Latin America

Officials in Rio de Janeiro say they will use the 2016 Olympics to transform the city, but massive sports events like the Olympics carry a huge price tag, and often leave only white elephants behind.

The archbishop was an outspoken voice against human rights abuses during the Salvadoran civil war. He was killed while giving mass in 1980. The pope's decree sets the stage for beatification.

Venezuela's president has responded to a worsening economic crisis by imposing even more controls. A long-time pasta producer says prices are so low, the more pasta he makes, the more money he loses.

Thousands of Garifuna people — Hondurans of African descent — live in New York City. A doctor there is reaching out to Garifuna faith healers to test and treat members of that community who have HIV.

More than 100 detainees remain locked up at the prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Obama wants Guantanamo closed, but no solution is yet in sight to close it.

Pope Francis has declared slain Archbishop Oscar Romero a martyr. Previous popes declined to do so, possibly because of Romero's role in liberation theology.

Hernando de Soto wanted to figure out why his country, Peru, was stuck in poverty. His answer transformed poor countries around the world.

This week Major League Baseball smoothed the path for Cubans to play professional ball in the United States. The change in policy follows the recent decision by the U.S. and Cuba to normalize diplomatic relations.