Brazil Swings to the Far Right as Bolsonaro Wins Presidency

As widely predicted, Jair Bolsonaro is the new president of Brazil after Sunday’s balloting. The controversial ultra-rightist was elected to head the largest economy in Latin America with 55.54 percent of the votes in the second round runoff, according to the official results with 94.67 of the votes counted.

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Nicaragua: A Chess Lover’s Fight against Ortega

Jonathan Lopez had left behind the comforts of his home to become a trusted leader and student spokesperson. He was sure that he was struggling for a just cause. Proof of this is that he never covered his face and was always front and center as the voice of the young people in the occupation of the largest public university in Managua.

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Sexual Harassment on Cuba’s Streets: What Can We Do About It?

It’s the morning and I’m walking down a block which generally has very few cars and pedestrians at this time of day. I see a neglected park on my right, as it’s full of rubble, heaps of sand, bags of cement… they’re building something. I carry on, and about 4 meters away from me, a man speeds up his pace and leans his body against the fence…

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Farm Leader Benigna Mendiola Sows Doubt about Those Accused of Shooting Her Son

Benigna Mendiola looked over at the accused. She then gazed at Judge Edgar Altamirano, head of the Ninth District Criminal Court in Managua and exclaimed: “I didn’t come to accuse any of those who are here. I want my son’s murderer to pay for his crime.” This phrase from the mother of Lenin Mendiola, killed by a bullet last August 11 in Matagalpa, left those present in confusion.

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The Cry of Relatives Outside the Prison

Dozens of university students have been captured for their leadership in the protests, but their voices resound in the streets thanks to their relatives.“I want people to see what these kids are really like, what dreamers they are and that all they want is a free Nicaragua,” said Jennifer Estrada.

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How Sad To Be a Central American Today

A few weeks ago, my friend Balam Rodrigo, a brilliant Central American poet from Chiapas, and myself went to visit the Immigration Center in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, more or less near the US-border. We were received by Father Pedro Pantoja, a man who has dedicated a great part of his life to defending and protecting immigrants. (10 photos)

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Ortega’s “Justice” System: Legalities Are Out the Window

Illegal detentions, witnesses that contradict each other, prisoners presented to the court after the legal deadline, and officials that have no evidence to present; these are just some of the irregularities that have been accepted by the judges in charge of processing 300 political prisoners, arrested for participating in civic protests against the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.

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Ortega Imposes Virtual State of Seige on Ometepe Island

After first seeing its previously blossoming tourism industry collapse for the foreseeable future starting six months ago, now Ometepe Island’s other main traditional economic activity, the harvest and export of plantains, is at risk because the Central American truck buyers will think twice of traveling to the island where the paramilitaries have created a state of lawlessness.

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