Central America
Government of El Salvador registers 226 fallen trees, 42 landslides and 142 roads obstructed due to rains
This Monday, officials who make up the National Civil Protection Commission provided a balance on the emergencies attended during the temporary rains that register El Salvador, which have caused damage due to floods, landslides and falling trees in different areas of the country.
The Minister of the Interior and Territorial Development, Juan Carlos Bidegain, explained that they have 117 shelters distributed throughout El Salvador to take care of families affected by the rains. In addition, he pointed out that of this total of shelters, 34 of them are currently enabled, in which they serve 324 families who were evacuated from risk areas.
Bidegain explained that in total there are 882 people housed in the enclosures enabled throughout the country, in addition to explaining that the Salvadorans who have been evacuated from their homes have the guarantee that teams of the National Civil Police and the Armed Forces will take care of the belongings they left in their homes and thus prevent theft or loss.
The Minister of Public Works, Romeo Rodríguez, pointed out that since last Thursday, June 13, 226 fallen trees, 42 landslides and 142 blocked roads have been counted. During these interventions, Civil Protection teams, Firefighters, relief teams, National Civil Police and Armed Forces have participated.
Luis Amaya, director of Civil Protection, also reported that due to different circumstances arising from the rains, a total of 11 people have already died, who lost their lives due to circumstances such as falling land slopes and fallen trees.
For his part, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (Marn), Fernando López, explained that the western area, specifically Apaneca, in Ahuachapán is the area that has recorded the most water accumulation in the last 24 hours, with a record of 385.6 millimeters.
López indicated that the heavy rains of the temporary type will be maintained this day and on Tuesday the 18th, and although he detailed that the storms will continue throughout the week, from Wednesday the 19th there could be a slight decrease in the constancy and intensity of these rains.
Central America
Panama and OECD sign deal to boost investment climate and global integration
The Government of Panama and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) signed an agreement this Friday in Paris aimed at improving the country’s investment climate through data exchange, expert missions, and policy benchmarking.
“This is not a symbolic act. It is a strategic decision. A statement of intent. A commitment to transformation,” said Panama’s Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, following the signing, according to an official statement.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Martínez-Acha and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann at the organization’s headquarters in the French capital.
According to Panama’s Foreign Ministry, the agreement establishes “a solid and forward-looking framework for cooperation,” enabling high-level technical collaboration through data sharing, comparative policy analysis, expert missions, and evidence-based recommendations.
Authorities stated that the initiative is expected to enhance the investment environment, boost competitiveness, and improve predictability, while also strengthening governance, fostering innovation, increasing human capital, and aligning the education system with global economic demands.
The agreement also opens the door for Panama to deepen its participation within OECD bodies, allowing the country to take part in discussions where global standards are defined.
Since taking office in July 2024, President José Raúl Mulino has prioritized efforts to remove Panama from international lists that label it as a tax haven, which his administration considers discriminatory.
As part of this strategy, the government restricted the participation of most European companies—except those from Spain, Italy, and Greece—in public tenders for major infrastructure projects, including a planned railway to the border with Costa Rica and a gas pipeline near the Panama Canal. This move came after the European Union kept Panama on its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.
Over the past year, Panama has made progress in this area, including its removal from the European Parliament’s money laundering list and Ecuador’s tax haven list.
Central America
Guatemala court overturns arrest warrants against former CICIG officials
Colombian Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo and current ambassador to the Vatican Iván Velásquez were both members of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, a UN-backed body created to investigate corruption networks within the Guatemalan state between 2007 and 2019.
Investigations led by the CICIG resulted in the imprisonment of high-ranking officials. According to international organizations, the arrest warrants issued against Camargo and Velásquez were seen as retaliation for their anti-corruption work.
In mid-2025, an appeals court in Guatemala ordered their detention after prosecutors accused them of obstruction of justice and influence peddling, among other charges. The ruling alleged that they had favored business figures linked to Odebrecht who were under investigation.
However, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court later ruled that the lower court had “overstepped its authority” by issuing the arrest warrants illegally, according to local media reports.
Camargo and Velásquez had immunity due to their roles within a United Nations-backed entity.
“A month before the end of the term of the corrupt attorney general, Consuelo Porras, it seems the situation is beginning to change in Guatemala,” Velásquez wrote on social media.
Porras—sanctioned by the United States Government and the European Union over allegations of corruption and anti-democratic actions—is set to leave office on May 16 unless she is reappointed by President Bernardo Arévalo, with whom she has been at odds after attempting to block his inauguration two years ago.
The CICIG was unilaterally dissolved by former Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales (2016–2020).
Central America
Honduras police launch high-impact operations amid security concerns
The director of the Policía Nacional de Honduras, Rigoberto Oseguera, presented a recent assessment of the country’s security situation and announced the deployment of high-impact operations in the department of Olancho.
The police chief identified the municipality of Choloma, in the department of Cortés, as one of the most critical areas for crime at a regional level. This comes despite an overall downward trend in violence across the Valle de Sula.
Oseguera also noted that the Central District—comprising Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela—records a high number of homicides. However, he explained that the rate remains comparatively low due to population density, although crime levels in Francisco Morazán still require special attention.
He added that the police have deployed five tactical intervention teams across key regions, including Valle de Sula, Olancho, Francisco Morazán, and the southern part of the country. In addition, authorities have identified multiple criminal incidents in the municipality of Concordia.
“It is a serious situation. These are long-standing social problems in the region, but it is time to act and not make excuses,” Oseguera emphasized.
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