All Americas
Brazil's presidential race heads to a tight runoff – leaving Silva behindIncumbent President Rousseff failed to win a majority of votes in yesterday's election and will next face off against Neves in a runoff. Silva, who shot to the top of the pack in August, lost momentum as critics turned on her policies.
Mass grave found in Mexico raising fears it could hold bodies of missing studentsIf the newly discovered burial site holds the remains of the 43 students missing after a confrontation with police last weekend, this would be the nation's worst known massacre since President Peña Nieto took office.
Brazil could elect first black president – so why isn't anyone talking about it?Marina Silva is Brazil's first presidential candidate to identify herself as black. It hasn't been treated as a landmark moment in this majority afro-descendant population, however, despite an ongoing struggle with racial inequality.
Has Brazil's presidential 'candidate for change' already missed her chance?Brazilians head to the polls Sunday to vote for their next president. Marina Silva raised hopes for reform when she entered the race, but her flip-flopping on issues like gay rights has many flocking back to the ruling Worker's Party.
On eve of Brazil presidential election, is the Amazon at stake?Most Brazilian voters are focused on what incumbent President Rousseff and top competitor Silva have to say about the sluggish economy. Their prescriptions will have a major impact on environmental protection in the Amazon rainforest.
No ordinary kingpin? Mexico's capture of Hector Beltran Leyva defies stereotypesHector Beltran Leyva was more adept and more connected than most pursuing him imagined. He reconstituted his family's criminal group, working his business and political contacts and operating in some of the least violent places behind his inconspicuous cover.
Venezuelan politician's murder: More pressure on Maduro to crack down on crimeA Venezuelan lawmaker was murdered in his home late Wednesday. Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
- Dangerous precedent? Argentine judge abandons case against criminal group
An Argentine judge stepped down from prosecuting a criminal group with ties to national security forces this week after an incriminating photo emerged. How the justice precedes from here could set an important precedent for the nation's ability to go after organized crime.
Uruguay candidate stirs up controversy over marijuana registriesA candidate in next month's presidential election controversially said he would use registries of marijuana buyers and sellers in Uruguay – where the substance is state-regulated – for drug rehabilitation purposes. That could dissuade users from registering with the state in the first place, critics say.
Mexico touts decreasing murder rate - but high-profile hit muddles messageA brazen hit on a federal lawmaker underscores that in some parts of the country, organized crime still does what it wants in public, in daylight, and with no fear of retribution.
No 'devil' at UN summit, but Latin American leaders have lots to saySpeakers from Latin America hit on global and regional themes, and scored some diplomatic points. Domestic politics shaped many speeches at the UN General Assembly, which continues today in New York.
Presidential vote: What issues really matter to Brazil's voters?Brazilians go to the polls Oct. 5 to elect their next president, and no candidate is safe. From political corruption to lagging public services, voters may not cast their ballots with salient topics – like the faltering economy – in mind.
- Should multinationals have say in national affairs? Central Americans say 'no'
In recent weeks, citizens in El Salvador and Guatemala have protested efforts by foreign countries and companies to require the nations to abide by international treaties, despite local objections.
Televisa reporter fired after video catches him taking cash from Mexican drug lordOne journalist said he was forced against his will into the meeting with the kingpin. It’s an argument that a parade of political figures have also made after videos of their meetings were made public.
Mexico shootout or massacre? Witness accounts challenge military's take.Reports by Esquire Mexico and the Associated Press have painted a very different picture of a June incident that killed 22 people.
The 'new Detroit' has a decidedly Mexican accentMexico has leapfrogged other auto producing nations, passing Spain, France, and Brazil to become the world’s No. 7 automaker and the fourth largest exporter.
Mystery, beauty, and a dash of menace: Twin volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua are little known adventure destinationA small isthmus connects the skirts of two volcanos to form Ometepe Island, one of the Western Hemisphere’s emerging adventure destinations. President Ortega's plan to challenge the Panama Canal would cut across Lake Nicaragua, just south of the island.
Reporting on Rio's realities – and comparing them to New York CityTwo young Brazilians from some of Rio's poorest favelas say their community reporting connects Brazilians with the realities of living in challenging communities, and brings global attention to poverty and inequality. They recently traveled to New York on a youth journalism exchange program.
Was Maduro's cabinet change a missed opportunity for Venezuela?President Maduro's changes to his cabinet did little to address pressing problems like the economy - and he may have increased the challenges facing his country.
Move over, Argentina: Colombia vies to take over regional LGBT travel marketColombia is working hard to shed its image as a war-torn drug haven, and it's emerged as a regional tourism destination. But it's undergoing a more subtle shift as well, building a reputation as an LGBT-friendly hotspot.
