Venezuelan voters approved a referendum lifting term limits for elected officials on Sunday, allowing President Hugo Chávez to seek reelection indefinitely. With nearly complete results, 54 percent voted for the proposal.

From the impact of the global financial downturn to an upswing in violent crime, Mexico feels the pain. But with strong economic fundamentals in place, its economy is more resistant to contagion than in the past.

In the last week, six Colombian hostages regained their freedom in what many say is a calculated political move by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. But recent bombings in Bogota and Cali could muddy the path forward.

A drought gripping the Southern Cone, particularly Argentina, harmed grain output in 2008 and threatens production this year. It remains to be seen whether recent rains can reverse the damage done.

Canada's Liberal Party backed the Conservatives' budget plan, killing an opposition coalition and giving Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government a new lease on life. But clouds continue to darken Canada's economic horizon.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government has pledged billions to battle the threat of recession and bolster Petrobras. Meanwhile, the Obama administration signals interest in strengthening relations with South America’s largest economy.

As the new administration settles in, hope rises anew for comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, experts discuss what shape reform should take and emphasize ways to boost integration.