Mexico
Mexico: HP fined in latest Pemex scandal
Hewlett-Packard is being fined for bribing oil company officials in Mexico; meanwhile, the US is investigating possible corruption in Citigroup's Mexican operations.
Author: Weekly News Update on the Americas
The Caribbean
Cuba: did USAID KO deal for Gross release?
Some USAID officials and contractors reportedly scuttled a deal the US and Cuba were working on to release imprisoned USAID contractor Alan Gross.
Southern Cone
Brazil: Kennedy backed plan for 1964 coup
As Brazilians mark the 50th anniversary of a military coup, US documents show that plans for the action had the strong support of the liberal Kennedy administration.
The Caribbean
USAID’s ‘Cuban Twitter’ scheme flops
Under the guise of promoting social media in Cuba, the US government developed a Twitter knockoff to promote "smart mobs" and collect information on Cubans.
Mexico
Mexico: four die in Chiapas land dispute
Twenty years after the uprising by the indigenous Zapatistas, land issues continue to produce violence in the Chiapas highlands–sometimes with outside encouragement.
Central America
Honduras: three convicted in reporter’s murder
A Honduran court has convicted three men in the murder of a well-known journalist, but impunity is still the rule for most killings of reporters and activists.
Southern Cone
Paraguay: first general strike in 20 years
Paraguayans used their first general strike in two decades to protest everything from low wages to the lack of an agrarian reform policy.
Central America
Panama: Ngöbe-Buglé step up fight against dam
Panama's mega-scale Barro Blanco dam is now 64% complete, but the indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé haven't given up their fight against the project.
Mexico
Mexico: bidding set to start on energy sector
As expected, Mexico's "energy reform" will provide a big opening for multinationals, along with more fracking, more deep-sea drilling, and more carbon dioxide.
The Caribbean
Cuba: new law expands foreign investment
New legislation opens up Cuba for more private investment from abroad—but the US embargo will keep out US-based multinationals for now.
Southern Cone
Brazil: Rio street sweepers win with wildcat
While the media focused on Rio's Carnaval celebrations, thousands of street sweepers went on strike in defiance of their union—and won.
Mexico
Mexico: community radio announcers imprisoned
Advocates for community radio say the government blocks free speech by failing to authorize local stations and then penalizing people for unauthorized broadcasting