Nicaragua in the headlines again: US bans visas for Nicaraguans amid growing political crackdowns. Brief bio: Central American nation, largest in region, population ~7.1M.
René Cárdenas has died at his Houston home at age 96. A trailblazing broadcaster, he became the first full-time Spanish-language MLB broadcaster with the Dodgers in 1958 and helped launch multiple Spanish-language broadcasts across MLB franchises, including the Astros, Rangers and Dodgers.
Nicaragua’s government has attributed Rivera’s death to a bacterial infection in a patient who had been in state custody since Sept. 2023. Critics say the illness narrative masks detention conditions and political motivations. The U.S. calls for unconditional release of Rivera and other political prisoners.