Central America

Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory

The Minister of Defense, Francis Merino Monroy, congratulated soldier Idelma Lizeth Delgado Juárez, the Central American Cross Country Champion of 2024.

The minister explained that this weekend the III Central American Cross Country and Race Walking Championship took place in the Republic of Guatemala, where members of the Salvadoran team had an outstanding performance.

“In addition to our champion, the national team includes three more members from the Armed Forces, who brought honor to the name of El Salvador,” he added.

Central America

Costa Rica’s Poás volcano on orange alert amid rising magma activity

The colossus, standing 2,708 meters high, is surrounded by a dense forest and located 50 km from San José by road. On March 1st, it showed an increase in activity, prompting authorities to restrict visits—though not suspend them entirely.

“We have a lot of information indicating that fluids are rising from deep within the volcano. We don’t know what will happen, but this activity is concerning,” said French volcanologist Geoffroy Avard from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Ovsicori) in an interview with AFP.

“At this moment, [Poás] is at level three (orange alert), which we call ‘precaution.’ It is the third level out of four, and that’s because the volcano is showing several indicators that raise serious concerns,” he added.

According to the National Seismological Network, Costa Rica has over 120 volcanic sites, but most are extinct. Only five remain active: Poás, Rincón de la Vieja, Arenal, Irazú, and Turrialba.

“The [Poás] volcano is currently very unstable, and the shape of the gases indicates that it is magma,” the Ovsicori expertexplained.

Visits to the Poás Volcano were suspended from April 2017 to August 2018 due to eruptions. When reopened, stricter safety measures were implemented, including shelters and protective gear for visitors.

“The most significant explosion we had in the last decade—or perhaps a bit more—was the April 22, 2017 eruption. Rocks were ejected up to 1.5 kilometers away,” the volcanologist recalled.

Central America

Guatemala government repeals mandatory car insurance amid mass rejection

The massive rejection of mandatory vehicle insurance left the Guatemalan government with no choice but to backtrack on its decree. However, the government and the organizations involved in the protests will work on two additional points to strengthen road safety and provide financial protection to victims of traffic accidents, as reported by the central administration.

President Bernardo Arévalo announced, through a video posted on his social media, the repeal of agreements 46, 47, 48, and 49 of 2025 to end the blockades and restore normal mobility throughout the country. These agreements outlined the acquisition of insurance and penalties for motorcyclists, private vehicles, public transportation, and freight transport that failed to comply with the regulations. The measure was scheduled to take effect in May. “The necessary implementation of mandatory insurance for transportation has raised understandable doubts in many households, and these doubts add to the legitimate discontent that is causing frustration today. I understand these doubts, I understand this frustration,” the president stated.

In response to the protests, the Ministry of the Interior and the organizations committed to setting up a technical working group to discuss the regulations for implementing Article 29 of the 1996 Traffic Law, within a year. Additionally, “they will work on drafting a proposal for a general transportation law,” because the current legal framework is outdated for the different transportation modalities, both current and future, the president added.

“Let us remember that traffic accidents and fatalities are among the most tragic events for the people of Guatemala. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in the country, and we must work to change this reality,” he concluded.

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Central America

Mexican authorities arrest salvadoran gang member wanted for terrorism charges

Elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the National Guard (GN), the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) arrested Francisco Javier Román Bardales in Veracruz, one of the FBI’s ten most wanted fugitives in the United States.

The capture took place in the town of Baxtla as a result of intelligence efforts and binational cooperation between Mexico and the United States. According to authorities, the FBI has charged him with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to terrorists, narcoterrorism conspiracy, organized crime, and human trafficking.

After identifying Francisco Javier’s movement patterns, “with the gathered intelligence, surveillance teams were deployed for fixed, mobile, and discreet monitoring. On the Teocelo-Baxtla highway, they identified Francisco Javier ‘N,’ confirmed his identity, and proceeded with his arrest.”

During his capture, he was informed of the charges against him and his rights were read. He was then transported to Mexico City, where he will remain in custody before his extradition to the United States.

According to intelligence reports, the detainee, a Salvadoran national, is allegedly linked to the criminal organization known as Mara Salvatrucha, a gang with international reach.