Latin America

The Brazilian city of Olinda has a novel approach to taming its ever-growing traffic problem: traffic clowns known as palhacos.

World News

Brazil's Traffic Is A Circus, So Send In The Clowns

8:01pm September 18, 2013

by NPR Staff

The northeastern city of Olinda is trying to tame its chaotic roads with "traffic clowns," who hit the streets in full costume, encouraging drivers to slow down, don a helmet or buckle their seat belts.

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Brazil's President Postpones U.S. Visit Over Spying Concerns

4:27am September 18, 2013

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has put off her state visit to the United States over allegations that the National Security Agency spied on her, ordinary Brazilians and the state oil company. This was supposed to be the first state visit by a Brazilian leader in two decades.

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A woman looks at clothes inside a shop in Rio de Janeiro. Consumption has been a huge driver of the Brazilian economy, but the boom years are over, and economists say the outlook isn't good.

World News

As Economy Cools, Brazilians Find Themselves Trapped In Debt

8:44pm September 17, 2013

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Brazil's banks started giving easy credit about eight years ago. The country was booming, and a new consumer class was created, fueling growth. But that boom is now over, and Brazilians are some of the most indebted people in the world.

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Tlacoyos can be filled with beans, potatoes, mushrooms or cheese and are often topped with grilled cactus, onions, cilantro, and salsa.

Tlacoyos: A Mexican Grilled Snack That Tempted The Conquistadors

2:10pm September 04, 2013

by Carrie Kahn

Tlacoyos are a doughy corn tortilla of sorts that's cooked on a grill. Whether enjoyed on a plastic plate as street food or fine china in a high-end restaurant, it's been a favorite snack for centuries.

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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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