AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean

May 16-22, 2025

Panama and Venezuela are resuming commercial flights nearly a year after suspending them when the Panamanian president refused to recognize the reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Geese in Brazil were stained blue in the Tulipas stream after a truck accidentally spilled chemical dye into the water. In Argentina, a woman carried a dog along a flooded highway after heavy rains in Campana.

This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The selection was curated by AP photographer Juan Karita, based in La Paz, Bolivia.

Follow AP visual journalism:

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

A woman carries a dog along a flooded highway after heavy rains in Campana, Argentina, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Demonstrators travel by river to the mouth of the Rio Indio on Panama's Caribbean coast to protest against a planned reservoir for the Panama Canal and to protest against Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A firefighter sets the forest ablaze as part of a controlled plan to prevent wildfires in the Cerrado region, at a national park in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Tents set up by protesting teachers blanket the Zócalo, the main square in Mexico City, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

America's Kevin Alvarez controls the ball during a Mexican soccer league first leg semifinal match against Cruz Azul in Mexico City, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Members of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo company perform during the opening of "Core meu" at the National Theater, in Havana, Friday, May 16, 2025. Princess Caroline of Monaco, president of the company established in 1985 in honor of her mother, Princess Grace, accompanied the dancers to Havana. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

An elephant arrives at its new home in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, after being transported from Ostok Sanctuary in the outskirts of Culiacan, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Children play at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Geese stained blue swim in the Tulipas stream after a truck accidentally spilled chemical dye into the water in Jundiai, Brazil, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Fans dressed in costumes gather to take part in a parade celebrating the month of May as Star Wars' month, as seen by some fans of the George Lucas space opera, in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Workers clean a roof at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Thursday, May 22, 2025, as Panama and Venezuela prepare to resume commercial flights nearly a year after suspending them when Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino refused to recognize the re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills joined the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in advancing to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

Allen led the Bills to a 27-24 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first of three wild-card playoff games on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers (12-5) took on the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) in the middle game and the New England Patriots (14-3) will host the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) in the nightcap.

Allen scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Cole Bishop intercepted Trevor Lawrence's pass to secure Buffalo's first playoff win on the road since the 1992 AFC championship game at Miami.

The No. 6 seed Bills will wait to find out their next opponent. It's the sixth straight season under coach Sean McDermott that Buffalo has reached the second round of the playoffs.

On Saturday, the NFL playoffs kicked off with two wacky games.

The Bears (12-6) trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.

Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the No. 2 seed Bears, who will host the Rams (13-5) or Eagles next weekend.

In the opener on wild-card weekend, Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and the Rams rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.

The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). The Rams jumped to a 14-0 lead, but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.

Stafford, who earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career on Saturday, threw for 304 yards, three TDs and had one pick. Puka Nacua, who was a unanimous All-Pro selection, had 10 catches for 111 yards and one TD and also had a 5-yard TD run.

The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.

No. 5 seed Los Angeles will face No. 1 seed Seattle if the Eagles lose to the 49ers.

Bryce Young’s 7-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker put the Panthers ahead 31-27 with 2:43 remaining but Stafford drove the Rams 71 yards in two minutes. Parkinson made an outstanding, tightrope catch for the winning score and the defense held.

Behind coach Dave Canales and improved QB Bryce Young, the Panthers have reason to be optimistic about the future after winning a weak NFC South and nearly pulling off a major upset.

The Packers (9-8-1) finished the season with five straight losses. They were 9-3-1 before All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL in a loss to Denver on Dec. 14.

On Monday night, Mike Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) host DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans (12-5).

The Denver Broncos (14-3) are the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the Seahawks (14-3) got the top seed in the NFC. Each team earned a bye and will host the lowest remaining seed next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams looks to throw during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)