Topic: Central America

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Latin America Monitor Mexico: Latin America's second-largest economy lags in digital accessibility

Barely 17 percent of Mexicans have internet access at home, compared to 40 percent of Chileans. High costs are in part blamed for this digital divide.
Pastor sentenced in same-sex custodial kidnapping case

Pastor Kenneth Miller was sentenced to 27 months in prison, but released pending appeal. He was convicted last summer of helping a woman take her daughter out of the country to flee joint custody with her ex-partner.
Latin America Monitor Desperate for cash, Honduras to hawk bonds

Honduras is broke, writes a guest blogger, and despite a recent credit downgrade it is now trying to privately place over $750 million in bonds.
Pope Benedict XVI retires: Will the next pope come from the 'global south?'

Latin America is home to 40 percent of the world’s 1 billion Roman Catholics, but there has never been a non-European pope in the modern era.
Progress Watch Good news from Central America: Homicides fall in Guatemala, El Salvador

Attributed, in part, to an evolution away from hardline 'iron fist' policy approaches to crime and violence, El Salvador and Guatemala saw homicides fall in 2012 from record highs.
Opinion In fighting gangs, US should look to El Salvador

In combating the MS-13 gang, the Obama administration should look to El Salvador, which has adopted a far less confrontational approach, and is seeing a drop in gang violence as a result. A negotiated 'truce' with gangs is possible in the US and Mexico.
Illegal immigration from C. America on the rise

From October 2011 to July 31, agents apprehended more than 40,000 non-Mexican migrants, compared to about 39,000 individuals from Mexico.
Latin America Monitor US ex-marine to be released from prison after violating Mexico's strict gun laws (+video)

Former US marine Jon Hammar was imprisoned in August for carrying an antique gun into Mexico. Despite record levels of violence, such arms are prohibited without permission from the government.
Lessons from the Maya prophecy – whether the world 'ends' or not (+video)

Instead of focusing on Maya predictions of the ‘end of the world,’ some are shifting attention to problems today that may have contributed to the Maya collapse – like environmental damage.
Stir It Up! A Mayan dinner party for 12.21.12 (+video)

Mayan end-time talk got you down? Forget superstition and learn something about today's Mayan culture with these recipes from the 'Flavors of Belize' cookbook.
Sandy Hook tragedy: Pro-gun senator says it's time to ban assault rifles (+video)

The support of pro-gun Democrats, such as West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, is boosting prospects for a new drive to ban semi-automatic weapons and high-ammunition clips.
Difference Maker Ellen Calmus helps Mexican families cope with cross-border challenges

The Corner Project assists families with relatives in the US, ensuring, for example, that children of migrant workers born in the US are able to register for school or other services in Mexico.
Latin America Monitor Honduran police cleanup law may be unconstitutional

A branch of the Honduran Supreme Court deemed the law unconstitutional because it removes police officers' rights to due process. Next, the entire Supreme Court must convene to issue an opinion.
'Death evictions'? Guatemala's violence takes an unusual toll

Guatemala has one of the world's highest murder rates. The two largest public cemeteries in Guatemala City are so cramped that relatives must pay rent on tombs – or risk family members' 'eviction.'
Focus Turn on the TV? How telenovelas help people cope with real life

Tackling sensitive topics through entertainment and fictional characters can make it easier to get people talking about how to deal with complicated or stigmatized problems, like domestic violence.
How will the FARC-Colombia peace talks impact Latin America?

Ridding Latin America of the FARC could mean a better business climate, reduced tensions between Colombia and its neighbors, and space for the rise of a new left in Colombia.
Latin America Monitor Could Central American gangs usurp the role of Mexican cartels?

Mexican groups currently use Central American gangs to launder money, infiltrate local police, and traffic drugs. With the crackdown on Mexican cartels, the role of Central American gangs could increase.
Tragic killing of Honduran teen leaves US asking questions

In May, Honduran soldiers tracked down and killed a 15-year-old boy. This week, the boy's father found that the soldiers had been trained and equipped by the US. The State Department is pressing the Honduran government for answers.
Latin America Monitor McAfee flees from Belize authorities - should he fear the police?

John McAfee, a pioneer of antivirus software, is on the run after accusations of murder. He has said he fears for his life if caught by Belizean police, one of the most honest forces in the region.
Latin America Monitor Four more years? Ecuador's Correa announces run for reelection

President Correa is famous abroad for protecting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. But for Ecuadorean voters, Correa's personality may be decisive, writes a guest blogger.
Difference Maker Ruben Garcia sought his mission in life. He found it helping the 'poorest of the poor'

Ruben Garcia founded Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, which aids immigrants fleeing violence in Mexico and Central America.
Cover Story What Americans want from the next president

On the eve of a historically tight election, a writer drives through swing states and listens to the voices of America, hearing one overriding plea: 'Washington, stop bickering. Get something done!'
Latin America Monitor Venezuela prioritizes 'happiness' in its national budget

President Chávez's administration announced its budget last week, allocating nearly 40 percent of funds for 'supreme happiness.' The budget's ambiguous nature, however, has made some distinctly unhappy.
George McGovern: A war hero who fought for peace

Former US Senator George McGovern was a war hero who inspired many in his opposition to the Vietnam War. Always a proud liberal, he was crushed in his 1972 challenge to Richard Nixon.
The Fish That Ate the Whale

'The Fish That Ate the Whale' is an elegantly written cautionary tale about how hubris can destroy a powerful company.