Custom officials at Miami International Airport find sweet potatoes disguised as chocolates. A traveler who arrived at Miami International Airport earlier this month must pay a $300 penalty for trying to smuggle fresh sweet potatoes from Bolivia into the United States by disguising the vegetables as a candy. According to a news release, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists discovered the 18 small sweet potatoes in early November.

Think twice before investing in these places . Investors spend a good deal of time determining the best places to invest, but do you ever wonder which countries are the worst places in the world to invest? If you invest in mining companies, you should. After all, when you invest in a mining company, you?re not just investing in a company but also the government and communities in which the company is exploring for and developing deposits. So much about the success of a project depends upon the jurisdiction in which it exists that most institutional investors simply won?t put money into a company operating in certain countries. Sure you can find a deposit in Venezuela, for example, but leaders like Hugo Chavez, who are in the habit of decreeing bizarre legislation such as a recent ban on singing in the shower in Venezuela also have a penchant for stealing mineral deposits from whomever they please. The Fraser Institute?s Survey of Mining Companies 2008/2009 is one measure of how mineral

Argentine defender Gabriel Milito returned to action after an 18-month injury lay-off on Wednesday as Barcelona defeated Bolivar CF of Bolivia 4-1 in a friendly match.

From a devastating food crisis in Guatemala to water cuts in Venezuela, El Nino has compounded drought damage across Latin America this year.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is calling a meeting of eight Amazon countries next week to forge a common stand ahead of next month's key climate talks, officials said Friday.

Diego Maradona was banned from all football for two months by FIFA on Sunday over his sexually-explicit rant last month.

Diego Maradona was banned from all football for two months by FIFA on Sunday over his sexually-explicit rant last month.

Maradona receives 2-month suspension from FIFA, but avoids sanctions affecting World Cup. FIFA handed Argentina coach Diego Maradona a two-month ban from all soccer activities on Sunday for his expletive-filled rants after his team qualified for the 2010 World Cup.

South American nations agree on development bank with startup capital of $20 billion. Seven South American nations on Saturday signed an agreement to create a Bank of the South with startup capital of $20 billion.

Venezuela's Chavez builds alliances with Africa at 'South-South' summit. Hugo Chavez made diplomatic inroads in Africa on Sunday at a summit of South American and African leaders where he offered Venezuela's help in oil projects, mining and financial assistance.

Several hundred Shuar Indians wearing black war paint and toting wooden spears on Thursday reinforced a highway blockade that police failed to break up earlier in a bloody melee that left one Indian dead and at least 40 police injured.

Shuar Indians reinforce roadblock in dispute with Ecuador's government over mining, water laws. Several hundred Shuar Indians wearing black war paint and toting wooden spears on Thursday reinforced a highway blockade that police failed to break up earlier in a bloody melee that left one Indian dead and at least 40 police injured.

Thousands lament Madrid's Olympic fiesta that nearly was after losing to Rio de Janeiro. For thousands of Madrid supporters, the 2016 Olympics likely will be remembered as the fiesta that was nearly theirs.

Jim Rogers thinks it?s historically undervalued . While prices of gold don?t necessarily affect silver prices or vice versa, history has demonstrated that when gold rises or falls, silver usually follows suit.

The International Monetary Fund took on a bigger global role Sunday as its 186 member nations accepted the mantle of guiding a lasting economic recovery from the 20 largest economies.

List of endangered monuments from World Monuments Funds. Afghanistan: Old City of Herat

Under-pressure Argentina coach Diego Maradona has announced that he might quit after must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

Under-pressure Argentina coach Diego Maradona has announced that he might quit after must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

The big mystery: What's wrong with Argentina with World Cup spot on the line?. On the streets and in Buenos Aires' pubs, a great mystery is baffling almost everyone.

Bolivian president joins in ceremony commemorating guerrilla leader Ernesto `Che' Guevara. Bolivia's president participated in a tribute Thursday to the guerrilla leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was captured and killed by Bolivian soldiers 42 years ago while trying to foment revolution in this Andean nation.