MEXICO CITY (AP) — For weeks, Solangel Contreras raced.
The Venezuelan migrant and her family of 22 trudged through the dense jungles of the Darien Gap and hopped borders across Central America.
Mexico finds 8 sacrificial victims at Gulf coast pyramid
April 19, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Archaeologists in Mexico said Wednesday they have found 13 buried sets of human remains, eight of which appear to be young men who were apparently decapitated as part of a ceremony to consecrate a temple.
UN: As many as 400,000 migrants may cross Darien Gap in 2023
April 14, 2023 GMTPANAMA CITY (AP) — Two U.N. groups said Thursday that the number of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama could soar to as many as 400,000 this year.
That would represent a huge increase from the 250,000 migrants estimated to have crossed the roadless, jungle-clad route in 2022.
First-ever CONCACAF W Gold Cup kicks off next year in US
March 8, 2023 GMTThe first CONCACAF W Gold Cup, a women's edition of the long-running men's tournament, will be played in the United States early next year.
The governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean announced Wednesday that qualification for teams that have not already earned berths will start in September.
MS-13 gang members in Central America sanctioned by US
February 8, 2023 GMTThe United States Treasury Department sanctioned two members of the powerful Mara Salvatrucha on Wednesday, part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. to crack down on the gang commonly known as MS-13. One of the men is still at large.
US sanctions Mexican international cartel lieutenant
January 30, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Monday on an international operator for the Sinaloa drug cartel whose activities span the globe.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control blocked any U.S.
Kaptur, longtime Ohio Democrat: Congress overlooks heartland
January 2, 2023 GMTTOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — When the new Congress convenes on Tuesday, Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur will become the longest-serving woman in its history. Yet after 40 years, she sometimes feels like an outsider.
Glass act: Scientists reveal secrets of frog transparency
December 22, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Now you see them, now you don’t.
Some frogs found in South and Central America have the rare ability to turn on and off their nearly transparent appearance, researchers report Thursday in the journal Science.
Migrants flee more countries, regardless of US policies
December 22, 2022 GMTTIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — In 2014, groups of unaccompanied children escaping violence in Central America overwhelmed U.S. border authorities in South Texas.
Honduras suspends rights in 2 big cities amid gang crackdown
December 6, 2022 GMTTEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras became the second country in Central America to impose a state of exception suspending some constitutional rights to help fight street gangs when a decree took effect Monday.
Germany needs a win and help to avoid World Cup early exit
November 30, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — After getting a favor from Costa Rica, Germany needs a win against the Central American team on Thursday to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages at the World Cup.
Japan aims for World Cup knockout stage against Costa Rica
November 26, 2022 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — How big was Japan's 2-1 upset of Germany in the opening round of the World Cup?
Newspapers in Japan used the term “Daikimboshi” from sumo wrestling to describe the magnitude of the surprise: when a low-ranked wrestler overpowers a grand champion.
Honduras declares state of emergency against gang crime
November 25, 2022 GMTTEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Honduras became the second country in Central America to declare a state of emergency to fight gang crimes like extortion.
For years, street gangs have charged protection money from bus and taxi drivers and store owners in Honduras, as in neighboring El Salvador.
German gym outlets CEO confirmed dead after Costa Rica crash
November 4, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — The founder and CEO of the RSG Group of gym outlets, Rainer Schaller, has been confirmed dead after the crash off a small plane off Costa Rica late last month, the company said Friday.
Tropical Depression Lisa crosses into southern Mexico
November 4, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Depression Lisa moved into southern Mexico on Thursday, a day after making landfall as a hurricane near Belize City in the Central American nation of Belize and heading inland over northern Guatemala.
Hurricane Lisa makes landfall in Belize in Central America
November 3, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Lisa made landfall Wednesday near Belize City in the Central American nation of Belize, and moved inland.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Lisa had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) at landfall.
Tropical Storm Lisa moves toward Central America
November 2, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Lisa strengthened as it pushed across the western Caribbean Tuesday south of the Cayman Islands and was forecast to make landfall, likely as a hurricane, in Central America as early as Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Lisa forms in Caribbean, likely to grow
November 1, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Lisa formed Monday in the Caribbean south of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and was forecast to make landfall, likely as a hurricane, in Central America later in the week.
2023 CONCACAF final set for SoFi Stadium in California
October 28, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, one of the sites of the 2026 World Cup.
The Coliseum in Los Angeles hosted the Gold Cup final in 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2000, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was the site in 2002 and 2011.
Biden targets Nicaragua’s gold in new move against Ortega
October 24, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Biden administration is ratcheting up pressure on President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian rule in Nicaragua, threatening a ban on Americans from doing business in the nation’s gold industry, raising the possibility of trade restrictions and stripping the U.S.
Salvador court orders arrests in Dutch journalist killings
October 17, 2022 GMTSAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — A Salvadoran judge has ordered the provisional arrest of several retired high-ranking members of the armed forces accused of having participated in the killings of four Dutch journalists in 1982 while they were covering the Central American nation’s civil war.
US migrant policy ‘bucket of cold water’ to some Venezuelans
October 14, 2022 GMTNECOCLI, Colombia (AP) — Venezuelan Gilbert Fernández still plans to cross the dangerous Darien jungle into Panama and head toward the United States over land, despite a U.S.
Tropical Storm Karl forms in Gulf off southern Mexico coast
October 12, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Karl formed off Mexico’s southern Gulf coast Tuesday and is forecast to meander in the Gulf for a few days without reaching hurricane strength.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Karl had winds of 40 mph (65 kph) Tuesday afternoon.
28 dead as Julia drenches Central America with rainfall
October 11, 2022 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Former Hurricane Julia has dissipated, but is still drenching Guatemala and El Salvador with torrential rains Monday after it reemerged in the Pacific following a pounding of Nicaragua.
Hurricane Julia hits Nicaragua with torrential rainfall
October 10, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Julia hit Nicaragua's central Caribbean coast and dumped torrential rains across Central America before reemerging over the Pacific as a tropical storm. It was forecast to travel parallel to the coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala on Monday.
5 migrants killed in SUV crash in Mexico’s Veracruz state
October 6, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Five migrants were killed and seven others injured Thursday in a highway accident in Mexico’s Gulf coast state of Veracruz.
Immigration authorities said all of the injured migrants were Nicaraguans.
US officials: Border crossings soar among Venezuelans
September 20, 2022 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — The number of Venezuelans taken into custody at the U.S. border with Mexico soared in August, while fewer migrants from Mexico and some Central American countries were stopped, officials said Monday.
US official: Tip, mom tracked murder suspect in El Salvador
September 2, 2022 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — A tip along with the perseverance of the mother of a woman killed in San Diego in 2016 led to the arrest of her boyfriend, a U.S. Marine veteran who fled to El Salvador and was teaching English there, prosecutors said Friday at the arraignment of Raymond McLeod.
Child of migrant, 5, drowns while crossing Rio Grande
August 23, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — A 5-year-old girl has drowned while attempting to cross the Rio Grande to enter Texas, Mexico’s National Immigration Institute said Tuesday.
The girl was attempting to cross the river with her mother Monday, when the current swept her away.
Another anti-graft figure leaves top post in Guatemala
August 18, 2022 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — One of the last remaining official pillars of Guatemala's effort to root out corruption leaves his post this week, following the ouster or departure of a series of other anti-graft campaigners who had shaken the Central American nation's governing class.
Concern that Nicaragua repression could be “model” in region
August 4, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega’s government has closed seven radio stations owned by the Roman Catholic church this week, as well as two other outlets serving the largely rural northern area with a history of opposition to his Sandinista National Liberation Front party.
Banco Latinoamericano: Q2 Earnings Snapshot
August 4, 2022 GMTPANAMA CITY (AP) _ Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior SA (BLX) on Wednesday reported second-quarter net income of $23 million.
The Panama City-based bank said it had earnings of 63 cents per share.
13 Venezuelans among 16 dead in Nicaragua bus crash
July 28, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — At least 16 people were killed in a bus crash in northwestern Nicaragua, including 13 Venezuelans, National Police said Thursday.
A Nicaraguan citizen was also among the dead and the other two fatalities had not yet been identified, according to a police statement.
New group of 2,000 migrants sets off in southern Mexico
July 25, 2022 GMTTAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — A new group of about 2,000 migrants set out walking Monday in southern Mexico with the goal of reaching the United States.
The group started out from the city of Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, where thousands of migrants have been stranded and frustrated by slow paperwork at overcrowded Mexican immigration offices.
US publishes list of alleged bad actors in Central America
July 20, 2022 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department has named 60 current and former officials, as well as some corporate figures, in its latest list of people suspected of corruption or undermining democracy in four Central American countries.
Guatemala returns 1st of its 21 victims from Texas trailer
July 16, 2022 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala repatriated its first victim Friday from the smuggling attempt that left 53 migrants from Mexico and Central America dead last month in San Antonio, Texas.
The body of 13-year-old Pascual Melvin Guachiac Sipac arrived around midday in Guatemala’s capital.
Asylum wait lists at US border frustrate, confuse migrants
July 13, 2022 GMTPIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico (AP) — Opaque waiting lists at the Mexico border to gain a chance at obtaining asylum in the United States have persisted under President Joe Biden, leading many migrants to give up and cross illegally or languish for months in border towns.
Hurricane Bonnie weakens as it heads out over open Pacific
July 7, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Bonnie weakened Wednesday after becoming the first major storm of the eastern Pacific season while off southern Mexico, though it wasn’t a threat to land.
Bonnie was moving farther away from Mexico’s Pacific coast after its weekend crossing of Central America as a tropical storm from the Caribbean and dropping heavy rain, contributing to at least two deaths.
Hurricane Bonnie off Mexico briefly season’s 1st major storm
July 6, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Bonnie weakened a bit Tuesday night after several hours as the first major storm of the eastern Pacific season while off southern Mexico, though it wasn't a threat to land.
Hurricane Bonnie steams westward off Mexico’s Pacific coast
July 5, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Bonnie strengthened while moving roughly parallel to Mexico’s Pacific coast Monday, after crossing over Central America from the Caribbean and dropping heavy rain and contributing to two deaths.
Latest migrant caravan breaks up in Mexico after 2 days
July 4, 2022 GMTHUIXTLA, Mexico (AP) — Several thousand migrants who set off in southern Mexico with the goal of reaching the United States dissolved their march Sunday after Mexican officials handed out about 3,000 temporary residence permits.
Tropical Storm Bonnie hits Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast
July 2, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Bonnie hit the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua near the border with Costa Rica late Friday and was expected to make a quick march across Central America and potentially develop into a hurricane after reemerging in the Pacific.
US men’s soccer reach 1st Olympics since 2008 with U-20 win
July 2, 2022 GMTThe United States qualified for its first Olympic men's soccer tournament since 2008 when the Americans beat Honduras 3-0 at San Pedro Sula on Friday night in the semifinals of the Under-20 championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Caribbean storm likely to gain force, hit Central America
July 1, 2022 GMTSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A storm that has hurled rain on the southern Caribbean and the northern shoulder of South America was expected to hit Central America as a tropical storm over the weekend and eventually develop into a hurricane over the Pacific, forecasters said Thursday.
Disturbance in Caribbean likely to become tropical storm
June 30, 2022 GMTSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Forecasters issued a hurricane watch Wednesday for the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border as a tropical disturbance sped over the southern Caribbean on a path toward Central America.
51 migrants die after trailer abandoned in San Antonio heat
June 29, 2022 GMTSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Desperate families of migrants from Mexico and Central America frantically sought word of their loved ones as authorities began the grim task Tuesday of identifying 51 people who died after being abandoned in a tractor-trailer without air conditioning in the sweltering Texas heat.
Guatemala court blocks anti-corruption agreement
June 25, 2022 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A Guatemalan court has tossed out an agreement that made it easier to prosecute bribery involving the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht — a ruling that favors a former cabinet official accused of corruption.
Celia again a tropical storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast
June 21, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Celia regained tropical storm force off southern Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday and forecasters said it was likely to eventually become a hurricane, though it appears to be headed out to sea, away from land.
Celia, Blas weaken, but still bring heavy rain, surf
June 18, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Celia weakened to a tropical depression off Central America Saturday, as Tropical Storm Blas headed out to sea off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast.
Celia stalled off the coast of El Salvador and Guatemala over the weekend but was expected to move west, toward Mexico, next week.
Tropical Storm Celia forms in Pacific; Blas heads out to sea
June 17, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Tropical Storm Celia formed off Central America Friday, as Hurricane Blas headed out to sea off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast.
The tropical storm is expected to remain off the coast of El Salvador and Guatemala over the weekend before veering away from land next week.
US sanctions Nicaraguan gold mining firm over ties to Russia
June 17, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday on Nicaragua’s state-owned gold mining company and the president of its board of directors in part over the Central American nation's ties to Russia.
Costa Rica chaos a warning that ransomware threat remains
June 17, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Teachers unable to get paychecks. Tax and customs systems paralyzed. Health officials unable to access medical records or track the spread of COVID-19. A country’s president declaring war against foreign hackers saying they want to overthrow the government.
Hurricane Blas prompts port closure in southern Mexico
June 16, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Blas whirled off Mexico's southern Pacific coast Thursday, prompting a precautionary port closure in a region recovering from destruction brought by the season's first big storm.
Biden, leaders reach migration pact despite attendance flap
June 10, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — President Joe Biden and other Western Hemisphere leaders on Friday announced what is being billed as a roadmap for countries to host large numbers of migrants and refugees.
“The Los Angeles Declaration” is perhaps the biggest achievement of the Summit of the Americas, which was undercut by differences over Biden’s invitation list.
Czechs seize record amount of cocaine in banana shipment
June 10, 2022 GMTPRAGUE (AP) — A record amount of cocaine was seized in a shipment for supermarkets in the Czech Republic, police said Friday.
They said 840 kilograms (1,852 pounds) of cocaine were discovered in cardboard boxes with bananas by employees in supermarkets in northern towns of Jicin and Rychnov nad Kneznou.
Salvadoran leader rebuffs Blinken effort to bolster summit
June 9, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — It was the sort of diplomatic rebuff a small country like El Salvador generally can rarely afford to make.
In the run-up to this week's Summit of Americas in Los Angeles, senior U.S.
Tackling migration, Harris backs investment in Latin America
June 7, 2022 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Tuesday that the Biden administration's work to attract investment to Central America, part of the U.S. effort to reduce migration, has generated $3.2 billion in private-sector commitments.
Migrant caravan sets out in southern Mexico
June 6, 2022 GMTTAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — Several thousand migrants set out walking in the rain early Monday in southern Mexico, tired of waiting to normalize their status in a region with little work and still far from their ultimate goal of reaching the United States.