Latin America

World News

Mexico Swears In A New Police Force, But Many Aren't Impressed

9:12pm August 25, 2014

by Carrie Kahn

Mexico is inaugurating a new elite police force, a gendarmerie of 5,000 highly trained officers. The force was a campaign pledge by President Enrique Pena Nieto. His administration has touted a decrease in violent crimes, but despite the dip, the rate of kidnappings is up in many of the country's states.

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Once An Object Of Reverence, Brazilian Soccer's A Punchline

7:38pm August 19, 2014

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Once, Brazilians were welcomed in other countries with talk of Brazil's soccer dominance; now, everyone merely speaks of their historic World Cup defeat against Germany.

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World News

As Flow Of Migrants Into Mexico Grows, So Do Claims Of Abuse

10:59am August 19, 2014

by Carrie Kahn

Like the U.S., Mexico is struggling with a surge in illegal migrants. Mexico criticizes how the U.S. treats its migrants. But it faces similar criticism from Central American migrants in Mexico.

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Panama Canal Symbolizes U.S. Geopolitical, Technological Power

7:36am August 15, 2014

Steve Inskeep talks to Harvard professor Noel Maurer about the Panama Canal which opened 100 years ago. One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, it connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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Letter From Beyond The Grave: A Tale Of Love, Murder And Brazilian Law

6:23pm August 10, 2014

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Lenira de Oliveira and her boyfriend were on trial for murder. Then an astonishing piece of evidence was submitted in their defense: a letter from the victim, as communicated to a medium.

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In Debt Duel, It Was Argentina V. Paul Singer

8:07pm July 31, 2014

Argentina has defaulted on billions of dollars of government debt, and it's partly due to a bunch of New Yorkers. Forbes writer Agustino Fontevecchia explains the confrontation between Argentina and a New York-based hedge fund manager named Paul Singer.

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Argentina Economy Minister Axel Kicillof speaks during a news conference at the Argentina Consulate on Wednesday in New York. By the end of the day, a deal had not been reached with the country's creditors.

Late Rally From Argentina Fails To Delay Default

10:09pm July 30, 2014

by NPR Staff

Earlier in the day it looked like a resolution was possible, but ultimately talks between the country and a group of creditors broke down in New York. The first time the country defaulted was in 2002.

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World News

A Tour Of The Tower That Fell Into Squatters' Hands

7:07pm July 30, 2014

One of the tallest skyscrapers in Venezuela has been occupied by some 3,000 squatters since 2007. The half-finished "Tower of David" — named for its financier, David Brillembourg — is now being evacuated by the Venezuelan government. Ari Shapiro talks to architecture critic Justin McGuirk about the building.

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World News

Venezuelans Celebrate Chavez With A Focus On His Handwriting

7:35am July 29, 2014

The handwriting is familiar to Venezuelans: Chavez spent hours on national TV writing and drawing to explain his policies, mostly in caps and socialist red. It's also a computer font: ChavezPro.

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Books
Arts

'Back Channel' Turns Up White House Intrigue

1:32pm July 26, 2014

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Stephen L. Carter about his new novel, Back Channel. It's a political thriller set during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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