Latin America

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.
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.
Thursday, February 12th 2026 - 21:54 UTC
Chile announces humanitarian aid for Cuba as Boric condemns U.S. embargo

President Gabriel Boric’s government said on Thursday it will send humanitarian aid to Cuba, as the island faces a deepening economic and energy crisis.
Thursday, February 12th 2026 - 21:34 UTC
6.1-magnitude quake hits Chile’s Coquimbo region; authorities rule out tsunami risk

A magnitude-6.1 earthquake struck northern Chile on Thursday morning, with the epicentre in the Coquimbo region. Chile’s National Seismological Center (CSN) said the event occurred at 10:34:30 local time, locating it 13 km west of Punitaqui at preliminary coordinates of latitude -30.781 and longitude -71.613, with an estimated depth of 54 km.
Thursday, February 12th 2026 - 00:00 UTC
Petro removes police general Urrego after alleging plot to sabotage Trump meeting

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the removal from active duty of Brigadier General Edwin Masleider Urrego Pedraza, who had been serving as police commander in Cali, after accusing him of involvement in an alleged attempt to sabotage Petro’s recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Wednesday, February 11th 2026 - 02:37 UTC
Ecuador military accused of restricting press access; HRW condemn

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday warned of an “attack on freedom of expression and information” after the disclosure of alleged parameters issued by Ecuador’s armed forces to restrict coverage by media outlets deemed critical, EFE reported.
Monday, February 9th 2026 - 20:53 UTC
Colombia: Ruling-party candidate to file criminal complaint against ex-President Pastrana over Epstein files

Senator Iván Cepeda, the presidential candidate of Colombia’s ruling Pacto Histórico coalition, said he will file a criminal complaint against former President Andrés Pastrana (1998–2002) after Pastrana’s name appeared in newly declassified records linked to Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in the United States for her role in the trafficking scheme.
Monday, February 9th 2026 - 08:20 UTC
Cuba tells airlines it will run out of jet fuel as of Monday, deepening energy crisis

Cuba has warned international airlines that it will run out of aviation fuel starting Monday, widening an energy emergency that has already disrupted transport, public services and economic activity — and now threatens to further squeeze tourism, one of the island’s main sources of hard currency.
Monday, February 9th 2026 - 07:43 UTC
Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl: a tribute to Puerto Rico and a defense of America beyond the US

Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl LX halftime show into a hemispheric cultural statement: Puerto Rico at the center, Spanish as the primary language, and an idea of “America” that stretches beyond the United States.
Saturday, February 7th 2026 - 07:34 UTC
Fuel crunch halts Havana buses, squeezes hospitals and deepens Cuba’s power cuts

Cuba’s fuel shortage is rippling through daily life, with Havana’s urban bus network largely shut down, hospitals preparing to scale back non-urgent services, and longer planned blackouts announced in some areas—while social-media reports pointed to pots-and-pans protests in parts of the capital.