Latin America

Mexican defense secretary Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, pictured in a court sketch, had been accused of helping the H-2 Cartel, an extremely violent Mexican drug trafficking organization, traffic thousands of kilograms of cocaine, heroin, methamphetam

World News

U.S. Moves To Drop Drug Trafficking Charges Against Mexico's Former Defense Minister

9:21pm November 17, 2020

Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda was accused of working on behalf of one of Mexico's deadliest cartels. On Tuesday, Attorney General Barr said the former general will be investigated by Mexican authorities.

World News

Peru Sees 3 Presidents In The Span Of A Week

4:41pm November 17, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with investigative journalist Paola Ugaz about the political situation in Peru, which has now seen three presidents in the span of one week.

As Mexico Surpasses 1 Million Coronavirus Cases, Government Tries To Secure Vaccine

4:41pm November 17, 2020

by Carrie Kahn

Mexico's government is moving swiftly to secure coronavirus vaccines after President Andrés Manuel López Obrador failed to enforce lockdowns and cushion the economic effects of the pandemic.

A truck flounders in a flooded street in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, just hours before Hurricane Iota made landfall in the country Monday night. By Tuesday morning, the storm had significantly weakened, but it still poses life-threatening dangers for resid

Hurricane Iota, Weakening But Dangerous, Slams An Already Sodden Central America

1:49pm November 17, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

Iota diminished to a Category 1 hurricane within hours of its landfall in Nicaragua. Still, as the second strong storm to hit the region in as many weeks, Iota bears grave dangers for residents.

World News

Hurricane Iota Makes Landfall In Nicaragua As A Category 4 Storm

7:28am November 17, 2020

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Matt Hackworth of the Baltimore-based humanitarian group Lutheran World Relief about the devastation caused in Nicaragua this month from Hurricanes Iota and Eta.

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This satellite image made available by NOAA shows Hurricane Iota in the North Atlantic Ocean on Monday, at 07:11 EST.

World News

Hurricane Iota Makes Landfall In Nicaragua, Region Braces For 'Catastrophic' Impact

10:59pm November 16, 2020

by Elie Levine

Just two weeks after Hurricane Eta dumped heavy rainfall in the region, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and southern Belize are facing an even stronger storm fueled by climate change.

Navy members help evacuate people on a boat from the Karata and Wawa Bar communities ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Iota in Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, on Sunday.

World News

2 Weeks After Eta, Nicaragua Braces For Massive Hurricane Iota

10:32am November 16, 2020

by Scott Neuman

Iota, now a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 160 mph, is expected to hit Nicaragua on Monday evening, bringing catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge and extreme rainfall.

Protesters gather outside Congress in Lima, Peru, after interim President Manuel Merino announced his resignation following massive protests unleashed when lawmakers ousted President Martín Vizcarra.

Peru's Interim President Resigns After A Tumultuous Week Of Protests

7:44pm November 15, 2020

by Matthew S. Schwartz

Manuel Merino became the country's president on Tuesday after Peru's Congress voted to oust President Martín Vizcarra. Merino lasted just days before Congress asked him to step down.

Tropical Storm Iota is expected to develop into a major hurricane within the next few days.

World News

Central America Braces For Another Hurricane

6:27pm November 14, 2020

by Matthew S. Schwartz

It's the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record. When it makes landfall early next week, Iota could drop up more than 2 feet of rain in an area still recovering from Hurricane Eta.

World News

Bolsonaro Celebrates Suspension Of Chinese-Made Coronavirus Vaccine In Brazil

4:02pm November 11, 2020

by Philip Reeves

A major row erupted in Brazil after the government suspended trials of a Chinese-made coronavirus vaccine. President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of playing politics with the pandemic.