Favela

Rio de Janeiro will soon have its moment in the sun. As Brazil’s second largest city, it will host both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. But before the city can host the world’s two largest sporting events, it must first deal with its notorious crime scene.

People in Rio de Janeiro’s notorious slums are moving toward the middle class, but many businesses shy away from the areas known for drug dealers and violence.

A blast of frigid Antarctic air has brought snow to much of Southern Brazil. This coincides with the official visit by Pope Francis, and comes on the heels of mass demonstrations against the government. All this has made it a wild winter.

Geo Quiz: We’re looking for a statue of the late Michael Jackson that sits outside a soccer stadium in England. The team was recently sold and locals want the statue removed. The old owner says the statue must stay. Where is the statue located?

Brazilian authorizes might feel a bit bewildered about all of the protests there. After all, conditions for Brazil’s poor have improved over the past decade. The World’s Jason Margolis has the story.