Honduras plans to build a 20,000-capacity 'megaprison' for gang members as part of a crackdown

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The president of Honduras has announced the creation of a new 20,000-capacity “megaprison," part of the government's larger crackdown on gang violence and efforts to overhaul its long-troubled prison system. President Xiomara Castro unveiled a series...

2 teens are killed when a bedroom wall collapses after heavy rains on an island in El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Two teenagers were killed by a landslide during heavy rains early on Monday, when their bedroom wall collapsed on an island in El Salvador, authorities said. The landslide took place on the Meanguera del Golfo island in the Gulf of Fonseca. The...

US dampens criticism of El Salvador's president as migration overtakes democracy concerns

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — In 2021, the Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, on a trip to Washington, snubbing the self-proclaimed “world's coolest dictator” for fear a photo op would embolden his attempts to expand his power...

El Salvador says it foiled a plot to plant bombs on the day of President Bukele's inauguration

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador said authorities have broken up a plot to plant bombs around the country to coincide with President Nayib Bukele’s inauguration on Saturday. The country’s National Police said the plot involved “veterans” of the country’s...

El Salvador says authorities have broken up a plot to plant bombs ahead of President Nayib Bukele’s inauguration

El Salvador's congress approves changes to reform constitution, a move critics call anti-democratic

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El Salvador's Congress, which is controlled by President Nayib Bukele New Ideas party, on Monday approved a change to an article of the Constitution to facilitate larger constitutional reforms without having to wait until after the election of a new legislature. ...

Unprecedented wave of narco-violence stuns Argentina city

ROSARIO, Argentina (AP) — The order to kill came from inside a federal prison near Argentina's capital. Unwitting authorities patched a call from drug traffickers tied to one of the country's most notorious gangs to collaborators on the outside. Hiring a 15-year-old hit man, they sealed the fate...

El Salvador's Bukele releases father of soccer player from prison after son's plea on social media

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele released the father of a Salvadoran soccer player from prison after the athlete published a plea for his release on social media, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. Marcelo “El Chiky” Díaz, who plays for El Salvador's...

Ecuadorians wanted an action man. President Noboa has fulfilled that role — embassy raid included

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — While world leaders have expressed shock and bewilderment over Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s decision to raid Mexico’s embassy last Friday, the extraordinarily unusual move — and Noboa's relative silence about it — is unlikely to hurt him with his constituents....

At least 241 people have died in El Salvador's prisons during the 'war on gangs,' rights group says

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — At least 241 people have died in El Salvador prisons since the start of President Nayib Bukele's “war on gangs” two years ago, according to the organization Humanitarian Legal Relief. Ingrid Escobar, director of the rights organization, said they received...