Between the financial downturn and stepped up law enforcement, immigrants struggle with fewer employment options in the United States. Yet migrants who plan to move home face other economic woes.

Leaders from Central America met Friday to discuss how to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis. Calling for deeper integration, leaders proposed creating a common currency and passport.

President Hugo Chávez and his Colombian counterpart Álvaro Uribe may each seek reelection. Both command high approval ratings but face possible political and economic challenges in the coming year.

An ambitious new Brazilian plan seeks to reduce deforestation rates by nearly three-quarters by 2017. Yet the proposal’s release coincides with news of rising deforestation levels.

At a time of economic uncertainty, Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended Canadian Parliament to head off a move by an opposition coalition that could have ended his premiership. The fight to lead Canada comes just weeks after a national election and leaves the country's leadership after January in doubt.

Facing a global financial crisis, 21 leaders met in Lima to caution against protectionism and call for resumption of the Doha Round of trade talks. The APEC summit also served as U.S. President George W. Bush's last scheduled trip abroad, where he pressed for “free markets, free trade, and free people.”

Venezuelans voted Sunday in municipal elections. While President Hugo Chávez's Socialist Party won 17 of the 22 governorships up for grabs, the opposition chipped into his party's power grip by gaining the mayoralty of Caracas and other crucial posts.