2006 DECEMBER
December 28, 2006

Chavez, Aided by Oil Exports, Remains Larger Than Life on World Stage
Fueled by a call for a renewed independence in dealings with the United States and aided by massive oil reserves, Hugo Chavez has built a growing coalition of states and partners bent on standing up to the policies of the Bush administration.

December 28, 2006

The Troubled Media
The media in Venezuela, critics argue, is vibrant and unabashedly bias, but violence and legal snares against the media paint a picture of self-censorship and repression.

December 21, 2006

The Opposition to Chavez
It's been a bumpy road for the opposition to Chavez in the last eight years, and in light of Chavez's latest landslide victory, his political enemies are looking for options.

December 21, 2006

Contentious Hugo Chavez Holds Presidency
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is an unusual statesman, infamous for his antics: calling President Bush "the devil" in September 2006 when speaking before the United Nations and saying the General Assembly still smelled of "sulfur" a day after he left.

December 12, 2006

Chileans Mourn, Celebrate Former Dictator Augusto Pinochet's Death
Up to 5,000 supporters of former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet attended his funeral Tuesday, while several thousand protesters rallied in the city center. Elizabeth Farnsworth reports from Santiago on how Chileans are reacting to Pinochet's death.

  

December 11, 2006

Pinochet Death Sparks Celebrations, Clashes in Chile
News of the death of former military dictator Augusto Pinochet has rocked the South American nation of Chile, prompting widespread celebrations, but also anger in a country still split by the former strongman's 17-year reign.

December 4, 2006

Venezuela's President Chavez Easily Wins Re-election
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez swept to victory in Sunday's elections and pledged to increase socialist reforms in the South American country.

NOVEMBER
November 8, 2006

Ortega Win Raises Fears of Anti-U.S. Alliance in Latin America
Confirmation that former Marxist rebel Daniel Ortega won Nicaragua's presidential election has raised concerns among American officials of a mounting anti-U.S. alliance in Latin America.

OCTOBER
October 26, 2006

Experts Debate Fence Along Mexico Border, Immigration Policy in the U.S.
President Bush signed a bill to build 700 miles of fence along the U.S. border with Mexico. Experts debate the controversial immigration policy.

  

SEPTEMBER
September 14, 2006

Science of DNA Kits
Determining ancestry was once the realm of genealogists who followed paper trails and traveled the world, picking up clues. But now, researchers can provide a picture about a person's past with a DNA kit and a swab of his or her cheek.

AUGUST
August 18, 2006

Chicago Activist Voices Opinion on Immigration
The fourth conversation in a series on immigration in the United States highlights the perspective of Jesus Garcia, a community activist in Chicago.

  

August 17, 2006

South Carolina Farmer Discusses Use of Immigrant Workers
The third conversation in a series on immigration in the United States features an interview with Chalmers Carr, a South Carolina peach farmer.

  

August 16, 2006

National Border Control Council Head Discusses Immigration
In the second in a series on immigration in the United States, National Border Patrol Council President T.J. Bonner shares his views.

  

August 15, 2006

Archbishop Discusses Catholic Church's Position on Immigration
The first in a series on immigration in the United States features Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, who is conducting a series of townhall meetings in northern Colorado to explain the Church's position on immigration.

  

August 14, 2006

Photographs Show Cuba's Castro Ailing, But Alert After Surgery
Cuba's Communist daily newspaper published photos of President Fidel Castro in his bed during a visit with his brother Raul and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in town for Fidel Castro's 80th birthday Sunday.

August 8, 2006

Cubans in Miami Prepare for a Post-Castro Cuba
Neither Fidel Castro nor his brother Raul has been seen in public since the temporary transfer of power more than a week ago. As the possibility of the end of Castro's regime approaches, some Cubans in Miami are optimistic while others are worried.

  

August 1, 2006

Reaction Mixed to Castro's Turnover of Power
Cuban President Fidel Castro took ill and temporarily relinquished power to his brother Monday. A Time magazine correspondent talks about what the power shift may mean for the communist country.

  

August 1, 2006

Cuban Leader Castro Temporarily Transfers Power to Brother
In a surprise announcement Monday night, Cuban President Fidel Castro handed power to his younger brother Raul while he undergoes intestinal surgery.

JULY
July 25, 2006

Expert Explains Collapse of Global Free Trade Talks
An expert discusses the failure of global free trade talks, known as the Doha round, and assesses what countries may do from here.

  

July 25, 2006

After Faltering for Months, Global Free Trade Talks Suspended
After several months of acrimonious debate and failed negotiations, international trade representatives officially suspended the Doha round of free trade talks, marking a major setback to efforts to reduce trade barriers throughout the globe.

JUNE
June 9, 2006

2006 World Cup Kicks Off in Germany
As soccer's World Cup kicks off in Germany, two authors talk about the history and culture of the tournament.

MAY
May 19, 2006

U.N. Panel Urges Closure of Guantanamo Detention Center
A United Nations panel on torture called on the United States Friday to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and expressed concern over reports of secret prisons.

  

May 16, 2006

Conservatives, Liberals Take Aim at President's Immigration Plan
President Bush's five-point immigration plan proposed in a national address Monday, drew criticism from both sides of the aisle as the Senate continued debate over its immigration reform bill. Two members of Congress debate President Bush's five points and current legislation.

  

May 15, 2006

Newly Sworn-in President of Haiti Faces Challenges
Haitian President Rene Preval took office Monday with the challenge of bringing order -- and international aid -- to the impoverished island nation.

May 2, 2006

Bolivia Moves to Nationalize Oil and Gas Industries
Bolivian President Evo Morales sent troops to gas fields on Monday after nationalizing the gas and oil industries. The European Union warned the move could put additional pressure on energy markets. Two policy researchers discuss the reasons behind the decree and Bolivia's future.

  

APRIL
April 28, 2006

Report Shows Terrorism Increasing in Iraq, Worldwide
The State Department issued an update on terrorist activities around the world Friday and tallied over 11,000 attacks in the past year, a fourfold increase from 2004. The report also said terrorist organizations in Iraq are strengthening.

April 27, 2006

Haitian Leader's Party Falls Short Of Majority in Parliament
President-elect Rene Preval's Lespwa Party failed to win a majority of seats in runoff parliamentary elections, meaning he cannot choose a prime minister and Cabinet, but he still may be able to govern effectively by reaching out to rival parties, observers say.

April 24, 2006

U.S. Officials Continue Crackdown Against Latin American Gangs
Both government and police officials in the U.S. and Central America are attempting to curb the violent activity of growing transnational street gang MS-13. An update from Los Angeles reports on anti-gang crackdowns.

April 11, 2006

The Spanish Media Organize their Listeners to React to the Immigration Bill
The Spanish-language media played a prominent role in the recent immigration protests. Two journalists discuss the growing clout of the Latino media and its impact on the many immigration rallies throughout the country.

  

April 10, 2006

Latino Communities Rally Over Immigration Reform
With a controversial overhaul of immigration laws stalled in Congress, demonstrators marched in record numbers across the country as the growing Latino community mobilized into action.

  

MARCH
March 30, 2006

Mexico Looks At The U.S. Immigration Debate
Mexico is paying close attention to the debate in Congress over immigration reform. Following a report on the ongoing Congressional debate, analysts consider how the political fight looks to those south of the American border.

  

March 15, 2006

Guest Worker Program at Heart of Immigration Fight
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would focus enforcement efforts on illegal workers, which would include building 700 miles of physical barriers along the Mexican border. The Senate is considering a plan to let undocumented workers stay in the country as "guest workers."

  

FEBRUARY
February 16, 2006

Preval Named Winner of Haitian Presidential Election
Haiti's interim government and electoral council announced Thursday that Rene Preval won last week's presidential election, averting a runoff and potential crisis in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.

February 14, 2006

Riots Follow Contentious Election in Haiti
The recent Haitian presidential election was marked by riots and protests after revised election results showed that presidential candidate Rene Preval did not win enough votes to avoid a run-off election in March as was initially predicted.

  

February 13, 2006

Preval Supporters Protest Haitian Election Tally
Gunfire erupted Monday at a protest in Haiti over preliminary election results showing former president Rene Preval garnering less than 50 percent of the vote, which would require a runoff in March.

February 8, 2006

Haitians Await Presidential Election Results
Haitians on Wednesday awaited the results of their first election since Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced from power two years ago. Voter turnout nearly overwhelmed election officials.

February 7, 2006

Haitians Crowd Polling Stations, Encounter Some Problems
Haitians jammed many polling stations Tuesday in the first elections since former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced into exile two years ago by a bloody revolt.

JANUARY
January 25, 2006

Chile's New President Outlines Goals
Michelle Bachelet, Chile's new president-elect, speaks about her experience during the 1973 coup led by former dictator Augusto Pinochet and her goals as the country's first female president.

  

January 16, 2006

Chile Elects First Female President
Chile elected Socialist Michelle Bachelet, a 54-year-old single mother and pediatrician who suffered imprisonment, torture and exile under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, as its first female president.

  

January 6, 2006

Haiti Again Delays Elections, Citing Logistical Problems
Haiti once again postponed presidential elections, originally scheduled for November and more recently, Sunday, because of disorganization, logistical problems and general instability. The announcement cast further doubt on the Caribbean nation's ability to hold the elections ahead of a mandated February inauguration.