The Mexican government signed a series of laws to combat the rise in kidnappings while civic groups prepare for a national march to protest violence. But in the face of widespread insecurity, concerns remain about how to control crime sparked by an escalating drug war.

Venezuela continues its trend of nationalizations, with the cement industry serving as the latest example. Meanwhile, a series of decrees and blacklisting of candidates in advance of November municipal elections appear designed to strengthen Chávez’s hand.

AS/COA hosts its annual Latin American Cities Conference in Lima, on September 4, featuring a keynote speech by President Alan García, as well as remarks by Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo and Minister of Foreign Affairs José Antonio García Belaunde.

AS/COA hosted its annual conference in Buenos Aires on August 27. This year's speakers included Central Bank President Martín Redrado, Economy Minister Carlos Fernández, Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, and U.S. Asst. Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Tom Shannon.

AS/COA celebrated the Argentina launch of its policy journal Americas Quarterly. Speakers included UN Chief Economist at the Regional Bureau for Latin America Luis Felipe López-Calva, President of Banco Ciudad de Buenos Aires Federico Sturzenegger, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Executive Secretary Santiago A. Canton.

Just months after the appointment of a new environment minister, Brazil takes new strides to reign in deforestation.

Relations between Brazil and the United States offer “fertile areas” to partner in the fields of resource technology, security, and private sector cooperation.

In an AS/COA interview, Brazilian CEO Jair Ribeiro discusses Partners in Education, a program targeting one of Brazil’s most pressing issues—the quality of education. Through the program’s model, business leaders adopt and boost management of individual schools in the São Paulo area.