Stories for 2026

Saturday, February 14th 2026 - 04:19 UTC
Major fire hits Havana’s Ñico López refinery amid Cuba’s energy crunch

A large fire broke out on Friday at the Ñico López refinery in Cuba’s capital, sending a thick column of black smoke into the sky that was visible from multiple points around Havana Bay. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the blaze or the extent of any damage, while emergency crews remained on scene.
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Saturday, February 14th 2026 - 03:17 UTC
US redeploys USS Gerald R. Ford from Caribbean to Middle East amid Iran pressure

The United States is shifting the USS Gerald R. Ford, its largest aircraft carrier, from the Caribbean Sea to the Middle East in a move that would place two US carrier strike groups in the region as President Donald Trump presses Iran to reach a deal over its nuclear programme.
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Saturday, February 14th 2026 - 00:05 UTC
Trump says he will visit Venezuela, praises Delcy Rodríguez as U.S. expands oil licences

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to travel to Venezuela, while acknowledging that no date has been set. “I’m going to make a visit to Venezuela,” he told reporters at the White House.
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Saturday, February 14th 2026 - 00:01 UTC
ICE suspends two officers after judge throws out charges in Minneapolis shooting case

Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been placed on administrative leave as ICE and the Justice Department (DOJ) open a joint probe following video evidence that undercut parts of the official account of a Minneapolis arrest in which a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 23:59 UTC
Uruguay cancels Cardama OPV deal over “serious breaches,” moves toward legal action

Uruguay’s government has terminated its contract with Spain’s Cardama shipyard for the construction of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Uruguayan Navy, citing “serious contractual breaches,” and said it will seek damages through legal action.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 23:57 UTC
What does Argentina’s new lower age of criminal responsibility law entail?

Argentina’s debate over a “lower age of criminal responsibility” centres on the minimum age at which the State can formally prosecute a minor. The lower house of Congress (Chamber of Deputies) has given initial approval to a new Juvenile Criminal Regime that would lower that threshold from 16 to 14 and redefine procedures and sanctions for adolescents.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 18:53 UTC
US lifts key curbs on Venezuelan oil, clearing Repsol and other majors to operate

Washington has issued new authorizations that allow oil-and-gas-related transactions in Venezuela for companies including BP, Chevron, Eni, Repsol and Shell, in a shift that could unlock stalled projects and settle payments previously constrained by US sanctions.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 12:56 UTC
Financial Times: Venezuelans turn more optimistic after Maduro’s capture

A face-to-face poll reported by the Financial Times points to a sharp swing in public mood in Venezuela following the US military intervention and the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro. The paper said Venezuelans are “much more optimistic about the future”, while the same findings also show heightened concern over security.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 04:09 UTC
Argentina moves first in Mercosur as lower house backs EU trade deal

Argentina became the first Mercosur country to secure an initial legislative green light for the trade agreement with the European Union, after the Chamber of Deputies approved the text late on Thursday. The bloc also includes Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, which have launched their own domestic ratification processes.
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Friday, February 13th 2026 - 00:01 UTC
Paraguay posts $162m trade deficit in January as exports decline

Paraguay recorded a US$ 162.2 million trade deficit in January after reporting US$ 1.2864 billion in exports and US$ 1.4486 billion in imports, according to the Central Bank of Paraguay’s (BCP) monthly foreign trade report.
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