Latin America

Water Dispute Heightens Tensions Between U.S., Mexico

6:42am September 04, 2013

by Monica Ortiz Uribe

Mexico and the United States are supposed to share water according to a 70-year-old treaty that aims to protect each nation's needs. But prolonged drought is testing that relationship. Mexico is behind by 38 percent on its deliveries.

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Nyad Finishes Swimming Goal 35 Years After She First Tried

10:54am September 03, 2013

Diana Nyad finally conquered the Straits of Florida by swimming without a shark cage from Cuba to Key West. It was a distance of more than 100 miles. It was her fifth attempt.

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Thousands Of Striking Teachers Disrupt Mexico City

5:17am August 27, 2013

by Carrie Kahn

The teachers are protesting education changes that would institute evaluations and reduce the power of unions in hiring educators. It's common practice for teachers in Mexico to buy and sell tenured positions. The protests in Mexico City have caused traffic mayhem, and at one point blocked access to the international airport.

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A man cleans quinoa grain in Pacoma, Bolivia.

Can Quinoa Farming Go Global Without Leaving Andeans Behind?

3:53pm August 16, 2013

by Dan Charles

At a "quinoa summit" this week, farmers from around the world are trading tips on how to turn this ancient Andean grain into a large-scale crop. Some Andean farmers who currently grow quinoa are asking, "What happens to us?"

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Brazil's Evangelicals A Growing Force In Prayer, Politics

2:32pm August 16, 2013

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

In Brazil, evangelical Christians have made inroads into the Catholic community with innovations like drive-through prayer centers and massive outreach fairs featuring popular pastors and pop stars. In a nation long dominated by Catholics, about 22 percent of Brazilians now identify as evangelical.

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A police officer patrols the rooftop of a school at the Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 20, 2012, where a

Unease In Sprawling Rio Slum Ahead Of Police 'Pacification'

12:06pm August 09, 2013

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Brazilian police are preparing to occupy one of the deadliest shantytown complexes in Rio de Janeiro, hoping to drive out drug gangs ahead of next year's World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. But in Mare, the vast, poor and dangerous home to 75,000 people, some fear the police more than the drug gangs.

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Victor Reyes has been photographing tourists atop Tijuana's "zonkeys" since he was 12, and says at one time he could earn $150 a day. Now, he's lucky to earn $15, he says. Here, Reyes poses with his donkey, Ruben.

Working To Save The Painted 'Zonkeys' Of Tijuana

4:31am August 08, 2013

by Amy Isackson

Americans once waited in line for the chance to be photographed atop the striped donkeys on this famed tourist strip. But 9/11, the recession and the Mexican drug war have stifled tourism and nearly put the "zonkeys" and their owners out of work. A new push is on to save the historic icons.

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Hundreds of thousands of people crowd Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as Pope Francis celebrates the final Mass of his visit to Brazil. Security lapses, traffic chaos and other logistical snafus marred the visit.

World News

Pope's Visit: A Bumpy Test Run For Rio's World Cup, Olympics

7:47pm July 31, 2013

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

The visit by Pope Francis was marred by security lapses, traffic chaos and other logistical snafus. The event, World Youth Day, was seen as a test for Rio, which hosts the World Cup next year and the summer Olympics in 2016.

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Jubilation, Protest Greet Pope Francis In Brazil

6:16pm July 23, 2013

Pope Francis arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and was greeted by adoring masses and protesters alike. It is his first foreign trip since becoming pope.

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Pandoraviruses were discovered lurking in the mud of Chile and Australia, half a world apart.

World's Biggest Virus May Have Ancient Roots

6:14am July 20, 2013

by Geoff Brumfiel

The Pandoravirus is so big you can see it in an ordinary microscope. Scientists say its size may have helped fool amoebas and other potential hosts into eating it. But this virus doesn't pose a threat to humans. It's more of a Trojan virus than a surprise from Pandora's Box.

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