All Americas
Mexicans host Pope Benedict XVI, but say he's no Juan PabloA poll suggests Pope Benedict XVI had big shoes to fill in Mexico, where he celebrates Mass today before heading to Cuba.听
Catholicism in Latin America: 5 key facts Pope Benedict XVI began his second trip to Latin America on March 23, with stops in Mexico and Cuba. Here is a brief history of the Catholic church in the Americas.
Why the pope wants stronger ties with Mexico and CubaWhile the Catholic church is bolstering the faithful in Mexico and Cuba, it is also seeking closer ties with national governments during Pope Benedict XVI's first visit to these countries.
'Beggars sitting on a sack of gold?' Ecuadoreans protest mining.Indigenous from across Ecuador marched for 14 days into Quito to protest President Rafael Correa's plan to open large-scale mines on indigenous land.
Guatemala's Perez lowers expectations for drug legalizationRegional disagreement means a decriminalization plan won't happen soon. But Guatemala's Otto Perez Molina maintains military response isn't the answer to drug trafficking.
Better prepared: Mexico's 7.4 quake causes damage, but no deathsMexico's worst earthquake in nearly 30 years was met by stricter building codes and a city prepared by evacuation drills and early warning systems.- Support for crime boss 'Dudas' Coke still strong in Jamaica'Dudas' Coke reportedly helped poor people in his neighborhood pay for food and school fees, making him wildly popular despite international charges of brutality, writes guest blogger Hannah Stone.
Mexico's earthquake: A reporter's notebookThe Monitor's Latin America bureau chief writes about the initial aftermath and her experience following today's 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City.
Bolivia says no to cocaine, but yes to cocaAs Latin America debates decriminalizing drugs, nowhere is the coca-cocaine tension more prevalent than in Bolivia, writes guest blogger Jackie Briski.- Shooting of Chilean diplomat's daughter underscores security threat in VenezuelaThe teenage daughter of the Chilean consul in Venezuela was shot after driving through a police checkpoint Saturday, causing an outcry in Venezuela over the state of security.听
- Is El Salvador negotiating with criminal street gangs?A deal with El Salvador's two biggest street gangs may signal a less militaristic security strategy, writes guest blogger Geoffrey Ramsey.
- Florida bill targets firms doing business with CubaFlorida passed a law banning state public contracts for companies doing business with Cuba 鈥� something that violates federal law, writes guest blogger Anya Landau French.
Street gangs on the rise in South America: Are Central America's 'Maras' among them?South American street gangs may not be as notorious as the violent 'maras,' but they pose a significant threat to security, writes guest blogger Geoffrey Ramsey.- The difference between Democrats and Republicans on BrazilEngaging with Brazil is far more important to the hemisphere than Cuba or Venezuela, writes guest blogger James Bosworth. But US-Brazil relations have not been prioritized by Republicans.
- Exporting Nicaragua's citizen security modelNicaragua could be a citizen security model for other Central American countries to imitate, but some elements are harder to transfer than others, writes guest blogger Hannah Stone.
If you build it, they won't come? US bases in Caribbean target drug trafficking.With resources stretched thin, the US is now teaming up with small Central American and Caribbean nations to build military bases to combat drug trafficking.
El Salvador elections: Another test for Latin America's leftSunday's National Congress and mayoral elections in El Salvador are seen as a litmus test for President Mauricio Funes of the left-leaning Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN).
Mexico withers under worst drought in 71 yearsSome 2.5 million Mexicans are affected by this extreme drought, which could cause widespread hunger for years to come.- Is Ecuador prepared to counter rise in organized crime?Ecuador has been described as the 'United Nations of organized crime,' but authorities may underestimate the repercussions, writes guest blogger Elyssa Pachico.
Ferry service to Cuba a 'bridge' too far for US governmentReestablishing ferry services to Cuba for the first time in 50 years would surely present challenges, but is in line with recent US-Cuba policy changes, writes guest blogger Anya Landau French.
