Philip Reeves

Inside the Amazon rainforest, wildcat miners dig out rocks and grind them down in search of gold. These illegal operators are blamed for deforestation, pollution and driving people off their land.

Under pressure in his country and abroad, Brazil's president is using military resources to fight fires in the Amazon and take action against those setting them.

Brazilians have taken to the streets in protest over destruction being done to the Amazon through wildfires and tree cutting. They say the new right-wing president is fueling the destruction.

Tens of thousands of fires have erupted in the Amazon so far this year — a huge spike over 2018 — and critics blame Bolsonaro's policies. He said Friday that protecting the rainforest is "our duty."

Fires are always burning in the Amazon. But wildfires have surged 83% since this time last year, according to Brazil's space agency. Satellites have spotted more than 9,500 wildfires this past week.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon is soaring under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. It is even happening in a vast highly protected reserve named after a murdered environmentalist.

At least 57 prisoners were killed by fellow inmates during a prison riot in northern Brazil in what authorities have described as a "targeted act" by gang members directed at a rival group.

Worries are growing among environmentalists in Brazil, who say an indigenous leader in the Amazon was killed after gold miners invaded the area.

Getting by in Venezuela gets harder by the day with deep shortages of food and medicine and a currency that's just about worthless. Perhaps it's no surprise that betting shops are thriving.

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians turned out in Sao Paulo to mark gay pride with a huge parade, after the president criticized a Supreme Court ruling making homophobia a criminal act.

Brazilians gathered today for a massive LGBTQ Pride parade in the city of Sao Paulo. This, despite the new president's record of homophobic statements.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is under scrutiny over allegations that two of his representatives in neighboring Colombia misappropriated money meant to support Venezuelan security forces.

A massive power grid serves Argentina, Uruguay and parts of Paraguay — tens of millions of people rely on it. On Sunday morning it went dead. By Sunday night most customers had their power back.

Brazil football star Neymar is battling a rape allegation which resulted in the suspension of a sponsorship. He denies the allegation, which the accuser claims happened in Paris last month.

A famous rum factory in Caracas organizes rugby tournaments for impoverished young men. The factory started the program years ago as an effort to get gang members off the streets.

In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro is starting to push back on U.S.-supported opposition to unseat him. But that may only fuel anti-government demonstrations.

The Trump administration is blaming Cuba for propping up Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Thousands of protesters rallied in Venezuela after the country's opposition leader Juan Guaido called on his supporters to return to the streets to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Attorney General Barr is refusing to appear before a hearing scheduled on Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee. Also, an update on unrest in Venezuela and Julian Assange's extradition case.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó urged Venezuelans to take the streets in an effort to oust President Nicolás Maduro. This comes after one person was killed and scores were wounded in Tuesday's violence.