Caribbean republic on Hispaniola battling gang violence, migration and political turmoil
Since January, a U.S. oil blockade has cut most foreign fuel shipments to Cuba and has pushed the island into its worst energy and economic crisis in decades. Repeated nationwide blackouts have occurred, hospitals and transport are strained, tourism has collapsed and Havana has approved limited economic reforms while secret U.S. intelligence and diplomatic contacts continue.
Rod Stewart has cancelled the remaining 2026 tour dates after undergoing a routine coronary stent procedure. He is recuperating for four weeks and will not perform in the US and Mexico as promoters organise rescheduling. The update follows a string of earlier cancellations amid health concerns.
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas under the Trump-era crackdown, citing law-enforcement encounters and national-security concerns. The moves highlight a tightening of screening, including birth-tourism concerns, and present a challenge to migrants and those seeking studies, exchange programs and journalism access.
Colombia and Venezuela have experienced a sequence of strong earthquakes. Data show deep-focus Colombia quake at magnitude 7.4 prompting aftershocks, while Venezuela’s June quakes reached magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 at shallower depths. Countries are tightening seismic safety assessments and building codes to mitigate future damage.
The former Belgium international has been named Scotland’s head coach, taking over from Steve Clarke. Pocognoli has guided Union Saint-Gilloise to a Belgian title and will seek to build on Clarke’s foundation while introducing his own ideas and developing young players within an experienced core.
The First Minister and senior officials have travelled to the US for World Cup support and trade talks. Costs, including business-class flights and hotels, have been released, prompting scrutiny from opposition figures who say taxpayers’ money should be spent more wisely. Ministers defend the trips as necessary to arrive ready and to foster international connections.
The United States has outlined a plan to pay $725 million to the UN regular budget and $125 million to UN peacekeeping, totaling $850 million. The move follows years of pressure by Republicans over staffing and ideological positions and aims to avert potential UN budget disruptions.
The UN Security Council has conducted a straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Rodrigues-Birkett leading the field, followed by Grynspan and Grossi. Several other contenders remain, and a formal vote in the General Assembly will determine the outcome. The process involves nine votes in the Council and potential vetoes by the five permanent members.
A federal judge has vacated a policy that would have blocked immigrant visas to 75 countries, ruling Secretary of State Rubio exceeded his authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The decision reinforces consular officers’ control over visa eligibility and sparks renewed debate over the administration’s immigration agenda.
UN and local officials report heavy fighting in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince, with dozens dead and hundreds displaced. Gangs linked to Viv Ansanm are blamed for mass abductions and arson; international actors call for increased security and a credible path to elections.
The State Department has said it will revoke B‑1 and B‑2 business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for people who have sought or are seeking asylum. The action, coordinated with DHS and described as rolling, would reclassify many pending asylum holders and would not necessarily cause immediate deportations; officials expect legal challenges.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
A weekend attack on Kenscoff, above Port-au-Prince, has escalated violence as a gang leader threatens to execute hostages if police harm gang members. Authorities warn the assault tests Haiti’s security and political process ahead of December elections. Survivors and officials describe widespread destruction and shifting strategy by police and UN-backed forces.
The UN warns of rising conflict-related sexual violence across several crises. Bodies recount abuses, underreporting remains high, and survivors face persistent barriers while authorities struggle to protect rights and investigate abuses.
The administration has ended Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and other nations, and deportations are expanding. ICE has shifted from criminal targeting to people in limbo, asylum seekers, and long-term residents, with thousands already detained or facing removal as flights increase and new detention capacity is built.
Haiti faces intensified gang violence as Kenscoff attacks escalate. Police have offered little detail on operations, while the UN notes a mounting civilian toll and the likely December elections proceed amid insecurity.
Two veteran performers are navigating health scares that have forced schedule changes. The Independent reports Brett Michaels has paused his tour for several months after kidney-stone surgery and heat-related concerns. Earth, Wind & Fire’s John Paris has woken from a coma but will require two major surgeries and an extended ICU stay, as the band updates fans on his condition.
AP and other sources report the FAA has extended a ban on commercial flights into Port-au-Prince, halting flights below 10,000 feet amid rampant gang violence. The measure, first imposed after a 2025 incident, remains in effect until March 2, as authorities fight to quell gang control in the capital and central Haiti.
UNICEF confirms three children under 2, a 7-year-old and two teenagers have been released from a major Kenscoff abduction. Dozens remain captive as violence continues to fuel displacement, with authorities deploying a joint police-military force to secure stability.
Gangs attacked Kenscoff, killing 47 and kidnapping over 50. Survivors mourn as police investigate whether negligence or complicity enabled the carnage. Some residents released after intervention, while elections loom amid spikes in violence and displacement.
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states to strengthen age-verification and safety tools on Instagram and Facebook. The deal does not admit liability and carves out ongoing oversight, with audits and time-bound improvements. Other platforms like YouTube and TikTok are urged to follow suit.
Napoli's Scott McTominay has undergone a pulsed field ablation for a mild benign arrhythmia and will rest for two weeks before resuming training, keeping him out through the international break and affecting Scotland duty.
Haitian communities in New York are marching in a somber, defiant parade as TPS protections have ended for Haitian immigrants. Organizers say the event remains a celebration of culture even as it confronts the new reality of immigration enforcement and the Supreme Court’s ruling that ends special protections.
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.
The Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador is expiring this week, but no firm end date has been announced. DHS has indicated it will decide at the appropriate time, with protections remaining in place until then. Officials note that TPS extensions could affect about 200,000 Salvadorans and broader policy changes.
The United States is stepping up a regional push against major drug-trafficking groups, designating several Latin American gangs as foreign terrorist organisations and expanding military-security cooperation. The move comes during a high-profile visit by the US secretary of state to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and signals intensified pressure on groups with narcotics that reach across borders.
Jorlan Lopes da Silva has been arrested after a two-day manhunt in Mulungu, Paraíba. Police say he confessed to at least 27 killings, with investigators linking a spree across months in the Mulungu region. The suspect wore a dress during capture and claimed to attack criminals, while prosecutors keep victim identities confidential as investigations continue.
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.
Qatar’s prime minister has pledged more than $38 billion in infrastructure spending and urged a regional security framework, warning that the Middle East conflict is reshaping global energy and shipping routes while mediation efforts continue in Washington.
A French-language novel by Thélyson Orélien, awarded the Prix du Roman Fnac, is facing allegations that it was almost entirely AI-written. Orélien denies the claim, while defenders stress the work’s originality. AI-detection tools face scrutiny over reliability, highlighting ongoing debates about AI’s role in creative writing.
A makeshift migrant boat capsized west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard has rescued 49 and is searching for 10 others after a struggle that left at least three dead; most aboard were from the Dominican Republic, with some from Haiti. The incident follows a history of dangerous Mona Passage crossings.
Somalia has announced parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2027 as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term transitions, amid opposition resistance and regional pushback over party-based electoral reforms. The government says the process aims to reinforce democracy, while critics warn of potential fragmentation and conflict.
The author Thélyson Orelien has apologized, saying claims of AI-generated text are slander. He asserts no sentence in his novel was machine created, though he used research tools for idioms. The controversy led to the Goncourt prize removing his book from consideration amid questions about AI in literature.
U.S. Homeland Security has kept Temporary Protected Status in place for Ukrainians and Sudanese, with an official decision to extend protections anticipated at an unspecified time. The moves come as broader TPS debates unfold ahead of the midterm elections and amid ongoing policy shifts on immigration.
The United Nations faces heightened pressure as the U.S. administration has intensified diplomatic efforts to influence votes on the Cuban embargo resolution ahead of the General Assembly meeting. Havana accuses Washington of threatening visas, sanctions, and financing opposition groups to sway member states.
The Mississippi attorney general has ruled the shooting of Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old in Senatobia, justified. Video shows officers pursuing two women for alleged shoplifting before a moving car was fired upon, killing Kohen and injuring another. Families dispute the claim of imminent danger as protests continue.
Four Salvadoran aviation technicians have gone missing after an armoured vehicle was ambushed and set on fire in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. El Salvador has launched a military operation and is sending more soldiers to recover them; Haiti’s government has said their release is a top priority while fighting with gangs continues in the area.
The Guardian, Al Jazeera, France 24 and Arab News report that Boreal has announced new information indicating AI was used in the writing process of the novel and has ended its professional relationship with Orelien. The publisher behind the Goncourt shortlist says it will not know the full extent of AI involvement, while the author defends his honesty. The controversy surrounds a migration-themed novel and its removal from prize consideration.
Alexia Putellas has won a third Ballon d’Or Feminin, becoming one of the sport’s greatest players while Barcelona dominate the awards night. Her move to the London City Lionesses this season underscores Spain’s continuing influence in women’s football.
Egyptian-American surgeon Adam Hamawy has won a seat in the U.S. House, becoming New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman. His campaign emphasized healthcare funding and opposition to arms funding for Gaza. His background includes Army service and humanitarian medical work in Gaza, Haiti, and other conflict zones.
Gangs in Haiti, including 400 Mawozo, are under pressure from Haitian authorities and foreign troops. The group advocates dialogue and claims civilians should be protected, while international forces are urged to respect international law and support the state. Leaders call for de-escalation as security operations continue.