How U.S. travel warnings – and the specter of cartel violence – deprive one of Mexico's most impressive geographic regions of vital tourist dollars.

The high cost of supporting an aging population has put changes to social security at the top of the government’s fiscal plans.

It's not just U.S. industrial behemoths that stand to lose if NAFTA ends – small businesses from the border to the heartland would suffer.

"It doesn't feel like the recession is over in the streets of Brazil, but you find a lot of optimism in board rooms and within the ranks for government," says AS/COA's Brian Winter.

The so-called "Tropical Spring" erupted, grabbed the attention of the world - and then disappeared (Or did it?). An in-depth look, nearly four years on.