The recent uptick in killings underscores the breakdown in a truce the gangs declared in March 2012, which was brokered by the Catholic Church with behind-the-scenes help from then president Mauricio Funes.
Though foreign gang members are closely monitored, the real risk for Nicaragua is homegrown gangs, called grupos juveniles. These groups imitate the gang life they see in the so-called Northern Triangle countries – Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Last week Guatemalan and international prosecutors announced they had issued arrest warrants for 22 people allegedly involved in a criminal network that took bribes in exchange for reduced customs duties, making millions off the foregone government revenue. Among those arrested were the current and former heads of Guatemala’s tax administration, the president of national newspaper SigloXXI and Baldetti’s private secretary, Juan Carlos Monzón.
In the latest seismological event to happen in Costa Rica this week, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the country’s southern coast at 2:37 p.m. Saturday. There were no initial reports of damage.
Officials said at least 876 people are known to have died in Nepal, making it the worst earthquake there in more than 80 years. Ten people were reportedly killed when an avalanche buried parts of Mount Everest's base camp in Nepal where hundreds of mountaineers have gathered at the start of the annual climbing season.
HAVANA — As they begin to visit this long-forbidden island in greater and greater numbers, it is only natural that some travelers from the U.S. will fall in love with Cuba. Others, with Cubans.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – As an autumn chill settles over the Southern Hemisphere, the harvested Argentine vineyards mottling yellow and russet, José Manuel Ortega's winery rises amid snow-capped Andean foothills.
Salvadoran law provides for a sentence of two to eight years in prison for induced abortion. But if a spontaneous abortion is considered to be self-induced, the woman can be prosecuted for murder and face a sentence of up to 50 years in prison.
