The Caribbean

Cuba: US agrees to normalize relations

After 53 years the US has finally decided to restore relations with Cuba. Alan Gross and the Cuban Five are free, some restrictions are eased, but the embargo continues.

The Caribbean

Cuba: leftists, US firms praise new policy

The new Cuba policy is popular in Latin America and has gained majority support in the US. Meanwhile, US corporations are lining up to get a piece of the action.

The Caribbean

Cuba: USAID head quits after latest scandal

After three exposés in one year about USAID "democracy promotion" programs in Cuba, the agency's head is out at last. His record in Haiti hasn't been that much better.

The Caribbean

Haiti: UN ‘peacekeepers’ fire on protesters

As President Martelly takes steps to calm protests down, UN troops seem to be escalating by intervening in a march—a video shows them firing in the direction of protesters.

Mexico

Mexico: official Ayotzinapa story questioned

The Mexican government attributes the massacre of students in September entirely to local corruption and drug dealing. A new report raises the possibility of a cover-up.

Watching the Shadows

Latin America: IACHR calls for CIA torture probe

While many in the US seemed shocked by the Senate's torture report, some US media wrote honestly about the "direct line" from torture in Latin America to the post-9-11 version.

Southern Cone

Chile: four women file sexual torture complaint

A group of Chilean women are trying to have the courts recognize the sort of sexual violence they suffered during the Pinochet dictatorship as a separate category of crime.