The handshake Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Marking another low point in “smart diplomacy through obeisance” last week we saw the O-Raul handshake, which came after six months of talks but was totally unplanned.

ARGENTINA
This Is What A Feminist Looks Like (h/t Instapundit)

BARBADOS
Barbados Debt Higher Than Cyprus Prompts Firing of 3,000

BELIZE
The story of a girl activist – Belize
“Accurate, fun and interactive information about teenage pregnancy helps girls make better and more informed decisions,” says Thandiwe Diego, 14

BRAZIL
A bank that may be too big for Brazil

Brazil Wants More Cuban Slaves

CARIBBEAN
Norway asked to pay up for slave-owning past
A commission set up by countries in the Caribbean announced on Tuesday that it planned to sue Norway for its involvement in plantation slavery from the 17th to the 19th century.

CHILE
Elections in Chile
Bachelet’s coronation

COLOMBIA
Thousands march for sacked Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro
Tens of thousands of people in Colombia have been taking part in a demonstration in support of the sacked mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro.

Bogota’s Mayor Petro deposed in “coup”

CUBA
Must-See: “Ladies in White” Beaten and Stripped Naked

POPULATION OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA STONED THE STATE SECURITY FORCES

South Africa “joined at the hip” to Cuba

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Fighting to Exist in the Dominican Republic

A-Rod news: NY YANKEES
Rodriguez Soaks Up the Love in the Dominican Republic

ECUADOR
Must-Read: CNN Reporter Describes Interview With Elian

At odds with Ecuador, USAID moves to leave
USAID expects to close its doors in Ecuador by September 2014 due to an increasingly acrimonious relationship with President Rafael Correa. This comes six months after it was kicked out of Bolivia

EL SALVADOR
Spain’s ABC: Venezuela arranged drug trafficking access for Salvadoran FMLN
José Luis Merino, a leader of the left-wing Salvadoran political party, arranged a drug lord’s meeting with the Colombian FARC on a flight coordinated with the office of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

REPORT: PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FELON FREE IN US

JAMAICA
Jamaica hailed for role in anti-apartheid fight

MEXICO
Vigilantes in Mexico: A Warning Sign of Chaos

You Can Go Home Again:
Mexican Migrants Return
in Record Numbers (h/t Mexidata)

Unidad de quemados:

PERU
CNBC: Accused scam artist apprehended in Peru
CNBC: Eric Bartoli, featured on “America Greed” caught in Lima after 10 years on the run.

PANAMA
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and Panama recall their ambassadors

PUERTO RICO
Obamacare Pushing Puerto Rico Further Into Social Welfare State, Doctors Warn

Puerto Rico May Be Cut to Junk by Moody’s on Weak Economy

Puerto Rico’s Economic Problems Not Going Away — My Newyorican Suggestions

URUGUAY
Can Uruguay Handle the Pot Business?

Simon Jenkins inhales deeply: Heroic Uruguay deserves a Nobel peace prize for legalising cannabis
The war on the war on drugs is the only war that matters. Uruguay’s stance puts the UN and the US to shame

VENEZUELA
Anatomy of the Oppo Bullshit Machine

The Details Of Sunday’s Venezuelan Municipal Election Results Are Ugly For The Opposition

Smuggling from Venezuela to Colombia exceeds formal trade
According to estimates from customs authorities and members of the Venezuelan-Colombian Economic Integration Chamber (Cavecol)

Ending Venezuela’s Addiction to Populism

The week’s posts and podcast:
BNDES: Brazil’s really big bank

Venezuela: What food rationing creates

Mexico: Border tunnels “significant and growing threat to border security”

Pope Francis, the glass is more than half-full.

Putin, the new Evita

Mexico: Will fracking save the oil industry?

Mexico: A house divided

Today: International Day of Tango

Cuba: Handshake between Obama and Raul came after six months of talks

TIME’s Person of the Year: Pope Francis

Puerto Rico: Drawing on cash

Obama bows to Raul Castro

At Da Tech Guy Blog: Venezuela vs Ukraine: Why we won’t see the protests in Caracas

Podcast: The elections in Venezuela PLUS other US Latin America stories.