, something Mexico has since roundly rejected.  President of the CED, Juan Albán-Alencastro, said that “the magnitude, the pattern of the attacks and the fact that they are directed against the civilian population,” substantiated the view that the crisis meets the definition of crimes against humanity.  Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs repudiated the decision in a press release that argued that the UN had failed to recognize recent advances against the issue.

President Sheinbaum also dismissed the CED’s claims, arguing that the data used was extrapolated and didn’t represent Mexico’s current situation.  In anticipation of her meeting with Türk this Wednesday, Sheinbaum also said that the official had come “to learn about the human rights system in Mexico, not just the issue of disappearances.” Featured image: Maritza Ríos / Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México.

The post Mexico rights groups call on UN to combat forced disappearances appeared first on Latin America Reports.

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.

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.

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.

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