Central America

El Salvador and the United States strengthen academic and gastronomic ties

The Carlos Rosario International Charter School and the Central American Technical Institute and Specialized School of Engineering ITCA-FEPADE, have taken the first steps in an interesting exercise of academic exchange. This has allowed them not only to raise their level of culinary training, but also in the labor field. Besides being an opportunity for the staff of Carlos Rosario to better understand their Salvadoran students in Washington, D.C.

The North American delegation spent three weeks in the country last August. This was part of the PUENTE/BRIDGE project, signed between Washington, D.C. and San Salvador in 2018. During the visit, they became students and learned about the cultural and gastronomic richness of El Salvador.

Chef Sebastian Lamerre, director of the Culinary Art School at Carlos Rosario, visited La Union. He was accompanied by three culinary arts instructors and the academy’s employment developer. During the tour, they tried local dishes and fruits unique to the area.

Previously, in January of last year, three chefs and an administrator from ITCA visited the Carlos Rosario School. There, Salvadoran chef Benjamin Velasquez, founder of the school’s Culinary Arts Academy, trained them. The national delegation took part in the internationally recognized ServSafe certification.

This certification teaches restaurant workers how to handle and prepare food properly. Although there is no certification as such in El Salvador, a plan to implement it in the country is still pending. The Carlos Rosario School and ITCA-Fepade are working on the next steps of this agreement.

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Central America

Guatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping

A police officer was killed during riots provoked by an enraged mob in a Guatemalan town following the kidnapping of a baby, the government reported on Wednesday.

The incidents began on Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday in the town of San Vicente Pacaya, about 25 km south of the capital, according to Minister of the Interior Francisco Jiménez.

“There was an incident in San Vicente Pacaya where, unfortunately, a police officer died after being struck in the head with a stone. He passed away this morning,” Jiménez said in a press conference.

He explained that the unrest erupted following the arrest of two suspects in connection with the kidnapping of “a baby just a few months old,” including a woman with a criminal record.

Sports

Venezuela investigates 18 baseball players seeking asylum in Spain

Maduro calls on military to be alert to alleged plan by "fascist groups"

The Venezuelan government announced on Wednesday that it is investigating the case of 18 baseball players who are “under the supervision of Spanish authorities” after seeking protection.

In a statement, Venezuelan authorities said they are working to determine whether this case involves “a possible human trafficking scheme,” though they have not provided any evidence of such a crime.

The Venezuelan government emphasized its commitment to protecting the country’s athletes while also denouncing the use of international legal frameworks by certain governments allegedly seeking to discredit the administration.

CNN reached out to Spain’s National Police for a response to Venezuela’s claims. According to Spanish authorities, the 18 young athletes—including two minors—arrived in Spain to participate in a series of matches but had already planned to apply for asylum. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that they had begun interviewing the players to process their international protection requests.

The team’s coach addressed the situation in a TikTok video, refuting local media reports that he had abandoned the athletes. He asserted that the players chose to remain in Barcelona to secure the necessary permits to sign with other teams and that their decision was unrelated to any political motivations.

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Sports

Filipe Luis debuts as coach in Copa Libertadores with Flamengo

A two-time Copa Libertadores champion with Flamengo during his playing days, Filipe Luis will make his managerial debut in the tournament this Thursday when the popular Rio de Janeiro club faces Venezuela’s Deportivo Táchira.

Placed in Group C alongside Táchira, Liga de Quito, and Argentina’s Central Córdoba, Flamengo starts as one of the favorites—a major challenge for the 39-year-old former player.

His early coaching career has been off to a strong start.

After retiring in 2023, Filipe Luis took over as Flamengo’s head coach on September 30. Just 41 days later, he won his first title, the Copa do Brasil. The year 2025 has already brought two more trophies: the Supercopa do Brasil, where Flamengo defeated Botafogo—current Libertadores and Brasileirão champions—3-1, and the Campeonato Carioca.

At 8:30 PM local time (00:30 GMT Friday), Flamengo under Filipe Luis will make its international debut at Estadio Pueblo Nuevo in San Cristóbal. Although Gerson, Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata are unavailable, the squad still boasts attacking firepower with Bruno Henrique and Everton.