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☆ Murders, imprisonment and violence: Threats to press freedom grow in Latin America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Esteban Campanela | Sol Amaya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the challenges faced by many media workers in Latin America, where experts say the status of press freedom is increasingly worrisome. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in a press conference that they believed the crime was linked to his journalistic work. Last week, the Mexican president criticized the US State Department’s report on human rights in the world, which refers to concerns over press freedom in Mexico, saying that US authorities should “be respectful”. In a publication in social network X, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said US officials are not concerned about the human rights of Cubans and that the United States has its own human rights violations. Nicaragua: Ortega-Murillo regime targets journalismHarassment of the press in Nicaragua has been widely reported on numerous occasions.

Persons: CNNE, Francisco Cobos, ”, Cobos, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, Enrique Peña Nieto, Felipe Calderón, Lourdes Maldonado López, Maldonado López, Séptimo Día, Roberto Figueroa, Xochitl Zamora, Lourdes Maldonado, Maldonado ´, Marco Ugarte, AP López Obrador, Andres Oppenheimer, Javier Milei, Lopez Obrador, Abraham Jimenez, Jimenez, civically, “, Miguel Diaz, Yamil Lage, Jiménez, Bruno Rodríguez, Ortega, Murillo, Juan Lorenzo Hollman Chamorro, Hollman Chamorro, Chamorro, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Rosario Murillo, … provocateurs, Chávez, Vos, Chavez, ” Edgar López, López, Juan Pablo Lares, Maximiliano Bruzual, Ariana Cubillos, Nicolas, Maduro’s, Yván Gil, ” Jeannine Cruz, Gustavo Petro, Nayib Bukele, Gonzalo Zegarra, Rey Rodríguez, Manuela Castro, Ana María Cañizares, Ivonne, José Álvarez, Elvin Sandoval, Iván, Sarmenti, Español Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Protect Journalists, Univision, Televisa, Prosecutor’s, AP, CIA, Canel, Getty, Cuban Foreign, La Prensa, National Police, ”, El, Regional, Democracy, Nicaraguan, State Department, National College of Journalists, Venezuelan, TC Television, Communication, “ Locations: Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Latin America, Mexican, American, Tamaulipas, McAllen , Texas, Tijuana, Morelos, Tijuana , Mexico, Spain, Cuban, Havana, AFP, United States, Costa Rica, El Confidencial, Managua, NIcaragua, Sur, Washington, Venezuelan, “, Caracas, ”, Ecuador, Guayaquil, America, Argentina, Colombian

The fear of the ongoing crackdown by President Daniel Ortega – on the Catholic Church in particular but not sparing evangelicals – has become so pervasive that it is silencing criticism of the authoritarian government and even mentions of the repression from the pulpit. Her work recording hundreds of instances of church persecution recently won her an International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. State Department. “If it’s dangerous to pray the rosary in the street, it is exceedingly so to report attacks,” Molina said. Despite the growing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services – where they remain available. “The dictatorship, what it wants is to completely eliminate the Catholic faith, because they haven’t succeeded in making the church kneel before them,” Molina said.

Persons: Daniel Ortega –, –, ”, Martha Patricia Molina, ” Molina, ’, Ortega, Nicaragua’s, ” Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Alicia Quiñones, It’s, Molina, Mother Teresa’s, didn’t, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Silvio Báez, Pope Francis, Dolly Mora, “ It’s, they’re, “, haven’t, Nicole Winfield Organizations: MIAMI, Central American, Catholic Church, U.S . State Department, Associated Press, “, . government’s, PEN International, Ortega’s Sandinista, Liberation, University of Central America, Jesuit, Vatican, AP, Lilly Endowment Inc Locations: Nicaragua, Nicaraguan, United States, Americas, America, –, Rome, Managua’s, Miami, ”

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Lawyer Isabel Lazo’s jobs are being systematically canceled by Nicaragua’s increasingly repressive government. Lazo worked at a university before the government of President Daniel Ortega closed it. The couple lives in the northern city of Somoto, where Isabel Lazo now works for a European-backed NGO. Lazo said Thursday she is worried that it's only a matter of time for the group where she now works. She has wanted to emigrate for some time, but she helps her family by giving them some of what little money she earns.

Persons: Isabel Lazo’s, Nicaragua’s, Lazo, Daniel Ortega, Elizabeth Zechmeister, Guillermo Lazo, Ortega, Isabel Lazo, ”, ” Lazo, Rosemary Miranda, Miranda, ” Miranda Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Democracy, University of Northern, Roman Catholic, Nicaraguan, Cross, Jesuit, University of Central Locations: MEXICO, “, Americas, University of Northern Nicaragua, Somoto, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nicaraguan, University of Central America, Managua

Since the end of October, citizens of 57 largely African countries and India have had to pay the fee, according to El Salvador’s aviation authority. Also, the U.S. has been pressuring Central American countries to curb migration flows to its border with Mexico. El Salvador’s aviation authority said most passengers who have to pay the fee are headed to Nicaragua on the commercial airline Avianca. Political Cartoons View All 1244 ImagesA flight itinerary of one Senegalese migrant seen by The Associated Press showed the migrant passing through Morocco, Spain and El Salvador before landing in Managua. “Part of me wonders ... we will not critique the Bukele administration as much because it’s supposedly reducing the levels of migrants?”___Associated Press writer Marcos Alemán in San Salvador, El Salvador, contributed to this report.

Persons: — El, El Salvador’s, Nayib Bukele, Donald Trump's, Bukele, Joe Biden, ”, Biden, Pamela Ruiz, ” —, Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A, Nichols, “, Ruiz, Marcos Alemán Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Aviation, Central, Associated Press, El Salvador, El, U.S . State Department, Central America, International Crisis, State, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Crisis Locations: MEXICO, India, U.S, Mexico . U.S, Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba, Africa, Morocco, Spain, El Salvador, Managua, United States, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, San Salvador , El Salvador

☆ Nicaragua pardons, returns 21 Hondurans, including MS-13 gang leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Mara Salvatrucha leader David Elias Campbell Licona, known as "El Viejo Dan", is escorted by Honduras law enforcement officers before being deported to Nicaragua, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, November 5, 2023. Nicaragua also plans to return prisoners to Costa Rica, the government of its southern neighbor said on Saturday. A similar transfer on Oct. 18 involved 43 Honduran prisoners. Campbell Licona had been wanted by Honduran authorities on money laundering and gang charges since 2016, and was captured in Nicaragua in June 2021. Campbell Licona used businesses the gang owned or controlled to launder drug proceeds, including through U.S. banks, U.S. authorities have said.

Persons: Mara Salvatrucha, David Elias Campbell Licona, El, Campbell Licona, Ismael Lopez, Gustavo Palencia, Sarah Kinosian, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Secretaria, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Honduran, Thomson Locations: Honduras, Nicaragua, Tegucigalpa, Seguridad del Gobierno de Honduras, Handout, Rights MANAGUA, Honduran, Costa Rica, Los Angeles, United States, Central America, U.S

☆ Tropical Storm Pilar Kills at Least 2 in El Salvador
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Mike Ives | More About Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Heavy rains linked to Tropical Storm Pilar have caused at least two deaths in El Salvador, officials said, as parts of Central America faced heavy flooding on Tuesday night. Its center was about 125 miles south of San Salvador, the Salvadoran capital, and 210 miles west of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, on Tuesday night. Tropical storm watches are in effect for the Pacific coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras. That means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 12 to 24 hours. The U.S. Hurricane Center said that the storm was drifting north and expected to begin moving west, farther into the Pacific Ocean, on Wednesday.

Persons: Storm Pilar, Pilar Organizations: Central America, Associated Press, National Hurricane Center of, U.S . Hurricane Center Locations: El Salvador, Central, United States, San Salvador, Salvadoran, Managua, Nicaragua, Pacific, Honduras, U.S

☆ Haiti Halts Outbound Flights to Nicaragua -Media Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

The Miami Herald cited a bulletin sent to the aviation community that was then shared with the newspaper as the source of the information. The Haitian government has made no public announcement about the flights and Reuters was not able to independently confirm the suspension. The Port-au-Prince to Managua flights began in August and have mostly been operated by charter carriers. In recent weeks, as many as 15 flights per day have ferried thousands of Haitians to Nicaragua. The Miami Herald said an independent tally found more than 31,400 Haitians had taken the flights from August to October.

Persons: Harold Isaac, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: PORT, Reuters, Miami Herald, U.S, The Miami Herald Locations: Nicaragua, Prince, Managua, The

☆ Nicaragua sends Catholic priests to Rome after talks with Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 18 (Reuters) - Nicaragua sent a dozen Catholic priests who had been "processed" by judicial authorities to Rome on Wednesday, the government said, the latest action, a critic said, in a government crackdown on the church. President Daniel Ortega has at times accused Catholic church leaders of seeking to overthrow his government, while judicial authorities have arrested priests and accused some of committing treason, among other crimes. An exiled Nicaraguan researcher who publishes records of what she describes as the persecution of the Catholic Church under Ortega said sending the priests to Rome was a "forced removal." The researcher, Martha Patricia Molina, accused Ortega of seeking to "strangle and disappear" the church with such action. Bishop Rolando Alvarez, perhaps Ortega's most prominent Catholic critic, was this year sentenced to a 26-year jail term on treason charges, but was not among the 12 priests the government sent to Rome.

Persons: Stringer, Daniel Ortega, Ortega, Martha Patricia Molina, Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Christopher Cushing, Robert Birsel Organizations: Metropolitan Cathedral, REUTERS, Catholic, Thomson Locations: Managua, Nicaragua, Rome, Italy, Nicaraguan, United States

☆ Maps of the 2023 ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Jonathan Corum | Katrina Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Maps of the 2023 ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar EclipseOn Saturday, Oct. 14, an annular or “ring of fire” solar eclipse will sweep across much of the Western Hemisphere. Viewers outside the path of annularity will see the crescent sun of a partial solar eclipse. The map below shows the path of the eclipse, and the approximate local time when the ring of fire will be visible. NEV. CALIF. Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt Lake City San Diego WYO. Corpus Christi MEXICO 12:00 p.m. MISS.

Persons: Eugene MINN, Louis KAN, Butte Eugene, Ely San Francisco Columbus, Charlotte N.C, Casper, KAN, Torreón, Torreón San Antonio Austin, Eugene Medford, Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreón, Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreón San Antonio Austin Organizations: Central, Central America, Viewers, Edmonton BRITISH COLUMBIA SASKATCHEWAN ALBERTA Vancouver, Regina, Seattle Winnipeg Shadow, Ottawa VT, Toronto Medford Boston, Minneapolis S.D ., New York Chicago Des Moines Philadelphia, Reno Salt Lake City NEB . Sacramento OHIO Omaha N.J, Ely, Ely UTAH Columbus San, Indianapolis NEV, Ocean, Fresno COLO, Richmond Louisville St, Las Vegas, Alamos, Flagstaff Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN ., Memphis Albuquerque Columbia, OKLA, San Diego Little Rock, Atlanta Birmingham N.M, Lubbock MISS, Tucson Las, Dallas Jackson ALA, El, El Paso Midland, Odessa, Central Time, Houston New, Tampa Beeville, Corpus Christi, Tampico, Mérida, Mérida Guadalajara JAMAICA, Mexico City Toluca, Puebla Chetumal, Tegucigalpa Guatemala, SALVADOR, NICARAGUA PANAMA, Time, Time Panama City, Edmonton, Edmonton BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA Vancouver SASKATCHEWAN, Calgary MANITOBA Regina QUEBEC ONTARIO Seattle Winnipeg Shadow, Spokane Missoula Portland MAINE Montreal, Boise Toronto, S.D . Minneapolis, S.D . Minneapolis Rapid City N.Y . IDAHO Buffalo, New York Chicago Philadelphia Des Moines Reno, Ely San, Ely San Francisco Columbus UTAH, Time Fresno Richmond Louisville St, Vegas CALIF, Los Alamos Nashville, Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN ., Phoenix San Diego Little Rock, Lubbock Tucson Birmingham, MISS, Dallas Midland Jackson ALA, Time Austin, Time Austin Hermosillo New, Antonio, Tampa, Corpus Christi Miami, Mexico City, Managua Pacific, Pacific Time, Pacific Time BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver Seattle Portland, Spokane Medford, Calgary San, Calgary San Francisco Sacramento Missoula, Ely Los Angeles Las, Flagstaff, S.D, Denver, Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs Tucson Pueblo, Colorado Springs Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos Albuquerque NEB, Wichita Kansas City Midland Oklahoma City Odessa, Central Time TEXAS, ARK, Torreón San Antonio Austin Little, Laredo Monterrey, Houston, Christi, Jackson León, New, New Orleans Tampico Mexico City, Tampa Campeche Mérida, Miami Cancún, Havana, SALVADOR Tegucigalpa, Eugene Medford Spokane, San Francisco Sacramento Reno, MONT . IDAHO Fresno, Flagstaff Durango Phoenix Denver, Tucson Pueblo, Midland Oklahoma City Odessa, Central Time TEXAS Dallas, Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreón San, Laredo Monterrey Beeville Houston, Tampico Mexico City, Campeche Mérida, COSTA RICA, Pacific, San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF ., San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF . IDAHO Fresno, Portland Toronto, Chicago Denver New, Francisco UNITED STATES, Los Angeles Dallas Atlanta, Austin Houston San, Gulf of Mexico Miami, MEXICO Havana, COLOMBIA Bogotá, Natal Cali, Manaus, Salvador, Portland, Denver New, Angeles Phoenix Atlanta Dallas, Time San, Gulf of Mexico Miami MEXICO Havana, Bogotá Natal, Cali Recife, Manaus Quito, ECUADOR Salvador Pacific Ocean BRAZIL PERU Brasília, Pacific Time Chicago Denver, New York, CANADA, STATES, NASA, Goddard, University of Arizona, NOAA Locations: Oregon, Texas, of Mexico, Central, Calgary, Regina MANITOBA ONTARIO QUEBEC, Seattle, Pacific Time Spokane Missoula N.D . MAINE Portland MONT, Bismarck Butte, Eugene, Ottawa, Boise, Minneapolis S.D, Minneapolis S.D . IDAHO Rapid City N.Y, Buffalo CONN . Milwaukee WYO, Casper Detroit IOWA, New York Chicago, Reno Salt Lake City NEB . Sacramento OHIO, Ely UTAH, Ely UTAH Columbus San Francisco, Denver, Ocean Kansas, Richmond, Louis KAN . VA, CALIF . KY, Las, Las Vegas Durango Wichita, N.C, Flagstaff Santa Fe Los Angeles, Flagstaff Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN . Oklahoma, Memphis, San, Lubbock, Tucson Las Cruces, El Paso, El Paso Midland LA, Odessa San Angelo, Houston New Orleans San Antonio Chihuahua, Tampa Beeville FLA, Corpus, Corpus Christi Laredo, Miami Gulf, Mexico Monterrey, Havana MEXICO CUBA, Mérida Guadalajara, Campeche, Mexico, Puebla, BELIZE HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, Ocean Managua, NICARAGUA, NICARAGUA PANAMA COSTA RICA, Time Panama, Time Panama City San, Edmonton BRITISH, Spokane Missoula Portland MAINE, Spokane Missoula Portland MAINE Montreal MONT, N.D, Bismarck, Butte, Butte Eugene MINN, Boise Toronto Boston Medford, S.D, S.D . Minneapolis Rapid City N.Y, S.D . Minneapolis Rapid City N.Y . IDAHO Buffalo CONN . Milwaukee WYO, Salt Lake City NEB . OHIO, Omaha, Ely San Francisco, W.VA . Kansas, Time, Vegas, Durango KY, Wichita, Los, Santa Fe Los Angeles, Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN . Oklahoma, Flagstaff ARK, Phoenix, Atlanta, TEXAS, El Paso LA, Time Austin Hermosillo, Time Austin Hermosillo New Orleans Houston Chihuahua, Tampa FLA, Gulf of Mexico Monterrey, JAMAICA Guadalajara, Mexico City Campeche, BELIZE, HONDURAS, Tegucigalpa, Managua, NICARAGUA PANAMA, COSTA RICA, Pacific Time BRITISH, Pacific Time BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver Seattle Portland Eugene, Spokane, Calgary San Francisco Sacramento, Calgary San Francisco Sacramento Missoula Reno Boise IDAHO Butte Fresno, NEV . CALIF, Ely Los Angeles, Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt Lake City San Diego WYO . UTAH, Rapid, Flagstaff Durango, COLO, Colorado Springs Tucson, Colorado Springs Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos, Santa Fe N.M, Hermosillo Las Cruces Omaha, El Paso Chihuahua Lubbock, Wichita Kansas City Midland Oklahoma City Odessa San Angelo, Torreón San, Houston MEXICO, New Orleans Tampico Mexico, New Orleans Tampico Mexico City Puebla, FLA, Miami, Havana GUATEMALA, CUBA, HONDURAS Managua, JAMAICA COSTA RICA, Panama, PANAMA, COLOMBIA, Pacific, Pacific Time Seattle Portland, San Francisco, San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise, MONT . IDAHO, Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt, WYO . UTAH, Flagstaff Durango Phoenix, Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos Albuquerque Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Midland Oklahoma City Odessa OKLA, Angelo, Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreón San Antonio, Laredo Monterrey Beeville, Corpus Christi MEXICO, Tampico Mexico, GUATEMALA BELIZE, COSTA, San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF, San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF . IDAHO, Tampico, South America, Brazil, Chicago Denver New York, Francisco, Austin Houston San Antonio, Gulf of Mexico, MEXICO, JAMAICA BELIZE, HONDURAS GUATEMALA, PANAMA COSTA RICA, VENEZUELA, Recife, Manaus Quito, ECUADOR, Ocean PERU, Rio de Janeiro BOLIVIA, Toronto, Denver New York, Time San Antonio, Gulf of Mexico Miami MEXICO, Mexico City BELIZE JAMAICA, ECUADOR Salvador Pacific Ocean BRAZIL PERU, Havana, Mexico City BELIZE, PANAMA COSTA RICA VENEZUELA, Cali, Natal, Salvador BRAZIL, Mexico MEXICO, Time COLOMBIA BRAZIL, United States, New York City

☆ Rubiales kiss 'spoiled' Spain's celebrations, says FIFA's Infantino
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino speaks during a news conference at the Nicaragua National Football stadium, in Managua, Nicaragua August 29, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Luis Rubiales "spoiled" the Spanish team's celebrations at the Women's World Cup by kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. "The well-deserved celebrations for these magnificent champions were spoiled by what happened after the final whistle," Infantino, who was at the presentation, wrote on Instagram on Thursday. "The disciplinary proceedings will continue their legitimate course. On our side, we should continue to focus on how to further support women and women's football in future, both on and off the pitch."

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Maynor Valenzuela, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso, Infantino, Instagram, Jorge Vilda, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Nicaragua National Football, REUTERS, FIFA, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Managua, Nicaragua, Hyderabad

☆ Central America parliament expels Taiwan, makes China permanent observer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 21 (Reuters) - The Central American Parliament on Monday voted to expel Taiwan after more than two decades as a permanent observer and replace it with China, whose growing economic influence in Latin America has increasingly marginalized Taipei. The six-nation parliament, known as Parlacen, met in the Nicaraguan capital Managua where local legislators proposed adding China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory. Beijing has expanded its influence in Central America with Parlacen members Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic breaking off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in recent years. Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, is the only Parlacen member that still recognizes Taiwan. The United States recognizes China diplomatically but has unofficial ties with Taipei, and the Biden administration has said it opposes efforts to change the status quo in Taiwan.

Persons: Parlacen, Senators Tim Kaine, Marco Rubio, Biden, Ismael Lopez, Ben Blanchard, Sarah Morland Organizations: Central American, United Nations, U.S, Senators, Democrat, Republican, Foreign, United, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, China, America, Taipei, Nicaraguan, Managua, Parlacen, Beijing, Central America, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Xinjiang, U.S, Belize, Paraguay, Americas, United States

☆ World Jesuit leader condemns Nicaragua government closure of university
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A guard mans the access to the Jesuit Central American University (UCA) in Managua, Nicaragua August 16, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - The superior general of the worldwide Jesuit religious order has condemned the closure of its university in Nicaragua as part of a government attempt to "suffocate" the Catholic Church and civic institutions in the Central American country. The United States has condemned the confiscation of the assets of the Central American University (UCA) as a further erosion of democracy. The government's action against UCA, other Catholic institutions and civic organisations, was aimed at "suffocating, closing or appropriating them", Sosa said. Vatican officials see the oppression of the Church in Nicaragua as one of the worst since the Cold War, when many communist countries in Eastern Europe persecuted the Church.

Persons: Stringer, Father Arturo Sosa, Sosa, Father Jose Domingo Cuesta, Daniel Ortega, Arturo, Philip Pullella, Christian Schmollinger, Robert Birsel Organizations: Jesuit Central American University, UCA, REUTERS, Catholic Church, Central American, order's Central, Reuters, The United, Central American University, Nicaraguan, Central America, Nicaragua's Catholic Church, Thomson Locations: Managua, Nicaragua, The United States, Rome, Venezuelan, Eastern Europe, Antonio

☆ Drag queens compete for top prize in Nicaragua pageant
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Mix Imperial Central American Tropical Drag Royale provided a stage for drag performers in a region where LGBT people often face discrimination and economic hardship. "It's a form of catharsis," said Alexa Evangelista, a drag queen from El Salvador and one of the night's performers, who lip-synched and danced for the adoring crowd. Drag queen Peppe Pig said the pageant gave her the opportunity to travel outside her home country of Guatemala, and that drag has helped her meet new friends and her current partner. Nicaraguan drag queen Akeyra Davenport took home the night's crown in her first competition after 11 years as a drag artist. Reporting by Maynor Valenzuela in Managua Writing by Brendan O'Boyle Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maynor Valenzuela, Alexa Evangelista, Evangelista, Peppe Pig, Akeyra Davenport, Brendan O'Boyle, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Imperial, REUTERS, Maynor, Central, Thomson Locations: Guatemala, Managua, Nicaragua, Maynor Valenzuela MANAGUA, El Salvador, Central America, Nicaraguan

☆ Insight: Catholic clergy report surveillance, beatings amid Nicaragua's crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( David Alire Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's five-year campaign against the Catholic church has intensified since February, according to interviews with five priests inside and outside the country. This week's brief release of Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez raised hopes for a turning point. The priests describe heavy surveillance of church services by police or civilian members of government-sponsored community councils, especially since Easter. His latest restrictions seem aimed at silencing priests, Erick Diaz, 33, a Nicaraguan priest in exile in Chicago, said. Nine church leaders inside and outside Nicaragua did not respond to interview requests for this story.

Persons: Daniel Ortega's, Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Mexican Bishop Ramon Castro, Pope Francis, Nicaragua's, Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Bishop Alvarez, Alvarez, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Brenes, Martha Patricia Molina, Molina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Erick Diaz, David Alire Garcia, Philip Pullella, Ismael Lopez, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Sunday, Nicaraguan, Catholic, Vatican, Reuters, Organization of American, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Nicaraguan, Managua, Nicaragua, Mexican, Eastern Europe, Matagalpa, Texas, Leon, Vatican, Chicago, Rome, San Jose

☆ Ahead of Easter, Nicaraguan Catholics press on despite procession ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ortega's tough stance on the church has been met by a mix of fear and determination among the Central American nation's Catholics. "What's most important is to live our faith," said Maria Flores, who noted that the canceled street procession this Friday - when Christians worldwide mark the crucifixion of Jesus - will be the first time in over four decades she will miss it. Eliseo Nuñez, a Nicaraguan political analyst in exile in neighboring Costa Rica, said government officials banned the processions to quash the prospect of further unrest. In 2005, former Marxist rebel Ortega converted to Catholicism ahead of winning the presidential election the following year. Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A bishop sprinkles water on the catholic parishioners at the Metropolitan Cathedral, as a suspension of diplomatic ties between Nicaragua and the Vatican has been proposed according to a Nicaragua's foreign ministry statement, in Managua, Nicaragua March 12, 2023. REUTERS/StringerVATICAN CITY, March 12 (Reuters) - Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has ordered the closure of the Vatican Embassy in Managua and that of the Nicaraguan Embassy to the Vatican in Rome, a senior Vatican source said on Sunday. Nicaragua signalled that the move, which came a few days after Pope Francis compared the Nicaraguan government to a dictatorship, was "a suspension" of diplomatic relations. The Vatican source said that while the closures do not automatically mean a total break of relations between Managua and the Holy See, they are serious steps towards that possibility. A year ago, the Vatican protested to Nicaragua over the effective expulsion of its ambassador, saying the unilateral action was unjustified and incomprehensible.

☆ Nicaragua closes Vatican embassy in Managua, Nicaraguan embassy to Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Nicaraguan political prisoners' families seek their release after others freed
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANAGUA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The relatives of 35 political prisoners in Nicaragua called for their release on Tuesday, days after 222 others in the same category were freed and expelled to the United States following a surprise deal with Washington. The prisoners, considered political by human rights groups, include 56-year-old anti-government Bishop Rolando Alvarez, one of the Central American country's most influential church leaders. He refused to board the U.S.-bound plane last week and was returned to jail, stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship and then sentenced to a 26-year term. "Our relatives were on the official list of political prisoners and were not taken into account for release," the Committee of Relatives of Political Prisoners told a news conference. After the prisoner release, President Daniel Ortega said two prisoners refused to board the plane while Washington rejected four others.

☆ Nicaraguan Catholic bishop sentenced to prison, stripped of citizenship
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Rolando Alvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and Esteli and critical of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, prays at a Catholic church where he is taking refuge alleging he had been targeted by the police, in Managua, Nicaragua May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor ValenzuelaMANAGUA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A Nicaraguan court sentenced Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez to a more than 26-year prison term on Friday, a day after the cleric and critic of President Daniel Ortega declined to be expelled to the United States as part of a prisoner release. Alvarez was convicted on charges of undermining national integrity and spreading false news, and during Friday's court hearing it was also announced that he would be fined and stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. Last August, police arrested Alvarez, bishop of the Matagalpa diocese, after dislodging him after he had barricaded himself in church property for several weeks along with other priests. Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Anthony EspositoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Nicaraguan Catholic bishop sentenced to decades in prison, citizenship stripped
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Alvarez, bishop of the Matagalpa diocese, was convicted of treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news, among other charges. During Friday's court hearing it was also announced that he would be fined and stripped of his Nicaraguan citizenship. Originally scheduled for late March, the sentencing of the bishop, widely known by the Catholic honorific monsignor, was sped up without explanation. Rolando Alvarez is irrational and out of control," Silvio Baez, a senior Nicaraguan bishop exiled in Miami, wrote on Twitter after the sentence. A cameraman for a Catholic television channel was also arrested with them.

☆ Not told until the runway: freed Nicaraguan prisoner recounts journey to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"It was at that moment (as the bus turned into the airport) that I realized - we all realized - that we were not going to the Modelo prison, but outside the country," Chamorro told an online news conference. "We were not told until we got to the runway." Ortega has described the release as a push to expel criminal provocateurs who sought to undermine Nicaragua. He added he was not ready to discuss what prison was like inside El Chipote, but said, "No human should be in these conditions." Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Spain offers freed Nicaraguans citizenship after move to make them stateless
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueMADRID/MANAGUA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The Spanish government offered citizenship to more than 200 Nicaraguan political prisoners who were freed and flown to the United States on Thursday, Spain's top diplomat said on Friday. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares made the announcement to Servimedia news agency, following the surprise release of 222 Nicaraguan prisoners later expelled to the United States. After their release, lawmakers loyal to authoritarian President Daniel Ortega voted to strip them of their Nicaraguan citizenship, which could thwart plans to return home someday. He added that Spain stood ready to receive others, noting that Madrid's decision had been made "after news reports that proceedings had begun to declare them stateless." Spanish authorities will reach out to the prisoners, who were allowed into the United States under a temporary humanitarian visa, so they can formally apply for citizenship.

☆ Nicaragua Releases 222 Political Prisoners, U.S. to Take Them In
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( José De Córdoba | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nicaragua has released more than 200 political prisoners, many of whom have been held in harsh conditions since their arrest two years ago, and the U.S. agreed to take them in, U.S. officials said Thursday. The 222 prisoners, who include former presidential candidates and leading journalists as well as student, labor and business leaders, were put on a chartered flight in Managua. They were expected to land in Washington around midday.

☆ Planeload of Freed Nicaraguan Political Prisoners Arrives in U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( José De Córdoba | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nicaragua has released 222 political prisoners, many of whom had been held in harsh conditions since their arrest two years ago, and the U.S. agreed to take them in, U.S. officials said Thursday. The prisoners, who include seven former presidential candidates, leading journalists and student, labor, opposition and business leaders, were deported and put on a chartered flight in Managua after they were stripped of their citizenship, Nicaragua’s government said. They landed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, where they were met on Thursday by joyful family members.

☆ Over 200 Nicaraguan prisoners, including top Ortega critics, freed and sent to U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Ismael Lopez | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANAGUA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - More than 200 political prisoners in Nicaragua were released and flown to the United States on Thursday, including leading critics of President Daniel Ortega, in what Washington described as a "constructive step" towards improving human rights. The mass release "opens the door to further dialogue between the United States and Nicaragua regarding issues of concern," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. A Nicaraguan judge denounced the 222 prisoners as "traitors" in a televised statement, and said they had been "deported." The released prisoners will go through the humanitarian parole process, the Biden administration said in a note to Congress. It added that the Nicaraguan government had made "its own decision" to release the prisoners, and urged further steps to ensure human rights in Nicaragua.

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