El estallido del conflicto en Irán ha sacudido la frágil estabilidad económica de América Latina.

Un episodio geopolítico inicialmente distante se ha traducido en un encarecimiento abrupto de la energía y en una depreciación generalizada de las divisas en las principales economías de la región —Brasil, México, Chile, Colombia y Perú—.

Las previsiones de inflación se han revisado al alza, mientras que los inversores están trasladando su dinero hacia activos más seguros.

Esto está elevando los tipos de interés a largo plazo y encareciendo el coste de financiar una deuda que ya era vulnerable desde el inicio, según el Informe de Economía Latinoamericana publicado este miércoles por el Banco de España.

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La invasión de Rusia en Ucrania cursa ya su quinto año y sigue sin visos de tener fin.

El desgaste de los ejércitos en ambos lados de la frontera ha elevado la dependencia de ambos países del reclutamiento de miles de extranjeros, que son enviados principalmente a operaciones de alto riesgo en el frente de guerra.

Varios gobiernos han alertado de esta práctica y han instado a los suyos a no caer en las jugosas ofertas que son, en muchas ocasiones, engañosas.

Un nuevo informe publicado este miércoles, realizado por la Federación Internacional de los Derechos Humanos (FIDH) y otras dos organizaciones, analiza el reclutamiento de forasteros en Rusia y documenta la campaña de Moscú para impulsar la contratación de poblaciones vulnerables a través de estrategias con trampa.

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La imagen de militares apostados a lado y lado de una carretera en Colombia se repite una y otra vez, como se repite, cíclicamente, la violencia misma.

En el Valle del Cauca, en el suroccidente del país, las principales vías permanecen militarizadas.

En medio de los ataques terroristas atribuidos a las disidencias de las extintas FARC que tras cinco días no dan tregua, el Ministerio de Defensa anunció el refuerzo de 150 uniformados para custodiar los corredores viales de la región.

Sin embargo, las medidas no han sido suficientes ante la escalada de violencia.

Este martes, hacia finales de la tarde, se presentó un nuevo atentado en la zona rural de Santander de Quilichao, en el norte del Cauca.

Un vehículo tipo furgón explotó sobre la vía Panamericana, el corredor clave que comunica la región.

Hombre armados habrían emboscado un camión para luego incinerarlo.

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Bernardo Fontaine Talavera, de 61 años, suena como la carta del Gobierno de José Antonio Kast para convetirse en el próximo presidente del directorio de Codelco, una de las mayores productoras de cobre del mundo.

Su designación es inminente y debiera conocerse antes de que Máximo Pacheco deje su cargo este 25 de mayo.

Pero antes de que eso pueda ser anunciado, el economista de derechas y exconvencional constituyente en el primer proceso de 2022, ha iniciado una defensa a toda costa de la megarreforma —el Plan de Reconstrucción y Desarrollo Económico y Social— que el Ejecutivo presentó al Congreso para intentar una rebaja los impuestos corporativos del 27 al 23%, entre otras medidas, que mermaría los ingresos de Chile y no verían compensación en unos 10 años.

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By Staff Reporter | NewsAmericasNow.com News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds.

April 29, 2026: He arrives by Expedia Gulfstream and gets millions watching.

IShowSpeed, the American internet phenomenon whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., has so far racked up more than 16 million cumulative live stream viewers across five Caribbean islands, turning what would have cost governments millions in tourism advertising into a free, real-time global showcase.

The 19-year-old African American streamer kicked off his Caribbean run in Trinidad and Tobago before hitting Grenada, Barbados, St.

Lucia, and St.

Vincent and the Grenadines yesterday.

His highest single-stream viewership so far has come from Trinidad and Tobago at 4.7 million.

Even his lowest – 2.9 million from Barbados – rivals the audience of a major cable news broadcast.

Why Caribbean Tourism Boards Should Be Paying Attention Speed’s visits aren’t scripted tourism campaigns.

They are chaotic, unfiltered, deeply human encounters with local culture – and that is precisely why they work.

When millions of Gen Z viewers watch him eat doubles in Port of Spain, react to a fish market in Barbados, or get mobbed by fans on a St.

Lucia street, they aren’t watching an ad.

They’re experiencing a place.

Tourism economists have a term for this: earned media.

What Speed is generating for the Caribbean is essentially the same visibility that agencies spend tens of millions of dollars trying to manufacture – delivered organically to a global audience that trusts him.

During a recent Africa tour spanning 20 countries in under a month, Speed gained more than 3.7 million YouTube subscribers and pushed past the 50 million subscriber milestone.

The pattern is consistent: he visits, the world watches, and destinations trend.

The Tour Isn’t Over While no official schedule has been confirmed, the broader Caribbean leg is expected to include Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Sint Maarten, St.

Kitts and Nevis, and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.

For islands still on the itinerary, the calculus is straightforward: millions of eyeballs, zero cost, and the kind of youth-market penetration that no tourism board has reliably cracked.

The Bigger Picture Speed has taken his cameras across Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia and New Zealand.

His Caribbean run follows that same model: arrive with a massive platform, engage authentically with locals, and let the algorithm do the rest.

What is new is the regional concentration.

Five islands in rapid succession means the Caribbean as a whole – not just individual destinations – is getting a sustained moment in front of one of the internet’s largest audiences.

For a region that has long struggled to compete with better-funded tourism markets for global attention, Speed’s tour is a reminder that the rules of visibility are changing.

And the Caribbean, for once, is on the right side of the algorithm.

ABOUT ISHOWSPEED Speed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was born in Ohio.

He reportedly became a millionaire by age 16 or 17 – one of the fastest wealth accumulations in streaming history.

By the end of 2023, he had firmly established himself as a multi-millionaire, with his net worth growing well beyond early estimates, driven by YouTube ad revenue, brand deals, merchandise, and his massive live-streaming audience.

His net worth ranges from $10 million to $30 million.

IShowSpeed’s Caribbean tour is ongoing.

NewsAmericasNow.com will continue tracking viewership data and island visits as they are confirmed.

News Americas, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, Weds.

April 29, 2026: A GoFundMe established in honor of slain Haitian-American Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen has raised nearly $50,000 toward its $250,000 goal, as family, friends, and the wider community continue to mourn her loss.The Nancy Metayer Endowment Fund was launched on April 8th by her sister, Jennifer Metayer-Smith, to support the family and preserve her legacy.

Just days later, on April 17th, hundreds gathered at Church by the Glades for a public viewing and celebration of life, remembering the 38-year-old leader for her compassion, energy, and dedication to service.Metayer Bowen, the first Black and Haitian-American woman elected to the Coral Springs City Commission, was widely described as “the heart of the commission” and a leader who made people feel seen and included.A graduate of Florida A&M University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she built a career in public service and was preparing to launch a congressional bid when she died.

House lawmakers honored Metayer Bowenon April 28th during a short floor session, holding a roughly 20-second moment of silence after brief comments about her accomplishments and legacy.

Speaker Pro Tempore, Wyman Dugganof Jacksonville, delivered the remarks before members marked their attendance.

“Earlier this month, we tragically lost Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen.

Elected in 2020 at just 32 years old, she quickly became a respected leader and dedicated public servant in her community.

As an environmental scientist, she championed environmental and public health initiatives.

More importantly, she was deeply devoted to her family and friends,” he said.

“She was a friend to many in this House, and her legacy will never be forgotten.

On behalf of Reps.

(Christine) Hunschofsky and (Anna) Eskamani, I ask for a moment of silence for Nancy Metayer Bowen.

Members, please join me in a moment of silence.”Her death has also reignited calls for stronger domestic violence protections.

HUSBAND Authorities have charged her husband, Jamaican Stephen Bowen, with premeditated murder, and he remains in custody without bond.

Bowen, 40, appeared in court without his attorneys at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday.

His attorneys have submitted a written not guilty plea after Bowen was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his wife.

He’s being represented by Glenn Roderman and Philip Johnston of Roderman & Johnston after the public defender’s office asked to recuse itself on the basis of some of the attorneys’ relationships with the vice mayor.

The indictment shows a grand jury has charged Bowen with first-degree premeditated murder with a firearm and tampering with evidence, namely a firearm and a cell phone.

The indictment was entered in court records on April 22nd.

After reaching Bowen’s attorney by phone from the courtroom, Judge Ernest A.

Kollra scheduled a status hearing for May 28.

Meanwhile, Coral Springs officials planted a tree in her memory.

It bears a plaque with her name and a phrase repeated at her memorials: “Be like Nancy.” U.S.

Rep. Jared Moskowitzhas also filed legislation to rename a local post office after her.

RELATED: Haitian-American Coral Springs Vice Mayor Legacy Resonates Beyond Tragedy

The Mexican military captured Audias Flores Silva, alias ‘El Jardinero’, on Monday – one of the top leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Flores Silva was considered to be one of the key candidates to succeed alias ‘El Mencho’, the former leader of the CJNG who was killed by authorities in February.

The drug lord’s arrest comes amid a wider crackdown by Mexican security forces against organized crime, driven partly by pressure from Washington.

According to authorities, Monday’s operation did not involve any shooting, injuries, or collateral damage.

The military deployment included 120 direct action troops, four close air support helicopters, four fixed-wing aircraft, and two troop transport helicopters, with 400 naval personnel providing support.

The CJNG leader’s more than 60-strong escort group dispersed in different directions upon the arrival of security forces, attempting a tactical distraction maneuver, but the target was located through air and ground tracking.

Official footage of the operation shared by Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection of Mexico, shows the moment of the capture, with Flores Silva extracted from a roadside drainage conduit, where he was hiding.

The arrest happened near El Mirador, a rural community in the western state of Nayarit.

Hours after the news became public, several stores and vehicles were set on fire across Nayarit.

While the unrest fell short of the level of retaliation following the killing of ‘El Mencho’ in February 2026, the Government of Nayarit urged citizens to stay in their homes as a preventative measure.

A major blow to CJNG The arrest was praised by the U.S.

Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, who congratulated Mexico’s Security Cabinet and Secretary of the Navy.

In 2021, the U.S.

Drug Enforcement Agency offered a US$5 million reward for information leading to Audias Flores Silva’s arrest or conviction.

Flores Silva was defined as “closely aligned” with former CJNG leader ‘El Mencho’, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.

In June 2025, the U.S.

Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Flores Silva, identifying him as a CJNG regional commander in charge of significant portions of territory in the states of Zacatecas, Guerrero, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Michoacán.  According to U.S.

authorities, Flores Silva was in control of clandestine laboratories producing methamphetamine and other illicit drugs in central Jalisco and southern Zacatecas.

In addition, Silva managed the logistics of cocaine trafficking operations from Central America through Mexico to the United States, including the supervision of several clandestine airstrips.‘El Jardinero’ was also believed to have coordinated a deadly 2015 attack against Mexican police forces in Jalisco that left 15 agents dead.Flores Silva’s arrest is a hard hit to CJNG, as security analysts considered him a potential successor to the group’s command after the death of ‘El Mencho’ last February.

“Flores Silva was the closest thing the CJNG had to a chief operating officer, the man who once ran Mencho’s personal security, managed the Pacific corridor’s labs and airstrips, oversaw a timeshare fraud network and U.S.

money-laundering pipeline, and brokered the alliance with Los Chapitos after the Sinaloa civil war,” Chris Dalby, director of World of Crime and senior analyst at Dyami Security Intelligence, told Latin America Reports.

Authorities dealt a second blow to CJNG yesterday when the Special Forces of the Mexican Army and the National Guard detained César Alejandro N, alias “El Güero Conta”.

He was identified as the main financial operator for ‘El Jardinero’ and accused of laundering money through companies and frontmen.

“Losing Silva alongside his financier on the same day hits the CJNG operationally and financially simultaneously.

It doesn’t spell an end to the CJNG, however, and may actually help Juan Carlos Gonzalez Valencia secure leadership by removing a rival,” said Dalby.

Featured image description: Wanted poster for Audias Flores Silva, alias ‘El Jardinero’.

Featured image credit: Omar García Harfuch via Facebook.

The post Mexican authorities arrest top cartel leader ‘El Jardinero’ appeared first on Latin America Reports.

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Tues.

April 28, 2026: Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, has expressed “grave concern” over what he described as a provocative display by Venezuela during recent engagements with Caribbean leaders, as tensions continue over the long-running Essequibo territorial dispute.

In a letter to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman Terrance Drew, Ali criticized the public display of a brooch worn by Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, that depicted a map of Venezuela, including Guyana’s Essequibo region.

The Guyanese president said that while Georgetown respects the right of CARICOM member states to engage with Venezuela, it was “deeply regrettable” that such meetings were accompanied by symbols asserting a territorial claim against Guyana.

Rodríguez recently met with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley during visits aimed at strengthening Venezuela’s ties with the Caribbean.

Ali warned that the use of regional platforms to promote claims currently before the International Court of Justice could be interpreted as tolerance or acquiescence.

“This is not a matter of symbolism alone,” Ali said, describing the display as a “calculated and provocative assertion” of Venezuela’s claim to the resource-rich Essequibo region.

The dispute between the two South American nations dates back more than a century and is currently before the ICJ, which is set to begin oral hearings in early May.

Guyana is seeking affirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the boundary between the two countries.

The court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction over the matter, paving the way for a full hearing on the merits.

Ali reiterated that Guyana remains committed to a peaceful resolution under international law but expects all parties to respect the judicial process and refrain from actions that could escalate tensions.

“Guyana expects all states… to act consistently with the principles of the United Nations Charter, refrain from provocation, and respect the ongoing judicial process,” he said.

Rodríguez arrived in Barbados late Sunday, marking her second official visit to a Caribbean island in recent weeks after visiting Grenada on April 9.

Mottley and Rodríguez met in the capital of Bridgetown for bilateral talks that centered on topics including energy sector cooperation, according to the two leaders who held a joint press conference but did not take questions.

Venezuela invited Barbados to invest in oil and gas exploration, Rodríguez said, adding via a translator: “To join strengths, to increase the production of hydrocarbons in Venezuela.” The partnership also would help Venezuela provide energy security for the people of Barbados, Rodríguez asserted.

She has been acting as Venezuela’s president after the U.S.

military captured and removed former President Nicolás Maduro in early January.

CARICOM CARICOM for its part has drawn a clear line against any use of its platforms to advance or legitimize Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region, stressing that the controversy remains before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) In a statement issued on Tuesday, the regional bloc said it had taken note of recent official engagements within the Community where material asserting Venezuela’s claim to Essequibo was publicly displayed, as well as President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s April 28 letter expressing Guyana’s grave concern.

“In this regard, CARICOM underscores that Community platforms and engagements should not be used, whether directly or indirectly, to advance or appear to legitimise claims that are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings before the International Court of Justice,” the statement said.

While reaffirming that each Member State retains the sovereign right to conduct bilateral relations with external partners, CARICOM stressed that such engagements must remain consistent with the shared obligations and collective commitments of the Community.

It pointed to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the binding legal instrument governing CARICOM, which commits member states to preserving the Community’s integrity and cohesion in their external relations.

Member states, CARICOM added, must remain mindful of their collective responsibilities to uphold international law, respect judicial processes and maintain good neighbourly relations.

FLASHBACK: US Reaffirms Land Boundary Between Venezuela And Guyana Should Be Respected Amid Meeting Between Ally, Maduro

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.

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.

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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El presidente Gustavo Petro se ha mantenido firme en su propósito de nombrar a Daniel Quintero como superintendente de Salud para los últimos tres meses de su mandato.

Este viernes se ha conocido el decreto que lo designa en el cargo, y que el mandatario dejó firmado un día antes de su visita a Caracas.

Desde que la hoja de vida del exalcalde de Medellín fue publicada, hace diez días, en el portal de aspirantes de la Presidencia, la designación ha desatado una oleada de cuestionamientos, incluso dentro de las toldas petristas.

Se critica principalmente que el ingeniero electrónico carece de experiencia en el sector de la salud y que asume el puesto mientras enfrenta un proceso penal por corrupción.

Seguir leyendo

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.

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.