Drug-related killings in Mexico already exceed last year's total despite the deployment of 30,000 troops, reports say.
Thousands of Peruvians march in protest at what they say is the inadequate response to a quake a year ago that killed 519 people.
(BBC News) Minorities are set to form the majority of the US population by 2042 - eight years sooner than previous projections.
(BBC News) Mexico public's faith in police dives amid abduction epidemic
(BBC News) Demonstrators march in Caracas against moves to bar nearly 300 Venezuelan politicians from standing for election.
(BBC News) The US Senate passes a rescue bill designed to help the rising number of Americans at risk of having their homes repossessed.
(BBC News) California becomes the first US state to ban trans-fats, chemically altered vegetable oils linked to heart disease.
(BBC News) Commercial shipping is severely disrupted following an oil spill on the Mississippi River in the United States.
(BBC News) Ecuador's constituent assembly overwhelmingly approves a draft constitution sought by President Rafael Correa.
(BBC News) An Argentine ex-army officer is sentenced to life in prison for the 1977 kidnapping, torture and killing of four left-wing activists.
Ingrid Betancourt urges Colombia's Farc rebels to free all hostages, as peace marches take place around the world.
(BBC) - Phil Gramm quits as top adviser to presidential hopeful John McCain after describing the US as a "nation of whiners" over the economy.
(BBC News) Cuba puts more state-owned farm land into private hands, in a move designed to increase lacklustre food production.
(BBC News) Senators in Argentina reject controversial tax rises on farm exports after a marathon 16-hour debate.
Workers at Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras embark on a five-day stoppage, raising fears of further pressure on world prices.
(BBC News) Ingrid Betancourt says she will write a play about spending six years as a hostage of Colombian rebels.
(BBC News) Archaeologists unearth an ancient tomb in northern Peru that could throw light on the pre-Columbian Moche Indian culture.