San Salvador Times

El Salvador Wins 15 Medals, Including Six Golds, at Central American Student Games

Salvadoran youth athletes secured 15 medals at the Codicader Games, including six golds, as the regional competition promotes youth development and closer ties through sport.

Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake Strikes El Salvador’s La Paz Department With No Significant Damage Reported

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck the southern coastal region of La Paz on Thursday afternoon, prompting civil-protection checks that found no significant damage to major logistics routes or tourism infrastructure.

El Salvador Destroys More Than $237,000 in Seized Illegal Drugs

The attorney general verified the public destruction of confiscated narcotics valued at more than $237,000 as authorities continue anti-drug operations aimed at disrupting regional trafficking routes.

Study Says Central and South America Collided Millions of Years Earlier Than Thought

Research on volcanic rocks from the Northern Andes places the main formation of the Central American land bridge in the Oligocene epoch, challenging previous estimates of when the region’s geological connection formed.

Salvadoran University Unveils 2030 Strategy to Build Technology Skills

Universidad Doctor José Matías Delgado launched its Talent with Purpose plan to modernize curricula, accelerate digital transformation and develop skilled workers for El Salvador’s AI and startup sectors.

El Salvador Hosts 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship as Surf City Initiative Expands

The international youth surfing competition at La Bocana and El Sunzal runs through Sept. 13, reinforcing the government’s Surf City initiative as hospitality investment, international tourism and coastal infrastructure expand.

Soyapango Removes Street Vendors Without Finalized Relocation Plans

Municipal authorities have begun removing informal vendors from public spaces in Soyapango before relocation plans are finalized, highlighting tensions between urban redevelopment and the informal economy.

El Salvador Uses Independence Month to Highlight End of Gang Territorial Control

September independence commemorations are focusing on the country’s security transformation, with government officials saying the dismantling of gang-controlled areas has restored freedom and public safety.

Study Warns Socioeconomic Impact of Retinal Disease in Central America Could Rise 64% by 2032

A medical and economic analysis projects a sharp increase in the financial and social burden of severe vision disorders over the next decade, adding pressure to public-health systems across Central America.

US Misses El Salvador TPS Deadline, Leaving 200,000 Immigrants Awaiting Decision

The US Department of Homeland Security missed a Sept. 9 deadline to decide the future of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador, leaving about 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants awaiting formal guidance while interim work-authorization ru...

US Designates 21 Latin American Criminal Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Groups

The United States expanded its regional counter-narcotics and security strategy by listing 21 criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups, a move intended to increase financial and military pressure on transnational crime networks.

New Geological Research Revises Timeline for Formation of Central American Land Bridge

International geologists concluded that the tectonic collision that formed the Central American land bridge occurred millions of years earlier than previously thought, potentially changing scientific models used in resource exploration, ...

IMF Forecasts Panama’s Economy to Grow 4.2% This Year

The International Monetary Fund expects Panama’s economy to expand 4.2% this year, reinforcing the country’s role as a major corporate headquarters and financial center for businesses operating across Latin America.

U.S. CDC Places Costa Rica on Level One Dengue Watch After Infections Rise 30%

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control placed Costa Rica on a Level One dengue watch after infections rose 30% from a year earlier, raising health concerns during a period of strong regional travel demand.

Brazilian Political Figures Pledge to Replicate El Salvador’s Prison-Based Security Model

Prominent Brazilian political figures said during meetings in São Paulo that they would pursue large prison projects modeled on El Salvador’s security infrastructure as part of efforts to combat organized crime.

Chilean Security Officials Praise El Salvador’s Mega-Prison During High-Level Visit

Senior Chilean security officials toured Salvadoran prisons and publicly praised President Nayib Bukele’s anti-crime infrastructure, highlighting growing regional interest in El Salvador’s hardline approach to public security.

Spanish Fintech Reental Raises Nearly $2 Million for El Salvador-Linked Tokenization Expansion

Spanish financial technology company Reental raised nearly $2 million to expand asset-tokenization operations linked to El Salvador, adding to the country’s efforts to develop a regional hub for blockchain and financial technology.

U.S. Development Finance Corporation Approves $10 Million Financing for Honduras

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation finalized a $10 million agreement with MiCredito Honduras to expand financing for micro and medium-sized businesses and support regional commercial supply chains.

El Salvador Opens New Power Substation to Support Surf City Tourism Growth

El Salvador inaugurated a new electrical transmission substation serving the Surf City coastal region, aimed at improving power reliability as hotels, digital-nomad facilities and foreign real-estate projects expand along the coast.

Central American Tourism Growth Forecast to Outpace Global Average

The World Travel and Tourism Council projects Central America will outperform global tourism growth this year, supported by strong international visitor spending in El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama and improving perceptions of regional ...

El Salvador Prepares to Host U.N. World Tourism Day With Focus on AI and Coastal Development

El Salvador is completing preparations to host United Nations World Tourism Day later this month, with officials expected to highlight the use of artificial intelligence in hospitality and major development projects along the Surf City c...

Salvadoran Investigators Uncover Mass Graves Linked to Mara Salvatrucha

Prosecutors investigating Mara Salvatrucha found covert mass graves in Nuevo Cuscatlan that authorities say were used to bury hundreds of victims, shedding further light on the violence that preceded El Salvador’s current security crackd...

Bukele Pledges 8% of El Salvador’s GDP for Public Education

President Nayib Bukele announced plans to allocate 8% of gross domestic product to modernizing public education, broadening the government’s policy focus beyond security as El Salvador pursues longer-term technology and innovation goals.

Guatemala Issues Airspace and Hazard Warnings After Fuego Volcano Eruptions

Guatemalan authorities issued regional aviation and structural hazard warnings after multiple explosive eruptions at Fuego Volcano sent large ash columns into the atmosphere, renewing concerns over disruption to transport and infrastruct...

U.S. Southern Command Launches Central America Task Force Against Drug Trafficking Networks

U.S. military leaders launched a specialized regional task force targeting transnational narcotics operations moving through Central American maritime routes as trafficking groups adjust to tougher security measures in El Salvador and Ho...

Costa Rican President Clashes With Judiciary Over Security and Mining Policies

President Laura Fernandez’s administration has intensified its confrontation with Costa Rica’s judicial branch over executive security measures and disputed resource-extraction projects, adding political strain in a country known for ins...

Rights Groups Warn of Growing Judicial Pressure on Independent Media in El Salvador

International press-freedom groups condemned what they described as judicial harassment of El Faro and other independent Salvadoran media, warning that tensions between the government and investigative journalists could affect relations ...

IMF Advances $140 Million for El Salvador After Agreement to Restrict Public Bitcoin Purchases

The International Monetary Fund advanced a $140 million disbursement after President Nayib Bukele’s government agreed to limit further national Bitcoin accumulation to private donations, marking a shift aimed at balancing its digital-ass...

El Salvador and Liberia Reach Agreement to Receive U.S. Deportees

El Salvador and Liberia reached an arrangement to accept hundreds of foreign nationals deported from the United States, according to diplomatic sources, underscoring El Salvador’s growing cooperation with Washington on migration and bord...

El Salvador Extends State of Exception as Arrests Surpass 92,000

El Salvador extended its anti-gang state of exception for a 54th time, pushing total detentions above 92,000 as the government continues to link historically low homicide rates with stronger tourism and international business confidence.

U.S. Temporary Protected Status Deadline Passes for Hundreds of Thousands of Salvadorans

A September deadline for U.S. Temporary Protected Status affecting hundreds of thousands of Salvadoran nationals passed without a formal extension, creating legal uncertainty for migrants and potential risks to remittance flows into El S...

Shakira Residency Drives Surge in El Salvador Tourism Bookings

El Salvador’s tourism and hospitality sectors are seeing a sharp increase in international bookings after Shakira announced a five-show residency in the country.

San Miguel Hosts International Conferences on AI and Genome Editing

El Salvador’s eastern city of San Miguel is hosting academic conferences focused on applied artificial intelligence and genome-editing technologies as the country seeks to attract more international scientific activity.

U.S. Raises Voluntary Return Payment to $3,000 for Migrants

The United States increased its voluntary self-deportation payment to $3,000 per migrant, a move aimed at encouraging returns and reducing processing pressure at southern border detention facilities.

Fitch Solutions Warns Higher Energy Costs Could Slow El Salvador’s 2026 Growth

Fitch Solutions said rising global fuel prices and regional energy expenses could modestly constrain industrial expansion even as El Salvador remains on a strong investment-led growth path.

Surf City Phase Two Draws $96 Million for Eastern El Salvador Infrastructure

The government and international developers have committed more than $96 million to roads, utilities and pedestrian infrastructure in Usulután as the Surf City project expands along the eastern coast.

El Salvador Introduces AI Learning Tools Across 5,000 Public Schools

The Education Ministry is deploying artificial intelligence tutoring systems across 5,000 schools as part of a digital literacy program aimed at building technology skills among future workers.

Guatemala Ends 30-Day Emergency Security Crackdown Modeled on El Salvador’s Anti-Gang Strategy

Guatemala concluded a month-long state of emergency that gave police expanded powers against street gangs, reflecting wider regional interest in enforcement policies associated with neighboring El Salvador.

U.S. Sends More Than 2,300 Migrants to Guatemala and Honduras Under Third-Country Agreements

American immigration authorities deported more than 2,300 foreign nationals to Guatemala and Honduras under expanded third-country arrangements, shifting migration pressures across Central America.