The spotlight’s on Brazil this week, as the World Cup inaugural game is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 in Sao Paolo. Let’s hope the games don’t turn into a disaster.
ARGENTINA
Study: Poverty Tops 30% in Suburbs of Buenos Aires
In Argentina, Wine, Art and Altitude
BAHAMAS
BAHAMAS HIRES LAW FIRM FOR ‘SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY MATTERS’ AFTER NSA REVELATIONS
BOLIVIA
Chic Stops in the Suburbs of La Paz, Bolivia
Brazil finds bumpy path on way to becoming world oil power
CHILE
More Than 8,000 Affected in Chile by Storm
The Economist endorses Santos: Colombia’s presidential election
A vote for peace
To stop the killing, Colombians should re-elect Juan Manuel Santos, while Colombia Politics points out that We’re voting for a president not for peace. Meanwhile, pressure from candidate Zuluaga is already achieving a cease-fire from the FARC.
CUBA
Gag-inducing Travel Tips from Sarah Hall
Where Are the “Self-Employed” and “Reform” Defenders?
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dominican Republic delivers on immigration promise
GUATEMALA
Guatemala ex-police chief jailed for life by Swiss court
HAITI
Haiti police fire tear gas at anti-government protest
HONDURAS
More effects of America’s weak foreign policy: U.S. Crew Is Arrested on Honduras River Job
A salvage company has a contract to dredge the Patuca River and raise valuable mahogany and cedar logs, but weapons on the company ship mean time in jail.
Honduran Police Arrest 11 Undocumented Cubans
IMMIGRATION
REPORT: Illegals Bring Contagious Diseases Across Border – Obama Spreads Them Around Country
JAMAICA
Gun-toting gays drive fear in citizens of garrison communities
MEXICO
In Tampico, Mexico, where the drug war rages, ‘the walls have ears’
LA Times Columnist Is Happy US Marine Is in Mexican Prison
Mexico defends decision to prosecute US marine
Pope Francis accepts invitation to visit Mexico
PANAMA
Panama’s Canal Divides A Country Into Haves And Have-Nots
PERU
Peru’s Mining Communities Left In The Dust With Broken Promises Of Schools, Jobs
PUERTO RICO
You heard about it from Fausta’s blog, but now BLUE MODEL GOES BELLY-UP
Media Catches Up on Puerto Rico
Work Stoppages at Public Firms in Puerto Rico Against Cuts
URUGUAY
Puff-piece on Mujica at al-Jazeera:
Uruguay’s Mujica: New global role model?
Uruguay’s ‘humble’ president defies imperial and corporate hegemony with a series of unorthodox policies.
Mujica certainly knows how to make a fashion statement:
VENEZUELA
21st Century Socialism:
Poverty Shoots Up in Venezuela; as I mentioned last week, in the last year of Hugo Chavez’s life, extreme poverty increased by a whopping 38% over the prior year.
THE FRACAS IN CARACAS
Venezuela Runs out of Drinking Water
The week’s posts and podcast:
Argentina: Secretary of national thought
Ecuador: Something’s rotten in the gold swap
Venezuela-Cuba Facilitate Infiltration of Iranian Agents
Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez to remain jailed while on trial UPDATED
En español: El Rey Juan Carlos en la Unidad de Quemados
Carlos Eire’s Capt. Louis Renault moment
Democrat Chavista for Congress!
At Da Tech Guy Blog:
Immigration’s lost children
Brazil: World Cup disaster ahead
Podcast:
Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico & US-Latin America stories of the week