Colombia

Colombia’s president says he escaped assassination attempt while in helicopter

Gustavo Petro says his helicopter had to evade people who ‘were going to shoot’ at it, forcing him to fly over open sea for hours.

11 Feb 2026 - 1:13PM

President Gustavo Petro in the cockpit of one of the 12 Black Hawk helicopters donated by the US government in 2022. Photo: Colombian Presidency via AFP

China’s private sector

Luckin’s 30,000th store milestone adds buzz to China’s brewing coffee battle

Xiamen-headquartered chain pushes to integrate supply network worldwide and accelerate growth in markets from Asia to the US.

9 Feb 2026 - 7:04PM

Trump and Colombia’s Petro appear to bury hatchet after months of tensions

US president calls Gustavo Petro ‘terrific’ after their first face-to-face encounter, following months of trading barbs.

4 Feb 2026 - 12:16PM

Aviation accidents

Plane crash in Colombia kills 15, including politician

A Colombian lawmaker and a legislative candidate were on the twin-propeller plane that crashed in a mountainous region.

29 Jan 2026 - 11:17AM

Wreckage of the crashed aircraft in northeastern Colombia. Photo: RTVC Noticias via Xinhua

Spain

Spain busts cocaine trafficking ring that used ‘floating bases’ at sea

Spain seizes 10 tonnes of drugs and arrests 105 suspects, while Portugal intercepts a record haul from a ‘narco-sub’.

27 Jan 2026 - 1:17PM

Crime

Ex-Olympian pleads not guilty to running billion-dollar drug empire

Lawyer for FBI ‘most wanted’ fugitive denies alleged kingpin turned himself in at the US embassy in Mexico.

27 Jan 2026 - 10:55AM

Commodities

Gold surge has analysts eyeing new highs after US$5,100 record

Safe-haven demand spikes amid de-dollarisation fears and supply-chain tensions, as gold buyers seek stability against growing macro uncertainties.

26 Jan 2026 - 3:07PMvideocam

Analysts expect the price of gold to continue climbing this year, building on a safe-haven surge. Photo: AFP

Who is Ryan Wedding? Ex-Olympian accused of running global drug empire arrested

Fugitive Canadian snowboarder from the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics is linked to cartels and faces murder and drug charges.

24 Jan 2026 - 12:00AM

Ryan Wedding during a practice run for the men’s parallel
giant slalom at the 2002 Winter Games. Photo: Reuters

Opinion | From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump is using US power to rewrite the rules

What troubles many is the inconsistency emanating from Washington. When power underwrites rules, principles become negotiable.

23 Jan 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Diversify or die: Asian firms face trade uncertainty amid Trump’s Mexico threats

The president’s call for strikes against drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia will add to the cost of trading with the US, analysts say.

20 Jan 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

Ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

US’ FAA warns airlines to ‘potential risks’ in Mexican, South American airspace

The warnings come a month after a JetBlue passenger jet almost collided with a US Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela ‌.

17 Jan 2026 - 12:34PMvideocam

A US Air Force F22-Raptor takes off from the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico on January 4. Photo: AFP

Letters | South Asians have a unique place in Hong Kong

Readers discuss early settlers in Hong Kong, small businesses in Venezuela, and Donald Trump’s ‘morality’.

17 Jan 2026 - 11:30AM

Kowloon Mosque in Tsim Sha Tsui on June 13. Photo: Elson Li

US-China relations

Opinion | How Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is escalating US-China rivalry

Maduro’s capture not only challenges China’s influence in Latin America but also signals a bolder US security posture that could reshuffle great-power competition.

11 Jan 2026 - 9:25PMvideocam

North Korea nuclear crisis

Trump says Colombia’s Petro to visit US, in U-turn from threats to diplomacy

Just days ago, Trump had issued a warning to the South American leader for criticising the US attack that removed Venezuela’s Maduro.

10 Jan 2026 - 3:59AM

Opinion | Maduro’s fate in Venezuela hardens North Korea’s nuclear resolve

It confirms Pyongyang’s belief that leaders seen as thorns in the US side who lack nuclear weapons ultimately fall victim to US intervention.

9 Jan 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

US-Venezuela conflict

Trump invites Colombia’s president to White House after threat of military strike

Invitation comes days after Trump accused Colombia’s Gustavo Petro of ‘making cocaine’ and warning of US intervention.

8 Jan 2026 - 10:45AMvideocam

As I see it | Monroe Doctrine 2.0 portends the end of the US empire

The eerie return of the 19th century foreign policy doctrine indicates a declining empire seeking to consolidate power in its own backyard.

7 Jan 2026 - 10:04AMvideocam

US-Venezuela conflict

Not just oil: is Trump’s Venezuela takeover also about critical minerals?

Venezuela, Greenland and Colombia all have large deposits of rare earths and other minerals needed by US technology and defence companies.

6 Jan 2026 - 6:15PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump, flanked by senior members of his administration, speaks to the press following American military strikes on Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: TNS

Maduro open to talks with US on drugs and oil, but silent on CIA strike

Venezuela’s leader sidesteps questions about a reported US land attack while offering to talk ‘seriously’ about cooperation.

2 Jan 2026 - 2:03PM

US Air Force F-35A and F-35B fighter jets in Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

Luxury Hotels

11 exciting luxury hotel openings in 2026, from London and Florence to Kyoto

These ultra-luxe stays and unique experiences span the globe, from the US and Latin America, to Africa and the Middle East.

1 Jan 2026 - 2:00PM

CIA behind drone strike on ‘big facility’ in Venezuela: sources

Sources divulge details of a US strike mentioned by Trump, as Colombia’s president says US bombed a suspected cocaine factory.

31 Dec 2025 - 4:26PM

Banking & finance

Hong Kong signs tax treaty with Norway, marking fourth such agreement this year

Treasury chief Christopher Hui said the government plans to begin CDTA negotiations with Slovenia and Oman early next year.

16 Dec 2025 - 6:47PM

Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui (left), exchanges documents with Norway’s Ambassador to China, Vebjørn Dysvik, in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Handout

China-Latin America relations

Honduras president alleges ‘electoral coup’ amid chaotic vote count

Fraud allegations, claims of US interference and disputed tally sheets mar vote count following Honduras’ November 30 presidential election.

10 Dec 2025 - 3:47PM

Security personnel stand guard outside facilities where electoral kits are stored, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Photo: Reuters

US senators warn of China-cartel links forming a global ‘Silk Road of crime’

At a Senate hearing, officials described Chinese money brokers as key to laundering cartel funds and fuelling the illicit fentanyl trade.

30 Dec 2025 - 5:03AMvideocam