Central America
Guatemala grants house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora

A Guatemalan criminal court granted house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora on Monday, who has been imprisoned since July 2022 on a controversial money laundering charge. However, he will remain in jail due to another case against him.
“The court has unanimously agreed to revoke the preventive detention order,” announced Judge Verónica Ruiz at the end of a hearing in Guatemala City, noting that Zamora will now be under house arrest.
This same court had previously granted Zamora house arrest as a substitute measure to preventive detention on May 15, but this decision was overturned by an appeals court on June 26.
Despite this new ruling, the 67-year-old journalist will remain incarcerated due to another case in which the Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses him of alleged obstruction of justice.
On August 1, Amnesty International declared Zamora a “prisoner of conscience” and called for his immediate and unconditional release, following his two years of imprisonment for his corruption allegations against the previous government led by right-wing President Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024).
Central America
Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.
“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).
The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.
Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.
Central America
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.
“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.
The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.
Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.
Central America
Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.
“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.
According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”
The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.
-
Central America4 days ago
Nicaragua denounces Costa Rica’s position in SICA as aligned with foreign interests
-
Central America4 days ago
Nicaragua’s new judicial law consolidates power in Ortega and Murillo’s hands
-
Central America4 days ago
Panama’s president declares Darién gap ‘closed’ amid sharp drop in migrant flow
-
International2 days ago
Son of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”
-
International4 days ago
Marco Rubio warns Venezuela against military action against Guyana
-
International2 days ago
Miyazaki’s style goes viral with AI but at what cost?
-
Central America1 day ago
Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending
-
International1 day ago
Deportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links
-
Central America6 hours ago
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border
-
International6 hours ago
Trump urges Putin to reach peace deal
-
Central America6 hours ago
Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua
-
Central America3 days ago
Nicaragua revokes legal status of 10 more NGOs, bringing total to over 5,600