Americas Now

May 31, 2023

Bird Flu Detected in Mammals in Peru

Since 2022 some parts of the world have experienced the worst avian influenza outbreak ever. From Condors in California to seabirds in Gambia, the avian flu is killing birds all over. But it’s also begun to spread to mammals. Dan Collyns tells us how the […]

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May 17, 2023

Canada and Portugal on How to do Better with Technology

Americas Now’s Elaine Reyes moderated a panel about how technology reshapes trade, migration, and relations among countries at the Web Summit Rio. She invited Portugal’s Secretary of State for Internationalization, Bernardo Ivo Cruz, and Canada’s chief Trade Commissioner, Sara Wilshaw, to talk about how quickly […]

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May 17, 2023

How to Become a Unicorn in the Crowded Startup World

Americas Now’s Elaine Reyes met Argentinean entrepreneur Silvina Moschini after one of her sessions at the Web Summit in Rio. She has made a career in technology and the digital economy. One of her fields of expertise is raising capital and attracting startup investors.  Take […]

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May 17, 2023

Taking  Advice from a Digital Marketing Mastermind 

Americas Now’s Elaine Reyes moderated a discussion on the central stage of the Web Summit in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, with Sean Kim, the former head of product at social media sensation TikTok. They talked about the new rules for building a personal brand. She […]

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May 3, 2023

Riding Ecuador’s Political Instability

Latin America has seen a wave of political instability lately, with violent street protests in early 2023. There have also been fierce confrontations between presidents and legislature. What happens to countries when a president is fighting for survival and political friction interferes with his ability […]

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May 3, 2023

A Look Into a Favela of Peace 

We’re in the capital of Brazil, the largest county in Latin America, and we’ve been talking about science and technology. How they can help fight poverty, but our next story is about improving the quality of life with a strong sense of community. Miuda Valls […]

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May 3, 2023

Brazil Targeting the Inequality Gap with Science

Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America, but at the same time, its poverty rate remains high. According to the official statistics agency, in 2021, Brazil had over 62 million people experiencing poverty and almost 20 million enduring extreme poverty. Can science, innovation, and […]

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April 12, 2023

Plastic Waste

In 2017, a dispute erupted between Honduras and Guatemala over tons of plastic trash that was washing up on beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Both countries share the Motagua River. But Honduras accused Guatemala of not doing enough to control its huge waste management problem. […]

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April 12, 2023

Sharks Attacks

The United States is by far the country with the most shark attacks recorded in modern history. And Florida is where most of these attacks, bites and fatalities occur. Correspondent John Zarrella talked with some scientists about the recent uptick in shark encounters. He also […]

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April 12, 2023

Mexico’s Wealth Gap

In a time of rising inflation and higher costs of living, wealth inequality is a growing concern. And Latin America is one of the most unequal regions in the world. Correspondent Alasdair Baverstock brings us the case of Mexico, where the extremely rich live alongside […]

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April 11, 2023

Colonia Tovar

It’s a village that has houses built in the German architectural style, locals speaking German on the streets and a brewer producing Bavarian beer. But it’s not located in Europe. It’s two hours outside Caracas, in Venezuela. Colonia Tovar was founded in the 1840´s by […]

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March 31, 2023

U.S. Summit for Democracy

  The controversial second Summit for Democracy, hosted by the United States has wrapped up with many nations involved not signing on to all the commitments pushed by Washington. Differences between the invited nations and regions on everything from the internet to international justice emerged […]

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March 31, 2023

Deadly fungus spreading across the U.S.

  Health officials in the U.S. are warning the public about a deadly, drug-resistant fungus spreading in care facilities across the country. According to a new study, screened cases of Candida auris tripled from 2020 to 2021, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]

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March 26, 2023

Migrants Rerouted

Every year tens of thousands of migrants attempt the dangerous journey from their homes in El Salvador and Honduras to the United States. Some make it the US border, only to be turned back. Others don’t even make it that far. But a program in […]

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March 26, 2023

Amazon Tower Lab

Brazil is by far the most biologically-diverse country in the world. It’s home to over 130,000 living species of flora and fauna. Correspondent Maria Valls reports on how scientists study and protect one of Nature’s greatest sanctuaries: the Amazon rainforest.

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March 26, 2023

Food Waste In the U.S.

According to the US Environment Protection Agency, almost one third of the food that is produced, shipped or sold is wasted. And most of it is uneaten. Mike Kirsch tells us about the efforts underway in California to prevent food from being thrown away.

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March 20, 2023

US Train System, Moving Bombs?

The derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in February has caused what many call an environmental disaster. The accident occurred in the US state of Ohio, raising many questions regarding safety. How often do trains transport these toxic materials? And are they adequately supervised? […]

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March 15, 2023

Water is Precious and Scarce in Chile

Santiago, Chile, is Latin America’s fourth most populated capital city. It’s home to over six million people. But a prolonged drought has the metropolis on the verge of unprecedented water rationing. Joel Richards has the story.     

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March 15, 2023

Meet the Best Front-Line Workers in Fire Prevention: Goats

Every year in the US, thousands of hectares, entire neighborhoods, and even small towns are lost to wildfires. Preventing these blazes has become a significant challenge for firefighters and authorities. Mike Kirsch introduces us to a unique idea to combat fires that are proving highly […]

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February 17, 2023

Climate Change is Changing the Face of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the Americas and the largest in the US. For decades, scientists have studied its geysers, many species, and volcanic activity. But now they’re closely monitoring something else that’s having an impact—climate change. John Zarrella has the story.     

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February 17, 2023

Brazilian Gang Pushing Paraguay on the Verge of a Narco-State Status

Drug cartels continue to expand their reach across Latin America. The latest example is Paraguay. Once a relatively quiet country, it has become an international transit hub for drug dealing as foreign crime organizations have settled in and caused chaos. Correspondent Maria Valls reports.    

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January 24, 2023

The Sky is Not the Limit for These Spaniard Scientists

One of them commands a spaceship taking tourists to space, and the other is a scientist tracking ice bodies on the solar system’s edge. What does it take to make a career in Astrophysics? John Zarrella met with two Spaniards who made the stars their […]

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January 24, 2023

A Dangerous Drive for a Better Life

It was a tragic end for 53 migrants who died inside a poorly ventilated truck outside San Antonio, Texas. While two men have been indicted for those deaths, the wounds in their communities are still open. Harris Withbeck reports from Central Guatemala, where many victims […]

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January 23, 2023

When Reopening Borders Isn’t Enough

Venezuela and Colombia have had contentious relations for over a decade.  But now, with a new Colombian government in place, diplomatic and economic relations are starting again. Where there was uncertainty, now there is hope. Michelle Begue reports.     

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January 13, 2023

A Brazilian Take on Solutions to Traffic and Climate Change

They’re sophisticated, electric-assisted tricycle taxis. They’re manufactured in Shanghai and assembled in Brazil. Many believe they’re precisely what Rio de Janeiro hopes will help its commitment to eliminate fossil fuels by 2050. Lucrecia Franco has more on the trikes that are providing employment and bringing […]

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January 13, 2023

Venezuelan Immigrants Feeling Ostracized in Chile

According to the United Nations, 7 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2017. The majority decided to make their way to other South American nations. But the massive flow of people often caused confrontations and social clashes. Harris Whitbeck reports on some incidents that […]

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January 13, 2023

Mayfield, Kentucky: Rebuilding After Devastation

On December 10th, 2021, a deadly tornado ripped across Western Kentucky, causing catastrophic damage. Dozens of people lost their lives. Correspondent Dan Williams covered the story when it happened. He then went back to check on rebuilding a town; this force of nature nearly wiped […]

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December 1, 2022

Gulf Clan Stronger than Ever in Colombia

The illegal drug business is once again booming in Colombia. The country just reported a 20-year record high yield for coca crops used to make cocaine. President Gustavo Petro has made it his mission to eradicate the problem by using a new approach. Toby Muse […]

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December 1, 2022

The Chinese Influence in Mexican Cuisine

When it comes to gastronomy, Latin America has a variety of options to offer. But Mexican food may be the most famous worldwide. What’s Mexico’s secret? Alasdair Baverstock tells us about the roots of Mexican flavors and the Chinese influence behind them.

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November 10, 2022

Preserving the Garifuna Language

The Garifuna people are descendants of mixed African-Indigenous ancestry from a few Central American and Caribbean countries. Their population is small, and their traditions are fading away. Harris Whitbeck went to Belize to report on a movement to protect the Garifuna’s most important cultural legacy: […]

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November 10, 2022

An Interview with Maria Brown, Minister of Education in Ecuador

Modern education, especially after the pandemic, is about technology, globalization, and learning at least one foreign language. But how do you tackle that in rural areas in Latin America where connectivity is not always available, and there are few native languages? During the United Nations […]

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November 10, 2022

Underage Drivers to Smuggle Undocumented Migrants into the U.S.

According to US Customs and Border Protection, over 2.3 million migrants were detained between September 2021 and September 2022 while trying to cross the border with Mexico illegally. This brings the number of crossings to the highest level ever recorded. Alasdair Baverstock explains what new […]

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October 26, 2022

Ideological Polarization Marks Brazil’s Runoff Elections

Around 150 million Brazilians are expected to vote in the final round of the country’s elections on October 30, a deeply polarized contest between the incumbent right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and his left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The two men have starkly different […]

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