The high levels of informality in Latin America and the Caribbean are a sign of institutional flaws and, at the same time, they restrict opportunities for growth and social welfare and undermine the integrity of the region's societies, according to a new World Bank report.

Amnesty International says democracy in Latin America is threatened by chronically weak institutions and undermined by a lack of independence of the judiciary, impunity and endemic corruption.

Pope Benedict XVI has expressed concern about authoritarian governments and Marxist movements in some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. From Sao Paulo, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the pontiff asked bishops at a regional conference to address challenges to democracy and the church.

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed directly to the youth of Brazil to follow a strict moral code. In Sao Paulo, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the pope's speech to the young is seen as crucial to his effort to strengthen the Roman Catholic church in the face of growing concerns across Latin America.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is in Colombia on a Latin American tour focusing on trade, energy, and regional cooperation. On Monday, Negroponte visited a project near the capital, Bogota, where former combatants in Colombia's four-decade-old civil war are trained for employment in the clothing industry.

Pope Benedict XVI departs on his first pilgrimage to Latin America a test of the 80-year-old pontiff's stamina and how he intends to deal with pressing challenges to his church in the region.

Mexico's conservative ruling party says it will ask the Supreme Court to review Mexico City's recent decision to allow first-trimester abortions in the capital.

General Motors sold a record 2.26 million cars and trucks around the world in the first quarter of 2007, according to preliminary sales figures released today. GM global first quarter sales were up 67,000 vehicles, or 3 percent, compared with sales of 2.19 million in the first quarter 2006. Global market share is estimated at 13.0 percent, compared with 13.1 percent a year ago.

General Motors Latin America, Africa & Middle East region set a new Q1 sales record in 2007, selling over 269,000 vehicles, up approximately 39,000 units over the same period last year. Plus, GM's quarterly market share in the region increased 0.2 percent to 16.3 percent.

Brightpoint, Inc. announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Brightpoint North America L.P. and Brightpoint Latin America, Inc., have completed the previously announced acquisition of substantially all of CellStar's assets and liabilities related to its U.S. operations and its Miami-based Latin America business.