La Vega, a sea of tin-roofed shacks and steep, narrow streets, is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Caracas, Venezuela. Most of the countrys population lives in slums, or barrios like this. Until President Hugo Chavez came to power in 1998, politicians had done little more for these communities than seek their votes, and then forget about them. Under Chavez, much of the nations oil wealth has been poured into social programs. As a result, many citizens have been able to receive an education or see a doctor for the first time in their lives.
Chile
A US bank reportedly helped former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet hide millions of dollars over an eight-year period, even after he was arrested in London in 1998 and a court froze his assets.