Republic at the crossroads of North and Central America
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.
England has reached the World Cup semi-finals after Jude Bellingham scored twice in a 2-1 extra‑time win over Norway and will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. Manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the team’s performance as "lucky" and "sloppy"; captain Harry Kane has said Tuchel is trying to draw a higher level from the squad.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has announced there will be no more elections and his congress has begun drafting constitutional changes to extend the presidential term and block opposition candidates. The proposal would make terms seven years and bar those labeled "traitors" or "coup plotters" from office; the UN and the US have condemned the moves.
England has claimed third place after a dramatic 2-0 win over France in the bronze final, capping a tournament that saw changes under Thomas Tuchel and Mbappe's continued form. France finishes in semi-final defeat to Spain; England's best finish since 1966.
A set of developments across researchers and private firms are advancing biological control methods. BBC reports on Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes being released for pest control, while Independent outlines NovoFly, a gene-edited male fly, and UK/US efforts to test sterile-insect releases. The Guardian covers tick prevention and bite risk amid rising Lyme disease cases.
Orchids mimic animals and people with remarkable accuracy, from naked-man shapes to dove and bee forms. The featured plants thrive in specific climates and offer a glimpse into nature’s artistry.
Inter are pursuing England defender John Stones after the World Cup, with Stones now seen as Inter’s leading option to bolster their backline. City’s stance and Premier League interests could still influence the deal.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
Families and lawmakers have raised alarms about living conditions and mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been continuously at sea since November and has not made a port call for more than 240 days. Reports have cited food shortages, plumbing failures, water contamination and multiple attempted overboard incidents; senators have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers.
Independent cafes and roasteries are gaining prominence as consumers seek quality experiences. The Glasgow Coffee Festival has grown, new UK roaster competition launched, and personal stories of roasters highlight a broader taste for craft coffee.
A powerful earthquake has struck western Colombia near San José del Palmar, Chocó. The USGS has measured magnitude 7.4 while Colombia's geological service initially reported 6.6. The quake has caused building collapses across Pereira, Cali, Quibdó and Manizales, killed dozens, injured many and forced large-scale evacuations and search operations.
The US has reinforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, redirecting vessels and disabling non-compliant ships as CENTCOM reports heightened enforcement after a period of increased naval activity. The Vela Nova incident marks the latest in a series of blockades linked to ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States has claimed total control over the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to keep the waterway open amid ongoing hostilities with Iran. Washington describes its naval blockade as a “wall of steel,” while Tehran says it will continue to assert influence and imposes potential tolls as talks stall. Oil flows have shifted as attacks and new routes affect trade.
Colombia is joining the Shield of the Americas coalition, aligning with the US-led effort against drug cartels. The announcement comes as the Trump administration urges allies to reject the ICC, arguing the court intrudes on sovereignty. Rights groups warn of legal and civilian risks amid intensified regional security operations.
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 Trump administration has extended its counter-narcotics campaign in Latin America, pursuing joint ground operations with allied nations after earlier drone and naval actions. Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras have agreed to allow U.S. forces to operate on land against narco-terrorist networks, while Ecuador joins similar missions. Critics warn of civilian harm and sovereignty concerns as partnerships deepen.
Mexican authorities are enforcing a new transit arrangement for deported nationals, routing Mexicans via Guatemala and Honduras before return to Mexico within 24 hours, as the United States widens cooperation with Latin American partners. Officials say this tactic is aimed at deterring migration, while Mexico protests and seeks clarity on legal protections for its citizens.
The Panama Canal Authority has reduced daily transit capacity due to drought linked to El Niño. From September 3, capacity drops from 36 to 34 ships per day, and from September 15 it falls to 32, signaling tighter restrictions amid dry spells that threaten global shipping and water supplies.
Forecasters have confirmed a very strong El Niño that has pushed Pacific sea-surface temperatures well beyond historical thresholds and is already altering global weather. The Met Office says the event is unprecedented in modern records; governments in Central and South America have declared alerts as droughts and extreme heat are damaging crops and water supplies now and into 2027.
Infantino is facing a leadership crisis as CONCACAF, UEFA and AFC push for his resignation amid a failed World Cup privatization plan. He is meeting Dominican officials while allies seek to rally support and counter moves to unseat him ahead of the March 2021 presidential election. FIFA has not commented on ongoing requests for change.
The cargo ship Ocean Winner has sunk in the Bay of Bengal about 444 kilometers from Paradip, Odisha. Two crew members have been rescued; search teams are scouring the area as authorities coordinate responses. The vessel was carrying 71,000 metric tonnes of iron ore for China, with a multinational crew. The cause of the sinking remains under investigation.
The U.S. Southern Command has confirmed lethal strikes against low-profile vessels linked to drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. The administration is pressing allied nations to extend operations onto land; critics warn of civilian harm and legal questions. Officials say the goal is to disrupt narco-terror networks and stem drug flows into the United States.
The administration has announced a temporary, tariff-free import surge of up to 300,000 metric tons of lean ground beef to ease prices amid a shrinking U.S. cattle herd. Congress and ranchers are watching closely as imports blend with domestic meat, potentially reshaping supply and labeling rules.
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.
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.
The US-SOUTHCOM operation has interdicted and sunk a floating refueling vessel linked to the Los Choneros criminal network. Crew members were removed and handed to Ecuadorian authorities as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt narco-trafficking networks in the Eastern Pacific.
The Menudo reunion tour is launching with a seven-member lineup spanning generations, led by Rene Farrait, Roy Rossello, Raymond Acevedo, Sergio Gonzales, Ralphy Rodriguez, Ruben Gomez and Robert Avellanet. The tour runs from Oct. 10 in Los Angeles to Dec. 12 in San Juan, with plans for high-energy performances and updated choreography.
A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity and criminal association in the 2017 car‑bomb killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict has provoked outrage from the victim's family, press freedom groups and politicians, and it has prompted a Council of Europe inquiry into judicial failures and calls for EU action on Malta's rule of law.
Lewes Town Council has unanimously approved a motion recognizing the intrinsic value of local trees, hedgerows and forests. The measure establishes a town-wide, rights-based framework to protect urban greens, aligning Lewes with international rights-of-nature trends while aiming to boost climate resilience and deter inappropriate development.
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.
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.
Saudi authorities have said they have intercepted a Houthi-launched drone south of Mecca and have called the attempt a "red line" because it targeted Islam's holiest sites. Regional capitals and Muslim organisations have condemned the strikes on Saudi cities and infrastructure, and analysts warn the attacks will raise pressure on shipping routes and global energy supplies.
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.
A three‑judge panel of the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals has largely upheld a lower court ruling that found the Department of Homeland Security’s third‑country removal policy unlawful, saying migrants must get a meaningful chance to raise safety concerns before removal. The panel narrowed one part of the decision on procedural grounds. The administration is expected to appeal.
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.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has told Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that eight sailors across the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group have attempted suicide during a record-long deployment. The carrier has spent about 286 days at sea, faced supply and hygiene problems, and disembarked in Thailand on 1 September; Cao said no deaths occurred and medical and mental-health care remained available aboard.
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.
England has secured a dominant 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in the Nations League, with Anthony Gordon scoring and Harry Kane doubling the lead. The result strengthens England’s position in Group A3 as Tuchel’s side refines its attacking core, including Kane, Gordon, and Bellingham.
The Ghana Football Association has terminated the contract with veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz by mutual consent, ending a turbulent five-month spell after his reappointment in September. Ghana faced defeats in AFCON qualifying, including a 4-2 loss to Gambia, and the team sits at the bottom of Group C.
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.