El Salvador

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Kristi Noem visits El Salvador prison holding US deportees

Visiting a high-security El Salvador prison, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reinforced the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown while inspecting deported Venezuelans held under harsh conditions for alleged gang ties.

27/03/2025

El Salvador

El Salvador offers to accept deportees and US citizens in its prisons

President Bukele said his country will accept convicted criminals of all nationalities, including US citizens, into its prison system for a fee.

04/02/2025

Markets

Church urges El Salvador's president to keep ban on gold mining

The country banned all metals mining above ground and below in 2017 in order to protect the small country's water resources from contamination.

02/12/2024

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WATCH: El Salvador transfers 2,000 inmates to mega prison

President Nayib Bukele ordered the construction of the mega prison when El Salvador began massive arrests in response to a surge in gang violence in March 2022. The facility now holds thousands of accused or convicted gang members.

12/06/2024

El Salvador

El Salvador's Nayib Bukele heads for reelection as president

For many the election hinged on the tradeoff of curtailed civil liberties for security in a country once terrorized by gangs.

05/02/2024

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WATCH: Miss Nicaragua crowned Miss Universe in San Salvador

Sheynnis Palacios won the 72nd edition of the competition after beating Anntonia Porsild from Thailand.

19/11/2023

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El Salvador mega-prison holds 12,000 alleged gang members

Opened six months ago, the penitentiary was built on the orders of President Nayib Bukele and is a symbol of his war against gangs.

22/08/2023

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Watch: Elves, queens on parade in El Salvador national celebrations

Each year processions, children's events and sporting competitions are held as part of the festivities, typically under an increased police presence

02/08/2023

El Salvador

2,000 prisoners transferred to new 'mega-prison' in El Salvador

The first 2,000 gang members are transferred to the mega-prison "Terrorism Confinement Center" in El Salvador designed to hold 40,000 criminals. The mega prison was built on President Bukele's orders after he declared a "war" on gangs last March.

25/02/2023

Nature

‘Garbage islands’ are forming in Central American waters

Incredible footage shows the devastating effect of plastic pollution in Central America.

19/09/2022

Money

Why 'Bitcoin City' hasn't taken off in El Salvador

A major part of the problem is that the drop in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has alienated investors.

07/09/2022

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Salvadorans participate in centuries-old battle of the fireballs

Like incandescent stones shooting out of a volcano, the inhabitants of Nejapa, a village 20 km north of San Salvador, gather every year to throw fireballs at each other in a centuries-old ritual that defies danger.

02/09/2022

El Salvador

Gang violence crackdown sees 30,000 arrested in El Salvador

The violence is a longstanding problem.

20/05/2022

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Relief for some, alarm from other as El Salvador rounds up 'gangsters'

President Nayib Bukele's "war on gangs" in El Salvador is now in its first month after a crime wave that left 87 people dead last month, with more than 18,000 people arrested under a state of emergency.

27/04/2022

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El Salvador prisoners dragged out of cells amid spike in gang violence

Officers dragged half-naked inmates out of their cells, forced them to run and searched them in the courtyard. President Nayib Bukele issued an ultimatum to gangs considered responsible for dozens of homicides in three days, threatening to increase punishments on their imprisoned members.

29/03/2022

Money

US senators draft bill to help 'mitigate' El Salvador's Bitcoin law

"Ok boomers… You have 0 jurisdiction on a sovereign and independent nation," Bukele said, referring to the older generation of "baby boomers".

17/02/2022

Scenes

El Salvador: Collective of young artists eyes "cultural revolution"

In partnership with Media City

"From limitation comes the creative explosion."

31/01/2022

Money

IMF urges El Salvador to drop Bitcoin as legal tender

El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, but the International Monetary Fund is not a fan.

26/01/2022

Money

El Salvador reveals plans to build the world's first 'Bitcoin City'

Billed as 'fully ecological' powered by geothermal energy from a volcano, El Salvador's "Bitcoin City" is the country's latest commitment to crypto.

21/11/2021

Money

Bitcoin is being mined in El Salvador with green volcanic energy

Of the 107 megawatts generated by the plant, five are used for the operation and mining of Bitcoin and the rest for the country's power grid.

29/10/2021

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Traders evacuate burning market in El Salvador

Traders are evacuated and emergency services work at the scene as a huge fire burns at San Salvador's San Miguelito market.

23/09/2021

Money

Thousands protest against El Salvador's president and Bitcoin law

Protesters marched against moves by President Nayib Bukele to centralise power, attacking Bitcoin ATMs installed by the government.

16/09/2021

Money

El Salvador's Bitcoin rollout hit by digital wallet glitches

For a fourth day in a row on Friday, technical glitches marred attempts by Salvadorans to download and use the country's new digital wallet.

11/09/2021

Money

El Salvador officially adopts Bitcoin as currency - with a few hiccups

Skepticism around Bitcoin was not dispelled when Salvadorans couldn't access the country's new digital wallet - or when its price slid.

07/09/2021

Money

El Salvador approves €127 million Bitcoin adoption fund

The country's Congress approved the funding as it prepares to adopt Bitcoin as an official currency on September 7.

01/09/2021

Money

Anti-Bitcoin protests in El Salvador as official adoption draws closer

Other countries are keen to see whether the historic decision to make Bitcoin legal tender pays off. El Salvadorans are less convinced.

28/08/2021