In The Rio Times of Rio de Janeiro María López Conde pointed to the “irregularities” exposed in Brazil’s “More Doctors Program” as Cuban doctors defect.  Groups that represent Brazilian doctors published an open letter criticizing the harsh conditions imposed by the Programa Mais Médicos (More Doctors Program) on its participants on Sunday, February 9th.

Giuliana Vallone wrote in Folha de São Paulo that everyday fear of aggression makes gay people walk in groups in São Paulo.  Biologist Julián Polidoro, 26, joined the sad statistics when he became a victim of a homophobic attack on Paulista Avenue. 

In Honduras Weekly of Tegucigalpa Michael Lohmuller observed that “Honduras’ new government has lauded increased arrests and drug seizures under the new president’s hard line security policy, although reports that the country’s prisons generate US$180 million in illegal annual earnings serve as a reminder of the negative effects that filling prisons can have.

Prensa Libre of Guatemala City reported that indigenous young people, especially children, are the most vulnerable to becoming slaves because the trafficking networks offer them work in tortillerías  in the capital and make them believe that they will have a better life. 

María López Conde wrote in The Rio Times of Rio de Janeiro that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff defended her government’s public safety policies across the nation in an interview with two radio stations amid growing national and international outrage over violence at Brazil’s overcrowded prisons. 

Santiago Del Carril observed in the Buenos Aires Herald that “a penchant to analyze reality” means that Argentina ranks seventh in the world in think-tanks, and first in the region. 

Carin Steen wrote in Honduras Weekly of Tegucigalpa about “Teresa’s Story.”  Steen tells the story: “This is about a family that I’ve known for years, living in a small village near Copán Ruinas. The oldest kids were some of the first students I ever taught and the rest of the brothers and sisters steadily followed

In PáginaSIETE of La Paz Sergio Mendoza reported that approximately 15% of buildings in the south of La Paz have no approved plans. 

PáginaSIETE of La Paz reported that the lack of paper still threatens daily newspapers in Venezuela.  While many blame the economic crisis, others see political causes.  The Caracas daily El Nacional printed a front page letter to President Nicolás Maduro complaining of the situation. 

Semana Magazine of Bogotá noted that Cuban authorities have lifted the ban on the ability of citizens to rent housing and commercial real estate, but also noted that the prices will be out of reach for most Cubans.