El Salvador

The state of emergency in El Salvador will reach its third anniversary at the end of March following its 36th consecutive extension, with the government crediting it for a drastic drop in homicides while human rights groups denounce alleged abuses

Congress ratified a reform allowing constitutional changes in a single legislature with 45 out of 60 votes, removing the previous two-legislature requirement and sparking opposition criticism over Bukele's potential power consolidation

Minors linked to gangs will be sent to adult prisons in separate units until 18, a move backed by President Bukele and approved by Congress; Unicef warns it violates international child rights standards

The country offered to house convicted criminals deported from the US, including US citizens, in the country’s mega-prison for a fee, a proposal welcomed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a gesture of friendship

Congress has approved a law that would end the country's seven-year-old ban on mining for metals: president Nayib Bukele pushed to lift the ban, imposed in 2017 due to environmental concerns, claiming the country has vast gold deposits

El Salvador's new cybersecurity and data protection laws, establishing a state cybersecurity agency, risk limiting press freedom and privacy by enabling government censorship through a broad "right to be forgotten" clause, warns Human Rights Watch

Diplomatic relations with 16 new countries will be established in 2025, including opening an embassy in Egypt; the plan aims to boost trade, attract foreign investment, and enhance international cooperation on security