The world at a glance . . . Americas

Ottawa

Conservatives re-elected: The Conservative Party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper won re-election this week, but failed to get an outright majority in the House of Commons. The Conservatives picked up 17 additional seats, for a total of 143. But they would need another 12 to pass legislation without the help of other parties. The results were seen as a disappointing outcome for Harper, who had taken a risk by calling an early election rather than waiting another year. Still, he put on a brave face. “We have shown that minority government can work,” he said, “and at this time of global economic instability we owe it to all Canadians to show it again.”

Monterrey, Mexico

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U.S. consulate attacked: Two men attacked the U.S. Consulate in Monterrey this week, firing on the building and throwing a grenade that failed to explode. No one was injured. The two men were caught on surveillance video, and officials said they had no reason to suspect that they were international terrorists. The Mexican media speculated that the attack may have been related to a wave of violence by drug cartels. But a police spokeswoman said that the amateur nature of the attack could indicate that the perpetrators were regular citizens angry at the U.S. for denying them visas. Monterrey’s American consulate issues more temporary permits for unskilled workers than any other in the world.

Panama City, Panama

Canal expansion funded: Despite the international credit freeze, Panama this week won $2.3 billion in loans to expand the Panama Canal. The 50-mile canal, a key international shipping hub that links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has been operating at almost full capacity. The volume of seaborne freight has nearly doubled since 2006 because of China’s rapidly growing demand for raw materials and export of finished goods. The planned expansion would deepen and widen existing channels and add a third set of locks, doubling the shipping capacity by 2014. The financing came from a consortium of European, Asian, and Latin American banks.

Lima, Peru

Oil scandal: Peru’s prime minister and his entire Cabinet resigned last week over allegations of corruption in the granting of oil rights. The scandal broke when a television station aired audiotapes of conversations between two politicians from the ruling Apra party discussing payments to foreign oil companies. The two specifically named Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo as someone who would be helpful in a plan to rig auctions of oil and gas concessions. President Alan Garcia appointed Yehude Simon, a popular leftist regional governor, to be the country’s new prime minister. Simon once served time in prison for alleged links to the Tupac Amaru guerrilla movement but was pardoned in 2000.