CIA Director Meets Cuban Officials in Havana for Talks
CIA director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday to improve dialogue between the US and Cuba, according to the Cuban government.
Americas
Cuba’s Power Crisis: Blackouts, Protests, and a Fuel Shortage
Cuba is experiencing widespread blackouts and protests as the country faces severe fuel shortages. President Miguel Diaz-Canel attributed the crisis to US sanctions, which have restricted fuel imports and exacerbated an already fragile energy system.
Brazil’s Atlantic Forest Deforestation Hits 40-Year Low
Brazil’s Atlantic forest recorded its lowest deforestation in 40 years in 2025, according to a new report.
Cartel corruption claims push US-Mexico relations to breaking point
U.S. officials have charged Mexican state Governor Ruben Rocha and nine others with drug trafficking and corruption, while the FBI has linked cartel-funded timeshare fraud to organized crime in Mexico. According to ABC7 Los Angeles and fbi.gov.
Man Accused of Killing Rock Singer in 1993 Arrested After 30 Years
A man accused of killing a rock singer in 1993 has been arrested in Panama after more than three decades on the run, according to the US Marshals Service.
Brazil Begins Official Marking Land for Uncontacted Kawahiva People After 27 Years
The Brazilian government has begun demarcating the Pardo River Kawahiva Indigenous territory, offering protection to the uncontacted people after a 27-year wait, according to the National Indigenous Peoples’ Foundation (Funai).
Flotilla Activist Thiago Ávila Returns to Brazil
Brazilian flotilla activist Thiago Ávila has returned to São Paulo after being detained and deported from Israel, where he claimed he was tortured and witnessed abuse of Palestinian prisoners, according to Al Jazeera.
Chicago Teen Who Pushes for Parents’ ICE Release Dies at 18
An 18-year-old Chicago-born teen who fought for his parents’ release from US immigration custody while battling terminal cancer has died shortly after reuniting with them in Mexico, according to his family and media reports.
‘Amazon of America’ Film Paints Coup-Driven Future for Brazil
A new short film titled Vitória Régia imagines a 2025 Brazil where far-right coup plotters have destroyed democracy and ceded the Amazon rainforest to the United States, according to The Guardian.
Trump Frustrated by Iran, Seizes Uranium from Venezuela
Frustrated by stalled efforts to secure enriched uranium from Iran, Donald Trump has succeeded in removing a stockpile from Venezuela, according to the US Department of Energy.
Five killed in huge fire at packed Mexico fairground
At least five people died in a huge fire at a crowded fairground in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, during a concert attended by up to 135,000 people, according to local officials.
Two Britons Evacuated from Hantavirus-Hit Ship Improving
Two Britons who were medically evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship are improving, global health officials have said.
Mexico Nightclub Charges $300 Cover for US Citizens
A Mexico City nightclub has gone viral for charging Americans nearly $300 to enter, while citizens from other countries pay significantly less. The policy reflects broader tensions over U.S. influence in the city, according to a report.
Buses Block Roads in Bolivia as Transport Strike Over Fuel Gains Momentum
Buses, cars, and trucks blocked roads in El Alto, Bolivia, as transport workers launched a national strike over fuel-related issues, according to Al Jazeera.
Search for 62-Year-Old Australian Hiker in Canada Called Off
A six-day search for Australian hiker Denise Ann Willams in Canada’s Cape Breton Highlands national park has been suspended, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).