Lulu Garcia-Navarro

The South American country is experiencing widespread shortages of food and medicine, along with rolling power blackouts. All of which have sparked rioting and large anti-government protests.

In her novel, Pierced by the Sun, Laura Esquivel tackles crime and corruption in modern-day Mexico and boasts a female protagonist. The book has just been published in English.

Every week seems to bring unwelcome news in the run-up to the Olympics. This week, dismembered body parts washed up on a Rio beach. But how bad are things, really?

A number of athletes have dropped out of the Summer Olympics in Brazil over Zika concerns and the nation is dealing with widespread corruption, polluted waters and political turmoil.

With the economy in free fall, opponents of the president are trying to get enough signatures to hold a recall vote this year. They say Nicolas Maduro and his Socialist Party are trying to block them.

There have been a lot of problems in the run-up to the Rio Olympics. The torch relay was an unexpected boost for the embattled games - until something went wrong involving the game's mascot.

Guanabara Bay will host the Olympic sailing competition in August. But it's so heavily polluted, it threatens the livelihoods of those who depend on its waters.

The Summer Olympics are only seven weeks away. Host city Rio de Janeiro has been dealing with a lot of problems in the run-up to the games: Zika, corruption scandals and a political crisis.

Ten refugees — swimmers, runners and judo athletes — have been named to the first-ever Olympics refugee team. They'll compete this August in Rio, where two of the refugee athletes already live.

Rio de Janeiro made a big push to provide security in its shantytowns. But some, which were touted as models, are again plagued by gang violence that has terrified residents.

Reports of brutal rape in India and Brazil have touched off national conversations in those countries about violence against women.

The brutal gang rape of a 16-year-old girl — and misogynistic reactions to it on social media — is causing a furor in Brazil, where violence against women is rampant.

Secret tapes, street protests and political plots — Brazil is in turmoil and the newly installed government is already in trouble. It all centers on a corruption probe at the state oil company.

Brazil's first female president was suspended on Thursday, and the man replacing her quickly installed a new Cabinet that has no women.

Brazil's ousted President Dilma Rousseff describes the effort to impeach her as a coup. Stepping in to replace her is Vice President Michel Temer, who has named an all-male and all-white cabinet — this in a highly diverse nation in which 53 percent are Afro decedent.

Senators in Brazil voted to remove President Dilma Rouseff from office to face an impeachment trial. She will be tried for alleged manipulation of the country's budget.