America Nicaragua Latest data reports that the rise in taxes applied to cigarette purchases has led to an exponential increase in cigarette contraband; it is now estimated that in the country 5 out of 10 cigarettes are illegally imported and sold
America Nicaragua The Nicaraguan government has been linked to illegal land invasions in the Río San Juan Wildlife Refuge through documents showing FSLN officials sold plots to settlers, enabling deforestation and displacement of Indigenous communities in a protected area
America Nicaragua The DEA has been replaced with a limited-capacity Russian customs agency in a new anti-drug agreement, raising concerns over its effectiveness in combating organized crime and maintaining regional intelligence cooperation
America Nicaragua The Nicaraguan government has dissolved the Union of Journalists and 15 other NGOs, bringing the total banned since 2018 to 5.670 in a sustained crackdown on independent civil society
America Nicaragua Four contracts have been signed with China in telecommunications, defense, and transport to boost digital connectivity, logistics, and military capacity, deepening bilateral ties during the China-CELAC ministerial meeting in Beijing