Cuba announced plans for the release of political prisoners last week. Observers debate whether the prisoner release represents significant change for Cuba and how the United States will respond.

As Haiti passes the six-month mark since a devastating earthquake, rebuilding proceeds at a slow pace hindered by politics and the massive scale of the disaster.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on July 6 to halt enforcement of SB1070, Arizona's controversial immigration legislation that critics say will lead to racial profiling. The law's implementation is slated for July 29.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party won nine of the 12 gubernatorial seats up for grabs in Mexico’s July 4 vote, but an opposition alliance won unexpected victories in three PRI strongholds.

President Bashar al-Assad traveled to Latin America to encourage investment at home while boosting Syria’s profile abroad.

With June 28 marking the anniversary of the overthrow of Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya, Honduras continues to pay an economic price for the political fallout.

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico drew help from Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Meanwhile, fears about the oil spreading into the Caribbean have prompted a quiet dialogue between the United States and Cuba.