International

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:27 UTC

  Can Latin America's regulatory framework keep pace with digital finance?

  

  The rapid acceleration of financial technology in South America has created a distinct friction between market innovation and legislative capability. As 2026 unfolds, the region finds itself at a critical juncture where the speed of digital adoption is significantly outpacing the bureaucratic machinery designed to oversee it. While consumers and fintech unicorns push for instantaneous global connectivity, legislative bodies within the Mercosur bloc are grappling with the arduous task of harmonizing antiquated banking laws with the demands of a borderless digital economy.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 03:12 UTC

  Argentina clears US oceanographic cruise in the South Atlantic as debate grows over “dual-use” data

  

  Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) recorded that it had “no objections,” within its remit, to a United States request for a marine scientific research cruise by the R/V Roger Revelle inside Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone between March 5 and March 30, 2026. In the same document, the council asked for “all basic data” plus “preliminary and final reports” to be submitted to Argentine authorities prior to any publication of results.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2026 - 02:01 UTC

  Why Free Slot Games Are Discussed on Casino Review and Information Platforms

  

  Casino review and information platforms often explain how free-to-play versions of slot games work, even when they do not host the games themselves. In the UK, this approach exists primarily for educational and transparency purposes rather than direct gameplay. Understanding why these free versions are referenced helps clarify the role of review sites and how they differ from licensed casino operators. This article explores why free slot formats are discussed across review platforms, what informational value they provide, and how UK-focused sites approach this topic responsibly.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 23:37 UTC

  China showcases humanoid robots at its Spring Festival Gala with kung fu routines for a mass audience

  

  China put humanoid robots front and centre at its Spring Festival Gala —the country’s biggest annual television event— featuring a choreographed martial-arts routine with traditional weapons such as swords and nunchucks, acrobatics and tightly synchronised sequences alongside human performers.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 04:06 UTC

  US, Canada and Mexico face measles outbreaks months before World Cup 2026

  

  With fewer than four months to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the United States, Canada and Mexico —the tournament’s three host countries— are reporting significant measles resurgences, a highly contagious disease that had been pushed back across the region through routine immunization. Health authorities and international bodies are urging stronger vaccination and surveillance as public trust in vaccine guidance frays.

• Monday, February 16th 2026 - 13:35 UTC

  Opus Dei briefs the Pope on Argentina “controversies” amid labor exploitation allegations

  

  Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with Opus Dei Prelate Fernando Ocáriz, as the organization’s leadership presented its “institutional perspective” on “certain controversies” in Argentina, against the backdrop of ongoing allegations involving domestic servitude and human trafficking.

• Monday, February 16th 2026 - 00:14 UTC

  Regional News Monitoring Gains Urgency as Venezuela Crisis and US Migration Policy Reshape Latin America

  

  Latin America is facing renewed geopolitical and humanitarian pressure as developments in Venezuela and evolving migration policies in the United States reshape regional dynamics. Governments across the hemisphere are recalibrating responses as migration flows, border enforcement measures, and political rhetoric shift almost in real time.

• Sunday, February 15th 2026 - 16:28 UTC

  Lagarde says Trump’s ‘kick in the butt’ has pulled European leaders closer

  

  European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde said on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference that a shift in US President Donald Trump’s stance toward Europe has acted as a political jolt, pushing European leaders into closer coordination.

• 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.

• 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.