World
South America
Sharks test positive to high levels of cocaine off the coast of Brazil
Marine biologists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks from coastal waters near Rio de Janeiro and found high levels of cocaine in their systems.
- by Nick Squires
Latest
Colombia is facing a new problem: too much cocaine
Unsold blocks of coca paste are piling up across Colombia and it’s the families that pick the raw coca leaves that are suffering most.
- by Genevieve Glatsky
Brazil’s ex-president indicted over undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia
The jewellery would have been exempt from tax had it been a gift from Saudi Arabia to Brazil, but not Jair Bolsonaro’s to keep for himself.
- by Gabriela Sa Pessoa and Mauricio Savarese
Updated
Political unrest
Bolivian military flees government palace after coup fails, general in custody
Bolivia’s president confronted the commander leading the rebellion in the palace hallway, telling him: “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers”.
- by Daniel Ramos
Noam Chomsky’s wife denies reports that the leftist icon has died
Chomsky, 95, had been hospitalised in Brazil while recovering from a stroke. Some outlets have published obituaries.
- by Hillel Italie
No, a remote Amazon tribe is not addicted to porn
An article by The New York Times about the arrival of Starlink internet in the rainforest took on a life of its own. In a few days, the web was rife with misinformation.
- by Jack Nicas
Chiquita banana company found liable for funding Colombian death squads
Chiquita bananas are famous all over the world. The company is the subject of a number of lawsuits brought by victims’ families in the US.
- by Jorge Valencia
The bird flu virus has adapted to sea mammals. Scientists are puzzled
And the new research findings hold a warning: H5N1 may similarly transform to cause large-scale infections in other mammalian species, including people.
- by Apoorva Mandavilli