World
South America
Updated
Political unrest
Bolivian military flees government palace after coup fails, general in custody
Bolivia’s president confronted the commander leading the rebellion in the palace hallway, telling him: “I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers”.
- by Daniel Ramos
Latest
Noam Chomsky’s wife denies reports that the leftist icon has died
Chomsky, 95, had been hospitalised in Brazil while recovering from a stroke. Some outlets have published obituaries.
- by Hillel Italie
No, a remote Amazon tribe is not addicted to porn
An article by The New York Times about the arrival of Starlink internet in the rainforest took on a life of its own. In a few days, the web was rife with misinformation.
- by Jack Nicas
Chiquita banana company found liable for funding Colombian death squads
Chiquita bananas are famous all over the world. The company is the subject of a number of lawsuits brought by victims’ families in the US.
- by Jorge Valencia
The bird flu virus has adapted to sea mammals. Scientists are puzzled
And the new research findings hold a warning: H5N1 may similarly transform to cause large-scale infections in other mammalian species, including people.
- by Apoorva Mandavilli
World of photos, May 24, 2024
The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors
El Niño blamed for floods that killed scores, left 150,000 homeless in Brazil
On the outskirts of Eldorado do Sul, people are sleeping on the roadside and going hungry.
- by Amanda Perobelli and Leonardo Benansatto
To save the Amazon, a project is making sure cattle farmers earn another living
The stakes are high. About one-fifth of what some call “the lungs of the world” is already gone. Now Microsoft and other corporations are getting involved.
- by Manuela Andreoni
Updated
Extreme weather
Worst floods ever recorded in Brazil kill dozens, destroy key infrastructure
Brazil’s president said there had never been more rain in a single location in the country’s history.
- by Gabriela Sa Pessoa
Beauty queen shot dead after octopus ceviche order led killers to restaurant
Police are investigating the brazen daylight shooting of 23-year-old Landy Parraga amid media speculation the hit was ordered over an affair with a drug lord.
- by James Badcock