By , TEGUCIGALPA/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Storm Iota unleashed devastating floods across Central America on Wednesday in areas already waterlogged, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in a disaster that could spur migration to the United States.More than 30 people were killed and the toll in the impoverished region was expected to rise as rescue workers reach isolated communities.While numerous villages from northern Colombia to southern Mexico have seen record rainfall swelling rivers and triggering mudslides, cities like the Honduran industrial hub of San Pedro Sula...…By , TEGUCIGALPA/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Storm Iota unleashed devastating floods across Central America on Wednesday in areas already waterlogged, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in a disaster that could spur migration to the United States.More than 30 people were killed and the toll in the impoverished region was expected to rise as rescue workers reach isolated communities.While numerous villages from northern Colombia to southern Mexico have seen record rainfall swelling rivers and triggering mudslides, cities like the Honduran industrial hub of San Pedro Sula...WW…

By , TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A slightly weakened Hurricane Iota began whipping a remote coastal area of Nicaragua with catastrophic winds and storm surges on Monday, as the region’s leaders blamed climate change for destructive weather pushing millions closer to hunger.Iota was due to crash through northeastern Nicaragua’s Miskito region overnight, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour (250 kph).By 10 p.m. EST, the U.S. National Hurricane Center had downgraded its power to Category 4 from 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It is expected to dissipate over Central America on...…By , TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - A slightly weakened Hurricane Iota began whipping a remote coastal area of Nicaragua with catastrophic winds and storm surges on Monday, as the region’s leaders blamed climate change for destructive weather pushing millions closer to hunger.Iota was due to crash through northeastern Nicaragua’s Miskito region overnight, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour (250 kph).By 10 p.m. EST, the U.S. National Hurricane Center had downgraded its power to Category 4 from 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It is expected to dissipate over Central America on...WW…

By MANAGUA (Reuters) - During Nicaragua’s devastating civil war in the 1980s, youthful revolutionary Daniel Ortega toured every town in the Central American nation, clad in his green Sandinista uniform.Slideshow Now in his second stint as president, the 74-year-old leftist leader has disappeared from public view for nearly a month, raising questions about his health and whereabouts as the world reels from the spread of the coronavirus.As in 2014, another time he dropped off the map, his absence has even prompted speculation he may have died.The government did not respond to a request for...…By MANAGUA (Reuters) - During Nicaragua’s devastating civil war in the 1980s, youthful revolutionary Daniel Ortega toured every town in the Central American nation, clad in his green Sandinista uniform.Slideshow Now in his second stint as president, the 74-year-old leftist leader has disappeared from public view for nearly a month, raising questions about his health and whereabouts as the world reels from the spread of the coronavirus.As in 2014, another time he dropped off the map, his absence has even prompted speculation he may have died.The government did not respond to a request for...WW…

By Slideshow MANAGUA (Reuters) - Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega appeared on Wednesday in a live broadcast on national television after being absent from public life for a month, raising questions about his health and whereabouts as the world reels from the novel coronavirus.Ortega, a 74-year-old former leftist guerrilla with chronic illnesses, gave no explanation for his 33-day absence but said that the Central American country is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak responsibly.“We have not stopped working, because if the people do not work, they die,” said Ortega. “We are a country...…By Slideshow MANAGUA (Reuters) - Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega appeared on Wednesday in a live broadcast on national television after being absent from public life for a month, raising questions about his health and whereabouts as the world reels from the novel coronavirus.Ortega, a 74-year-old former leftist guerrilla with chronic illnesses, gave no explanation for his 33-day absence but said that the Central American country is dealing with the coronavirus outbreak responsibly.“We have not stopped working, because if the people do not work, they die,” said Ortega. “We are a country...WW…

By MANAGUA (Reuters) - Anti-government protesters in southern Nicaragua held a police officer captive for seven hours before he was set free on Monday, as they demanded the release of several youths they claimed had been arrested for opposing President Daniel Ortega.The protests in the town of Esquipulas on Ometepe island were among many small demonstrations and social media campaigns across Nicaragua over the weekend marking the two-year anniversary of the start of rallies against Ortega’s government.The clashes between pro-government forces and protesters left more than 300 people dead...…By MANAGUA (Reuters) - Anti-government protesters in southern Nicaragua held a police officer captive for seven hours before he was set free on Monday, as they demanded the release of several youths they claimed had been arrested for opposing President Daniel Ortega.The protests in the town of Esquipulas on Ometepe island were among many small demonstrations and social media campaigns across Nicaragua over the weekend marking the two-year anniversary of the start of rallies against Ortega’s government.The clashes between pro-government forces and protesters left more than 300 people dead...WW…