Americas

Travel News

Tourists are abandoning Rio's 'posh' landmarks for cultural immersion

The "often-stigmatised territories" of Rio de Janeiro are experiencing a tourist boom, and it's pumping cash into low-income communities.

01/02/2026

World News

US ‘starting to talk to Cuba’, Donald Trump says moves to cut its oil

The US president did not offer any details about what level of outreach his administration has had with Cuba recently or when, but said, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”

01/02/2026

USA

US Senate passes Trump-backed government funding deal

The bill passed 71-29 and will now head to the House, which is not due back until Monday, meaning the government could be in a partial shutdown temporarily over the weekend until they pass it.

31/01/2026

Venezuela

Full amnesty: Venezuela to pardon political prisoners since 1999

Delcy Rodríguez has proposed an amnesty law that would cover political prisoners detained during the entire Chavista period. The measure excludes cases of murder, drug trafficking and human rights violations. Families are waiting cautiously.

31/01/2026

Culture news

Emmy-winning comedian Catherine O'Hara dies aged 71

The Emmy-winning comedian died at her home in Los Angeles "following a brief illness", according to a statement from her agency.

30/01/2026

USA

US Justice Department releases 3 million pages of Epstein files

The material was released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure that requires the government to open its files on the disgraced financier.

30/01/2026

USA

US journalist Don Lemon arrested after covering Minnesota protest

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023, has said he has no affiliation to the organisation that went into the church and that he was there as a journalist chronicling protesters.

30/01/2026

Economy

Trump picks Warsh for Fed chair, testing US central bank independence

Trump has nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank, a move that could signal a shift towards closer White House influence over monetary policy.

30/01/2026

Business

Musk weighs tech mega-merger across SpaceX, Tesla and xAI, reports say

Tech circles are buzzing over talks that could combine Musk’s space, AI, and electric vehicle businesses into a trillion-dollar group ahead of a potential SpaceX listing.

30/01/2026

Culture news

Melania Trump premieres personal documentary ahead of global release

From private to very public, Melania Trump's documentary about the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump's return to the White House has premiered at the Kennedy Center. It will be screened at more than 1,500 cinemas around the world ahead of its global release on Amazon Prime.

30/01/2026

Business

Hong Kong 'firmly rejects' ruling cancelling operation of Panama ports

The court’s ruling followed an audit by Panama’s comptroller, which alleged irregularities in the 25-year extension of the concession granted in 2021.

30/01/2026

Nature

Albatross puzzles scientists after flying 4,800km from its home

Conservationists have been left baffled by the bird's odd movements, with fears that they could be triggered by environmental factors.

30/01/2026

USA

Man impersonating FBI agent tries to break Luigi Mangione out of jail

Mangione is being held at the Brooklyn jail while awaiting state and federal murder trials in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

30/01/2026

Health news

US life expectancy hit an all-time high last year at 79 years

In comparison, life expectancy at birth in the EU is 81.7 years.

30/01/2026

Economy

Trump expected to nominate Kevin Warsh as Fed chair on Friday morning

Despite his former reputation as an inflation hawk, Warsh has shown support for lower rates in recent months, suggesting he is more likely to align with the president than Jerome Powell.

30/01/2026

USA

Democrats and White House reach spending deal to avoid shutdown

The move follows the fatal shooting of two US citizens, 37-year-old Alex Pretti and 37-year-old Renee Good, at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis.

30/01/2026

USA

Trump says Venezuelan airspace will soon reopen to commercial flights

US airlines stopped flying to Venezuela before the Department of Homeland Security ordered an indefinite suspension in 2019, arguing that conditions in the country threatened the "safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew."

29/01/2026

USA

Trump border czar vows to 'regain law and order' in Minneapolis

The killings of two US citizens led to thousands of people protesting against the presence of ICE agents in the city, as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

29/01/2026

Culture news

The Isley Brothers 'Shout' over star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

R&B legends, The Isley Brothers, have been honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, 67-years after 'Shout - Part 1' first hit the Billboard Hot 100. In a moving ceremony, the surviving brothers paid tribute to their siblings and praised their fans for their support.

29/01/2026

Travel News

Brazil launches Interrail-style air pass to promote tourism

The Azul Brazil Air Pass starts at €400 for trips including up to four destinations over 14 days, rising to €500 for 30-day trips covering up to eight destinations.

29/01/2026

USA

Footage reveals Alex Pretti clashed with officers a week before killed

The footage shot on 13 January comes amid rising public uproar over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, with many Democrats and protesters calling for federal immigration officers to leave Minnesota.

29/01/2026

Climate

Frost quakes cause loud booms when bitterly cold temperatures persist

“Those loud booms aren’t paranormal - they’re cryoseisms,” says Louisville's National Weather Service.

29/01/2026

Earth News

Flower nectar is dwindling, putting this tiny creature at risk

One of the world’s most iconic migrations is at risk, as rising temperatures alter the quality of vital flower nectar.

29/01/2026

Colombia

Small plane crashes in Colombia, killing 15, including congressman

The plane was flying from the airport in Cúcuta to Ocaña, a municipality surrounded by mountains, but lost communication with traffic control shortly after takeoff.

29/01/2026

Economy

US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged at around 3.6%

When the Fed reduces its key rate, it tends to lower borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans and business borrowing, though those rates are also influenced by market forces.

28/01/2026

Haiti

Haiti faces sexual violence crisis as gang violence spreads, MSF says

Haiti has been plagued by worsening gang violence since the 2021 assassination of its then-President Jovenel Moïse with gangs controlling around 90% of the capital.

28/01/2026