Brazil’s ruling party picks successor to Lula
Brazil's ruling Workers' Party (PT) nominated Dilma Roussef on Saturday, February 20, as its presidential candidate for the upcoming October 3 general election. Bloggers debate the implications for Lula's handpicked successor.
In Canada’s Arctic, finding hope with the help of a circus
In the tiny Canadian Arctic town of Igloolik, where there are barely 1,500 inhabitants, around 5 young adults commit suicide every year. Filmmaker Linda Matchan, in association with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, is documenting the efforts of a circus troupe there called Artcirq, formed to offer young people hope.
Western hemisphere leaders challenge U.S. dominance
The dispute between Britain and Argentina over oil exploration in the Falkland Islands was just one of the topics on the agenda at a meeting today of Latin American leaders in Mexico. Thirty-two leaders from the Americas agreed to create a new regional cooperation organization. For more, Martin Savidge interviews Christopher Sabatini.
An American bloc without its big players?
More than 30 heads of state met this week for a summit designed to create an alternative to the Organization of American States. The conference, however, has been overshadowed by a spat between Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela's Hugo Chávez. Worldfocus looks at reactions from U.S. and Latin American writers.
Cyber-security risks test U.S. government preparedness
We take a look beyond the headlines at increasing concerns over cyber-security, a problem that was recently highlighted by an online assault on Google from China. This event added to fears about a digital attack that could cripple the information superhighway. For more, Martin Savidge interviews James Lewis.
Marijuana laws loosen gradually around the globe
During a recent upswing in drug violence in Mexican border towns, many critics of the drug war called for a change in U.S. policy toward marijuana use. Meanwhile, New Jersey just became the 14th U.S. state to allow marijuana for medical use. View our maps to compare current U.S. marijuana policy to laws in Europe and the rest of the world.
Haiti struggles to provide housing for quake survivors
Haiti's government says it will take over some privately held land to build camps for quake survivors. The aim is to relieve overcrowding in makeshift camps where many of the one million-plus homeless have been living. But five weeks after the quake, a few stories of hope are emerging as well. Steve Chao of Al Jazeera English reports from Haiti.
Colombian right-wing militias accused of rights abuses
Between 2003 and 2006, more than 30,000 militia members in Colombia were de-mobilized. Human Rights Watch has said that de-mobilization has been flawed and that violent successor groups operate in three-quarters of Colombia's departments. In conjunction with photographer Stephen Ferry, Human Rights Watch profiles three men who have received death threats.
Violent paramilitary groups resurface in Colombia
Militia violence is resurfacing in Colombia, with groups targeting ordinary people and threatening to kidnap and kill their families. The groups are successors to the paramilitaries who inflicted terror upon Colombia for decades. Daljit Dhaliwal speaks with Maria McFarland, Deputy Washington Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch.
‘March of Anger’ protests against violent Mexican drug war
On February 13, around 1,300 Mexicans took to the streets of Ciudad Juárez to protest the continued presence of the armed forces in the northern border city. Civil rights groups say the deployment of 6,000 combat troops has worsened the drug-related crime wave and have organized a "March of Anger" to voice their opposition. Read how bloggers are reacting.
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