All Americas
Favela consumer class on the rise in BrazilBrazil's favelas, or slums, are home to a growing consumer class whose purchasing power has risen due to a jump in salaries, a decrease in unemployment, and greater access to education.
Logistics unhinge Peru's laptop dreamsThe One Laptop Per Child program in Peru has seen mixed results, with the machine's symbolism in rural villages outpacing academic gains.- Mexico arrests powerful teachers union boss on corruption chargesElba Esther Gordillo is widely blamed for an educational system that has kept Mexican children scoring lower on standardized tests than most other countries of its size or importance.
Inflation plays role in Argentine teacher strikePresident Cristina Fern谩ndez de Kirchner鈥檚 refusal to accurately report Argentina's soaring inflation rate has led to a strike by teachers in 17 provinces 鈥� granting more than 5 million children a few extra days of summer vacation.
Raul Castro promises an end of an era in CubaOn Sunday, Cuban President Raul Castro promised to step down at the end of his 5-year term in 2018. Analysts say he's seeking gradual change, without Cuba's old revolutionaries losing control.
A Cuba beyond the Castros?News from Cuba this week that Raul Castro will step down in 2018 is offering fodder for critics of US policy towards Cuba who say Washington is stuck in the Cold War.
Academy Awards: When 'No' gets a 'Yes!' in ChileChile's film industry is excited about its first Oscar nomination for the controversial聽Pinochet-era film, 'No.'
Year after Once train crash, Argentine anger still seethesPresident Kirchner announced last month the government will invest $1 billion in the country鈥檚 railways, but critics say that may be too little too late.
Will Kerry push to remove Cuba from terror list?Keeping Cuba on the terror list may be limiting US credibility in designating others as terrorism supporters, writes a guest blogger.
Brazil's 2013 Carnival may have rocked ... but parts also stank.The amount of trash collected during this year's blocos, or street parties, grew 30 percent from last year 鈥� and tourists noticed, with 1 out of 4 citing sanitation as a negative of their Rio Carnival experience.- Curbing child abuse in MexicoChild rights advocates are pressing Mexico to reform arcane laws and a dysfunctional system of child protection. And at least one program is offering hope for a model of care.
Guatemala gets a bump in its police forceGuatemala has one of the world's highest murder rates, and one way President Molina has tried to address this is by adding 2,000 more police since January 2012.
What's next for Ch谩vez and Venezuela?President Ch谩vez's predawn return to Venezuela, announced yesterday, raises many questions about the country's leadership and future.
Colombia: Violence flares in lead-up to new round of FARC peace talksRecent kidnappings and intensified fighting have increased public skepticism about the Colombian government and FARC rebel peace talks. Today marks a new round of negotiations in Havana.
Red-letter weekend for Latin America's left as Correa wins reelection and Ch谩vez returns homeWhile Ecuador's Correa celebrated winning his third term in office, Venezuela's Hugo Ch谩vez made a surprise return home. What does this mean for Latin America's leftist leadership?
Modern migrants pose new challenges to Mexican border townsThe US deported record numbers of immigrants over the past four years. Although Mexico provides some basic services, the influx of migrants in border towns means good Samaritans and nonprofits are having to step up.
Why Ecuador's Correa looks set to win Sunday's presidential electionPresident Correa has been criticized internationally for limiting press freedoms and granting Julian Assange asylum in Ecuador's London embassy. But his social programs and public works projects have been popular at home.- How does Venezuela's police reform measure up?Since 2009 the Ch谩vez government has carried forward a comprehensive police reform, creating a national police unit and university in Venezuela.
- Violence declines in Juarez - but at what price?The police have become increasingly aggressive in Juarez, in hopes of reviving trust in the institution and respect from the populace and criminals alike. But some fear the police chief is propagating human rights violations.
A glimpse of Mexico's new crime fighting strategyWhile Mexico's President Pe帽a Nieto hasn't backed away from using the military to fight crime entirely, he's promised a more multifaceted approach. That includes a newly launched crime prevention plan.
