Puerto Rico’s governor introduced legislation that will likely lead to a two-step referendum in 2012 on the island’s territorial status. But it remains to be seen whether the political will to back a status change exists in Puerto Rico or Washington.

The White House submitted trade deals with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea on Monday. Key legislators indicated the long-pending deals could win approval before Congress breaks for recess later this month.

During a Caribbean-Chinese trade summit held in Port-of-Spain this month, Beijing offered the region billions in aid. The move gives China leverage to win diplomatic recognition from a handful of Caribbean countries still recognizing Taiwan as the seat of Chinese power.

Opposition candidates and leaders signed a pact September 26 to support the candidate who wins Venezuela’s February presidential primary. The victor is slated to face President Hugo Chávez in the October 2012 election.

With Mexico's press freedoms under threat by transnational crime syndicates, Mexicans increasingly turn to social media—particularly Twitter—to share crime updates. But state governments are presenting new legal challenges to sharing information via social media.

Retired General Otto Pérez Molina placed well ahead of his rivals in the September 11 vote. He will face Manuel Baldízon in a November 6 runoff for Guatemala's presidency.

In order to expedite an overhaul of Ecuador’s judiciary, President Rafael Correa has declared a 60-day state of exception. But opponents allege that the president is blurring the separation of powers.