All Americas
First LookMexico City sees potential soccer fields. But garden farmers fight to preserve a legacy.Mexico City鈥檚 chinampas, artificial islands first built by the Aztecs, are under threat from spreading urbanization. But a small collection of farmers on the islands are banding together to protect ancient farming practices.
Immigration is not just a US challenge. But on eve of election, it feels that way.The issue of immigration in the U.S. is tumultuous. But underneath the noise, a sea change has occurred that receives far less attention.聽
First LookPeru鈥檚 former president accepted $35 million in bribes. Now he will serve 20 years.Peru鈥檚 national court sentenced former President Alejandro Toledo to more than 20 years for accepting $35 million in bribes from a Brazilian construction company. He will spend it at a prison outside Lima built specifically for former Peruvian presidents.
First LookExtended power outage sparked protests in Cuba. Then Hurricane Oscar made landfall.鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had electricity for three nights,鈥� said one Cuban protestor, amid widespread blackouts. Authorities said the outage stemmed from increased demand but residents say this is just the latest issue in a series of problems with electricity.
Canada-India relations are at a new low. Why China could be the winner.The breakdown in India-Canada ties could force western allies into a difficult balancing act in Asia.聽
First Look鈥業ndia has made a monumental mistake鈥�: Canada expels India鈥檚 diplomats in growing riftCanada expelled India鈥檚 top diplomat and five others over the assassination of a Sikh activist as the latest salvo in an escalating conflict since the 2023 crime. India adamantly denies it was involved, and said it will expel six Canadian diplomats.
Reframing a dictatorship: Argentine human rights museum under fireIn Argentina, decades of well-documented crimes and court hearings are being questioned by the nation鈥檚 new populist, libertarian leadership.
Brazil has struggled to elect women to political office. Upcoming elections could change that.Many Latin American countries have reached gender parity in politics, but Brazil still lags far behind.
First LookClaudia Sheinbaum takes the presidential oath in Mexico. Now the hard work begins.Claudia Sheinbaum will become the first female president of Mexico when she takes her oath of office on Oct. 1. She promises to continue the social policies and constitutional reforms of former President聽Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador, but faces many crises.
First LookWhy are three of Brazil鈥檚 mega dams in the Amazon on the brink of failure?Brazil鈥檚 mega dams rank among the most powerful in the world, but droughts driven by climate change have decreased the dams鈥� output to as low as 3% of their potential.聽Hydropower accounts for around half the energy Brazilians use.聽
Ten years after 43 students disappeared, Mexican parents still seek the truthProtests usually express opposition. But in Mexico, where parents of disappeared students have marched for 10 years, grief is stronger聽 than dissent.
First LookMexico鈥檚 beloved Obrador prepares to say goodbye. What is his presidential legacy?President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador, who leaves office Sept. 30, is admired for his social programs and breaking down barriers between government and voters. However, he also attacked media, granted military more power, and eliminated regulatory agencies.
Once 鈥榚xtinct鈥� in Canada, the Sinixt people are reclaiming their ancestral homeWhen a country recognizes the rights of peoples to use their ancestral territory but they live in a different country, it raises tricky questions around access and sovereignty. That鈥檚 just what鈥檚 happening in Canada with the Sinixt Confederacy.
Latin America鈥檚 populist prototype: Peru鈥檚 Fujimori leaves divisive legacyFormer President Alberto Fujimori had been out of office for more than two decades when he died. But his legacy still divides Peru today.
Tango for all? How Argentine artists are upending stereotypes.Tango may conjure up images of tight suits and stiletto heels, but an alternative approach to Argentina鈥檚 national cultural icon could change that.
First LookWith protestors at the door, Mexico鈥檚 Senate says judges must stand for electionMexico鈥檚 Senate voted on Sept. 10 to have all judges elected by聽popular vote, a change critics fear will threaten democracy. Hundreds of protestors pushed their way into the chamber,聽yelling,聽鈥淭he judiciary isn鈥檛 going to fall.鈥�
First LookMaduro retains two-decades-long rule as opposition leader flees to SpainEdmundo Gonz谩lez, considered by several foreign governments to be the winner of the July presidential election, landed in Madrid Sept. 8. There, he joins at least four former presidential hopefuls who are victims of聽Nicol谩s聽Maduro鈥檚 brutal rule.
Human smuggling is on the rise. International collaboration is key to halting it.Despite efforts to crack down on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, human smugglers adapt quickly to new laws and regulations in how they market their 鈥渟ervices鈥� to desperate migrants.聽Human trafficking is on the rise. International collaboration is key to halting it.
First LookAs X sinks in Brazil, many users find refuge on Threads and BlueskyAfter Brazil鈥檚 Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to suspend X 鈥� with a hefty fine for those who evade the ban 鈥� users are moving to Bluesky or Threads. While X was not the largest platform in Brazil, it played an outsized role in politics, academia, and journalism.
The ExplainerWhy Mexican judicial reform is causing a rift with the USMexico鈥檚 president is pushing a controversial reform package through the legislature before leaving office. While he sees changes in how judges are selected as a win for democracy, others fear the loss of a key independent institution.聽