Republic in South America with Caribbean coast and Andean heart
Alex Saab has pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in Miami and will forfeit $195 million as part of a deal to cooperate with US investigations. The plea follows a long-running case tied to alleged bribes, shell companies, and the CLAP program in Venezuela.
A Cuban man in the United States under Cuban Adjustment Act processing must choose to return to Cuba or risk deportation after a courtroom moment, ending five years of U.S. life amid economic hardship and family separation. New details show the broader uncertainty for Cubans with I-220A forms as courts revisit eligibility.
A series of articles shows how tree-planting and forest management are reshaping climate resilience, biodiversity and policy. From Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative to debates over biodiversity net gain in the UK and sustainable timber in Brazil, the coverage reveals both progress and persistent challenges in sustaining green growth.
Prime Big Deal Days will run on Oct. 6-7, with early promotions already live. Amazon, Target and Walmart are launching competing sales as shoppers prepare for the holiday season. The two-day event marks a fall shopping surge ahead of Black Friday.
The State Department has reprogrammed $52 million in foreign military financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, signaling a pivot toward the Western Hemisphere amid concerns about narcotics, migration and China’s growing presence. The move follows earlier efforts to reduce European spending and troop deployments in NATO, aligning with a renewed Monroe Doctrine approach.
Global Witness reports 124 killings of land and environmental defenders in 2025, led by Colombia (39) and Brazil (26). Indigenous people and small-scale farmers bear the brunt, with a notable overlap with organised crime. The total since 2012 reaches 2,375, though the rate shows some regional variation.
Travel pieces from Business Insider UK and Independent highlight Syros as a less-touristed Greek island with authentic charm, affordable stays, and opportunities for beach-hopping, local dining, and cultural immersion, contrasted with pricier, crowded destinations nearby.
The US State Department has approved visas for a scaled-down Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. Washington has placed travel curbs and bans on luxury purchases for the delegation while denying visas to Palestinian Authority leaders, prompting a separate General Assembly vote allowing Mahmoud Abbas to speak virtually.
Syrian President al-Sharaa has told the UN that Israel’s strikes in Syria are unacceptable and that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian. He has urged withdrawal from border areas and signaled openness to a security agreement, as talks with Israel show progress toward a broader peace.
The United States has expanded its offensive against narco-traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Since early September, authorities say more than 200 people have died in strikes targeting vessels, as Washington argues it is at war with drug cartels in Latin America. Critics say there is little transparent evidence linking the attacks to drug trafficking.
Multiple suspects linked to the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president have been extradited to the United States for trial in Florida, where prosecutors are pursuing conspiracy and murder charges. The move underscores a long-running effort to hold all participants accountable as Haiti grapples with gang violence and political instability.
A wave of doping cases has affected athletes across multiple sports this week, with legal actions and disciplinary rulings shaping careers and competition. The stories highlight how authorities are tightening rules and how athletes respond to allegations and sanctions.
Nearly 20 fires are active across Colombia as El Niño drives hotter, drier conditions. Villa de Leyva fire is about 50% contained; authorities warn the crisis could worsen with winds and heat. Ecuador faces its own blazes as regional officials monitor 29 fires, with thousands of hectares burned.
The UN Special Rapporteur has concluded that US strikes on 68 vessels in international waters since September last year have killed at least 223 people and may constitute crimes against humanity. The report says self-defence claims are not supported by evidence, and calls for investigations and accountability.
Palestinian President Abbas has addressed the UN via a pre-recorded video, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is delivering a live address. Abbas has called for ending the war in Gaza, a withdrawal from Gaza, and a political process toward an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu is focusing on Israel's security concerns and Iran, with some world leaders planning protests in New York.
The United States reports a new deportation of a Nicaraguan dissident who was released after protests in 2018. He has been deported to Managua and detained again in the same prison where fellow critics were tortured. Human rights groups say the crackdown has driven hundreds of thousands to flee, while Washington presses for accountability amid ongoing expulsions.
Syria’s President has reaffirmed that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory and has called on Israel to withdraw from areas seized after December 2024. Israel’s defence minister pledges that any territory seized will remain Israeli, while the UN still regards the Golan as Syrian. The exchange follows a UN General Assembly address and renewed threats of action from both sides.
Syria says intelligence services have thwarted a Hezbollah‑affiliated cell in the Yarmuk basin, arresting three individuals and revealing plans to prepare rocket launch platforms. Hezbollah denies any link, stating it has no presence in Syrian territory. The case unfolds as Israel warns of potential attacks ahead of October elections.
Two civil lawsuits allege that federal agents’ operations in Minneapolis, part of Operation Metro Surge, violated the rights of Renee Good and others. The suits seek damages and name high‑level officials and officers among the defendants. The cases follow killings that sparked widespread protests.
As Brazil heads to a high-stakes presidential vote, Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro remain the leading contenders. Voters will decide whether Lula secures a fourth term or Bolsonaro returns his family to power. The race also shapes Brazil’s stance on the Amazon and relations with the United States, with a broad field of other races on Sunday’s ballot.
Incumbent Lula faces far-right rival Bolsonaro in Brazil’s pivotal presidential election. Polls show a tight race with a potential runoff on Oct. 25. Both candidates frame the contest as a choice over democracy, sovereignty and regional influence as Latin America shifts politically.
Brazil's first round has not produced an outright winner, forcing a runoff between Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro on Oct. 25. Bolsonaro leads by a small margin as polls tighten; analysts warn polling may have missed late shifts. The election centers on crime, cost of living and US relations, with both candidates courting voters ahead of the critical vote.
Pacific nations and allies press for urgent action on climate finance, ocean health, and keeping 1.5°C within reach ahead of COP31 in Turkey. Pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu highlight vulnerability to sea-level rise and demand concrete, community-level finance and adaptation.
Colombia has launched a renewed assault on rebel groups, with President Abelardo de la Espriella insisting on no negotiations and reintroducing joint task forces to combat gangs and fuel theft along major pipelines. The Urano unit aims to curb the ELN’s theft and disruption as the government shifts to stronger military posture after a peace-era pause.
Human Rights Watch says US deportations to African countries violate international law by removing third-country nationals to destinations with little or no ties. The program has expanded under Trump’s return to power, with over 500 people affected and at least 12 LGBTQ individuals sent to hostile states. Critics warn of non-refoulement breaches and opaque deals.
The Guardian and Bloomberg report that Jair Bolsonaro’s son leads in the first-round vote as Lula’s administration highlights deforestation gains. Marina Silva warns a Bolsonaro win would accelerate the rainforest’s destruction, endangering ecosystems and communities ahead of the October 25 runoff.
The White House has formed a three‑member committee to investigate Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook on mortgage‑fraud allegations and has ordered her to appear at a closed hearing on Nov. 5. Cook’s lawyers have said she cannot attend that date because she will be carrying out Fed duties at monetary meetings in Europe and have raised concerns about the committee’s impartiality.
Bolsonaro has moved Brazil closer to Israel, inviting Netanyahu to visit Brazil while Netanyahu has invited Bolsonaro to visit Israel. The two leaders are pursuing a warmer diplomatic alignment as Brazil prepares for a runoff, with broader regional shifts in Latin America toward Israel.
A strong earthquake centered near Pitaloza Arriba has triggered tsunami warnings for Panama and neighboring coastal nations. Tremors have shaken Panama City as aftershocks continue; authorities are assessing damage and advising calm as schools and services respond.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace has indicted ten ex-rebels for torture, murder and forced displacement of Indigenous communities between 1996 and 2016. Some suspects also face landmine orders and ecosystem destruction as the truth-seeking tribunal seeks reparations and accountability.
Colombia has opened its embassy in Jerusalem, signaling a shift under President Abelardo de la Espriella toward closer ties with Israel. The move follows Petro’s criticism of Israel over Gaza and aligns with a growing group of countries relocating or opening embassies in Jerusalem. The ceremony was attended by Israeli and Colombian officials and is part of a broader realignment in Latin American diplomacy.
Israel has warned it will seize further southern Lebanon territory and evacuate Beirut’s Dahieh district if Hezbollah aligns with Iran in an attack on Israel. The remarks come amid rising tensions as Hezbollah eyes a broader confrontation, with Israel preparing a potential ground offensive in the south.
Thousands rally across major cities as Abelardo de la Espriella faces protests against plans to curb social gains from Petro era. Demonstrations are peaceful but authorities have expanded powers to manage crowds; debates flare over foreign policy and economic austerity.