Inside the Americas

In the mid-2000s, the small coal-mining town of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was in a steep economic decline, with jobs dwindling and few opportunities of making a solid income. Now, just 10 years later, Hazleton seems to be on the rebound, but its population has also become 50 percent Latino. It's a story that's becoming more and more common across America, as small towns are forced to choose between preserving their “American” identities and saving their economies.

More than two million people have fled Venezuela since the start of the economic crisis. The exodus is even affecting one of the country's most successful industries: beauty queens. Estimated at a value of several billion dollars, the country's pageant industry boasts six Miss Worlds and seven Miss Universes, beating all international records. But it seems Venezuela is no longer the right place for these young women to make their dream a reality.

Former US first lady Michelle Obama has begun a 12-stop arena tour to promote her new book, "Becoming". In the memoir, she reflects on the politics of race, Donald Trump, her marriage and motherhood. The former first lady reveals she didn't initially believe Barack Obama could become president. She also writes openly about the man who was elected to succeed her husband.

In Washington, DC, the dust is now settling on Tuesday's midterm elections, regarded as a key referendum on the first two years of the Trump presidency. As the seats of the two chambers are redistributed, Inside the Americas takes you on a tour of the United States Congress, the seat of power. We also find out more about what the elections will change and where this leaves Donald Trump's reform plans.

This week, we take a look at the final campaign push ahead of the US midterm elections. The Democrats' hope of retaking control of the House of Representatives is pinned on flipping key battleground districts. Our correspondents Pierrick Leurent and Hayde Fitzpatrick travelled to Orange County, California - one of those infamous red pockets.

This week, as Donald Trump stands by Saudi Arabia, suspicion is growing elsewhere around the world that missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been killed by Saudi agents. The case is now shining a light on US-Saudi business ties, not least between the kingdom and the US president himself. We take a closer look.

Brazil's far-right presidential candidate has vowed to put the country first. This as Jair Bolsonaro prepares to go head-to-head with the left's Fernando Haddad in the run-off on October 28. Bolsonaro's policies have been controversial, but he insists he won't be changing his tone just to win more votes.

This Sunday, Brazilians head to the polls for one of the most divisive votes in their country's history. If former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hadn't ended up behind bars, polls say there was a very good chance he would have won the presidency once again. But rampant corruption has left a bad taste in the mouths of many Brazilians, to the point where a large number of those heading to the polls will be voting against the corrupt candidates of the past.

This week, with the US midterm elections getting closer, we take a look at some of the more surprising campaign advertisements doing the rounds this voting season. That crucial ballot is just around the corner and as we count down to November 6, we're casting an eye over some of the most controversial and sometimes ridiculous advertising that's popped up this election season.

The woman who's accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault calls for an FBI inquiry into the Supreme Court nominee before she'll testify at the Senate. University professor Christine Blasey Ford alleges Kavanaugh assaulted her at a party in 1982 when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh denies the claims, but they look set to delay his nomination. For more on this we speak to Anne Deysine, a specialist in US law and professor at Paris X Nanterre University.