La decisión del Gobierno de Gustavo Petro con la que pretendía trasladar 25 billones de pesos (US$7.000 millones) de los fondos privados de pensiones a la estatal Colpensiones ha quedado en suspenso.

El Consejo de Estado decretó este lunes la suspensión provisional del decreto 415 de 2026, que ordena mover los recursos en menos de un mes.

La providencia frena de inmediato el giro de los ahorros de 120.000 afiliados que se acogieron a la llamada ventana pensional para cambiar de régimen, pero que aún no cumplen requisitos para jubilarse.

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El costo total para desmantelar la infraestructura y limpiar las áreas dañadas por más de un siglo de actividad asociada a Petróleos Mexicanos ascendería a 532.000 millones de dólares.

Es una de las conclusiones del informe La deuda ambiental de Pemex, elaborado por Diana Papoulias, doctora en ecotoxicología y jubilada del Servicio Geológico de los Estados Unidos, que realizó para tres organizaciones: Lingo, Sostenibilidad Global y Engenera.

Este cálculo incluye la remediación de ductos, pozos, plataformas marinas y la deuda por contribución al cambio climático, entre otros aspectos.

EL PAÍS preguntó a la petrolera estatal por estas cifras, que contestó que “Petróleos Mexicanos cuenta con un esquema de aseguramiento que incluye coberturas de responsabilidad civil y responsabilidad civil ambiental que cubren riesgos de eventos no deseados cuya ocurrencia sea súbita e imprevista”.

El documento se presenta la tarde del martes, en un conversatorio con la autora y otras académicas como Leticia Merino.

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A 44 días del inicio de la Copa del Mundo, Javier Aguirre ha dado un paso para concretar su nómina de los 26 futbolistas que jugarán el torneo más ambicioso de todos los tiempos.

Lo hizo entre dudas y un retraso de un día.

El estratega ha elegido creer en los jugadores con gran nivel, como el goleador Armando Hormiga González, y el prodigio Gilberto Mora, de 17 años.

Los jugadores que ha considerado Aguirre este lunes se unirán a la concentración de la selección mexicana, por lo que los jugadores de Chivas y los otros siete clubes que se metieron a la liguilla de la Liga MX no podrán jugarla.

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Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago — The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is grappling with a protracted period of regional tensions, tied to the new normal in international politics.

In some respects, this moment is the bloc’s toughest test yet.  At a time when the unity of CARICOM is under growing strain, marked by a discernible shift in respect of interactional norms and diplomatic coherence pertaining to the foreign policy realm, St.

Kitts and Nevis took up the mantle of Chair of the bloc.   Arguably, the impacts of that strain on the regional grouping have had a profound effect on how Prime Minister of St.

Kitts and Nevis Terrance Drew has approached his leadership role in CARICOM — on behalf of his country.  Drew is the Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM — for a six-month term that got underway this past January.

As the bloc’s constituent treaty notes: “The Conference shall be the supreme Organ of the Community.” In this framing, regional priorities are the rotating chairmanship’s main focus. Perhaps most consequentially, Drew is discharging his regional leadership responsibilities at a juncture when CARICOM member states are facing up to emergent geopolitical dynamics that have driven a wedge between them.          A wide (foreign policy) gap    CARICOM member states’ duelling perspectives on the high-stakes “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine became a consequential, foreign policy-related sticking point that placed the bloc in a months-long diplomatic rut.

This situation has weighed down the regional grouping, making its members’ efforts to cohesively contend with an international order that is undergoing a seismic change that much more difficult.

(The international system last experienced change on such a scale at the Cold War’s end, which also precipitated the demise of bipolarity and ushered in the now erstwhile unipolar moment.)  While most CARICOM member states have responded to that Doctrine with suspicion and trepidation, some have offered full-throated support.

The former subset of member states are standing their ground in respect of long-established CARICOM foreign policy-related principles, which hinge on the shared desire of such small states to respect processes of international cooperation and multilateralism.    In contrast, Trinidad and Tobago has controversially thrown its support behind Washington in respect of the spiralling U.S.-Israeli war with Iran — which has been quelled by a tenuous cease-fire for now.

Instructively, early on in that conflict, Barbados called for “restraint as Middle East tensions intensify.”  United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has raised serious concerns about the conflict, too, as have many other stakeholders.

Of note, legal experts have been sounding the alarm about what has transpired in the Middle East.       At the core of such concerns are breaches of the UN Charter — a document whose normative and legal standards are the traditional bedrock of the conduct of CARICOM member states’ international relations as small states.

This is precisely why breaches of this Charter endanger these states in respect of the anarchic international system.  Few dynamics in this system undercut the UN Charter more than great powers behaving as if they have a license to do what they want without fear of the consequences.

This is why the U.S.

military campaign that, according to the U.S.

administration, sought to target illegal drug trafficking in the Caribbean by going after alleged “narco-trafficking” boats raised so many eyebrows within the CARICOM fold.

(All along, of course, Venezuela’s Maduro regime was in Washington’s crosshairs.)      US Air Force special missions aviators display a US flag on a helicopter flying over the Caribbean Sea near Puerto Rico, Jan.

23, 2026.

Image credit: U.S.

Southern Command via X.

Trinidad and Tobago did not share those concerns, unequivocally supporting the U.S.

military action that laid the groundwork for and resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S.

administration has rewarded Port-of-Spain for its foreign policy positioning, deepening security cooperation.

This was a priority area of the most recent bilateral engagement between Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio — convened on the margins of the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.          What also stands out is Trinidad and Tobago’s inclusion in the Shield of the Americas initiative.

Indeed, Port-of-Spain is over the moon with its participation in the recently held Shield of the Americas summit.

Guyana is the only other CARICOM member state that the U.S.

has included in this high-profile initiative.

With the two camps of CARICOM member states being far apart on key demands of the U.S., the status quo has fuelled mutual mistrust among members of the now five-plus-decade old grouping.

It did not help that Washington operationalized the aforesaid Doctrine in invasive, heavy-handed security and foreign policy-related terms.   It is also the case that regional politics have focused intently on seeing the way forward, amidst widespread dissatisfaction with this difficult situation.

Notably, upon the start of his term as CARICOM Chair, Drew sought to shift the situation in a positive direction.

With an eye to preparing the ground for the success of the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, held under his chairmanship this past February, he piloted “a series of high-level engagements with regional leaders.”   Drew’s intent was to build goodwill among his fellow regional leaders, with a view to creating the conditions for them to all gather at this summit.

In effect, those high-profile, face-to-face bilateral meetings held the promise of building “trust” and “shared purpose” in respect of the region’s leaders.

He said as much.  Beyond ensuring that all CARICOM members’ respective leaders were at ‘the (summit) table’, Drew was also committed to having them primed for a productive exchange on key issues on the regional agenda.

Drew got his wish — at least in part.

All his regional counterparts took part in the said summit; although, leaders of three of the bloc’s 14 sovereign member states departed early.

Consequently, closed-door deliberations that took the form of the leaders’ Retreat did not benefit from a full house.   The Retreat was a key component of the summit’s proceedings.

This one-day, all-important session partly focused on geopolitical developments.  CARICOM member states did close ranks on some of the issues arising, which include Cuba policy.

Their respective long-standing and wide-ranging bilateral relations with the Communist island have emerged as a diplomatic pressure point.

In fact, several hold outs in the CARICOM fold have little choice but to accept Washington’s foreign policy line on how they should treat Havana vis-à-vis facets of those relations.  One day prior to that leaders’ Retreat, and as part of the summit’s proceedings, Rubio met in-person with CARICOM leaders.

One important take away from these talks is that they resulted in an agreement on a contemporary Cooperation Framework, which is now earnestly in the works.  These developments had a direct bearing on regional leaders’ subsequent consideration of geopolitical developments — a priority matter at the summit — warranting the issuance of the ‘Joint Statement on CARICOM’s Engagement with Secretary Rubio’.

    The pre-eminence of the ‘sovereignty narrative’ Signals emanating from the summit in question also called attention to the limits of CARICOM-based regionalism, with member states reaffirming their pragmatic approach to integration.   It is important to note that, with a nod to the Rose Hall Declaration on ‘Regional Governance and Integrated Development’, Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness drove this point home at the formal start of that very summit.

Regarding regional governance, the so-called Rose Hall Declaration states (in part): “The reaffirmation that CARICOM is a Community of Sovereign States, and of Territories able and willing to exercise the rights and assume the obligations of membership of the Community, and that the deepening of regional integration will proceed in this political and juridical context.” Put differently, and as Terri-Ann Gilbert-Roberts notes in a 2013 scholarly work, there is a “strong aversion among political elites to delegating authority to supranational institutions — a legacy of the Federal Experiment.” Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness addresses the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.

Image credit: Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica.

In his address to the Opening Ceremony of the summit under reference, Holness underscored the following: “For decades, an idealised narrative around Caribbean integration, while well-intentioned, has framed perhaps unrealistic expectations within our respective populations.

It has also perhaps unintentionally diminished the genuine strengths of our existing arrangement, an association of independent states bound not by uniformity, but by shared purpose, mutual regard, and a deep history of collaboration.” Yet it is equally important to recognize the tremendous achievements of a cohesively functioning CARICOM, as advanced (in large part) by regional summitry.

Such summitry has long played a key role in member states’ broader efforts to coordinate with each other and partners, enabling dialogue that has paid off in spades over several decades.

Meetings of this kind are crucial for strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties and contributing to diplomatic solutions, now more than ever.  Holness himself seemed to signal as much, conveying the following perspective at the opening of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM: “We meet at a time when the speed of global change is outpacing the speed of regional coordination.”  This summit, per its communiqué, represents an important win for St.

Kitts and Nevis and CARICOM as a whole.     Unity hopes suffer another blow Yet what brought opportunity for coordination at a time of sharp tensions that are the cause of a foreign policy-related rift in CARICOM has also created yet another point of contention: The much-publicized controversy that has arisen surrounding the reappointment of the Secretary-General of CARICOM during the leaders’ Retreat.   This controversy has been brewing ever since Drew’s initial statement — issued on March 25th — regarding the reappointment of incumbent Secretary-General of CARICOM Carla Barnett for a second term of office beginning in August 2026.

The impasse runs deeper than procedural concerns over the reappointment of the Secretary-General and attendant matters, with CARICOM’s governance and operations having also come under the spotlight.  The headlines create the impression that there is little sign yet that a resolution is imminent.  The parties out-front on the matter have apparently doubled down on their respective positions, which have only hardened.

In this regard, the latest missives (as of this writing) penned by Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Minister Sean Sobers (dated April 9th) and Drew (dated April 11th), respectively, come to mind.

Although dispatched via diplomatic channels, the correspondence in question is now in the public domain.  While some political leaders are clashing publicly, others in the CARICOM fold are walking a tightrope on this issue.   High-level diplomatic efforts to see a way forward on what has become a significant bone of contention — with the potential to stymie CARICOM regionalism — will no doubt continue.

Opening Ceremony of the 50th Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, St Kitts and Nevis.

Image credit: CARICOM via Flickr Rising to the challenge And yet, CARICOM has not a moment to lose in effectively marshalling member states to contend with the resurgence of great-power politics.

This spheres of influence-related development carries serious risks, which undercut a cornerstone of the postwar international order: multilateral cooperation.   These dynamics of contemporary international politics continue to turn the screws on CARICOM — and fast.   We are already seeing a key consequence of this turn of events: A new reality now shapes CARICOM diplomacy — already under strain from the aforementioned foreign policy-related rift in the bloc.    In short, the shift within the grouping in respect of interactional norms and diplomatic coherence pertaining to the foreign policy realm exposes seemingly deep divisions in relation to worldviews.    History shows that such moments do not augur well for the bloc.

One could draw a historical parallel with the U.S.

invasion of Grenada in 1983, which stoked tensions within and had far-reaching impacts on the region.       Clearly, key foreign policy-related setbacks within today’s CARICOM fit a longer pattern.

Even so, their ever-widening rifts ought not to become a fixture in the scheme of things either.  While there was much-needed discussion at the summit under reference about geopolitical developments, along with a nod to the rationale qua nature of the bloc itself, CARICOM needs to work through how it can better rise to the challenge of navigating the return of great-power politics.  In years ahead, the new normal in international politics will likely continue to undermine the UN Charter.

The stakes are high for such small states at this moment, and all concerned need to take a long, hard look at the issues arising.

There is increasing recognition in CARICOM foreign policy circles that, facing rising risks, the bloc needs to get a handle on the current state of affairs.  When CARICOM foreign ministers meet next month, they will likely continue to try to work things through.  Featured image: 50th Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.

Photo of CARICOM Leaders with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Image credit: CARICOM The post What is behind growing disunity in the Caribbean Community bloc?

(Opinion) appeared first on Latin America Reports.

El icónico Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM), en el corazón de Santiago, no está terminado.

Desde hace siete años que, por distintos motivos -inundación, estallido social, pandemia, entre otros-, la segunda etapa del edificio diseñado por el arquitecto Cristián Fernández está varada.

A comienzos de marzo, sin embargo, hubo una señal de esperanza para la comunidad.

Tras finalizar el proceso de licitación en la recta final del Gobierno del izquierdista Gabriel Boric, se reactivó la construcción del edificio restante, que ampliaría la superficie de 22.000 a 37.000 metros cuadrados.

El mayor atractivo sería una gran sala para artes escénicas con tecnología de punta y capacidad para 2.500 espectadores, otorgándole una estampa de categoría mundial al espacio dedicado a la cultura.

Pero los trabajos duraron poco: 45 días después, el recién asumido Gobierno de José Antonio Kast paralizó las obras argumentando falta de presupuesto para un proyecto millonario en un contexto de estrechez fiscal heredado de la Administración anterior.

Desde entonces, se ha instalado un debate público sobre la decisión, donde el grueso del mundo de la cultura y la oposición ha criticado la falta de visión del Ejecutivo.

Incluso la constructora a cargo del proyecto lo ha criticado por “sembrar un manto de dudas sobre el proceso de adjudicación”.

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Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuela’s prison system has long been criticized for its poor conditions, ranging from overcrowding and procedural delays to unsanitary environments and allegations of abuse.  These concerns are again mounting following the deaths in recent days of nine detainees in various detention centers across the country.

The first case involves five deaths inside the Yare III prison in the state of Miranda, as confirmed on April 20 by the Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs.

After several hours of silence and conflicting reports, the agency issued a statement indicating that the deaths were the result of a fight inside the prison.  The victims were identified as Keivin Matamoros, Eliecer Córdoba, Erkin Ramos, José Andrade, and Jean Carlos Jiménez.

Screenshot of statement from Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs via Instagram The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) last week requested that an investigation be conducted to clarify what had occurred.

Furthermore, they noted that relatives of the detainees did not believe the government’s version of events, as the deceased reportedly suffered gunshot wounds.

“These allegations are particularly alarming in a prison where the state exercises total control and where the entry of weapons cannot be explained without the participation, tolerance, or negligence of the custodial authorities,” the observatory stated.

For this reason, the organization demanded that Ángel de Castro, the director of the Yare III prison, be removed from office.  It also called for the prison to be placed under the supervision of a commission comprising the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Ministry of Penitentiary Affairs, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), based in Caracas, to verify the current detention conditions, guarantee the lives and safety of the inmates, and ensure transparency in the investigation of the recent killings.  Family members of other prisoners have also publicly asked authorities if anyone else was injured in the incident and, if so, what their condition is.

Tras horas de incertidumbre y exigencias de fe de vida por parte de familiares, el Ministerio para el Servicio Penitenciario confirmó la muerte de cinco personas privadas de libertad en Yare III, ocurrida el #20Abr en medio de una situación irregular dentro del penal.Las… pic.twitter.com/qjtMLIRvcs— Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (@oveprisiones) April 21, 2026 The OVP has documented human rights violations at this prison before.  The complaints they have received indicate that there have been incidents of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment, such as beatings with a bat called “human rights” and prolonged confinement in the “tigrito” cell, a space devoid of light and ventilation.

Four deaths in recent days In a separate case, the OVP reported on April 21 the death of Rosqui Norberto Escalon (71), who it claims was the victim of a series of irregularities at the Uribana prison in the state of Lara in northern Venezuela.  They noted that the inmate died on the way back to the prison, after officials allegedly forced his medical discharge despite his frailty.

The man’s body was allegedly left on the floor of the Barquisimeto Central Hospital by guards.

The incident was captured on video, which has gone viral on social media.

#DenunciaOVP Rosqui Norberto Escalona, de 71 años de edad, privado de libertad en el Centro Penitenciario David Viloria, Uribana #Lara, murió bajo condiciones de absoluta crueldad.

​Desde el viernes #17Abr el septuagenario presentaba graves padecimientos de salud, que… pic.twitter.com/lsOpIl22xK— Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (@oveprisiones) April 22, 2026 Similar deaths were also reported:  Yelamo Zárraga José Ramón’s death inside the Tocuyito Prison, the country’s largest penitentiary, was reported on April 24.  Deivi Enrique García’s death at Rodeo IV was reported on April 20.  Ovidio José Madriz Mendoza’s death at Rodeo III was also reported April 20.  The OVP stated that these individuals “died in circumstances marked by a lack of timely medical care and degrading living conditions.

They, too, are victims of state negligence.” Featured image: Prisoners in Venezuela.

Image credit: The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) website.

The post Deaths in Venezuelan prisons raise alarms among NGOs and human rights defenders appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced that the country’s so-called amnesty law, which aims to free political prisoners detained during the regime of Nicolás Maduro, will come to an end just two months after its approval in February.

During an April 24 event at Miraflores Palace, the presidential headquarters, the president said, “This amnesty law is coming to an end.

For those cases that were not covered, or rather, were expressly excluded, there are other avenues through which they can be addressed.” She also noted, “In the Democratic Coexistence and Peace Program—from which some members have moved to the Executive Branch—there is a forum for addressing cases related to justice.

The same applies to the Commission for Criminal Justice Reform.” At the meeting, Rodríguez said that some 8,616 people had been freed under the amnesty law, the BBC reported.   According to Foro Penal, an NGO that monitors political detentions in the country, 473 political prisoners remain in jail.

(Other NGOs have counted as many as 670 political prisoners still in custody).

Many of their family members are worried about their fates as the sun goes down on the amnesty law.  Other NGOs, such as the Venezuelan Program for Education and Action on Human Rights (Provea), have been more forceful, rejecting Rodríguez’s statements and characterizing the move as a major setback for the country.

“This constitutes an arbitrary and unconstitutional measure that does not contribute to the process of coexistence and peace that has been announced,” the organization wrote.

It added that, despite its limitations, “the Amnesty Law is a first step toward dismantling the repressive framework that has stifled the rights of the Venezuelan people in recent years.” The organization argues that an instrument such as amnesty for political prisoners must be part of any process of reinstitutionalization in the country.  “It should be a first step in that direction, but it is not a prerequisite for the full release of all those deprived of their liberty for political reasons,” Provea noted.

Featured image: Families of political prisoners protest in Caracas in February 2026.

Image credit: Julio Blanca for Latin America Reports The post Venezuela’s amnesty law comes to an end, alarming families of political prisoners appeared first on Latin America Reports.

Cuatro personas han fallecido tras quedarse atrapadas en un túnel que conecta con una toma clandestina de huachicol en el Estado de México.

En un breve comunicado, la empresa estatal Pemex informó el lunes que el derrumbe sucedió cuando la petrolera estaba realizando una inspección.

También aclaró que los afectados no trabajaban para Petróleos Mexicanos.

Según la prensa mexicana, los cuatro hombres murieron por intoxicación por inhalación de gases.

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Medellin, Colombia — On Tuesday, a group of more than two thousand migrants, mainly of Haitian origin, reportedly left the southeastern city of Tapachula in Chiapas, on their way to cities in central and northern Mexico.  In years past, migrant caravans traversing Mexico were usually destined for the United States.

But following the second Trump administration’s tightening of asylum policy, this goal has become more unrealistic, and Mexico has increasingly become a destination country for migrants, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Some of the people who make up the “David” caravan have spent weeks or more in southern Mexico, waiting to normalize their migration status to be able to move more freely in Mexico, according to migrant news website Conexión Migrante.

The process can be slow as Mexico fields more asylum requests.  According to the UNHCR, between 2020 and 2024, there were almost 500,000 asylum requests in Mexico, a number that has resulted in long delays from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) and the National Institute of Migration (INM).  As of September 2025, there were more than 58,800 new asylum claims, and COMAR had increased its processing capacity fivefold since 2018.

Between October 1 2024 and June 30 2025, there were 142,145 requests for humanitarian visas in Mexico, but only 5,191 were granted, according to the INM Strategic Plan.

The bureaucratic problems pre-date Trump’s immigration crackdown in his second term.  In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced COMAR to suspend activity, accumulating a backlog of asylum petitions.

Exacerbating the issue was Trump’s January 2025 suspension of the CBP One digital asylum-seeking app in the U.S., followed by budget cuts to COMAR from the Mexican government as well as the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).  Via a Whatsapp group organized for the caravan, many members cited extreme delays for processing asylum applications as a motive for heading north from Mexico’s southern border.

Lack of employment and cost of living were also cited, according to Conexión Migrante.  Without documentation, many foreign migrants are stuck in a legal limbo, where they run the risk of being stopped by authorities, deported or sent back to the southern border with Guatemala.  Migrants have also been targeted by criminal groups for kidnapping and extortion, with ProPublica reporting that this problem has entered a new phase in terms of scale and character.

Migrants’ undefined legal status also often forces them to work long hours with lower pay, according to the International Rescue Committee.  Since Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, there have been 18 migrant caravans leaving from Tapachula, though none of them have made it further than Oaxaca, the state neighbouring Chiapas.  At the end of March, the ‘Genesis’ migrant caravan set off from Tapachula, but it was intercepted after 12 days and dissolved by the INM.

According to local news outlet Diario del Sur, on Thursday, the David caravan arrived in Escuintla, Chiapas after three days of walking, where members will rest before continuing the journey.  Many migrants were demonstrating signs of extreme physical exhaustion, and approximately thirty who fell behind the main group have been sent back to Tapachula, where they remain under the custody of the authorities, according to Reporteros del Sur.

Featured image description: David migrant caravan in Mexico Featured image credits: @reporterosdlsur via X The post Migrant caravan leaves Southern Mexico heading to cities in the country’s interior appeared first on Aztec Reports.

The post Migrant caravan leaves Southern Mexico heading to cities in the country’s interior appeared first on Latin America Reports.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon.

April 27, 2026: YouTube sensation IShowSpeed, one of the world’s most popular online streamers, is continuing his high-energy Caribbean tour, with his latest stop bringing him to Barbados Monday, after earlier visits to Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

Speed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., is an American influencer and live-streamer known globally for his dramatic, fast-paced broadcasts and real-life travel streams that attract millions of viewers.

He has emerged as a major digital figure, often acting as a cultural ambassador by showcasing countries and local experiences to global audiences in real time.

The global livestream star, known for his unpredictable and viral content, has been drawing attention across the region as he moves from island to island, blending entertainment with cultural immersion.

After kicking off in Trinidad and Tobago, Speed traveled to Grenada, where he explored local culture, including scuba diving and participating in traditional Jab Jab celebrations.

He then arrived in Barbados, where he made a stop at a local school, further fueling excitement among fans and even received a rock as a gift.

Barbados is often referred to as a “rock” due to its unique geological formation: a coral limestone island formed by tectonic plate collision, unlike many of its neighbors.

The island, particularly on the east coast, features dramatic rock formations, including the famous Bathsheba Rock and Mushroom Rock, carved by Atlantic erosion.

While his exact next stop has not been officially confirmed, the broader Caribbean tour is expected to include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St.

Kitts and Nevis, St.

Lucia, St.

Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Speed is widely regarded as one of the internet’s most-watched travel streamers, known for turning everyday interactions into viral moments through live broadcasts that attract massive global audiences.

His Caribbean run follows a series of global tours that have taken him across Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia/New Zealand.

During a recent Africa tour spanning 20 countries in under a month, he gained more than 3.7 million YouTube subscribers and surpassed 50 million total subscribers, highlighting his growing global influence.

With streams often showcasing local culture, landmarks, and spontaneous fan interactions, Speed’s visits have proven to significantly boost online visibility for destinations featured.

This Caribbean leg also includes a personal touch.

Speed has his younger brother Jamal joining him on the tour, adding to the energy and unpredictability that define his content.

Known for his high-energy personality and real-time engagement with fans, Speed’s presence is already generating buzz across the region, with crowds gathering and social media lighting up at each stop.

As the tour continues, Caribbean audiences – and millions watching online – are tuning in to see where he lands next.

RELATED: No Caribbean Beaches In World’s Top 10 – But Here Are The Top 10 Best Caribbean Beaches For 2026

Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori and left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez would tie at 38% of the vote in the Peruvian presidential runoff scheduled for June 7, according to the first opinion poll published after the April 12 election, against a backdrop of an inconclusive count and an ongoing dispute over second place.

The Ipsos Peru survey, conducted between April 23 and 24 and published by daily Perú.21, points to a scenario of absolute parity with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.

By Dr.

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

April 27, 2026: Imagine stepping off a plane in Port of Spain, paying for a taxi with your Jamaican wallet, grabbing lunch in Barbados, and settling a hotel bill in Guyana, all instantly, securely, and in your own currency – one wallet.

No delays, no conversions, no uncertainty.

This is not a dream.

Ghana has already made it real by transforming its national ID into a full-featured payment tool.

Citizens can link bank accounts, send and receive money, and pay for goods through a single platform.

It works alongside global networks such as Visa and Mastercard while providing a faster, simpler, and more affordable way to move money.

Systems must serve the people who use them first and connect seamlessly to the wider world.

Other countries provide valuable lessons.

In Nigeria, mobile transfers and instant bank payments make moving money fast and accessible for everyone.

In India, the Unified Payments Interface allows anyone to send money instantly using a phone number or a QR code, whether paying a street vendor or a utility company.

In China, applications such as Alipay and WeChat Pay integrate payments into daily life, from ordering food to taking public transportation.

These systems succeed because they prioritize the user experience, eliminate friction, and make transactions predictable and reliable.

The Caribbean faces a similar challenge.

Countries including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname, and the members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union operate across multiple currencies and fragmented systems.

Travel and trade are slowed by delays, inconsistent acceptance, and unnecessary complexity.

Citizens and visitors face obstacles that make simple transactions frustrating and time-consuming.

The solution is a regional digital payments layer that works across local currencies.

Citizens and visitors could pay anywhere in the Caribbean while the system converts automatically.

Transactions would be immediate, transparent, and consistent, whether in Nassau, Castries, or Georgetown.

The region could function as a single connected marketplace while each country retains its own currency.

Achieving this requires three strategic steps.

Governments must establish secure digital identity systems that authenticate users across borders.

Central banks and regulators must build a real-time network connecting banks, mobile wallets, and fintech platforms.

Global providers such as Visa and Mastercard should integrate as gateways for international transactions rather than as the foundation of the system.

These steps create a structure that is robust, inclusive, and adaptable.

The impact would be profound.

A vendor in Kingston could receive payment from a visitor in Port of Spain instantly.

A supplier in Bridgetown could receive funds from Georgetown without delay.

Commerce, tourism, and daily transactions would become faster, simpler, and more reliable.

The Caribbean could strengthen financial independence, expand inclusion, and operate efficiently within the global economy.

This is more than a payment system.

It is a foundation for growth, opportunity, and trust.

By designing solutions that serve local people first and connect to the world, the Caribbean can become a leader in digital finance while making life easier and more predictable for every citizen and visitor.

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.

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By NAN ET EDITOR News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Sat.

April 25, 2026: Caribbean-rooted actors are taking center stage in the Michael Jackson movie, Michael, bringing depth and cultural nuance to the story of one of music’s most iconic families.

Award-winning actor Colman Domingo portrays Joe Jackson, the complex and often controversial patriarch of the Jackson family, while Nia Long takes on the role of Katherine Jackson, the matriarch whose quiet strength helped anchor the family through fame and pressure.

The film, which opened in theaters on Friday, April 24th, stars Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, as his uncle.

Juliano Krue Valdi, a 12-year-old actor and dancer, plays the young Michael.

The movie traces the singer’s rise from childhood in Gary, Indiana to stardom with The Jackson 5 and on to solo global superstardom.

The story focuses on the period from the 1960s through 1988, stopping before the later controversies that surrounded the artist.

In an interview with Black Girl Nerds, Long, whose roots extend to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Grenada, spoke about approaching the role of Katherine Jackson with empathy rather than judgment.

“I wouldn’t say judgment,” she explained.

“I would definitely say empathy, and I would say that I have more in common with her than I ever thought I did.” Long said portraying Katherine required tapping into her own experiences as a mother, emphasizing the protective instinct that defines the role.

“Once you’re a mother and you’re connected to the wellness of your family and the wellbeing of your children, there’s an energy of protection that supersedes everything,” she said.

“That was her job, that was her mission, that was her heart.” She described Katherine Jackson as a steady, grounding force during the family’s rise to global fame.

“When you look at what the Jackson family had to manage, the level of stardom, there had to be a quiet force leading the way,” Long said.

“That’s what makes her such a beautiful woman.” Domingo, whose heritage traces back to Belize and Guatemala, also highlighted the importance of portraying Joe Jackson with complexity rather than one-dimensional judgment.

“We started by having great conversations about men that we know, that we’re raised by, men of a certain generation,” Domingo said, noting that Joe Jackson represented a generation shaped by responsibility, discipline, and survival.

He emphasized that the role required acknowledging both strength and vulnerability.

“Sometimes people think that they’re just hard in some ways, but we know their softness, we know their vulnerabilities,” he said.

“And we care about these men deeply, and so we wanted to make sure that we really looked at Joe Jackson… with as much complexity as possible.” Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael offers audiences an intimate look at the family dynamics, sacrifices, and pressures that shaped the King of Pop’s early life and career.

The film also leaves room for a potential continuation, with Domingo hinting at the possibility of a second installment exploring later chapters of Jackson’s life.

Michael Jackson, who rose to fame with The Jackson 5 before becoming a global superstar, died in 2009 at age 50.

He was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial and consistently maintained his innocence against allegations made during and after his lifetime.

 His nephew does a great job of channeling Michael’s signature look, executing his iconic choreography, embodying his voice, recreating his mannerisms, and getting into his headspace.

When it comes to the music, featuring hits from across Jackson’s early career, does Jaafar provide the vocals in the musical movie?

The answer is both yes and no.

When asked if he lent his voice to the project, Jaafar replied, “When I was doing all the performances, I was actually singing out live in the microphone on top of Michael’s track.” He went on to explain that the final product is “a blend” of his vocals and Michael’s together.

But there are a few key moments that saw Jaafar on his own in front of a microphone.

On more than one occasion, Michael takes its audience into the studio to watch the titular star record a few of his biggest hits.

We then cut between Michael singing with and without a backing track.

In those instances, the audience is hearing pure Jaafar without his uncle’s blended-in vocals.

“It’s actually me singing acapella,” the actor shared.

“Which was really fun to do.” With its focus on family, legacy, and the human stories behind global fame, Michael delivers not only a portrait of an icon, but also a deeper exploration of the people who helped shape his journey.

Projected Opening: $85M – $95M+ domestically.

Preview Earnings: $12.6 million total (including Wednesday previews and Thursday).

International Start: $18.5 million in 82 markets.

Total Initial Gross: Already topped $44 million worldwide within its first couple of days.

Records: It set records for the biggest opening day for a musical biopic in several markets, including the UK, France, and Australia.

Audience Response: Early data indicates strong, positive audience reception with 5 stars on PostTrak and high, 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Get a peak at the movie here

News Americas, PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 24, 2026: Caribbean Diaspora organization, Team Jamaica Bickle, (TJB), is deepening its commitment to Jamaican student-athletes at the Penn Relays with a significant expansion of its incentive program for 2026, increasing prize support and broadening opportunities across both track and field events.

Building on the success of last year’s launch, the organization, founded over three decades ago by Irwine Clare, Sr.

OD, will once again award prize money to Jamaican high school boys’ and girls’ teams that win the prestigious Championship of America 4×100, 4×400, and 4×800-meter relays.

Each winning team will receive a $1,000 USD contribution directed to their respective schools.

For 2026, the program is expanding beyond relays to include key field events.

Incentives will now cover the high school championship discus, shot put, triple jump, and long jump, with the top-performing Jamaican high school boy and girl in each event earning a $1,000 USD donation to their school.

The initiative also marks a new step forward with the introduction of incentives for tertiary institutions.

Two $1,000 USD prizes will be awarded to Jamaican college teams, reflecting TJB’s growing focus on supporting athletes throughout their academic and athletic careers.

All funds awarded through the program will be directed toward each school’s nutrition program – a core pillar of Team Jamaica Bickle’s mission to support student-athlete health, recovery, and performance beyond competition.

This year’s expanded effort has been made possible through continued partnerships, along with new support from the Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund, which contributed an additional $5,000 USD to enhance the program’s reach and impact.

“The Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund is proud to support Team Jamaica Bickle’s School Nutrition Program,” said Julie Hutchinson.

“This investment reflects both our belief in the program’s continued success and a personal connection to its impact.

Our family’s journey was shaped by similar opportunities that empowered our patriarch, Dr.

Gladstone ‘Fluney’ Hutchinson, to pursue significant scholar-athletic achievement.

We are committed to helping ensure the next generation has access to that same foundation.” “At Team Jamaica Bickle, nutrition is at the heart of what we do,” said Clare, Snr., Chairman/CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle.

“Proper nutrition is essential to performance, recovery, and overall well-being.

By directing these funds to school-based nutrition programs, we are making a direct investment in our student-athletes, ensuring they are properly fueled to compete at a high level and succeed beyond the track.” Team Jamaica Bickle also extended its appreciation to its sponsors – Second Round Foundation, Grand Slam, ON, and the Burton–Hutchinson Family Fund – as well as supporters whose contributions continue to sustain and grow the initiative.

As the Penn Relays wraps up today, the expanded program underscores the organization’s role not only in supporting Jamaican athletes on race day, but in strengthening the foundation that allows them to succeed long after the competition ends.

Bogotá, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived in Caracas today to meet with his counterpart in Venezuela, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez.

The visit makes Petro the first world leader to visit the South American nation since the United States captured longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro in a military operation on January 3.

Petro and Rodríguez are expected to discuss bilateral issues including energy and security cooperation on their more than 1,300 mile shared border.  The Colombian president landed in Caracas on Friday afternoon with his Foreign Minister, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, and Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez.

The delegation from Bogotá has been meeting with Rodríguez and her Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, alongside Foreign Minister Yván Gil at the Palacio de Miraflores – Venezuela’s presidential palace.  Petro and Rodríguez were flanked by top officials at their meeting.

Image courtesy of @InfoPresidencia via X Petro and Rodríguez were scheduled to meet in Cúcuta, a Colombian city bordering Venezuela, in March but the Venezuelan president cancelled at the last minute citing security concerns.

Then last Friday, the Colombian leader announced he would head to Venezuela, saying, “If Mohammed won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.” The primary purpose of the meeting is strengthening security cooperation, according to the Petro administration.

“The aim of this meeting is for both governments to make progress on a joint plan to strengthen security and intelligence in the border area,” wrote the Office of the President in a post on X today.

The sprawling frontier is a hotbed for guerrilla activity and is largely controlled by the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), a rebel group involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining on both sides of the border.

The ELN was known to have ties to the Maduro regime but the Venezuelan government is under pressure from the U.S.

to crack down on the rebel group, which Washington considers a “terrorist organization.” While the Petro administration maintains the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation, the meeting has perturbed many in the Venezuelan exile community in Colombia.  “President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Venezuela, particularly his meeting with Delcy Rodríguez, raises serious concerns among Venezuelans,” Juan Carlos Viloria Doria, President of the Global Alliance for Human Rights and Vice-President of Venezuelans in Barranquilla, told Latin America Reports.

He noted that many Venezuelans do not consider Rodríguez to be a legitimate leader, describing her as “an extension of the regime led by Nicolás Maduro.” “In this regard, such visits can be interpreted as a political endorsement or a form of international legitimization of a situation in Venezuela that still lacks adequate democratic guarantees,” maintained Viloria.

Petro and Rodríguez greet reporters.

Image courtesy of @InfoPresidencia via X There has also been pressure in Colombia for Petro to mediate the release of 16 Colombian citizens jailed in Venezuela.

The families of those detained allege the arrests were made “without a court order or evidence” and say their loved ones have faced human rights violations including torture.  While there has been an easing in repression following Maduro’s ouster, Venezuela remains an authoritarian state and rights groups continue to denounce abuses.

“The least that we Venezuelans expect is that [the meeting] be used as an opportunity to demand concrete progress on human rights and democracy,” said Viloria.

“Any dialogue or rapprochement must be aimed at improving the living conditions of the Venezuelan people and fostering a genuinely democratic transition, not at consolidating contested power structures.” Featured image description: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez at a meeting in Caracas on April 24, 2026.

Featured image credit: @InfoPresidencia via X The post Colombia’s Petro becomes first head of state to visit Venezuela since Maduro’s ouster appeared first on Latin America Reports.

The foreign ministers of Bolivia, Fernando Aramayo, and Chile, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, agreed on Friday to deepen bilateral ties and advance a joint economic agenda, amid a decisive diplomatic rapprochement between the two countries after nearly five decades without ambassador-level relations.

The meeting, held at an event organized by the Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Services, and Tourism (Cainco) in Santa Cruz, concluded a two-day official visit by the Chilean minister.

By Felicia J.

Persaud News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri.

April 24, 2026: At a time when immigration rhetoric in the United States has reached a fever pitch, a new report from the Pew Research Center offers a powerful reminder: the story being told about immigrants – particularly Black immigrants in America – is often not the truth.

The data tells a very different story.

According to Pew’s latest analysis, there are now 5.6 million Black immigrants living in the United States, making up roughly one in ten Black people in the country.

That alone should shift the conversation.

Because Black immigrants are not a small or marginal group.

They are a significant and growing part of the American story.

And yet, they are rarely at the center of the national immigration debate.

Even more telling is their legal status.

Despite narratives that often conflate immigration with illegality, the Pew data shows that 79% of Black immigrants are in the United States legally, while a majority – 61% – are naturalized U.S.

citizens.

That means most Black immigrants are not only here lawfully, but they are also Americans who can vote.

Fully.

Legally.

Permanently.

And still, they are often treated as outsiders, with xenophobic talk about “eating cats and dogs,” committing crimes, or worse of all, being from “S-Hole” countries.

The data also challenges assumptions about education and contribution.

Today, 35% of Black immigrants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, a rate that exceeds that of U.S.-born Black Americans.

Among African-born immigrants, that number is even higher, with some of the most highly educated immigrant populations in the country coming from nations like Nigeria.

These are not communities on the margins.

They are doctors, nurses, entrepreneurs, educators, and caregivers.

They are part of the infrastructure of American life.

And their numbers are growing.

African-born immigrants, according to the data, are now the fastest-growing segment of the Black immigrant population, increasing fourfold since 2000.

At the same time, Caribbean immigrants remain a dominant force, making up a similarly large share of the Black immigrant population.

Together, African and Caribbean immigrants account for the overwhelming majority of Black immigrants in the United States.

That is not incidental.

It reflects a deep and ongoing relationship between the United States and the Black diaspora – one that has shaped culture, labor, politics, and identity for generations.

And yet, despite these contributions, the policy environment is moving in the opposite direction.

Immigration crackdowns are intensifying.

Temporary protection is being challenged.

Legal pathways are becoming more uncertain.

Huge bonds are being tacked on to simple visitors and business visas.

And Black immigrants – like other immigrant groups – are increasingly caught in that shift.

This disconnect between reality and rhetoric is where the real story lies.

Because the data makes one thing clear: Black immigrants are not a burden on the United States.

They are part of its growth.

Part of its workforce.

Part of its future.

And yet, the question of belonging continues to linger.

Who gets to be seen as American?

Who gets to be protected?, Who gets to stay?

These are not new questions.

But they take on new urgency in a moment where facts are often overshadowed by fear.

Because when a group that is largely legal, highly educated, and deeply embedded in the fabric of the country is still viewed through the lens of suspicion, it suggests that the issue is no longer just immigration.

It is perception.

And perhaps something deeper.

Because the data tells a story.

The question is whether America is willing to listen.

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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Colombian President Gustavo Petro will meet at midday on Friday in Caracas with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez, in what marks the first official meeting between a head of state and the Venezuelan leader since she took office on January 5, following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro in a US military operation on January 3 of this year.

Two commercial aircraft collided on the ground at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport on Wednesday evening in an incident that left no injuries but forced the rescheduling of both affected flights.

The collision occurred at around 8:00 p.m.

local time, when a LATAM Airlines Airbus A321 struck a stationary Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 737 that was holding on the apron awaiting clearance for take-off.

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.