San Salvador Times

Central American Banking Regulators Align Anti-Money Laundering Standards

Financial intelligence units and banking regulators across Central America agreed on coordinated supervisory standards to strengthen cross-border anti-money laundering oversight and improve transparency in digital asset transactions.

El Salvador Maintains Intensive Security Operations as Human Rights Debate Continues

Security authorities said territorial patrols and enforcement operations remain in place across El Salvador, maintaining historically low homicide levels while international scrutiny of human rights practices and prison policies persists.

Central American Governments Review Customs and Freight Corridors to Improve Trade

Regional trade ministers assessed logistics bottlenecks across Mesoamerican transport routes and agreed on measures to improve cross-border freight flows as higher energy costs and supply chain pressures continue to affect commerce.

El Salvador's Surf City Sees Strong Tourism Growth Ahead of Peak Travel Season

Tourism operators and coastal property developers reported sustained international visitor arrivals and high hotel occupancy across La Libertad and the Surf City corridor, reflecting continued investment in tourism promotion and aviation...

PAHO Confirms El Salvador Has Eliminated Trachoma as a Public Health Problem

PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa met President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador to formally validate the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem and expand cooperation on health infrastructure initiatives.

PAHO and Central American Women's Council Sign Regional Public Health Agreement

The Pan American Health Organization and the Council of Ministers of Women of Central America and the Dominican Republic signed a memorandum of understanding in San Salvador to strengthen cooperation on maternal health, gender-based viol...

US Embassy Issues Health Alert Over Chikungunya Outbreak in Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province

The United States Embassy in San José warned travelers and residents about an active chikungunya outbreak in Playa Langosta after Costa Rican health authorities declared an alert in the popular tourism area of Guanacaste.

Transparency Debate Grows After Asset Disclosures by El Salvador's Political Leadership

Newly disclosed asset declarations under El Salvador's anti-corruption legislation have intensified public scrutiny after journalistic investigations highlighted significant wealth growth among members of President Nayib Bukele's adminis...

Economic Forecasts See El Salvador's Growth Moderating to 3 Percent

Economic projections indicate El Salvador's gross domestic product growth will ease to 3.0 percent, supported by a nine-billion-dollar private investment pipeline and major infrastructure projects despite tighter external financial condi...

Costa Rica Launches Investment Mission to South Korea and Japan

Costa Rica's Trade and Investment Promotion Agency began a high-level mission to South Korea and Japan to attract new foreign direct investment, strengthen commercial partnerships, and reinforce the country's position as a regional nears...

India and Panama Hold Talks to Deepen Trade and Strategic Cooperation

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez met in New Delhi to advance bilateral cooperation and strengthen trade ties by building on Panama's role as a r...

Panama's Container Ports Handle Nearly Five Million TEUs in First Half of 2026

The Panama Maritime Authority reported that the country's container terminals processed 4.91 million twenty-foot equivalent units during the first six months of 2026, with year-on-year growth supported by strong operations in Colón and P...

El Salvador Reaffirms Long-Term Strategy Combining Bitcoin Reserves and Artificial Intelligence

El Salvador's National Bitcoin Office said the government will continue building its Bitcoin reserves while expanding artificial intelligence initiatives, including education technology programs across public schools throughout 2026.

Amnesty International Warns El Salvador's State of Exception Risks Lasting Human Rights Abuses

Amnesty International said El Salvador's prolonged state of exception has effectively become a permanent legal framework marked by mass arbitrary detentions and suspended constitutional protections, warning that the practices could amoun...

Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Off Mexico Shakes Guatemala and Central America

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake near the Mexico-Guatemala border prompted evacuations in Guatemala City and was felt across neighboring El Salvador. Regional renewable energy authorities also urged inspections of photovoltaic installations fo...

Nayib Bukele Secures Ruling Party Nomination for Third Presidential Bid in El Salvador

El Salvador's ruling Nuevas Ideas party formally nominated President Nayib Bukele for a third consecutive presidential term following constitutional changes and internal primaries, setting the stage for the February 2027 general election...

Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega Declares End to Democratic Elections, Drawing International Condemnation

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that the country will no longer hold democratic elections, describing the move as a safeguard against foreign-backed opposition. International observers condemned the decision as the latest st...

Government Tightens Oversight of Essential Food Prices

The Bukele administration has warned agricultural distributors against unjustified increases in the prices of essential food products as part of efforts to protect consumers from inflationary pressures.

Salvadoran Air Force Rescues Injured Tourist From Cinquera Forest Reserve

The Salvadoran Air Force carried out a successful medical evacuation of an injured international visitor from the remote Cinquera Forest Reserve, demonstrating expanded emergency response capabilities in support of tourism.

Cross-Border Tourism Grows as Salvadorans Travel to Antigua Guatemala Festivals

Tourism officials reported increased travel from El Salvador to cultural and digital art events in Antigua Guatemala, highlighting stronger regional tourism links and improved cross-border mobility.

Moderate Offshore Earthquake Triggers Standard Monitoring Procedures

El Salvador's Ministry of Environment monitored a magnitude four point one earthquake off the coast of Ahuachapán, with civil protection authorities reporting no immediate damage while maintaining routine tsunami surveillance.

Coffee Growers Strengthen Climate Preparedness Ahead of El Niño

The Salvadoran Coffee Institute has begun training coffee producers in Chalatenango on drought preparedness and pest management to help protect one of the country's key export industries from expected El Niño conditions.

Santa Tecla Launches Employment Fair Offering 2,000 Private Sector Jobs

The municipality of Santa Tecla has opened a large employment fair featuring two thousand vacancies, aiming to connect young people and unemployed residents with opportunities across the private sector.

Powerful Pacific Earthquake Felt Across El Salvador Without Major Damage

Authorities confirmed that a magnitude seven point three earthquake off Mexico's Pacific coast was felt across El Salvador and Guatemala, with initial assessments finding no significant damage to infrastructure or critical facilities.

Public Works Ministry Recruits Engineers for New Infrastructure Projects

The Ministry of Public Works has launched a recruitment campaign for engineers and architects as it prepares to begin a new phase of highway expansion and urban redevelopment projects across El Salvador.

Amnesty International Raises Concerns Over El Salvador's Extended State of Exception

Amnesty International has released a new report examining the long-running emergency measures against gangs, highlighting tensions between the country's improved public security and international human rights standards.

El Salvador Extends Vehicle License Plate Validity Until August 2027

The Legislative Assembly has approved an extension of existing vehicle license plates until August two thousand twenty-seven, delaying the replacement program and easing administrative and financial burdens for motorists and transport op...

TAG Airlines Restores Direct Flights Between Guatemala City and San Salvador

TAG Airlines has resumed direct service between Guatemala City and San Salvador with four weekly flights, strengthening business travel, tourism, and regional connectivity between the two neighboring capitals.

San Salvador to Host Regional Financial Law Conference

San Salvador has been selected to host a major Latin American financial law conference later this year, bringing together legal and financial leaders to discuss digital finance regulation, institutional innovation, and economic moderniza...

Private Developers Announce $45 Million Housing Project for 900 Homes

Developers have unveiled a forty-five million dollar residential investment that will create nine hundred new homes, reflecting continued confidence in El Salvador's property market amid improved domestic security and rising housing demand.

Uber Bid for Delivery Hero Could Reshape El Salvador's Digital Delivery Market

Uber's proposed fourteen billion eight hundred million dollar acquisition of Delivery Hero, the parent company of Pedidos Ya, could significantly alter the competitive landscape for food delivery and quick-commerce services in El Salvado...

National Navy Intensifies Anti-Drug Operations as Security Strategy Maintains Zero-Homicide Days

Salvadoran naval forces carried out a major anti-narcotics operation in Pacific waters, reinforcing the government's security strategy, which continues to report consecutive days without homicides across the country.

Transfer365 Digital Payment System Now Handles 95 Percent of National Transactions

The Central Reserve Bank said the Transfer365 instant payment platform now processes about ninety-five percent of financial transactions nationwide, supporting broader digitalization efforts and helping raise financial inclusion toward f...

Salvadorans in the United States Await Decision on Temporary Protected Status Work Permits

Thousands of Salvadorans living in the United States remain uncertain over the renewal of Temporary Protected Status work permits ahead of a late July deadline, with the outcome carrying significant implications for remittances that acco...

El Salvador Expands Geothermal Strategy to Attract AI and Bitcoin Mining Investment

The government is promoting volcanic geothermal energy as a competitive advantage by offering zero income tax incentives to artificial intelligence companies and Bitcoin mining operators seeking to establish computing facilities powered ...

National Debt Rises to $34.63 Billion as Infrastructure Investment Continues

The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador reported that public debt increased by eight hundred and twenty-three million dollars during the first five months of the year as the government continued financing major infrastructure projects, r...

El Salvador Secures $1.4 Billion IMF Agreement After Revising Bitcoin Policy

El Salvador has finalized a one billion four hundred million dollar agreement with the International Monetary Fund after changing legislation to end mandatory Bitcoin acceptance for businesses, marking a shift toward voluntary digital as...

El Salvador Expands Airport Capacity to Support Tourism and Trade

Authorities reported continued progress on passenger terminal upgrades and cargo improvements at the country's main international airport as part of a broader plan to strengthen El Salvador's role as a regional aviation and logistics hub.

Los Chorros Highway Expansion Moves Forward to Improve National Logistics

Construction continued on the Los Chorros highway and viaduct project, a major infrastructure investment intended to reduce transport times between San Salvador and key agricultural and manufacturing regions.

Private Investment Grows in El Salvador's Deregulated Electricity Market

Energy regulators encouraged additional private investment in electricity generation and distribution, arguing that the country's open power market can help limit the impact of higher global fuel costs on businesses.

El Salvador Promotes Manufacturing Nearshoring to North American Supply Chains

Trade agencies intensified efforts to attract investment in medical devices, auto parts and light aircraft manufacturing by highlighting the country's upgraded logistics infrastructure and proximity to North American markets.

Amnesty International Criticizes El Salvador's State of Exception as Government Defends Security Policy

Amnesty International said prolonged mass detentions under El Salvador's state of exception could amount to crimes against humanity, while government officials argue the measures have dismantled gang networks and delivered unprecedented ...

Tourism Strategy and Surf City Development Continue to Drive Visitor Growth

The International Surfing Association confirmed dates for major world championships later this year, supporting El Salvador's coastal tourism strategy as authorities forecast more than four million international visitors and three billio...

El Salvador Ratifies WIPO Hague System to Strengthen Industrial Design Protection

El Salvador formally joined the Geneva Act of the Hague System, allowing businesses and investors to register industrial designs across one hundred jurisdictions through a simplified international framework beginning in October.

Transfer365 Processes More Than Ninety Percent of El Salvador's Financial Transactions

The central bank's instant payment network has reached widespread nationwide adoption, strengthening financial inclusion and providing critical digital payment infrastructure for small and medium-sized businesses beyond cryptocurrency se...