Blog entries

On his second state visit to Canada today, Mexican President Felipe Calderón will address easing visa restrictions for Mexican citizens seeking to enter Canada.  The two-day trip will include a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, several governors and an address to the House of Commons, as well as meetings with several Canadian business representatives … Read more

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Mockus, Santos in a Tight Race ahead of Colombian Elections Campaigning for … Read more

Legislators in Costa Rica will hold a final vote today on a measure to increase their own salaries by 60 percent. Debate on the bill, which passed a preliminary vote, 35-20, on Monday, has taken up much of the lawmakers’ attention since the start of the current session of Congress on May 1, with the … Read more

A solo una semana de la gran jornada electoral que elegirá en primera vuelta el favorito para ocupar la Presidencia de Colombia, es innegable que uno de los personajes que más tuvo incidencia durante la campaña, fue el mandatario venezolano Hugo Chávez. Los candidatos con intención de voto por encima del 1 por ciento, Antanas … Read more

Gun battles in Kingston, Jamaica have killed at least 31 people in the last three days as heavily armed security forces have clashed with supporters of alleged drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke. The violence, which erupted Friday, was sparked by Jamaican officials’ receipt of a request by the U.S. government to extradite Mr. Coke on … Read more

According to the last round of polls prior to next Sunday’s presidential elections in Colombia, Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus and Partido de la U candidate Juan Manuel Santos are in a statistical dead heat, leading a field of seven other presidential hopefuls. Polls released Saturday by broadcaster RCN and the weekly newspaper Semana, show … Read more

In a meeting with President Evo Morales yesterday, the Norwegian environment and development minister, Erik Solheim, offered his country’s collaboration in helping to manage Bolivia’s oil and gas resources. This includes assistance in reducing the effects of hydrocarbon production on the environment.  Noting Norway’s success in working with private companies while maintaining state control over … Read more

According to a poll released today in Bogotá, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe boasts higher favorability ratings than any of the candidates competing for votes in the May 30 presidential elections. Although Mr. Uribe’s 73.7 percent approval rating is a historic high for a sitting president in Colombia, a February Supreme Court decision barred him from … Read more

From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Calderón and Obama Condemn Arizona Immigration Law U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed … Read more

Mexican President Felipe Calderón visits Washington today on his first official state visit to discuss immigration and security with President Obama.  President Calderón is also meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today. This evening, President Calderón and his wife, Maragrita Zavala, will be the guests of honor at a … Read more

Acontece nos próximos dias 20 e 21 de maio, na cidade de Atlanta, Geórgia, mais um encontro do Plano Brasil-EUA de Promoção da Igualdade Étnico-Racial – JAPER, na sigla em inglês. A iniciativa, realizada pelo Departamento de Estado Americano e Governo Brasileiro visa promover o intercâmbio de experiências no combate ao racismo entre os dois … Read more

Earlier this month three Android phones—LG’s GW620, Samsung’s i5700 Galaxy Spica and Motorola’s Milestone Smartphone Android 2.0—were introduced by the rapidly growing Tigo telephone company in Guatemala. Android, an open operating system that allows access to Google’s features such as email, text messages, calendar, maps and its browser, allows devices to be built faster and … Read more

Asserting the democratic rule of law and recovering social peace is a difficult task, especially in places like Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and Colombia’s one-time, crime-ridden cities and war-torn countryside. Democratic and sustainable crime control means establishing state control in places where it has never been present or where it was lost long ago. It … Read more

Peruvian President Alan García yesterday declared a 60-day state of emergency in the regions of Huánuco, Ucayali and San Martín following reports of increased narco-terrorist activity. The declaration suspends certain constitutional rights and freedoms like the freedom to celebrate meetings. The decision was taken in the aftermath of an attack last month on a Peruvian … Read more

Today marks the 30-year anniversary of the founding of the Sendero Luminoso or “Shining Path”—and an internal conflict in Peru that has led to over 70,000 deaths and still haunts the country. Where does the movement stand today? It has fractured and continues to fight internally, and has transformed itself into a narcotraficante group. No … Read more