Brazil plans to divorce itself from the US-centric internet over Washington's widespread online spying, a move that many experts fear will be a potentially dangerous first step toward fracturing a global network built with minimal interference by govts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has confirmed the death of Rebeca Nathan, 26, in the Brazilian city last week.

The Brazilian government has designated nearly 10,000 square kilometeres of land in the Amazon rainforest as a protected area.

Bino's back was killing him. He was suffering from scoliosis. He couldn't move his legs, two of them anyway, and his tail just wouldn't swish.

The Iguazu Falls in South America are one of the world's wonders, writes Josie Dale

Frenzied crowds of Roman Catholics mobbed the car carrying Pope Francis when he returned to his home continent for the first time as pontiff, embarking on a seven-day visit meant to fan the fervour of the faithful around the globe.

Pope Francis will land in a Brazil electric with anticipation for the pontiff's first international trip, heading into the open arms of his home continent where mammoth crowds are expected to celebrate Mass on Rio's Copacabana beach.

Aerial trams and cable cars take visitors up mountains, over rivers and above cities, and sometimes these cable cars are the destination themselves.

The Vatican has asked Brazil for an additional €30 million ($49.5 million) to help cover an expected shortfall in funding for the visit of the Pope to Rio de Janeiro this month.

The demonstrations in Brazil began after a small rise in bus fares triggered mass protests.

More than 270 drops comprise Iguazu Falls on the Brazil-Argentine border, one of the world's grandest water falls.

Eight people have been charged in connection with the deadly nightclub fire in southern Brazil that killed 241 people earlier this year, prosecutors said.

Prime Minister John Key has wrapped up his tour of Latin America with a meeting with Brazil's "Iron Lady".

When Prime Minister John Key lands in Mexico tomorrow it will have been more than a decade since the last New Zealand prime minister toured Latin America, and he concedes the region has been neglected in favour of Asian economies.

One-time Python, at 69, is still boyishly nice in the way that little clever boys can be nice. In fact, he may even be the nicest chap in Britain.

After years of steady economic growth in Brazil, Juliana Barbassa goes in search of an on-the-cheap exotic holiday in Rio.

Che Guevara's daughter, Aleida Guevara, says 'sometimes people know what he stands for, sometimes not'.

London's Games are done, now all eyes are on Rio, writes Josie Dale.

Socialite, former reality TV queen and aspiring DJ Paris Hilton is getting ready to assault the charts again.