All Americas
- Child drug traffickers: What can be done?
Between 5,000 and 14,000 children are recruited as soldiers in Colombia, writes a guest blogger, and the recruitment of minors by gangs is increasingly a problem across Latin America.
- Should Argentina remain a member of the G20?
Argentina's history is a continuous series of economic and political crises and they'll probably face another before the decade is out, but they still deserve a seat at the G20, writes a guest blogger.
- Bomb in Colombian capital taints first day of Colombia-US free trade agreement
The Colombia-US FTA goes into effect today, six years after the initial signing. But celebrations were dampened after a reportedly unrelated bomb blast occurred near the main financial district in Bogota.
- Majority of Mexicans support military leading fight against cartels
The next president should include some military operations in his organized crime strategy, but focus on a transition back to civilian policing, writes guest blogger James Bosworth.
- Violence in Mexico and Brazil: How droughts play a role
No one will claim the recent massacre in Mexico was caused by a drought, but water shortages in the north of both Mexico and Brazil are aggravating already difficult situations, writes a blogger.
- Is Bogota's gun ban responsible for a drop in homicides?
If a new gun ban in Colombia's capital is linked to a drop in the murder rate, it could potentially serve as a model for the rest of Latin America, writes guest blogger Geoffrey Ramsey.
- Massacre in Mexico deepens country's violent image
Forty-nine bodies were dumped on a highway in northern Mexico in the latest example of drug-related violence that is scaring off investors and changing citizens' behavior at home.
- Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico: three ways to nationalize oil
Argentina's renationalization of its biggest oil company, YPF, recently caused an outcry. But the cases of oil nationalization in Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela show that outcomes can vary widely.
- FocusArgentina's renationalization of YPF: A push to manage oil on its own terms
Many have criticized Argentina's move to renationalize its oil as a populist bid likely to isolate it from the global economy. But the takeover is in line with changing power dynamics in the region.
- Rio+20: Rio's dry run for the Olympics and World Cup
Rio+20 comes at a time when more and more events are being held in Rio, and will serve as an important test for the city's ability to accommodate and transport visitors, writes Rachel Glickhouse.
- Obama decision on gay marriage ripples through Latin America
Gay marriage is legal in parts of Latin America, but is still controversial with much of the population. Obama's statement may reignite debate.
- The Beatles' No. 1 fan? Mexico
When Paul McCartney sings in Mexico City tonight, he'll be fulfilling countless people's dreams to hear Beatles' songs live. The Beatles were blocked from playing in Mexico in 1965.
- Slain American's legacy continues in Nicaragua
Ben Linder, the only US citizen killed by US-backed contras during Nicaragua’s war in the 1980s, continues to inspire a new generation of foreign activists working with the country's poor.
- 8 charged with negligence after calling off 2010 Chilean tsunami warning
Employees of Chile's emergency response offices have been charged after misinforming the public that there was no threat of a tsunami that killed 156 people, writes guest blogger Steven Bodzin.
- The PTA arrives in Mexico's schools
Parent-teacher associations are the face of the US public school system, but it is only recently that parents are starting to penetrate the hallways of Mexico's schools.
- Is French journalist kidnapped in Colombia a prisoner of war?
The ambiguities over FARC-kidnapped Romeo Langlois' status as a POW is indicative of a wider debate over the status of journalists in modern conflict zones, writes a guest blogger.
- This is a debate? Mexico's presidential face-off a scripted affair.
Mexico's presidential debate was highly structured and scripted last night, leaving little room for candid conversation on important policies like security and education.
- Nicaragua divided over death of revolutionary leader
Tomás Borge was the last living founder of Nicaragua’s Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN).
- Press freedom falls in Latin America, French journalist missing in Colombia
Freedom of the press is under threat in much of the Americas, according to a Freedom House report.
- Why everyone wants to be like Brazil
Across the Americas candidates promise to follow the footsteps of Brazil's former President Lula. But 'Brazil envy' makes it possible to gloss over the country's shortcomings, writes a guest blogger.