Americas

A fully-covered man riding a motorbike in the street at night

New banking services tackle barriers faced by migrants

Some startups throughout the Americas are establishing loans geared towards migrants. Among them is Galgo, which helps migrants buy motorbikes in order to earn money with delivery apps like Uber Eats.

New banking services tackle barriers faced by migrants
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa during welcome ceremonies outside the 16th century Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Saturday, April 22, 2023. 

Portugal’s president says country should apologize, 'assume responsibility' for slave trade

Portugal’s president says country should apologize, 'assume responsibility' for slave trade
The sword of the Royal House of Avis on a stylized cross decorates the 56-meter high Monument to the Discoveries by the Tagus river in Lisbon, Thursday, March 30, 2023. 

Vatican rejects Doctrine of Discovery after years of pressure from Indigenous activists

Vatican rejects Doctrine of Discovery after years of pressure from Indigenous activists
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou waves as Ma leaves for China, at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan, Monday, March 27, 2023.

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China

Former Taiwanese president makes historic visit to China
A large pile of stones are shown with a square opening and a passageway.

UNESCO adds an ancient Peruvian solar observatory to its World Heritage Sites

UNESCO adds an ancient Peruvian solar observatory to its World Heritage Sites
A group of runners carrying staffs and smile for a group shot

'Spirit Run': A new memoir details one man's journey to reconnect with nature and his Indigenous heritage

In his memoir, "Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America's Stolen Land," Noe Álvarez shares how the communal run helped him reclaim a relationship with the land and reconnect with his parents' migration and life of labor in the agricultural fields of the northwest.

'Spirit Run': A new memoir details one man's journey to reconnect with nature and his Indigenous heritage
A demonstrator holds a sign that reads "George Floyd, justice" during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd and the arrival of US troops in Colombian territory, in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 3, 2020.

Black Lives Matter protests renew parallel debates in Brazil, Colombia

Across the Americas, police violence disproportionately targets young black men. The protests sparked by George Floyd's death in Minneapolis have shined a new light on police brutality in South America.

Black Lives Matter protests renew parallel debates in Brazil, Colombia
A couple kiss in the Pantitlan metro station as Mexico's government is seeking to minimize public disruption in its response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mexico City, Mexico, on March 17, 2020.

Experts concerned Mexico not taking enough COVID-19 precautions

Mexico’s approach is much less stringent than those of its Central American neighbors, which have virtually closed their borders despite reporting only a handful of cases.

Experts concerned Mexico not taking enough COVID-19 precautions
Gay and lesbian newlyweds kiss at a pro same-sex marriage party in Taipei.

An LGBTQ rights advocate looks back on the 2010s and ahead to a new decade

Lucas Mendes, a Senior Research Officer at ILGA World, discusses with Marco Werman the wins and losses of the last decade for the worldwide LGBTQ community.

An LGBTQ rights advocate looks back on the 2010s and ahead to a new decade
A man on a horse wears a black and red colonial-era costume. Behind him is smoke from a fire.

Haiti protests summon spirit of the Haitian Revolution to condemn a president tainted by scandal

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the black Haitian revolutionary who defeated the French to free Haiti from colonial rule in 1804, has emerged as a new icon of protest in Haiti.

Haiti protests summon spirit of the Haitian Revolution to condemn a president tainted by scandal
picture of four brown spiders on a white background.

Brazilian biologist discovers 4 new spider species and names them after heavy metal icons

Musicians from Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Def Leppard and the Brazilian band Angra got spider species named after them.

Brazilian biologist discovers 4 new spider species and names them after heavy metal icons
Four girls sit in a row of protesters, one with a long braid is speaking and gesturing with her hands.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg takes protest to climate-change denier Trump

A demonstration across the street from the White House Friday marked the first high-profile event of Greta Thunberg's six-day visit to Washington, intended to pressure the Trump administration ahead of a United Nations Climate Summit.

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg takes protest to climate-change denier Trump
A group of men and women, some holding arms stand around a man reading from a document.

Former FARC leaders announce new armed offensive in Colombia

A group of former rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced it will launch a new armed offensive.

Former FARC leaders announce new armed offensive in Colombia
A Mayan temple is seen on a foggy morning.

Mexico wants to run a tourist train through its Mayan heartland — should it?

Cancun, on the Yucatan peninsula, is one of Mexico's most visited cities, while nearby Mayan villages struggle with poverty and lack of economic opportunities. A newly proposed train line could help fix that, but at what cost to the people and ecosystem?

Mexico wants to run a tourist train through its Mayan heartland — should it?
thelma cabrera in guatemala

Guatemalan elections: Corruption, violence — and hope

Maya candidate Thelma Cabrera's unprecedented campaign for president was unsuccessful, but hope has not been dashed. Her run suggests that Guatemala's grassroots opposition is slowly gaining ground.

Guatemalan elections: Corruption, violence — and hope