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Central America

President Bukele calls El Salvador’s total mining ban “absurd” due to gold deposits

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, stated this Wednesday that the total ban on mining in the country, in effect since 2017, is “absurd” given that the country has gold deposits.

“We are the ONLY country in the world with a total ban on metallic mining, something no other country has implemented. Absurd!” the president posted on social media platform X.

In March 2017, following pressure from environmentalists, the Congress approved the law banning metallic mining by a majority vote, considering it a destructive industry for both the environment and public health.

The ban covers activities such as exploration, extraction, exploitation, and processing, whether through open-pit or underground mining.

“This wealth (mineral resources), given by God, can be responsibly utilized to bring unprecedented economic and social development to our people,” Bukele wrote.

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Sports

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha lead Barça to a 4-1 aggregate victory over Benfica

Young talent Lamine Yamal and Brazilian forward Raphinha secured Barcelona’s spot in the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Benfica (4-1 on aggregate) on Tuesday at the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc.

Raphinha (11’) opened the scoring for Barça after a brilliant assist from Yamal. However, Benfica’s Nicolás Otamendi (13’) quickly leveled the match with a header from a corner kick. Yamal restored the lead (27’) with a stunning goal, and Raphinha sealed the victory (42’) just before halftime.

Determined to avoid any surprises, Barcelona started aggressively, with early attempts from Yamal and Lewandowskisignaling their intent to dominate. All goals came in the first half, securing a convincing win and a place in the next round.

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Central America

Former First Lady of Honduras Seeks Presidential Nomination Amidst Controversy

Ana García, the former First Lady of Honduras and wife of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a drug trafficking sentence in the United States, will seek the presidential candidacy of the opposition National Party in Sunday’s primary elections. If successful, she would run in the general elections scheduled for November 30.

García is one of three women, all lawyers by profession, from the country’s three major political parties participating in the Sunday’s popular consultation, in which more than half of the country’s ten million inhabitants will be eligible to vote.

The other two candidates are Rixi Moncada, the current Minister of Defense, who is aiming to be the presidential candidate for the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre), a left-wing party, and Maribel Espinoza, from the century-old and conservative Liberal Party.

The wife of ex-president Hernández leads the Avanza Movement within the National Party, also a century-old and conservative party that has alternated in power with the Liberal Party for over a century, with some interruptions due to military coups.

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Central America

Guatemalan suspect wanted for human smuggling network that transported 20,000 migrants

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala has called for public assistance on social media to find and capture a Guatemalan man suspected of being involved in a human smuggling ring that transported 20,000 migrants to the United States. This comes as President Donald Trump continues his crackdown on irregular migration.

Helmer Obispo Hernández, who “is believed to be in Guatemala,” is accused of being “part of a people smuggling network,” the embassy stated on social media platform X, providing a link to report “any information about” the man.

Hernández, 41, is a “lieutenant” in the “criminal organization” led by Guatemalan Eduardo Renoj, who was arrested a few days ago in California, according to U.S. authorities.

Renoj is accused of leading “one of the largest human smuggling organizations in the U.S.,” the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles said in a statement on Monday.

Along with Renoj, 49-year-old Cristóbal Mejía, his “alleged right-hand man,” was also arrested.

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Migrants smuggled from Guatemala reportedly paid between $15,000 and $18,000 to the ring, the embassy said.

Renoj’s organization is linked to a 2023 traffic accident in Oklahoma that resulted in seven deaths, including a four-year-old child. The driver of the vehicle involved is in custody.

“Identifying and dismantling these organizations makes our borders safer and creates a stronger and more prosperous region,” the U.S. embassy stated.

Guatemalan authorities have not provided any updates on Obispo as of now.

Like much of Central America, Guatemala was part of the route used by thousands of migrants to reach the United States, which has tightened its immigration policies since Trump returned to the presidency in January.

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In recent weeks, there has been a reverse trend of migrants heading south through Central America after abandoning their plans to reach the U.S. due to fears of being deported.

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