CUBA

Faced with a deep recession, Cuba tries socialism lite

Facing a severe and protracted economic downturn, Cuba's government is scaling back socialism in an attempt to save it.

CUBA

Blogger can't come to U.S. for prize

A Cuban blogger who has become an international sensation for offering frank criticism of her country's communist system said she was denied government permission Monday to travel to New York to receive a top journalism prize.

TOURISM

U.S.-Cuba travel picking up steam

Bills in Congress to allow all travel to Cuba are increasingly drawing support among U.S. lawmakers and the public -- but they still face an uncertain future.

ARGENTINA

Controversial media-reform bill in Argentina faces vote

Argentina's president and the nation's largest media conglomerate square off over a media-reform bill that could have a big impact on press freedom.

HONDURAS

OAS diplomats get talks started in Honduras crisis

The two sides in the Honduran political conflict had direct talks for the first time in almost three months.

U.S. CONGRESS

South Florida Republicans, back from Honduras, call for U.S. backing of elections

A trio of South Florida Republican lawmakers said Tuesday that the remedy to the post-coup woes in Honduras lies in U.S. support of next month's scheduled elections.

Report: Hard to ease Cuba embargo

A U.S. president has limited ways to ease the embargo on Cuba -- unless he or she certifies that Havana is moving toward democracy or Congress overturns U.S. laws on the sanctions, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

CRISIS IN HONDURAS

Obama aide frets about 'ghosts of past' in Honduras crisis

A top Obama administration official urged Honduras' political leaders to accept a deal aimed at ending their crisis.

AMERICAS CONFERENCE | HONDURAN COUP

Costa Rican leader blasts decree

Costa Rican leader Oscar Arias said a restrictive decree suspending some civil rights in Honduras remained in place despite promises by the nation's de facto leader.

President Clinton says Haiti has a good shot at success

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Haiti enjoyed the backing of its Latin American neighbors more than ever on Tuesday as he spoke on the opening day of the Americas Conference.

CRISIS IN HONDURAS

They're torturing me, Honduras' Manuel Zelaya claims

Honduras' fallen leader told The Miami Herald he is being subjected to mind-altering gas and radiation -- and that `Israeli mercenaries' are planning to assassinate him.

LATIN AMERICA

Honduras tense as crisis reignites

Ousted Honduran President Manuel ``Mel'' Zelaya prepared to spend a second night holed up in the Brazilian embassy Tuesday as police fought running battles with his supporters and world leaders called for a peaceful solution to the dramatic standoff. Defying arrest orders, Zelaya slipped into Honduras on Monday and took refuge at the diplomatic compound. As his followers surrounded the building, his rival and de facto President Roberto Micheletti imposed a curfew, shut down the airport and border crossings, and called on Brazil to hand Zelaya over on charges of treason and abuse of power.

Ousted Manuel Zelaya slips back into Honduras

In a surprise wrinkle that could change Honduras' political landscape, Manuel Zelaya sneaked back into his country, taking up residence at the Brazilian Embassy.

JUANES CONCERT IN CUBA

Juanes in Havana:`This is the power of music'

Hundreds of thousands of revelers filled Havana's Plaza of the Revolution on Sunday for Juanes' historic mega-concert, while in Miami, exiles watched on TV with mixed emotions.

CUBA

Cubans on island wary of politics behind Juanes concert

Many Cubans see politics behind Sunday's concert by Colombian rocker Juanes, but they expect the event to attract a large crowd.

LATIN AMERICA

Outspoken U.N. diplomat makes no apologies

Nicaraguan Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann steps down Tuesday after a controversial year as president of the United Nations General Assembly.

U.S.-CUBA SANCTIONS

White House renews trade ban on Cuba

President Barack Obama extends the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba for another year in a symbolic step used by past presidents.

HAITI

Haitian businesses say downgraded travel advisory doesn't go far enough

Business leaders in Haiti have welcomed the U.S. State Department's revision of its travel advisory, but say the language should be changed further to encourage new growth.

HAITI

Donors urged to fulfill pledges to Haiti

At a U.N. Security Council meeting, ex-President Bill Clinton called on nations to make good on their donations to help rebuild Haiti.