Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

The shrinking plastic dollar and why cash is still king in Ecuador
If you ever wonder why the senora behind the counter at your favorite panadería looks as asustada when you reach for a debit card as if you had pulled a gun, the answer is simple. Cash is cheap. Plastic is pricey. When you hand over seventy...

CMOs Say They Need to “Win Share of Culture.” How?
Seven in 10 senior marketers around the world agree that their paid media investments aren’t working as hard as they used to, according to a report [download page] from dentsu Creative. With those paid investments not… paying off in the same way...
Members of Congress growing concerned over lack of information from administration about Venezuela strikes, sources say
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress are growing concerned over a lack of information from the Trump administration about the intelligence and strategy underlying its strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean, six sources told NBC News....

Nigeria Takes Helm of G-24, Pledges to Drive Inclusive Global Economic Reforms
Nigeria has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24), a coalition of developing countries that coordinates positions on international monetary and financial issues. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)...

Leo XIV tells President Lula that he’d like to visit Brazil
The Brazilian leader recounts that the Pope had to decline a trip for the COP30 in November due to Jubilee Year commitments -- but he hopes to visit later. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva was received by Leo XIV at the Vatican on...

Analysts: DigiPlus’ Brazil delay unlikely to affect long-term outlook
DIGIPLUS INTERACTIVE CORP.’S decision to pause the soft launch of its Brazilian gaming platform GamePlus may unsettle investors in the short term but reflects a pragmatic move to recalibrate its international strategy for stronger long-term...

Novik will provide banking services to citizens of the Republic of Cuba
AK&M 14 October 2025 18:30 Novik (part of RT-Finance Holding, the Financial services Competence Center of Rostec State Corporation) in Havana signed agreements with the Cuban Ministry of Education and one of the largest banks in the republic. The...

Pope slams super-rich, ‘horrible and absurd’ social divide in modern society
Pope Leo XIV gave his first interview since being elected head of the Catholic Church in May. It was published on the Catholic website 18 September and was conducted by a journalist who is preparing a book about him. From the moment he took...

Tourists like to call Cadiz called ‘Spain’s Cuba’ – but it’s actually Iberia’s oldest city that influenced the colonial architecture of the New World
A BRIT influencer has become just the latest tourist to marvel at how one of Andalucia’s most overlooked cities bears striking similarities to the capital of Cuba. But the architectural DNA this ancient port city in Spain’s southern Atlantic coast...

Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Your rights after tropical storms bring devastating floods
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Reform achievements help Vietnam boost strong economic growth: Diplomat
In response to questions from students at the University of Belgrano (UBE) about Vietnam’s Doi moi process, the diplomat said that building on the achievements gained during nearly four decades of Doi moi, Vietnam’s ongoing reforms aim to improve...

‘Economy resilient but testing times loom’
As officials from the Central Bank of Barbados and Ministry of Finance join their counterparts in Washington DC this week for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings, the positive news from the IMF is that the global...

Trump threatens aid to Argentina based on election
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to pull assistance for Argentina -- led by a political kindred spirit whose philosophy aligns with that of the Republican administration -- if the nation's internal politics don't align...

'Made in Argentina' factories shutter, creating more challenges for Milei
By Nicolás Misculin BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -For decades, Lumilagro rode to prosperity on the popularity of its signature steel or glass thermoses Argentines use to carry hot water to make mate, the locally ubiquitous herbal tea. But now, faced...
Washington Wednesday: Politics under pressure
Editor's note: The following text is a transcript of a podcast story. To listen to the story, click on the arrow beneath the headline above. LINDSAY MAST, HOST: It’s Wednesday the 15th of October. Glad to have you along for today’s edition of The...

Eradicating LWE will unlock huge economic potential
For decades, India’s heartland was scarred by the spectre of Maoist violence, entrenched in the mineral-rich but underdeveloped tribal belts of central and eastern India. Districts like Bastar in Chhattisgarh and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra – once...

Abdul Vally | Trade credit insurance: a critical safety net for SA businesses
15-10-25 / Abdul Vally Abdul Vally | Trade credit insurance: a critical safety net for SA businesses When South Africa went into lockdown in 2020, few could predict the full economic fallout. Businesses shuttered, supply chains froze, and cash...

Brazil’s GOL to merge with GIB, be taken private in major restructure plan
Brazilian low-cost airline Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes SA (GOL) has announced plans to merge with a privately held corporation Gol Investment Brasil (GIB), transitioning to a private company as part of a significant corporate restructuring...

Mexico-Cornwall fusion deli owners become bank ‘ambassadors’
Two entrepreneurs who launched a thriving Mexican deli in Cornwall have been named as UK ambassadors for the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme. Jennifer Herrera and Francis Pipe, who say they are “partners in life and cooking”,...