Who Touched Brazil’s Pension Checks? CONTAG’s Finances, PT Proximity, and an Oversight Test

Brazil’s largest rural workers’ confederation, CONTAG, is under investigation after the country’s financial-intelligence unit flagged unusual flows totaling about R$2 billion ($377 million) from May 2024 to May 2025. The money moved in roughly...

Sports tourism’s US$B future

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Sports tourism could deliver more than US$2 billion to the Caribbean by 2030, and one of the region’s most influential sports executives believes the time to act is now. Speaking at the State of the Tourism Industry...

NFL confirms Rio de Janeiro games from 2026, adds Spain country manager

American football’s NFL has announced it will continue to stage regular-season international games in Brazil after it agreed a new five-year deal with the city of Rio de Janeiro centered on the iconic Maracanã Stadium. Beginning in 2026, the...

NFL inks multi-year deal to play games in Rio de Janeiro from 2026

Games to take place at Maracana Stadium Brazil has the NFL’s second highest international fan base with more than 36m Sao Paulo hosted games in 2024 and 2025 The National Football League (NFL) has continued its global expansion by announcing a...

No love for LA? Tourism drops, impacting the local economy

Tourism is down in California, according to a new report from Visit California. The drop in visitors is being attributed to several things, including wildfires, political issues and more. Los Angeles tourism down The report shows California...

These countries require a 6-month passport validity for travellers

The rules are in place so that foreign travellers do not stay beyond the period specified on their visas, unintentionally due to sudden passport expiration. Sudden expiration results in unnecessary complications if they get stranded in a foreign...

10 famous tourist spots that are an absolute waste of money

Travel has a way of setting expectations sky-high, until you’re standing in a crowd with a much lighter wallet, wondering why you paid $40 to stare at a sidewalk or a statue smaller than your elbow. Clearly, not every iconic landmark delivers on...

Capital One miles vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Which currency is better for your travels?

Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Capital One miles: Which camp are you in? Each transferable currency provides a wide suite of transfer partners and impressive travel portal rates, delivering outsize value. According to TPG's September 2025...

What UAE travellers need to know about the US government shutdown

The US has entered a government shutdown after lawmakers failed to agree on a new budget. For most travellers, the effects of this shutdown are unlikely to be immediate, but the longer it goes on, the more likely it is to disrupt trips. Airport...

William ‘deeply proud’ as Earthshot finalists announced ahead of Rio ceremony

The Prince of Wales has said the “urgent optimism” at the heart of his environmental Earthshot Prize feels “unstoppable” as the 2025 finalists are announced. William founded the prize to recognise and scale up ideas to help “repair” the planet,...

Cartagena Is Great, But Here’s Why Black Travelers Should Explore Colombia’s Pacific Coast

Colombia’s Caribbean coast, specifically Cartagena, is a destination beloved by Black travelers. Cartagena has one of the highest concentrations of Afro-Colombians, where an estimated 60% percent say they are of African descent. Cartagena...

Brazil’s Factory Pulse Slows: What The PMI Says in September—And What’s Really Going On

Brazil’s manufacturing engine downshifted in September. The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI fell to 46.5 from 47.7 in August, its weakest reading this year and well below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. In plain terms: order books...

Body found in search for Brit tourist, 33, who vanished 115 days ago in Brazilian jungle after last being seen on CCTV

A BODY has been found during the search for a British tourist who vanished in Brazil nearly four months ago. Denis Kopanev, 33, who works as a financial analyst in London, was last spotted on CCTV leaving the rental in early June. 3 Denis Kopanev...

Real Madrid superstar earns recall to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad

Carlo Ancelotti has announced his Brazil squad for the upcoming international friendlies against South Korea and Japan, with one Real Madrid star making a long-awaited return to the Selecao. Brazil have already booked their spot at next summer’s...

Brazil’s High-Rate Standoff Meets a Softer Fed: UBS Sees Six Pivotal Months

Brazil heads into October with an unusual split: its central bank is holding the Selic at 15.00%, one of the highest real interest rates among major economies, just as the U.S. Federal Reserve has begun cutting. That divergence—tight at home,...

Brazil roster for October 2025: Vinicius, Rodrygo back, Neymar still injured

Now that qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has concluded and Brazil are officially in the field of 48, Carlo Ancelotti will begin building towards the tournament itself as the Selecao travel to meet Japan and South Korea during the October...

TOURISE Awards unveils shortlist of world-leading destinations

The shortlist for the inaugural TOURISE Awards has been revealed, putting the spotlight on destinations that are rewriting the rules of travel. It showcases places that redefine travel norms, ranging from entertainment hubs to shopping districts....

Where is hot in October? Best holiday destinations for autumn sun in 2025

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...

Rio de Janeiro set to join NFL’s list of international cities in 2026

RIO DE JANEIRO — The NFL will play three regular-season games over five years in Rio de Janeiro beginning in 2026. The league announced the multiyear commitment Friday as part of its ongoing plan to take international games to new cities around...

Rurality and Agroecological Tourism in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, September 30 (ACN) The 10th Ibero-American Rural Tourism Meeting, under way in Cuba, made it clear that rural tourism is growing worldwide and promoting the revitalization of regions and the generation of new opportunities....