The January 21 signing of a narcotics-monitoring pact shows that, while Bolivia’s tense relationship with the United States slowly improves, the Andean country also seeks closer ties with Brazil on drug-enforcement cooperation.

With the Obama administration knocking back the application for the Keystone pipeline from Canada to the United States, Canadian leaders are looking to Asian markets to expand energy exports.

President Rafael Correa marked his fifth year in office on January 15. With rising approval ratings, he’s poised to run for reelection in 2013, though he faces challenges in the year ahead.