Brazil won the right to host the Olympics when times were good. But locals are now not so sure the city is up to the task.

The Russian vice-consul in Rio de Janeiro shot dead an armed mugger who had tried to hold him up in his car.

Former helicopter pilot has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Ecclestone's mother-in-law, who was rescued by Brazilian police.

A dire hotel accommodation shortage has opened the city's poorest favelas to tourists.

The Kiwi sportsman allegedly kidnapped by military police in Brazil says there's more to come in the bizarre tale.

The NZ sportsman kidnapped by men in police uniform in Rio de Janeiro this week is now safely in Toronto.

Kiwi sportsman Jason Lee, who alleged he was kidnapped by police in Rio this week, is safe after a second scare in the Olympics host city.

On NZ Herald Focus - Get up close to a golden lion tamarin in Rio de Janeiro.

United States efforts on the Zika virus have been so focused on prevention, almost no firm plans have been made for the care of the nation's first dozen Zika babies.

Across town in crumbling, working-class areas, there are few signs that the Rio de Janeiro Olympics open in just a month.

COMMENT: With less than a month to go until Rio, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of tourists and teams arriving in the city.

Rio is polluted, dangerous and often downright overwhelming. Alexis Carey recommends you don't miss it.

With the Olympics only a month away, the spotlight is on Brazil as it prepares for half a million tourists from around the world to arrive.

COMMENT: Today Brazil can say with confidence: we are ready to host the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take place in South America.

What's in the basement of his hotel? Nicholas Jones knows, but will he be allowed to go there?

The ashes of Australian man Rye Hunt have returned home to Tasmania after he was cremated in Brazil.

The family and partner of Australian backpacker Rye Hunt, who has been confirmed dead in Brazil, have spoken of their grief.

A body has been found in the search for missing Australian backpacker Rye Hunt, his family said today. They now await DNA testing results.

A majority of Brazil's Senate had indicated by last night that they will vote to put President Dilma Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's political future hangs on a vote that is scheduled to take place on Monday in the lower house of Congress.

A vast roll call of exotic critters entertain Nicholas Jones in the world's biggest wetland

When Brazil was awarded the Olympics in 2009, the country was booming. Now it is in the middle of a crippling recession.

Rousseff's coalition partners have pulled out of the Government, pushing her ruling party closer to the exit door.

Brazil's Lower House of Congress has launched impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff after thousands of Brazilians took to the streets.

On Thursday, state prosecutors filed money-laundering and misrepresentation charges against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Prosecutors in Sao Paulo state have filed money laundering charges against former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Stadiums, including the Aquatics Stadium and Future Arena are in the finishing stages, and the tottering remains of a favela, or slum, are being torn down.

There's an awful lot of wildlife in Brazil. Most of it lives in the Amazon rainforest, home to one in 10 of all the plant and animal species in the world.