Americas | The Guardian
Articles about Americas | The Guardian
UK asks Interpol to reject Argentina’s ‘politically motivated’ requests for Falklands oil arrests
Exclusive: Caution urged over Javier Milei government’s ‘red notice’ requests for arrest of individuals linked to oil project Britain has appealed to Interpol to reject Argentina’s requests for the arrest of individuals involved in a large oil project off the Falkland Islands. With tensions over the sovereignty of the British overseas territory reaching levels not seen since the war with Argentina in 1982, UK officials have sought urgent assurances from the international organisation. Continue reading
How a scandal engulfing Brazil’s top court could return the Bolsonaros to power
The judge who helped convict Jair Bolsonaro is caught up in a crisis that could benefit his son and damage Lula
AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: Trump is ‘corrupt, senile felon’ who knows nothing about AI
Pioneering computer scientist on why Trump is using ‘superintelligence’ wrong, whether AI could wipe out humanity – and how our biggest challenge will be accepting we’re not the only intelligent beings
Latin American organised crime ‘may operate in 16 European countries’
Cocaine seizures in Europe are up more than fivefold in 10 years as a host of cartels take root. A four-month Guardian investigation reveals the true scale of a continent-wide shift
Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel kill five people on Mexico’s Pacific coast
Security forces use helicopters to rescue dozens of people as the two storms damage infrastructure and cause flash flooding At least five people have died after Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel pummelled Mexico’s Pacific coast, causing flooding that downed trees and electricity poles, blocked roads and inundated homes. Simon claimed the life of a 71-year-old man who died when a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo in the southern state of Guerrero, governor Evelyn Salgado said at a press conference. Continue reading
Argentina temporarily closes Iguazu Falls after El Niño-fuelled surge in water levels
National park officials took the precautionary measure to limit tourist access after heavy rain caused the Iguazu River to flow at six times the normal rate
The billion-dollar shipwreck and the man who tried to find it – podcast
Journalist Julian Sancton on the story of the most valuable shipwreck in history and who could end up with its treasures
Bolivia investigates ex-president Evo Morales over alleged ties to 2009 killings
Leftist former leader accused of involvement in shooting of three Europeans in Santa Cruz and torture of two others Bolivia’s attorney general has announced an investigation into leftist former president Evo Morales, alleging his involvement in the murder and torture of European citizens in 2009. Seventeen years ago, police raided a hotel in the city of Santa Cruz, shooting dead Eduardo Rózsa Flores, a Bolivian-Croatian, Michael Dwyer, an Irishman, and Árpád Magyarosi, a Hungarian-Romanian. Continue reading
Fugitive businessman taken into US custody in Venezuela bribery case
A businessman wanted in the US for allegedly bribing top Venezuelan officials has been taken into custody
Balkan temperatures swing as heavy rain heads for Greece
Clear skies bring warm days and cold nights to Montenegro, while a low-pressure system moves towards Aegean Sea
Thousands without power in Florida and Alabama as Isaias moves north
At least four deaths linked to storm amid warnings of flash flooding that could stretch into Appalachians
Why a Chilean salt flat is a microcosm of the extractive frontiers of green capitalism
In the Atacama desert, the extraction of lithium – so crucial to addressing the climate crisis – comes with escalating social and environmental costs
Missing Australian hiker Jordan Yap last seen on remote trail found dead in Peru
Family and friends say Melbourne man should be remembered for ‘immense joy he brought to so many people’s lives’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast An Australian trekker who was last seen on a remote South American hiking trail has been found dead, his family have said. Jordan Yap, 30, last made contact with friends and family on 14 September ahead of a planned 10-day solo trek along Peru’s Huayhuash mountain range, 400km north-east of Lima. Continue reading
‘It was a terrible thing’: Panama declares state of emergency as quake aftershocks rattle communities
More than 100 aftershocks as high as magnitude-5.8 recorded after two quakes toppled buildings and prompted evacuations Panama’s government has declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the aftershocks of two powerful earthquakes that roiled the country shook communities for hours. Officials did not attribute any deaths to Friday’s 7.7- and 6.6-magnitude earthquakes, but reported damages in all 10 of Panama’s provinces and two Indigenous territories. Continue reading
Marina Silva on Flávio Bolsonaro: He will try to finish his father’s ‘perverse project’ to destroy the Amazon
Exclusive: Former Brazilian environment minister warns of destruction as far-right scion favourite to become president
Tourism expansion v turtle nests: the dispute dividing communities in one Tobago resort
Plans for a 200-room project on an unspoiled beach have pitted developers against the conservationists fighting for smaller-scale schemes to protect the island’s habitat
Candidate named Hitler Mussolini elected mayor in Peru
Leftwing Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores beats far-right candidate in election in remote district of Andes A businessman called Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores has been elected the mayor of a remote district in the Peruvian Andes, according to local election data. The 45-year-old, who shares two of his names with notorious European dictators, won the race for mayor of Queropalca, in Peru’s central Huanuco region, and will take office on 1 January. Continue reading
Why the mystery over Havana syndrome refuses to die
Dozens of CIA officers have been afflicted by debilitating symptoms over the past decade. Are they the result of ‘mass hysteria’? Or are they from attacks with an energy weapon and, if so, who is responsible? And has there been a cover-up?
Three men found guilty of murders of Australian surfer brothers and US friend in Mexico
Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, 30 and 33, and friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were killed on a surfing trip in 2024
Powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits Panama and triggers tsunami warnings
Hazardous waves are possible in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake has struck Panama and triggered tsunami warnings along the west coast of Central and South America, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit along the southern coast of the country, the USGS said. It was centered near the southern tip of the Central American country, about 14km (9 miles) south-west of the remote community of Pitaloza Arriba, the USGS said. Continue reading
Candlelit theatre in Havana – in pictures
Widespread blackouts have become increasingly common in Cuba since the US imposed energy sanctions in January. Outages frequently surpass 24 hours as the ageing grid fails. The Impulso theatre group has had to adapt as power cuts pose severe challenges for the performing arts Continue reading
Animals crossing: the simple solution to stop roadkill in the Amazon
Installation of eight canopy bridges in Alta Floresta has enabled 15,000 safe crossings by animals including spider monkeys and marmosets – and more bridges are planned elsewhere
How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find
Species with leaves large enough to be seen from space is already critically endangered – and plans are afoot to protect it A chance social media encounter has led to the race-against-time discovery of a new species of giant waterlily that has until now been hidden in the depths of Colombia’s jungle. But the plant, which is so huge it is visible from space, is already considered critically endangered. Continue reading
Men accused of shooting Australian surfer brothers and US friend dead in Mexico to learn fate as trial concludes
Martin and Debra Robinson, the brothers’ parents, will address the court before a Mexican judge hands down the verdict
A teen tried to navigate Canadian mountains with Claude. His trek ended in an emergency rescue
The incident is the latest to raise questions about the growing reliance on digital maps for wilderness navigation
Nicolás Maduro and his wife indicted for alleged torture of US citizens
Ousted Venezuelan president and Cilia Flores have been in jail in New York since early January Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted for alleged conspiracy to commit torture, according to Manhattan federal court papers unsealed Thursday. The superseding indictment was unsealed shortly before Flores appeared at court in her ongoing push for pre-trial release – which was denied by Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Maduro and Flores have been held in a New York City jail since early January.
Anne Carson wins Nobel prize in literature 2026
World’s most prestigious prize for literature goes to Canadian poet known for genre-crossing works including Autobiography of Red The Nobel prize in literature has been awarded to the Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson, the Swedish Academy has announced. The academy cited the author’s “bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature”. Continue reading
Canada to indefinitely bar mental illness as sole reason for access to euthanasia
Legislation is an effort by ruling Liberals to address growing clash over who has access to doctor-assisted death
‘Another coup d’état’: fears grow as Flávio Bolsonaro vows to ‘re-democratise’ Brazil
After a surprise first-round victory, critics suggest son of disgraced ex-president could seek to continue his father’s authoritarian project
‘Green, red, yellow, blue’? Beneath the surface, diaspora language is anything but Black and white
Black communities across the globe have large and complex vocabularies to describe race, shaped by their specific cultures and histories
The 80-year-old market trader who became a Chilean music star
Born and raised in Valparaíso, Luis Gómez, better known as JM, is seen as one of the last of a golden generation after a late foray
Flávio Bolsonaro’s advance in Brazil’s election is grim jolt for climate campaigners
Inquest under way into why President Lula’s success in curbing deforestation in the Amazon did not lead to success at polls More fire, more ash, more crime, more death. And a globally important ecosystem driven ever more rapidly towards a point of no return. That is the prospect for the Amazon rainforest for at least the next four years if Flávio Bolsonaro holds on to the lead he established this week in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election. Continue reading
Separatists win in Quebec – but does that bring separation from Canada any closer?
Lack of majority for Parti Québécois puts any referendum in doubt, especially amid bruising trade war with Trump
US man arrested as second suspect in Canada mass school shooting planned with ChatGPT
Justice department detained James Codey Bryant and allege he offered ‘technical advice’ to primary suspect A surprise suspected accomplice has been arrested in connection with a mass school shooting in Canada that was made notorious after an 18-year-old allegedly killed six children after discussing it with the AI chatbot ChatGPT. The US Department of Justice said Tuesday it had detained James Codey Bryant, 30, a resident of western Washington state, on a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country. Continue reading
Outcry in Trinidad and Tobago after passing of police bill that could threaten press freedom
Journalists are calling for an urgent amendment to the Special Operations Bill, which boosts police search and seizure powers Journalists in Trinidad and Tobago have called for an urgent amendment to a sweeping new bill that boosts police powers of search and seizure, which they argue threatens the country’s much-vaunted freedom of the press. The government says the Special Operations Bill 2026, passed on 24 September, is designed to tackle alarmingly high crime and murder rates in the Caribbean nation. Continue reading
Argentina will stop Falklands exploiting offshore oilfields, foreign minister says
Pablo Quirno says move is part of Argentinian government’s strategy to peacefully assert sovereignty over the islands
‘They take our water, our soil’: protesters fight ‘foreignisation’ as Javier Milei encourages land sales in Argentina
The country’s far-right president is courting billionaire investors by removing a block on foreign ownership of land and natural resources
‘Spit on our sacrifice’: Canadian veterans fume after Trump and allies take jibes at military
Military families say Trump officials ‘owe us an apology’ after disparaging remarks by JD Vance, Pete Hegseth and others
I witnessed the Pinochet regime’s fall. It offers hope – and a warning – for the US | Ariel Dorfman
November’s midterms bring parallels with a moment in October 1988. But Pinochet’s exit wasn’t the end of his influence
Keeping up with the Bolsonaros: Flávio’s surprise first-round election win heralds rise of a political dynasty
Four members of disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro’s family have been elected to office, most notably his wife and son Flávio, who won the first round of voting to be Brazil’s new president
Far right on the march and Lula’s failures: key drivers of Flávio Bolsonaro’s Brazil surge
Experts say strength of evangelical church and stubbornness of Lula, 80, also helped propel Jair Bolsonaro’s son to first-round election win
Flávio Bolsonaro poised to win Brazilian presidency after shock first-round victory
Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surge
Quebec poised to elect separatists to power for first time more than decade
Parti Québécois promises to hold independence referendum in Canada’s French-speaking region by 2028 Voters in Quebec are going to the polls in provincial elections which will probably result in victory for a party that has promised to hold a referendum on independence from Canada within the next two years. If polls are correct, the Parti Québécois (PQ) will form the government of the province of roughly nine million, the first time that the separatist movement will have gained power in the French-speaking region for more than a decade.
Sass Jordan, Canadian rock singer-songwriter, dies aged 65
Musician who had hit albums with Racine and Rats later became a judge on six seasons of Canadian Idol Sass Jordan, the singer-songwriter who became a significant success in Canada’s rock scene in the 1990s before starring as a judge on Canadian Idol, has died aged 65. No cause of death has been given. A statement on social media said she died on 2 October “surrounded by her loving family … She remains in our hearts, an inimitable force of nature. An irreplaceable being of light and joy!” Continue reading
‘Defend our men!’: fears for women’s rights in Latin America over plans to counter gender violence laws
Women ‘set back by 50 years’ as Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Peru debate tougher penalties for false reports of sexual assaults, despite such cases being rare
Lula admits Brazil election result ‘unexpected’ as Bolsonaro leads first round – video
Brazil’s presidential race will go to a second round after the far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, beat the incumbent leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but failed to secure the outright majority he needed to avoid a runoff on 25 October. Speaking in Sāo Paulo, Lula said the result was 'unexpected' and that Bolsonaro’s 'dark past' would become clearer to voters in the lead-up to that vote.
Brazil’s presidential race goes to second round as Flávio Bolsonaro leads incumbent Lula
Far-right challenger and son of disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro put in a stronger than expected showing, with Lula calling the result ‘unexpected’
Brazil heads to the polls – in pictures
Brazilians have voted in a highly polarised presidential election between incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva -seeking a fourth presidential mandate - and right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who emerged as the leading figure of the conservative movement following the conviction and imprisonment of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro Continue reading
Brazil presidential election 2026: first-round live results
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is standing against Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round of the presidential race The incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is up against Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is in prison for plotting a military coup. The president in Brazil is directly elected, and candidates need more than 50% of the vote to avoid a second round. Polls close at 17.00 BRT / 21.00 BST. Continue reading
Would slashing migration tank the economy or reset Australia’s living standards? Canada may offer clues
Annual population growth for the North American nation has slowed to just 0.5% – and the economy is ‘adjusting’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Would slashing net overseas migration “trash the economy” or deliver the necessary population “reset” to restore Australia’s stagnant living standards? Labor and an ascendant One Nation have presented starkly different visions of what a migration program in the national interest looks like. Continue reading
Trump wants control of the entire western hemisphere. Brazil might become his biggest prize | Steve Bloomfield
The US president has taken credit for far-right victories across Latin America, but those wins have had more to do with fears of gang crime than his meddling, says journalist Steve Bloomfield
‘It’s glottophobia’: Brazilians in Portugal battle for linguistic recognition
Brazilian speech therapists say struggle for acceptance is part of wider prejudice embedded into Portuguese society
Brazil goes to polls in decisive election for future of Latin America
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro face off in battle between leftwing incumbent and far-right son of jailed ex-president
Paw patrol: Mexico debuts tiniest national guard recruit
Chihuahua Comando is being trained for search-and-rescue work, and helping bring a warm connection with the public Comando may be tiny, but Mexico’s national guard is giving him a very big role. Outfitted with miniature goggles, a fitted tactical vest, a helmet and even a petite head-mounted camera, the 7lb (15lb) chihuahua has become the most unusual – and smallest – canine member of the force. Continue reading
US Coast Guard searches for missing air ambulance off coast of Massachusetts
The plane was undertaking a medical evacuation from Bermuda with six people onboard when it lost contact The US Coast Guard is searching for an air ambulance jet with six people onboard that lost contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a flight from Bermuda to Boston early on Saturday morning. In a statement to the Guardian, an FAA spokesperson said that the agency issued a search-and-rescue alert notice for a Gulfstream G-100 at about 1.20am local time on Saturday. Continue reading
Brazil’s neck-and-neck election offers test for growing pro-Trump Latin American bloc
Sunday’s poll pits the leftist incumbent Lula against the son of a former far-right president convicted of staging a coup
Brazil’s Lula says only he can stop rise of fascism under Bolsonaro’s son
President leads huge rally in Rio before election on Sunday seen as most important for decades The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has claimed he is the only thing standing in the way of far-right “fascists” reclaiming power, as he led a huge rally through the streets of Rio ahead of Sunday’s crunch election.
US Coast Guard says it intercepted ship carrying fuel to Cuba
US says ship thought to be using common ‘dark fleet’ tactics was boarded and taken to Mexico as embargo continues
‘No one disrespects Our Lady’: fears for Brazil’s patron saint grip country ahead of election
Speculation that Flávio Bolsonaro will try to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of position could become deciding factor in run-up to Sunday A row of Biblical proportions has erupted in the run-up to Brazil’s presidential election, with the country’s patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, emerging as an unlikely kingmaker in the deadlocked race. Ahead of Sunday’s vote, the two frontrunners – the leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and his far-right challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro – are level in the polls. Continue reading
The Bolsonaros…they’re back! Brazil heads to the polls – podcast
Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips reports on this Sunday’s historic presidential elections in Brazil, as the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro hopes to take power
Brazil attorney general says meddling ‘cannot be tolerated’ after Trump funding plans revealed
Jorge Messias calls Guardian report ‘an important alert for Brazilian sovereignty’ as nation prepares to go to polls
‘Water yes, mining no!’: the 87-year-old farmer who became a nature hero in Colombia
Porfirio Garcés is one of the ‘Jerico 11’, who face kidnapping charges after opposing a copper mine. Now, with a far-right president prioritising extraction, their fight has become more urgent
‘It’s utter surrealism’: Venezuela’s Chavistas lament government’s embrace of Trump
Diehard Hugo Chávez supporters struggle to comprehend ideological U-turn being executed by Delcy Rodríguez’s interim administration
The Guardian view on Lula v the Bolsonaros: the decision of Brazilian voters will affect us all | Editorial
Editorial: Sunday’s general election is too close to call, with the incumbent president facing the son of the man who attempted a coup against him
Comando the chihuahua adopted by the Mexican national guard – video
Equipped with miniature protective glasses, a custom-fitted tactical vest and a small camera mounted on his head, Comando the chihuahua has become the smallest member of Mexico's national guard. He is being trained not only to help bring uniformed officers closer to the public but also to specialise in search and rescue operations. The canine recruit, who is 13 months old, climbed stairs and jumped over obstacles in a training session in Mexico City.
How Trump is meddling in Brazil’s election – explainer
Brazil will head to the polls on 4 October for the first vote in its presidential race. The incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is neck-and-neck with Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is in prison for plotting a military coup. There are fears and accusations that the US is interfering in the election, and these follow similar allegations in a string of elections across Latin America which were won by Donald Trump-backed candidates in what is being called 'the orange wave'.
Top Trump figures push to direct human rights funding to rightwing causes
Support for white Afrikaners, anti-communism and others reveals how US redefining what qualifies as human rights
‘So much uncertainty’: Michigan’s Arab American businesses navigate Trump’s Canada trade war
Arab communities on both sides of the border grapple with ongoing tensions as US-Canada relations continue to sour In Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest community of Arab Americans in the US, one industry has risen above all others in recent years: Yemeni cafes. At the forefront is Qahwah House, a powerhouse in the burgeoning Yemeni cafe world with 32 branches open across the country. Three of those are here in Dearborn, with more on the way, and they attract people from near and far. Continue reading
‘We’re afraid of dying’: Brazilian news site will not cover upcoming elections after threats
Co-founder of independent website Tapajós de Fato said decision was made to protect journalists and their families Four years ago, during Brazil’s last presidential election, the tyres were slashed on the pickup truck used for reporting by Tapajós de Fato, an independent journalism website in the Brazilian Amazon. Days later, a cat’s severed head was left next to the car park, alongside a note bearing the name of one of the site’s founders, Marcos Wesley Pedroso, and a warning that he would be next. Continue reading
How gold surpassed cocaine as Peru’s most profitable criminal industry
As gold prices surge, illegal mining has laid waste to swathes of Tambopata National Reserve’s rainforest
John Oliver on Brazil’s Flávio Bolsonaro: ‘Fearmongering and flagrant daddy issues’
The Last Week Tonight host digs into Brazil’s election, with current leader Lula faces a disgraced former president’s son
Mighty Sparrow, the Trinidad and Tobago singer known as the ‘calypso king of the world’, dies aged 91
Slinger Francisco, who performed as the Mighty Sparrow, died on Sunday surrounded by family in New York Slinger Francisco, known on stage as the Mighty Sparrow and dubbed the “calypso king of the world”, has died aged 91. Francisco, who got his breakthrough in calypso music with his 1956 hit song Jean and Dinah, died peacefully surrounded by his family in New York on Sunday, his family said in a statement. Continue reading
Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii as Mexico’s Baja braces for Hurricane Polo
Hurricane Nolo moving away from Hawaiian islands but the threat of heavy rain, flash floods and strong winds persists
Formerly enslaved people in Guyana embraced collective action | Letter
Letters: We should learn about emancipated people’s extraordinary capacity for mutual endeavour, writes Prof Kathryn A Monk, in response to an article in the Cotton Capital series
‘Viscerally dedicated to social issues’: behind Lula’s drive to win final term in Brazil’s crunch election
Longtime friend tells of president’s obsession with social justice and fears for country’s future under another Bolsonaro presidency
Melbourne man’s mysterious disappearance on popular Peru hiking trail prompts widespread search
Loved ones describe Jordan Yap, 30, as an experienced hiker who set out for a 10-day solo trek Peru before falling silent
Hawaii braces for powerful winds and flash flooding with Hurricane Nolo
Preparation begins for extreme conditions as Nolo bears down on areas still recovering from previous storms
US strikes on Ecuadorian fishing boats raise humanitarian concerns but Trump admin not wavering
Attorney says fishers ‘losing their livelihoods’, but Marco Rubio maintains US still willing to ‘blow up ships if need be’ While the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, was being decorated in Quito by Ecuador’s president for “helping to promote peace in the region”, 10 Ecuadorian fishers whose boat had been blown up by US forces were adrift in the eastern Pacific. On 8 September, a day before Rubio arrived, a US patrol vessel intercepted the fishing boat Don Rufo in international waters near Ecuador. Continue reading
‘It’s just getting worse’: anger in Maine over Trump’s trade war with close neighbor Canada
President’s tariffs have hurt fishers, loggers and others in a state with deep bonds to Canada – will voters show their displeasure in the midterms? It was an ideal summer to cut trees. The weather in Maine’s Penobscot county – one of the most heavily forested counties in a state dense with trees – was warm and dry. Yet even as the county’s wood had grown to an ideal size to harvest, the machines Molly London typically uses sat idle. Continue reading
The truth behind Donald Trump’s ‘biggest oil deal in world history’
The US’s oil deal with Venezuela faces multiple legal and logistical problems, including questions about whether it can be implemented
Lula bans fixed-odds sports betting a week before Brazilian elections
President’s ‘hard, drastic and necessary measure’, likely to attract widespread public support, polls suggest Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has signed an order banning fixed-odds sports betting just over a week before the first round of the presidential election, in a move he said was designed to tackle the pervasive problem of families falling into debt. The decision ends the operation, offering, intermediation and advertising of betting. Continue reading
Michigan CEO loses job after posting AI-made image of her family in ‘Lake America’ sweaters
Jane Smith reportedly used ChatGPT to edit photo to show name Trump ordered US agencies to use for Lake Ontario amid trade war with Canada
Alberta’s ‘rat patrol’ ramps up operations as vermin makes inroads in province
‘Rat-free’ Canadian province recently took a verminous hit when a dead rodent turned up in town of Bowden For more than seven decades, residents of Alberta have shared something in common with Antarctica and the high Arctic: all locations are officially free of rats. But on Thursday the Canadian province’s reputation as a firewall against rodent infestation took a hit when the town of Bowden announced the discovery of a dead rat and called on the province’s “rat patrol” to investigate. Continue reading
‘Birdwatching is close to rapture’: Margaret Atwood on why she has given C$1m to avian research
Canadian novelist has celebrated her late partner’s love of birds with a C$1m gift to a university to establish the Graeme Gibson chair in avian biology
Hurricane Polo barrels towards Baja California region of Mexico
Area’s second-most intense hurricane on record being fuelled by exceptionally warm Pacific waters Hurricane Polo is barreling towards the Baja California region of Mexico, the latest system in a Pacific hurricane season that has been notably active in recent months. On 22 September, a measurement of 892 millibars was registered for Hurricane Polo, making it the second-most intense hurricane on record in the east Pacific.
Lula says Trump wants to ‘colonise’ and capture Brazil’s resources by meddling in election
A TV spot claims the US president is trying to sway October’s presidential vote in favour of Lula’s far-right opponents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential campaign has accused Donald Trump of wanting to “colonise”Brazil in order to capture its natural resources by meddling in next month’s presidential election. The accusation came in a televised campaign advert that was broadcast on Thursday by Lula’s team amid growing fears over the impact alleged US interference could have on the vote. Continue reading
Democratic lawmakers accuse Trump administration of interference in Brazilian elections
Legislators sent letter to Marco Rubio saying US interference is weakening Brazil’s democratic institutions
‘You can’t just bet everything on exports’: as its gas runs out, is Bolivia doomed to repeat history?
A fossil gas boom that lifted millions out of poverty has collapsed and inflation is rising – but not everyone believes gold and soya exports are the answer
Argentinas president attacks UN over inaction on Falkland Islands sovereignty
Javier Milei says organisation is filled with ‘arrogant parasites’ and threatens to take ‘matters into our own hands’
Delcy Rodríguez poses with Trump in New York as Maduro languishes in jail nearby
Interim president, who agreed a 65bn-barrel oil deal with the US, did not say whether she would visit her snatched predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, in jail
Jamaica hails King’s decision to refer slavery reparations petition to privy council as ‘really big deal’
The move comes after Jamaica’s culture minister Olivia Grange travelled to the UK earlier this month to lodge the historic petition
Man missing after reportedly jumping off cruise ship bound for California
Carnival spokesperson confirms onboard cameras captured male passenger going overboard on way from Mexico A 56-year-old man is missing after he reportedly jumped off a Carnival cruise ship on Saturday. A Carnival spokesperson confirmed in a statement that cameras on the ship captured a male passenger going overboard the Panorama, according to several news reports. Continue reading
Trump invades the UN with a brutish speech | Ted Widmer
Gone was any shred of US idealism. It was a spectacle of raw power – a power that is likely to only diminish in the years ahead
Hurricane Polo, rapidly intensifying from strong El Niño patterns, rages off coast of Mexico
Polo, with sustained winds of 165mph, is churning 215 miles south of Zihuatanejo but is unlikely to directly hit Mexico A tropical storm off the south-west coast of Mexico has intensified into a category 5 monster in fewer than 24 hours, fueled by stronger than usual El Niño weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Polo was sending out maximum sustained winds of 165mph (266km/h) on Tuesday as its center churned about 215 miles (346km) south of the coastal city of Zihuatanejo, in Guerrero state. Continue reading
Trump’s threat to annihilate Iran to UN general assembly is stunning, even for him
US president may have upstaged the ghost of Soviet leader Khrushchev by musing destruction of fellow member state
The Patagonia town where Nepal’s deadly glacier flood could be repeated – and what they’ve learned
The risk to El Chaltén in Argentina has been known for years but recent findings and the Nepal disaster have brought planning for the worst-case scenario into sharp focus
British Columbia sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over Tumbler Ridge mass school shooting
Canadian province alleges deadly attack could have been prevented if company had warned police of shooter’s ChatGPT use
Colombia declares public calamity as wildfire threatens popular tourist area
Wildfire forces evacuations and burns through mountains surrounding Villa de Leyva in the north-east Colombian authorities declared a public calamity as a wildfire burned through mountains surrounding one of the country’s best-known colonial towns in the north-east, scorching large swaths of vegetation and forcing evacuations. Nearly 20 active fires are burning across the South American country. Dry conditions have increased fire danger in Colombia as it braces for the effects of El Niño, which can help wildfires spread. Continue reading
Mark Carney is making an eloquent case for an alliance sidelining the US | Ted Widmer
The Canadian prime minister’s remarks before the European parliament outlined a vision of the west without its most powerful member
US strikes on alleged drug boats may constitute ‘crimes against humanity’, UN finds
Dozens of US attacks on boats in the Pacific and Caribbean have killed more than 230 people since September 2025
Canada is seeking new global neighbours – no wonder, as Trump rolls out stupidities at scale | David Moscrop
As the White House doles out threats and insults, it would be easy to hold out for better times. Mark Carney is right to court the EU instead, says Canadian columnist David Moscrop
Man and police officer wounded in exchange of gunfire near Ontario synagogue
Officials say man was critically injured and officer was wounded in Yom Kippur incident near Belleville synagogue
Millions of dollars in funding but still no plan: can Quebec save its caribou from extinction?
The Canadian government has committed C$25m to try to rescue the caribou in the province – but there is no agreement on how best to save the keystone species
Macron and Carney announce closer France-Canada ties amid Trump tensions
Two leaders meet in French territory off Canada as Ottawa seeks stronger relations with EU while fighting trade war with US
More than a dozen arrested in connection with assassination of Haitian president
Jovenel Moïse, 53, was shot dead in July 2021 in a killing which sparked chaos in Haiti Eighteen people have been arrested in association with the 2021 assassination of the Haitian president Jovenel Moïse, according to US officials. Moïse, 53, was shot dead on 7 July 2021, at his private residence by a hired group of about 20 military-trained Colombian mercenaries. His security detail did not intervene to protect him. Continue reading
Former president of Chile abandons UN secretary general candidacy
Michelle Bachelet drops out after support collapsed in security council straw poll, leaving seven candidates in contest Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile, has withdrawn her candidacy to become the next secretary general of the UN, ending a bid that had struggled to gain traction among security council members. Bachelet, 74, announced her decision in a video posted on Instagram on Saturday, saying: “I will now continue, with the same determination as always, my international work.” Continue reading
‘There’s a whipsaw nature to it’: how we’ve covered Donald Trump’s tumultuous trade wars
The erratic escalations and climbdowns by the US president have made covering trade disputes a high-octane affair. We spoke to some of our business reporters and our correspondent in Toronto about how they keep up with it
Caribbean nations draft action plan to push UK to redress reparations over slavery
Leaders hope UK will agree to targeted discussions around reparatory justice, but could consider legal options if Britain resists
Brazil’s wind farms have been a huge success. So why isn’t everybody reaping the benefits?
While the country’s ambition is to be the ‘Saudi Arabia of green energy’, communities in the north-east are bearing the cost in diminished health and livelihoods
‘It’s almost impossible not to feel inspired’: how the story of Terry Fox fired up Canada’s patriotic spirit again
Canada’s citizens are finding unity again in the story of the man who ran cross-country on one leg to raise awareness for children’s cancer research Rob Stickle was six years old and waiting to see The Empire Strikes Back when a ripple passed through the crowd. His mother hoisted him on to her shoulders to see a man loping down one of Toronto’s busiest streets. “I was a Star Wars fanatic, and I remember saying to mom: ‘He has a robot leg.’” Continue reading
Brazil’s Lula announces higher welfare payments and free weight-loss jabs ahead of election
Critics say moves from leftwing incumbent president are electorally motivated two weeks before Brazil’s elections
Drone footage shows severe drought hitting river in Brazil – video
Drone footage from 17 September shows the Araguaia River drying up, as severe drought grips Brazil’s northern basin. The country is preparing for potential El Niño impacts in late 2026-27, with the Tocantins-Araguaia basin already experiencing severe drought conditions Continue reading
New cat species identified for first time in more than a century in Bolivia
New species of wild cat was discovered in Bolivia’s Yungas forest and is smaller than the average domestic cat
All smiles in Strasbourg but uncertainty clouds Canada’s EU membership plan
Although Mark Carney welcomed offer to become bloc’s first associate member, no one seems to know what that means
Trump says the US doesn’t need Canada. But it’s the source of key minerals for the military | Vince Beiser
Trump himself has acknowledged the US need for Canadian aluminum – and has largely exempted metals from new tariffs
Canada’s Carney embraces EU associate membership proposal
Polling shows overwhelming majority of Canadians support closer ties with Europe, says prime minister Mark Carney has welcomed the goal of Canada becoming the EU’s first associate member, calling for “deep cooperation” between Europe and his country to secure their sovereignty, after Donald Trump derided the idea as “laughable.” In an address to the European parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, Carney said polling showed that an overwhelming majority of Canadians supported much closer ties with Europe. Continue reading
‘It’s beautiful when it’s clean’: the Argentine neighbourhood saving a contaminated river
Sewage, dog carcasses and industrial waste clog Argentina’s second most-polluted river. Meet the activists cleaning it up
Opening the door for Canada is a harmless gesture. But it won’t fix Europe’s security crisis | Paul Taylor
Beyond the morale boost and Mark Carney’s stardust, ‘associate membership’ means little Ursula von der Leyen brought a new mascot to her annual State of the Union address to the European parliament: the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney. The leader of a plucky, like-minded liberal democracy, locked in an unsought trade war with its much bigger bully of a neighbour, Carney crossed the Atlantic and attended this flagship event of Europe’s political calendar to demonstrate his country’s shared values and desire to get closer to the EU.
Battle of Chile director Patricio Guzmán dies aged 85
Passionate documentary maker won international acclaim for unsparing but poetic films exploring the impact of the Pinochet regime in Chile
Glory at 11,000ft: Cusco’s Cienciano aim to bring Peru continental success once again
Cusco is known for tourism. But the city’s biggest football team is chasing a repeat of a South American title that caused shockwaves more than 20 years ago
People protecting nature and land set up self-defence units amid threat of murder
Defenders of forests and rivers killed at rate of one every three days in 2025, with 85% of deaths in Latin America
Ferocious fight among Brazil’s supreme court erupts on eve of presidential election
Scandal explodes as country’s election campaign peaks, with polls suggesting dead heat between candidates
Carney says Canada will pursue ‘unique security and economic alliance’ with EU amid US trade spat
Prime minister speaks of strengthening Canada’s economic and political ties to Europe at Canada Investment Summit
John Healey in talks with Canada about UK joining new global defence bank
Exclusive: Britain is understood to have been formally invited to become founding member of multilateral lender
Thousands of sea turtles reach Mexico in yearly migration threatened by climate crisis – video
More than 330,000 sea turtles arrived in southern Mexico in a mass nesting phenomenon known as an ‘arribada’.
More than 1,000 women invested in companies at heart of Britain’s slave trade
Women used profits from trafficking of enslaved Africans to secure their families’ futures, research reveals
Night of the Coyotes review – border-crossing role-play is tourist attraction in struggling Mexican town
Clara Trischler’s absorbing feature sees residents of the small town of El Alberto hired to play characters in a re-enactment of the migrant experience
Panama canal traffic to be cut again as drought from El Niño worsens
Latest daily reductions will further choke one of the world’s most important shipping lanes The Panama canal plans to again cut maritime traffic due to worsening drought caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon, further choking up one of the world’s most important shipping lanes. The canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and about 40% of US container traffic; it is favoured by shippers because it usually reduces cost and transit times, especially for companies trading between China, Asia and the US. Continue reading
Bolsonaro 2.0: Brazil braces for the return of the far right
Neck-and-neck with Lula in polls, Flávio Bolsonaro fires up his base in the bellwether state of Minas Gerais – starting at the scene of his father’s stabbing
Barrio Triste review – raw and dynamic portrait of anarchic slum life in 1980s Medellín
Bad Bunny collaborator Stillz’s debut feature shot using Betacam focuses on vibes over plot Best known as the creative mind behind the music videos of Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny, Stillz has risen to the top of the industry as an in-demand director and photographer. Interestingly, for his feature-film debut, Stillz has turned away from the glitz and glamour of celebrity to fix his lens on the underdog.
‘Carbon fever’ threatens hard-won Indigenous rights in Bolivian Amazon
Leaders in Pando region denounce opaque deals over carbon credits as government and companies rush to monetise Amazon rainforest after 2024 ruling
Monarchs, MPs and merchants: the register laying bare Britain’s slave-trading past
Exclusive: New research identifies thousands who profited from trafficking enslaved Africans and traces some financial links to institutions still operating today Continue reading
The bird that changed Ecuador: how a chance discovery of a rare species helped to save many more
Thirty years after a US ornithologist first sighted a jocotoco antpitta, the foundation he set up to restore biodiversity is a model for conservation globally