News stories by Estrella Gutiérrez, page 2

The Venezuelan government put a chokehold on the foreign exchange system by closing down the 'parallel' currency market, which in a country so heavily dependent on imports may stifle an economy already plagued by recession, inflation and shortages of certain products.

Although most of the governments in Latin America today are described as progressive, abortion is only legal in one country, while in five countries it is banned under all circumstances, even when the mother's life is at risk.