Once the bustling heart of Christian pilgrimage, Bethlehem now faces shuttered hotels, empty streets and a shrinking Christian community, while Israel’s assault on Gaza and the tightening grip of occupation destroy hopes of peace at the birthplace of Christ, writes Father GEOFF BOTTOMS
Standing up to Trump in Latin America
Despite promising developments in Mexico, the US president’s hostile administration heralds dark times for Latin America, says TONY BURKE
THE last few years have seen a worrying return of the right-wing politicians in Latin America, with the gains made by progressive leaders across the continent coming under fire and being rolled back.
That is why it is important to keep up our solidarity and be clear that whatever problems countries like Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Cuba or Nicaragua face, neoliberalism and US intervention are not the answer.
There are some of the new beacons of hope again arising in the continent, most notably the recent election victory in Mexico of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
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Two months into Donald Trump’s second run as president, what can we glean about his policies towards Latin America so far, asks TIM YOUNG, ahead of this Saturday’s Socialism or Barbarism day school in London
Long having been considered the ‘US’s backyard,’ Latin America is the crucible of anti-imperialist struggle – yet with the rise of China as an economic and ideological counterweight to Washington, we see a new phase of that struggle emerge, writes BEN CHACKO
With Trump coming back to power, interventions aimed at regime change and a far-right resurgence in the region are heavily on the agenda, writes MATT WILLGRESS, calling on the international left to prepare to act in solidarity



