Hemisphere Highlights, Volume VII, Issue 9 - October 2008

The newly reelected prime minister of Canada announces his appointments of ministers for the new cabinet. Riots in prisons across Mexico over the last two months point toward a crisis in the country’s penitentiary system, and Mexico signs an agreement with Cuba to cooperate on reducing illegal immigration between the two countries. Guatemala appoints its first ever female director of the National Civilian Police. The 13 nations of CARICOM sign an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. The UN Security Council renews the organization’s peace operations mandate in Haiti. President Uribe sacks 24 high-ranking military officers in Colombia amid allegations of human rights violations. Venezuela lobbies OPEC to cut oil production. Brazil signs an offshore exploration deal with Cuba. The government and the opposition parties in Bolivia reach an agreement on a constitutional reform package. A dispute between Ecuador and a Brazilian construction firm cools relations between the countries.