DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Listen and follow The DailyApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicEl Salvador has experienced a remarkable transformation. What had once been one of the most violent countries in the world has become incredibly safe. Natalie Kitroeff, the New York Times bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, discusses the cost of that transformation to the people of El Salvador, and the man at the center of it, the newly re-elected President Nayib Bukele.

Persons: Natalie Kitroeff, Nayib Bukele Organizations: Spotify, El, New York Times Locations: El Salvador, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean

☆ U.S. Mends Fences With El Salvador's Bukele as China Lurks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Now, more than ever, the U.S. needs Central American nations like El Salvador to curb migration to the southern border. In October, the State Department's top Latin America diplomat, Brian Nichols, visited El Salvador and posed for photos with Bukele. WAITING IN THE WINGSAt the same time, there are growing ties between China and El Salvador. Although of limited commercial importance in itself, El Salvador offers China a foothold in Central America, and in 2017 broke relations with Taiwan in favor of China. "El Salvador wants to do trade with everyone," Bukele said during his victory speech on Sunday night.

Persons: Diego Oré, Sarah Kinosian, Nelson, Nayib Bukele, Jean Manes, Bukele's, Brian Nichols, Antony Blinken, Bukele, Manes, Ana Maria Mendez, Salvadorans, El Salvador, El, Margaret Myers, Diego Ore, Nelson Renteria, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, El Salvador, Central American, U.S, U.S ., Central, State Department's, El, U.S . State Department, Washington Office, U.S . Customs, USAID, The U.S, Inter, Huawei, Washington, Diego Locations: United States, U.S, El Salvador, Latin America, America, China, Honduras, Washington, China's, San Salvador, Central America, Taiwan, Mexico City

☆ El Salvador election results delayed, despite president’s declaration of victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | Martin Goillandeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —El Salvador’s Supreme Electoral Court on Monday said it had asked polling stations across the country to manually record the results of Sunday’s presidential election after electronic transmission of results stopped updating overnight at around 31%. Voters line up at a polling station during general elections in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Sunday. El Salvador now has the world’s highest incarceration rate. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, left, accompanied by his wife Gabriela Rodriguez, waves to supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace in San Salvador, El Salvador, after polls closed on Sunday. A lopsided win for Bukele would likely give the young leader more leeway to reform El Salvador in his heavy-handed vision.

Persons: CNN — El, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, Moises Castillo, Bukele’s, El, Gabriela Rodriguez, autocrats, ” –, CNN’s David Shortell Organizations: CNN, Sunday, AP, El Salvador, Bukele Locations: San Salvador , El Salvador, El Salvador, American

☆ Bukele Landslide Shifts El Salvador to One-Party State, Amplifies Democracy Fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Sarah Kinosian and Nelson RenteriaSAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The landslide re-election of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele was cheered by supporters of his gang crackdown, but has worried opponents who fear the country is sliding into a de facto one-party state. El Salvador had "made history" for electing a single party "in a fully democratic system," he said. But rights groups said they are worried about where the country is headed and forecast further curbs on civil rights. They are just grateful he crushed the gang violence plaguing El Salvador for decades and that they can go outside after dark again. "Democratic spaces are closing in El Salvador, civil society is closing down and there is an environment of fear to speak out," said Claudia Ortiz, a lawmaker who has clashed with Bukele and ran for the upstart Vamos party.

Persons: Sarah Kinosian, Nelson, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, El Salvador, Gabriela Santos, State Anthony Blinken, Daniel Ortega, Gladis Munoz, Claudia Ortiz, Nelson Renteria, Drazen Jorgic, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, El Salvador, U.S, Human Rights, University of Central America, El, State, Bukele Locations: El Salvador, U.S, Central America, El, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ Voting underway in El Salvador, where strongman president’s victory is all but assured
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( David Shortell | Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Polls are open in El Salvador, where the strongman president Nayib Bukele is expected to easily win a second term amid a dramatic turnaround in the country’s once-sky high levels of violence. Bukele, 42, faced little in the way of organized opposition and enjoys one of the highest favorability ratings in the region, regularly polling above 70% in independent surveys. His supporters trumpet a crackdown on criminal gangs in the country that resulted in a dramatic fall in the murder rate, once the highest in the world. But the mass arrests – El Salvador now has the world’s highest incarceration rate – have also triggered outcry from human rights groups, who allege Bukele’s government has detained innocent people and subjected prisoners to dehumanizing conditions behind bars, including torture. A lopsided win for Bukele would likely give the young leader more leeway to reform El Salvador in his heavy-handed vision.

Persons: Nayib Bukele, – El, Bukele’s, ” Jackelyne Zelaya, Bukele, autocrats, ” –, Latinobarometro Organizations: CNN, Bukele, El Salvador, courant Locations: El Salvador, – El Salvador, American, Honduras, Ecuador, Latin America

Crossings in recent weeks are down overall along the entire U.S. border, including areas without such a heavy security presence. The arrival of GOP governors to Eagle Pass rounds out a weekend that has kept the small border city of roughly 30,000 residents in an unwitting spotlight. The number of crossings in Eagle Pass has recently fallen to a few hundred a day. Mexico has bolstered immigration efforts that include adding more checkpoints and sending people from the northern border to southern Mexico. Melissa Ruiz, 30, arrived at the Piedras Negras shelter, across the river from Eagle Pass, along with her four children.

Persons: — Kyle Willis, “ It’s, It’s, ”, Willis, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden's, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Biden, John Modlin, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Donald Trump, MAGA, Melissa Ruiz, Ruiz, Maria Verza, Mexico City anf Elliot Spagat Organizations: Texas National Guard, Texas Gov, Florida Gov, National Guard, U.S . Border Patrol, Border Patrol, –, U.S . Biden, Eagle, AP, Associated Locations: PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico, U.S, Texas, Grande, Eagle, Piedras Negras, Park, Tucson , Arizona, Mexican, Rio Grande, Central America, Ecuador, Peru, Honduran, Piedras, Mexico City, San Diego

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Salvadorans are headed out to vote Sunday in a presidential and legislative elections that’s largely about the tradeoff between security and democracy. Nonetheless, about eight out of 10 of voters support Bukele, according to a January poll from the University of Central America. "He just needs a little bit more time, the time he needs to keep improving the country,” Mena said. In the lead-up to Sunday’s vote, Bukele made no public campaign appearances. “There’s this growing rejection of the basic principles of democracy and human rights, and support for authoritarian populism among people who feel that, concepts like democracy and human rights and due process have failed them,” said Tyler Mattiace, Americas researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Persons: —, Bukele, El, Farabundo, ”, Marleny Mena, Mena, ” Mena, “, Tyler Mattiace Organizations: SALVADOR, University of Central, Nationalist Republican Alliance, Liberation Front, Human Rights Watch Locations: El Salvador, University of Central America, San Salvador's, Americas

☆ In El Salvador, self-styled ‘world’s coolest dictator’ Nayib Bukele heads for re-election amid human rights concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Employees of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal load boxes containing electoral material for the presidential and legislative elections at the Electoral Organization Directorate in San Marcos, El Salvador, on February 2, 2024. He adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador in 2021 and invited the tech-bros of the world to surf in the Pacific. Under Bukele, El Salvador’s homicide rate has plummeted. So, while El Salvador no longer faces record murder rates, it now boasts the highest incarceration rate in the world. Camilo Freedman/AFP/Getty ImagesA tale of two victimsJackelyne Zelaya does not see the enduring state of emergency as a problem.

Persons: Jocelyn Zelaya, ”, Jackelyne, ” Jackelyne Zelaya, Marcela, Jocelyn, Mara Salvatrucha, Zelaya, “, isn’t, Nayib, Yuri Cortez, Bukele, El, Camilo Freedman, Jackelyne Zelaya, won’t, Maria, tipster, Marvin Reyes, EFE, Guillermo Villatoro, Villatoro, Salvadorean Sandra Hernandez, Jose Dimas Medrano, Stringer, ‘, ’, Ilhan Omar, Samuel Rodriguez of MOVIR, “ Bukele, Daniel Noboa, Latinobarometro, she’s, Maria ’, ” Maria Organizations: CNN, World Bank, El, Employees, Electoral, Getty, FMLN, Civil, Justice Department, Army, “, Congress, Police, National Police, Security Ministry, Human Rights, Democratic, Barrios, Washington DC Locations: San Salvador, Zelaya, El Salvador, American, San Marcos, AFP, America, Latin America, United States, New York, El Salvador’s, Santa Ana, El Rosario, Honduras, WOLA, Washington, Ecuador, El

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Annual fees increase between 18% to 52% on six consumer and business Delta SkyMiles credit cards. American Express and Delta Air Lines increased annual fees across their co-branded airline credit cards today for consumer and business credit cards alike. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) every qualifying year, beginning February 1, which will give them a jumpstart toward earning Delta status each year. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders can now spend above their credit limit, albeit within a certain undisclosed extent.

Persons: Resy, Katherine Fan, I've, Guy, NerdWallet, I'm, you'll, Read Organizations: Delta, American Express, Delta Air Lines, Delta SkyMiles, Delta SkyMiles ®, Express, Finance, Business, Forbes, USA, Austin American, Statesman, Associated Press, Google, MSN, University of Texas Locations: Hawaii , Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, delta.com, Delta, Austin, Southwest, Texas, Taiwan, New York City

NEW YORK (AP) — American Express rolled out several updates to its Delta SkyMiles credit cards Thursday that will give additional benefits to users, part of efforts to soothe sore Delta Air Lines customers who have considered abandoning the airline after last year’s SkyMiles loyalty fiasco. AmEx customers get access to Delta's airport lounges and are able to transfer their Membership Rewards points to Delta, among other benefits. To give a sense of scale, Delta CEO Ed Bastion told investors in June that roughly 1% of the entire U.S. economy is spend on Delta's credit cards. So, when Delta made alterations to its SkyMiles loyalty program last year, it was largely seen by Delta customers as a watering down of its program, and it caused turbulence between the two companies. Part of those changes required Delta customers to spend large sums of money on airfare or on the Delta credit card to be given elite status on the airline.

Persons: AmEx, Delta, it's, Ed Bastion, Bastion, “, Howard Grosfield Organizations: Delta, Air Lines, New, Delta Air Lines, American Express, U.S . Consumer Services Locations: New York, Delta, Hawaii , Alaska, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Atlanta, AmEx

☆ China comes just shy of Japan as the world's largest car exporter
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"In the first eleven months of 2023, auto shipments to Russia rose about six times that of 2022 in value terms." While he said it's still unclear exactly why Chinese cars are growing so quickly in Mexico, part of the reason is international automakers. Germany's Volkswagen was among the foreign car companies on track for their worst China market sales in years. Local vs. overseas marketsChinese car makers will likely increase their share of the domestic auto market to 75% by 2030, said Francoise Huang, senior economist at Allianz Trade. That would result in a nearly 40% drop in European car sales in China, she said.

Persons: Sarah Tan, Tan, Jorge Guajardo, Guajardo, it's, they've, BYD, Francoise Huang Organizations: Publishing, Getty, Ministry of Commerce, Moody's, D.C, Dentons Global Advisors, CNBC, Volkswagen, China, Allianz Trade, European Union Locations: LIANYUNGANG, CHINA, Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China, BEIJING, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Belgium, Washington, U.S, Europe

☆ One Big Reason Migrants Are Coming in Droves: They Believe They Can Stay
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Miriam Jordan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Today, people from around the globe are streaming across the southern border, most of them just as eager to work. But rather than trying to elude U.S. authorities, the overwhelming majority of migrants seek out border agents, sometimes waiting hours or days in makeshift encampments, to surrender. In fact, it is a crucial step toward being able to apply for asylum — now the surest way for migrants to stay in the United States, even if few will ultimately win their cases. We are living in an era of mass migration — fueled by conflict, climate change, poverty and political repression and encouraged by the proliferation of TikTok and YouTube videos chronicling migrants’ journeys to the United States. Migrants from Africa, Asia and South America are mortgaging their family land, selling their cars or borrowing money from loan sharks to embark on long, often treacherous journeys to reach the United States.

Persons: — Organizations: Central, U.S . Border Patrol Locations: Mexico, Central America, U.S, Los Angeles, Atlanta, United States, Africa, Asia, South America

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government has acknowledged that at least two well-known Mayan ruin sites are unreachable by visitors because of a toxic mix of cartel violence and land disputes. The explosion of drug cartel violence in Chiapas since last year has left the Yaxchilán ruin site completely cut off, the government conceded Friday. They say that to get to yet another archaeological site, Lagartero, travelers are forced to hand over identification and cellphones at cartel checkpoints. Though no tourist has been harmed so far, and the government claims the sites are safe, many guides no longer take tour groups there. The guide said the ruin sites have the added disadvantage of being in jungle areas where the cartels have carved out at least four clandestine landing strips to fly drugs in from South America.

Persons: —, “ It’s, ”, Andrés Manuel López, “, López Obrador, Mexico — Organizations: MEXICO CITY, “, National Institute of Anthropology, Central Americans, National Guard Locations: MEXICO, Chiapas, Guatemala, Tonina, Gaza, Lagartero, Mexico, Palenque, Frontera Comalapa, Darien, South America, Central America, U.S, Cuba, Asia, Africa, Sinaloa, Jalisco

☆ Pope Francis takes on vested interests to speak out on humanitarian crises
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Analysis Christopher Lamb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Pope Francis received an emotional welcome on the island during a visit showing solidarity with migrants fleeing war and poverty. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/Getty Images Pope Francis confesses in St. Peter's Basilica during the Vatican's Penitential Celebration on Friday, March 4, 2016. Alessandro Di Meo/AP Pope Francis arrives for his visit with prisoners in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on Friday, July 10, 2015. Franco Origlia/Getty Images Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I address the faithful in Istanbul on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Gokhan Tan/Getty Images Pope Francis speaks during the feast-day Mass while on a one-day trip to Italy's Calabria region in June 2014.

Persons: Pope Francis, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Francis, “, ”, Regina Coeli, Vincenzo Pinto, Juan Manuel Santos, Santos, Alessandra Tarantino, L'Osservatore Romano, VINCENZO PINTO, Simon Bar Sabbae, Pope, FILIPPO MONTEFORTE, Karekin, TIZIANA FABI, Giuseppe Ciccia, MAX, Pope Francis tries, Pope Benedict XVI, Alessandro Di Meo, Evo Morales, OSSERVATORE ROMANO, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Federico Lombardi, Lombardi, Gregorio Borgia, Getty Pope Francis, Raul Castro, Castro, GABRIEL BOUYS, ANDREAS SOLARO, Kurukkal SivaSri, Mahadeva, Pope Francis in, Eranga, Franco Origlia, Bartholomew I, Gokhan Tan, San Gregorio Magno, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh, Oli Scarff, Barack Obama, SAUL LOEB, Santa Sabina, Max ROSSI, Daniele De Sanctis, Pope Francis ', FABIO FRUSTACI, Benedict XVI, Benedict, L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO, Osservatore Romano Pope Francis, Vinicio Riva, Riva, CLAUDIO PERI, Rainbow Association Marco Iagulli Onlus, Fotografia, Father Don Renzo Zocca, Osservatore Romano, LUCA ZENNARO, Jorge Saenz, Dan Kitwood, Jesus, Internationalis Paulus VI, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Roman Catholic Church's, Peter Macdiarmid, Pope Francis Prev, it’s, He’s, Filippo Monteforte, Donald Trump’s, Czerny, Trump, Donald Trump, Melania, Evan Vucci, Reuters “, ” Cardinal Czerny, Cardinal Czerny, doesn’t, Francis ’, “ Jesus Organizations: CNN, Getty Images, Colombian, Revolutionary Armed Forces, International Catholic Rural Association, Vatican, AFP, Getty, Catholic Chaldean, St, Mercy, ARIS MESSINIS, MAX ROSSI, Getty Images Bolivian, Cuban, Sunday, Queen, getty, Rainbow Association, Renault, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Intelligence, Warner Bros, Discovery, “, Republican, Reuters Locations: St, AFP, Colombia, Rome, Tbilisi , Georgia, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Poland, Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, Armenia, Vatican City, Moria, Lesbos, Peter's, Mexican, Havana, Cuba, Mexico, Santa Cruz , Bolivia, South America, Ecuador, Paraguay, La Paz, Bolivia, Italian, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Havana and Washington, Vatican, Pope Francis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Istanbul, Italy's Calabria, Jerusalem's Old City, Argentina, Roman Parish, San, Rome's, Santa, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Argentine, America, Gaza, Nove, Lampedusa, Italy, Ciampino, Czechoslovakia, Canada, United States, Africa

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico wants an urgent investigation into how U.S. military-grade weapons are increasingly being found in the hands of Mexican drug cartels, Mexico's top diplomat said Monday. Mexico’s army is finding belt-fed machine guns, rocket launchers and grenades that are not sold for civilian use in the United States. “The (Mexican) Defense Department has warned the United States about weapons entering Mexico that are for the exclusive use of the U.S. army,” Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena said. While the Mexican army and marines still have superior firepower, the drug cartels' weaponry often now outclasses other branches of Mexican law enforcement. Mexico argued the companies knew weapons were being sold to traffickers who smuggled them into Mexico and decided to cash in on that market.

Persons: Alicia Bárcena, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, Sandoval, Ken Salazar, ” Salazar, Mexico’s, Bárcena, ” Bárcena, “ Organizations: MEXICO CITY, ) Defense Department, U.S ., Foreign, National Guard, Jalisco New, Mexico's Defense Department, U.S, Arms, Appeals, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Central America, South American, Central, Department, CBP Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, United States, Jalisco, Sinaloa, U.S, States, Central America, Boston , Massachusetts, South

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats' renewed push for abortion rights during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin. The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue. Abortion has reshaped Harris' tenure as vice president after earlier struggles when dealing with intractable issues like migration from Central America. “The president and the vice president appeal to different parts of the party," Simmons said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Roe, Wade, Harris, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Doug Emhoff, Donald Trump, Biden, that's, “, —, ”, Jen Klein, “ We’ve, ” Harris, Timmaraju, ” McEnany, Kamala, Nikki Haley, Trump, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Jamal Simmons, Simmons Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, National Abortion Rights, Trump, Fox News, GOP, South, Gov, Central America Locations: Wisconsin, Virginia, Washington, South Carolina, Central

☆ 9 new around-the-world cruises have joined Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise at sea. See what they're like — from a sold-out 6-month luxury cruise to a cheaper $21,100 option.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Regent Seven Seas Seas Cruises — NCLH's $73,500 ultra-luxury 4 ½-month cruiseThe Seven Seas Mariner in Kotor, Montenegro. AzamaraAzamara's sold-out 2024 world cruise departed on January 5 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Silversea's fares started at $66,000 per person for the least expensive vista suite, cheaper than Regent Seven Seas' cruise of the same length. AdvertisementPrincess Cruises — Carnival Corp's almost four-month $21,100 vacationPrincess Cruises says its 2024 world cruise guests will have an overnight in Dubai and the opportunity to see 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Holland America Line — the four-month roundtrip Florida cruiseThe Zuiderdam's world cruise itinerary includes overnights in places like Tokyo and Aqaba, Jordan.

Persons: —, TikTok, Royal, it's, Fares, Azamara, Taj, Azamara Azamara's, Leo Caldas, Cunard, Queen Mary 2, Queen Mary, Queen Victoria, Mary 2, Southhampton, Jennifer Gauthier, would've Organizations: Service, Royal, Business, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Regent Seven Seas, Seas, Regent Seven, Seven Seas Mariner, Cruises —, Getty, San, Cruises, UNESCO, Heritage, Princess, Carnival Corp, Seabourn, Fares, Corp's, Cunard, Holland America Line, Reuters, Holland, Holland America Locations: New York City, Sydney, Australia, Los Angeles, Norwegian, Hawaii, Islands, New Zealand, Asia, East, Europe, Canada, Yangon, Myanmar, Reykjavik, Iceland, Kotor, Montenegro, Miami, Central America, Islands , New Zealand, Bermuda, Oceania, Giza, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Central, South America, Barcelona, Caribbean, AFP, San Francisco, Southeast, East Asia, Alaska, Dubai, Africa, Piraeus, Greece, Athens, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Jordan, Cairns, Honolulu, Queen, York City, Aruba, North America, Holland, Florida, Tokyo, Aqaba, Holland America

☆ Several Hundred Honduran Migrants Prepare to Travel North - Local Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Several hundred migrants have gathered at a bus terminal in northern Honduras in preparation to head towards the United States, local television reported on Friday, seeking to flee poverty and a lack of jobs in the Central American nation. Hoy Mismo news channel estimated that about 300 people had gathered at the Gran Terminal bus station in the northern city of San Pedro Sula, largely young people and families holding children. The caravan, expected to leave on Saturday, would mark the first such group of Honduran migrants traveling north during the administration of leftist President Xiomara Castro, who took office at the start of 2022. The government of Honduras estimates that about 64% of the country's 10 million inhabitants live in poverty. The Honduras migration and security ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Hoy, San Pedro Sula, Xiomara Castro, Wilfredo Bonilla, Gustavo Palencia, Sarah Morland, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Central, Gran Locations: TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, United States, Central American, San Pedro

☆ 9 underrated travel destinations that will be popular this year, according to a travel planner
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jennifer Greene | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

BelizeBelize is a country in Central America. Matyas Rehak/ShutterstockThe small Central American country is stunning. There are white-sand beaches and lush tropical jungles to explore. And as the home to the Belize Barrier Reef, snorkeling and diving enthusiasts will find plenty to do. Tourists can even check out Mayan ruins or come up close with native birds and monkeys in Belize.

Persons: Matyas Rehak Locations: Belize Belize, Central America, American, Belize

☆ Cane toads: This warty, toxic pest threatens entire ecosystems. These scientists have a secret weapon
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

For the most part, the battle against cane toads has been mounted by local ecological warriors wearing rubber gloves who scan the streets for adult toads. But the Australians have a secret weapon not yet available worldwide – a lure that attracts cane toad tadpoles so thousands can be killed in one hit. To prove the theory, and try to mimic it, they’d first need a heap of dead cane toads. “In Florida, cane toads are mainly a socio-economic issue. Northern quolls – small carnivorous marsupials – get a cane toad sausage, goannas are fed tiny live toads and freshwater crocodiles receive cane toad legs with a dose of lithium chloride.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Gary King, “ Who’s, ”, King, Australia’s, Cane, Luke, Austin Rogers, “, “ There’s, we’re, Rob Capon, Rick Shine, Capon, ” Capon, they’d, it’s, you’ve, Jacob LaFond, Steve Johnson, that’s, ” LaFond, That’s, Nikki Tomsett, ” Tomsett, they’re, Sara McAllister, Connor, John Holmes, Hilary Whiteman, Connor Holmes, John, ” John, ” Connor Organizations: Australia CNN, University of Queensland, Macquarie University . Shine, Macquarie University, University of Tampa, University of Florida, Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, CNN Locations: Brisbane, Australia, South, Central America, Queensland, United States, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Pacific, Caribbean, United Kingdom, koalas, North Queensland, Florida, Miami, “, South Florida, Australian, Hawaii, Derby, Western Australia, Northern

WHO IS GUATEMALA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL? She first became attorney general in 2018 with the support of then-President Jimmy Morales, replacing Thelma Aldana. With a doctorate in law, Porras' reputation was hit by a plagiarism scandal during her first term as attorney general. During Giammattei’s time as president, Porras left many accusations against him uninvestigated, including a corruption scandal involving COVID-19 vaccines. Now, the attorney general can be removed only for a conviction for a malicious offense.

Persons: Bernardo Arévalo, Consuelo Porras, Arévalo, Porras, Luis Almagro, Jimmy Morales, Thelma Aldana, Alejandro Giammattei, Arévalo’s, —, Claudia Paz y, ” Paz y Paz, “, Paz y Paz, Juan Francisco Sandoval, Paz y, ”, Sandoval Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, United, Organization of American, U.S, Party, Claudia Paz y Paz, Porras, Paz y Paz Locations: GUATEMALA, American, United States, Organization of American States, America, United Nations

☆ Last Salvadoran Woman Imprisoned Over Baby's Death Calls for Change
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

El Salvador has one of the most draconian abortion bans in the Americas, which critics say extends to women who suffer miscarriages and stillbirths. Many women have been sentenced to decades in prison on charges of killing their children. The 28-year-old woman, known as Lilian, was the last woman still imprisoned on such charges, according to two local civil rights groups. "I call on people stop denouncing other innocent women," Lilian told a press conference after a judge last month acquitted her of a 30-year sentence after seven years behind bars. Lilian, who is also the mother of a 10-year-old, said she was happy to be reunited with her family.

Persons: El, Lilian, Lillian, Nelson Renteria, Raul Cortes, Sarah Morland, Leslie Adler Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, Central, Citizens, Group Locations: El Salvador, Central American, Americas, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Caribbean

PANAMA CITY (AP) — A severe drought that began last year has forced authorities to slash ship crossings by 36% in the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important trade routes. The new cuts announced Wednesday by authorities in Panama are set to deal an even greater economic blow than previously expected. On Wednesday, Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said they would cut daily ship crossings to 24, after already gradually slashing crossings last year from 38 a day in normal times. It was a “significant reduction” for the country, Vásquez said. “The water problem is a national problem, not just of the Canal,” Vásquez said.

Persons: Ricaurte Vásquez, Vásquez, ” Vásquez, “, ” Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Central American Locations: PANAMA, Panama

☆ Guatemalan Ex-President Alejandro Giammattei Barred From Entry Into US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei is barred from entering the U.S. over allegations of "his involvement in significant corruption," the State Department said on Wednesday. Giammattei was defeated in August by anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo as he sought re-election as leader of Central American's most populous nation. "The State Department has credible information indicating that Giammattei accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of his public functions during his tenure as president of Guatemala, actions that undermined the rule of law and government transparency," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. Reuters was not able to immediately reach Giammattei for comment. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and Lisa Shumaker)

Persons: Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Bernardo Arevalo, Matthew Miller, Arevalo, Eric Beech, Dan Whitcomb, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: WASHINGTON, State Department, Central, Department, Reuters Locations: Guatemalan, Central American's, Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Bernardo Arévalo was sworn in early Monday as Guatemala’s new president. He’s considered a political moderate with a background in conflict resolution, skills that should serve him well in Guatemala’s current polarization. WHO IS GUATEMALA’S NEW PRESIDENT? Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesArévalo is the 65-year-old son of former Guatemalan President Juan José Arévalo. The poorest are also the most vulnerable to the intensifying drought and flood cycles made worse by climate change.

Persons: — Bernardo Arévalo, He’s, Juan José Arévalo, Arévalo, Bernardo Arévalo, Jacobo Árbenz, hadn't, ”, General Consuelo Porras, —, Porras Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, WHO, CIA, Seed Movement Locations: GUATEMALA, Congress, Uruguay, U.S, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Geneva, Central America, United States

Search resuls for: "Central America"

25 mentions found