Central America

Panama voices support for India’s permanent seat at UN Security Council

Panama supports India’s aspiration to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), said Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha during a meeting with Shashi Tharoor, Chair of the Indian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, according to an official statement released Thursday.

“You [India] have carved out a place in global governance, and we believe that this governance should include more democratic actors like India in major global decisions. I have always said India must be a permanent member of the Security Council,” said Martínez-Acha during the official visit of an Indian parliamentary delegation to Panama on Wednesday evening.

Tharoor, a senior opposition leader and former candidate for UN Secretary-General, thanked Panama for its support amid what he described as “difficult times” for the Indian people. He emphasized zero tolerance for terrorism, a message he said was central to the delegation’s regional tour, which includes stops in Colombia, the United States, Guyana, and Brazil, according to a statement from Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Indian delegation aims to explain to these countries the recent crisis between India and Pakistan, which began on April 22 when 26 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the assault, triggering the most serious spike in tensions between the two nations since the 1999 Kargil War.

From May 7 to May 10, the crisis peaked when India and Pakistan exchanged missile and drone strikes along several parts of their shared border, particularly in Kashmir, a region claimed by both countries since their partition after independence from the British Empire in 1947.

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“Mr. Tharoor, your presence here demonstrates a shared commitment to the fight against terrorism and a willingness to stand together in difficult circumstances. We condemn what happened in Kashmir and every act of terrorism anywhere in the world. Such acts must be denounced every time they occur,” Martínez-Acha stated.

Central America

Guatemala President Says Starlink Terminal Found Inside Prison

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo revealed on Tuesday that a Starlink terminal was discovered inside a prison in the country, highlighting corruption and the illegal introduction of advanced communication technology into the penitentiary system.

Arévalo did not specify which prison the device was found in but stressed that Starlink’s ability to connect directly to low-orbit satellites makes it particularly difficult to disrupt, posing a serious security risk.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda and Defense Minister Henry Sáenz.

On January 6, specialized units of Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC), members of the Army and prison security personnel carried out Operation Sentinel at the Renovación 1 Maximum Security Prison for Men, located in Escuintla. According to the Interior Ministry, the operation aimed to reduce criminal activity, prevent illicit acts and stop the trafficking of prohibited items inside the prison.

During the operation, authorities also dismantled businesses operating near several prisons after detecting routers that were allegedly used to redirect internet signals into penitentiary facilities, according to local outlet Emisoras Unidas.

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Tensions escalated further over the weekend of January 17 and 18, when inmates affiliated with gangs staged riots in three prisons. During the unrest, they took prison guards and a psychologist hostage, demanding extra-large beds, air conditioning, transfers to other facilities and access to the internet.

Central America

Guatemala Police Arrest Prison Guard Caught in the Act of Extortion

Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC) arrested a suspected extortionist in the act during an operation carried out in the department of Quiché, authorities reported.

According to the police report, the arrest took place in Zone 1 of Santa Cruz del Quiché after officers responded to a citizen complaint. Agents from Precinct 71 identified the suspect as Encarnación “N”, 41, who was serving as a guard in the Guatemalan Penitentiary System.

The suspect was caught while attempting to collect a package simulating an extortion payment totaling 25,000 quetzales. Police intervened at the precise moment the money was being handed over, allowing authorities to document the crime in flagrante delicto.

Following the operation, the detainee was placed at the disposal of the competent courts to face criminal proceedings.

The PNC emphasized that such operations aim to dismantle criminal structures involved in extortion, regardless of whether those implicated are linked to state institutions, and urged the public to continue reporting these crimes through confidential channels.

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Central America

Honduras swears in conservative president Asfura after disputed election

Conservative politician Nasry Asfura assumed the presidency of Honduras on Tuesday with an agenda closely aligned with the United States, a shift that could strain the country’s relationship with China as he seeks to confront the economic and security challenges facing the poorest and most violent nation in Central America.

Asfura’s rise to power, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks the end of four years of left-wing rule and secures Trump another regional ally amid the advance of conservative governments in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.

The 67-year-old former mayor and construction businessman was sworn in during an austere ceremony at the National Congress, following a tightly contested election marred by opposition allegations of fraud and Trump’s threat to cut U.S. aid if his preferred candidate did not prevail.

Grateful for Washington’s support, Asfura—who is of Palestinian descent—traveled to the United States to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We need to strengthen relations with our most important trading partner,” Asfura said after being declared the winner of the November 30 election by a narrow margin, following a tense vote count that lasted just over three weeks.