All Americas
Blame game intensifies over who could have prevented Argentina's floodsCities in Argentina saw high levels of rainfall and heavy flooding. Some say the political culture in Buenos Aires means officials don't act until tragedy strikes.
Guatemala: Rios Montt trial hears testimony on conflict-era sexual violenceViolence varied throughout Guatemala's 36-year conflict, but included everything from torture to forced displacement. An estimated 100,000 women were sexually assaulted during that time frame.- Looking for day when Mexico's underworld is violence-free? Try looking back.Since the 1980s Mexico's criminal organizations have become increasingly globalized and sophisticated, but almost a century ago they were largely family organizations shipping bootleg liquor to the US.
Double standard emerges in Brazil van gang rape investigationThe American victim of a Brazil gang rape saw two suspects arrested in her case within 24 hours. The same men allegedly raped a local woman a week prior, but her case saw little action from police.- Colombia: Activist deaths and postponed peacetalks highlight struggle over landThree advocates and leftist political organizers were killed across Colombia last month, as FARC and government negotiators announced an unscheduled recess in peace talks until late April.
Venezuela presidential election: lack of issues becomes the issueAs Venezuela's presidential candidates kick off their campaigns in the lead-up to the April 14 election, some fear the mudslinging is distracting from needed post-Ch谩vez policy debates.
A 'like' for linguistics: Can social media save Mexico's unwritten languages?Many indigenous languages alive in Mexico today don't have formal written systems, but a growing number of computer-savvy young people want to Facebook and tweet in their native tongue.
Argentina pushes to prosecute HSBC bankers for money launderingThe US recently fined HSBC a record $1.9 billion, but 鈥� unlike Argentina 鈥� did not pursue criminal charges.
Knowing neighbors through art: Rio houses new Latin American art museumRio de Janeiro鈥檚 Latin American contemporary art museum aims to聽spark dialogue among artists across the diverse region.
Chile: Students aim to put better schools and fairer access at top of election agendaChile's high rate of university attendance makes it a model in the region, but students say profit-driven schools and limited opportunities for the poor make the system inadequate.聽- Way beyond weight in Brazil: documentary on child obesity now free onlineBrazilians consume an average of 112 pounds of sugar a year, and a聽documentary on the growing problem of child obesity puts the issue into a global perspective.
Venezuela's precampaign season off to a roaring startVenezuela's presidential campaigning doesn't officially begin until April, but both candidates have gotten a head start. Interim President Nicol谩s Maduro has a leg up with his access to state media.
Brazil: In the market for millions of immigrantsFor a country that once prided itself on its immigrant tradition, Brazil now has one of the lowest rates of foreign-born citizens in the world. But foreign skilled workers are needed to help accelerate development.- Report: Declining violence in Juarez, Mexico a win for Calderon administrationThe International Crisis Group released a report on Mexico's security challenges and highlights certain aspects of Calderon's policies which may have helped ease bloodshed in Juarez, like federally-funded social programs and zero-tolerance for petty crime.
FocusVenezuela: Navigating life after Ch谩vezAs Venezuela prepares to elect a new president, the focus has turned to whether Ch谩vez's legacy 鈥� a petroleum-fueled political-economic system he referred to as socialism for the 21st century 鈥� can last.- FocusPetrocaribe: Paying beans for Venezuelan oilSome 17 countries receive shipments of crude or refined oil products with preferential repayment terms under the Petrocaribe energy pact. But some nations fear oil shipments could stop post-Ch谩vez.
Can Mexico's vigilante militias trade ski masks for police badges?Guerrero state Gov. Aguirre announced he would submit a bill to the local legislature to create a legal framework for the militias.- Victory for human rights in Latin America?While efforts by some Latin American countries to potentially weaken the region's human rights commission were rebuffed, the IACHR could be stronger, says guest blogger James Bosworth.
Will Mexico see a new narco reality under President Pe帽a Nieto?Is Mexican President Pe帽a Nieto going to decriminalize the drug war? He promised lower levels of violence when he took office, and this week appealed to the public to judge his policies after one year has passed.- Checking in on Guatemala's Rios Montt trialIf former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt is acquitted of war crimes and genocide charges that doesn't necessarily mean the Guatemalan legal system is failing, writes a guest blogger.
