Why do people risk their lives – or the lives of others – for the perfect selfie? Michael Weigold, University of Florida 2016 hasn’t been a great year for the selfie. In February, Argentinian tourists passed around a baby La Plata dolphin in order to take selfies with it. The endangered animal subsequently died from...Read More

Mexico’s central bank was unanimous in its decision to keep interest rates on hold last month, but most board members flagged the risk of a disorderly slump in the peso, which could hit inflation, meeting minutes showed on Friday. At their March 18 meeting, policymakers voted 5 to 0 to keep their benchmark interest rate...Read More

Puerto Vallarta’s Port Authority (API) will begin a series of renovations and new construction projects to develop Mexico’s only ‘theme’ cruise terminal. The plans call for an aquarium being described as the largest in Mexico, a tequila museum pavilion, and a new promenade with restaurants and shopping. The project has been lead through a tender...Read More

The Vallarta Pride 2016 Organizing Committee is pleased to confirm the participation of Idan Matalon and Myriam Montemayor as Grand Marshalls for this LGBTTI pride festival, which will be held from 16 to 29 May at this popular Mexican Pacific tourist destination. Besides being one of the most popular personalities on LGBT YouTube, Idan Matalon...Read More

The Alamo, the highly recognizable monument to Texas independence, will have its first major renovation in a century in a project overseen by a Philadelphia firm, officials said on Thursday. The San Antonio landmark, which began life as a Spanish colonial mission in the 1700s, was the site of the 1836 battle in which the...Read More

Global ballet star Carlos Acosta returns to his Cuban roots when his new dance company takes to the stage next month. Since retiring last year from London’s Royal Ballet where he was principal guest artist, the 42-year-old has gone back to his native Havana to found Acosta Danza. “My country made it possible for me...Read More

North Korea will pursue its nuclear and ballistic missile program in defiance of the United States and its allies, a top Pyongyang envoy said on Friday, adding that a state of “semi-war” now existed on the divided Korean peninsula. So Se Pyong, North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, denounced the huge joint...Read More

Five top players for the World Cup champion U.S. women’s soccer team have filed a federal wage discrimination complaint claiming they are paid less than male players even though they generate more income for the United States Soccer Federation. The athletes, including star scorer Carli Lloyd and goalkeeper Hope Solo, claim some of them earn...Read More

Seattle veterinarians will test a rescued sea turtle on Friday to see whether treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, typically used for decompression sickness in human divers, has cured a buoyancy disorder preventing the marine reptile from being released back to the ocean.  Tucker, a 70-pound (32-kg), 20-year-old endangered olive ridley sea turtle, was found in...Read More

Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches can be found in Mexico, where there are approximately 450 of them lining its expansive coastlines. Among them: Playa Escondida in the Islas Marietas and the beach at Sayulita, which were recognized as tops in the country in recent popularity lists compiled by USA Today and Travel +...Read More

Mexico’s proven oil and gas reserves dropped 21.3 percent in 2015, the oil regulator said on Thursday, as the state-run oil company, Pemex, cut back on investment because of plunging crude prices. Proven reserves, known as 1P, fell to 10.242 billion barrels of oil equivalent, or boe, as of Jan. 1, down from just over...Read More

Scientists have long known that mangroves provide vital barriers against storms and that these forests can store vast amounts of carbon. An article published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights again why mangroves are important for coastlines, ecosystems and the planet’s human populations. This study, however, moves away from the...Read More

Tax day is April 18th this year, and it will be an unpleasant day for millions of American working households. But cheer up: your tax situation likely will lighten up a bit when you retire. The Internal Revenue Service takes it easy when it comes to taxation of Social Security, and many retirees drop into...Read More