Latin America

“Poet. Maestro. Cuba’s defiant son. Pablo Milanés was all these things and more. He was also the soundtrack of my youth,” writes Puerto Rican journalist Susanne Ramires de Arellano.

According to the Latin America Development Bank, only 49 percent of women in the region have a bank account. Even though Latin American women own half of the region’s small businesses, 70 percent of them have no access to financing at all.

Lionel says he wants to keep playing for the Argentinian team, so maybe we’ll see him in another World cup. But for now, the Messi-Ronaldo debate has ended for many, and Argentina has won their first World Cup in 36 years, their third all-time—and one that will resonate in the proud fútbol nation forever.

Senior editor Hector Luis Alamo gives a rundown of some of the facts, bits of news, real histories, and actual lies he came across during the past week.

A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered ousted President Pedro Castillo to remain in custody for 18 months as nationwide protests set off by the political crisis showed no signs of abating and the death toll rose to at least 14.

Peru’s new government declared a national emergency Wednesday as it struggled to calm violent protests over President Pedro Castillo’s ouster, suspending the rights of “personal security and freedom” across the Andean nation for 30 days.

Lionel Messi and Argentina set their sights on World Cup glory in Sunday’s final against France. For Messi, it means one last chance to cap his amazing legacy with the biggest prize in the world’s most popular sports tournament.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday announced his intention to fully open the border crossings with Colombia starting January 1, a measure repeatedly postponed following the restoration of diplomatic and commercial ties between the South American neighbors.

Boluarte’s decision came after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets around Peru for another day on Sunday to demand that she resign and schedule elections to replace her and Congress. The protests turned deadly, with at least two reported deaths in a remote community in the Andes, according to officials.

This week’s wrap-up comes to you from the cozy confines of quarantine, as senior editor Hector Luis Alamo has managed to catch COVID for only the second time this year.

Vice President Dina Boluarte — who speaks both Spanish and Quechua — replaced Pedro Castillo and became the first female leader in the history of the republic after hours of wrangling between the legislature and the departing president, who had tried to prevent an impeachment vote.

Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández was convicted and sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office for a fraud scheme that embezzled $1 billion through public works projects during her presidency.

Cuban officials announced Monday that women boxers would be able to compete officially after decades of restrictions, though they didn’t yet confirm if that would be taken to a professional level like it was with Cuban male boxers earlier this year.

A group of 16 municipalities filed a lawsuit on November 22 against multiple Big Oil companies for downplaying the risks of their fossil-fuel products on climate change.

Senior editor Hector Luis Alamo gives a review of some of the most interesting and important things he saw, read, and heard over the past week.

Colombia wants the Biden administration to grant temporary legal status to its citizens now living in the United States, noting its own efforts to address regional migration by hosting two million Venezuelans who fled their homes.

Yormaly Bulanger, a 26-year-old former accounting student from Venezuela, arrived in New York three months ago with her partner and their 5-year-old son — part of a group of 22,000 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, that have arrived in the city since April.

Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico was the most-watched Spanish-language World Cup group stage broadcast in U.S. history, drawing 8.9 million viewers on Telemundo television and the streaming services of Telemundo and Peacock.

Latino Rebels’ senior editor Hector Luis Alamo provides an overview of some of the most interesting and important things he’s seen, read, and heard over the past week.

The Dominican Republic said it “profusely rejects” criticism of its crackdown on Haitian migrants from a growing number of countries and human rights agencies, and vows to ramp up border enforcement and deportations.

The first of a weekly column by senior editor Hector Luis Alamo in which he gives an overview of the most interesting and important things he’s read, seen, or heard during the past week, providing his thoughts on them.