Central America
Nicaragua launches direct trade route with China to boost economic exchange
On Thursday, the Nicaraguan government inaugurated a direct trade route with China to enhance economic exchange between the two countries, according to official media sources.
The announcement took place at the port of Corinto, located on the Pacific coast about 150 km northwest of Managua. The cargo ship Sunny Fortune, registered under the Panamanian flag, arrived on Wednesday as the first of three monthly vessels scheduled under a commercial agreement with China.
Laureano Ortega, the presidential advisor responsible for Nicaragua-China relations and the son of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, led the event alongside Chinese and Nicaraguan officials. He described the development as “a significant milestone” for the Central American nation.
“This is a major achievement for our country, and we will continue working to ensure this is just the beginning of increased frequency and more operations,” Laureano Ortega said, according to the portal El19digital.
In addition to inaugurating the route, the Sunny Fortune delivered machinery for the construction of the Punta Huete International Airport, located north of Managua. This airport project was awarded to the Chinese company CAMC.
In December 2023, China and Nicaragua agreed to elevate their relationship to a “strategic partnership” following a call between Ortega and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In January, Nicaragua and China launched a Free Trade Agreement.
Managua established diplomatic relations with China in 2021 after severing ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province that must be reunified, by force if necessary.
Since then, the world’s second-largest economy has supported the Nicaraguan government, which is facing sanctions from the United States and European countries following the 2018 protests against Ortega, which resulted in over 300 deaths according to the UN.
Central America
Murdered Environmentalist Juan López Laid to Rest in Honduras Amid Mourning and Outrage
The remains of environmental activist Juan López, who was in the final stages of his fight to close an open-pit mine in Honduras, were buried on Monday amid scenes of grief and indignation, two days after his assassination.
A large crowd gathered to accompany López’s casket in a funeral ceremony at the Church of San Isidro, in front of the main square of Tocoa, the town where hitmen shot him as he left a Catholic church, 220 kilometers northeast of Tegucigalpa, on Saturday.
After the funeral, a long procession of vehicles followed the casket to the New Municipal Cemetery on the outskirts of Tocoa. As night fell, López was laid to rest in a grave, with mourners lighting up the scene with their cellphones.
“They took him from my arms,” said López’s widow, Thelma Peña, in an emotional speech at the cemetery. “They accomplished what they had been planning for a long time,” she added, recalling how she had repeatedly begged him to abandon his fight. “He told me, ‘I can’t stop,’” she said tearfully.
López’s murder recalls the case of renowned environmental activist Berta Cáceres, who was killed in 2016 in Honduras, a country that ranks among the deadliest for environmental defenders, according to the NGO Global Witness.
“You knew very well that the extractivist and mining model kills and destroys the world, along with the corruption of false politicians and narco-governments, but above all, you understood that the fight for the life of our people never ends,” said Bishop Henry Ruiz in a message from Rome, read during the funeral.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro has demanded the fullest investigation into the murder.
Central America
El Salvador bonds surge following president Bukele’s fiscal announcement
Bloomberg reported that on Monday, El Salvador’s international market bonds rose following President Nayib Bukele’s announcement that the 2025 General Budget will not require external financing.
The financial news outlet highlighted that Salvadoran securities “rose across the curve, with those maturing in 2035 gaining 2.2 cents to 80.6 cents per dollar, the highest level since 2021.”
Carlos de Sousa, Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio Manager at Vontobel Asset Management, noted in the Bloomberg article that the president’s statement signals the country is on the right fiscal path.
Other analysts believe that this market boost may also benefit the agreement that El Salvador is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund.
“We see the Salvadoran government and the IMF closer than ever to reaching an agreement after years of negotiations,” Lucas Martin, Alex Muller, and Jane Brauer from Bank of America told Bloomberg.
In August, El Salvador’s bonds experienced a similar surge after the IMF announced a preliminary understanding with the Central American country.
At that time, bonds due in 2052 jumped 2.6 cents to 80.4 cents per dollar, the biggest one-day gain in over a month, according to indicative price data.
Central America
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken congratulates El Salvador on 203 years of independence
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken congratulated El Salvador on behalf of the U.S. government on the commemoration of its 203rd anniversary of independence.
“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of El Salvador on the celebration of their Independence Day. On this special occasion, I reflect on the familial ties shared by our peoples and the important relationship between our governments,” said the U.S. official in a press release.
He also affirmed that the United States will continue promoting inclusive economic growth, citizen security with due process, and human rights in El Salvador.
“We welcome this special occasion as an opportunity to recognize our bonds of friendship and look forward to strengthening them even further in the coming year. I send my best wishes to the people of El Salvador this and every September 15th,” he added.
Democrats pressure Donald Trump with a vote in the Senate on in vitro fertilization
The Government of Ecuador decrees a curfew in six provinces during a national blackout
Harris expresses confidence in the Secret Service and criticizes Trump’s anti-migrant rhetoric
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
-
International4 days agoSpain reduces the escalation of tension with Caracas in the midst of the diplomatic crisis
-
International4 days agoWashington and London leave in the air the authorization to use their missiles against Russia
-
International4 days agoNorth Korea seeks to break into the US presidential elections with its uranium centrifuges
-
International4 days agoThe reform of the Judiciary in Mexico is declared constitutional and awaits officialization
-
International4 days agoKamala Harris seeks to shorten distances with Trump in conservative areas of Pennsylvania
-
International4 days agoUkraine and Russia exchange more prisoners while attacking and counterattacking in Kursk
-
Central America3 days agoU.S. Secretary of State Blinken congratulates El Salvador on 203 years of independence
-
International22 hours agoPetro considers that the ELN attack in Arauca “closes a peace process with blood”
-
International21 hours agoDemocrats pressure Donald Trump with a vote in the Senate on in vitro fertilization
-
International2 days agoFour injured in russian school hammer attack by 13-year-old student
-
International21 hours agoThe US promises “not to spare resources” investigations into the assassination attempt against Trump
-
International3 days agoWittenberg University in Springfield takes extreme precautions after threats of shooting
-
International21 hours agoThe Government of Ecuador decrees a curfew in six provinces during a national blackout
-
International22 hours agoBlinken promises González Urrutia and Machado that he will defend “democracy” in Venezuela
-
International21 hours agoThe Venezuelan Parliament presents a draft agreement on the rupture of relations with Spain
-
International2 days agoEl Salvador’s Independence celebrated with flag displays in New York and Qatar
-
International21 hours agoRecord registration of Latino voters after Harris’ arrival in the presidential race
-
Central America2 days agoMurdered Environmentalist Juan López Laid to Rest in Honduras Amid Mourning and Outrage
-
Central America2 days agoEl Salvador bonds surge following president Bukele’s fiscal announcement
-
International21 hours agoHarris expresses confidence in the Secret Service and criticizes Trump’s anti-migrant rhetoric