New Nicaraguan Gold Rush Sparks Local Opposition, State Repression

A recent police crackdown on protesting “guiriseros” (artisan miners) in the central Nicaraguan town of Santo Domingo has raised new questions about the government’s ‘come-on-down’ approach to foreign gold mining firms, which have been raking in riches of late thanks to increased production and soaring prices.

Nicaragua’s ‘Femicide Law’ Slow To Produce Results

A gruesome murder case in Nicaragua’s Matagalpa department has brought new attention to what – despite the implementation last year of a much-heralded “femicide law” – remains a serious problem for the Central America nation: violence against women and girls.

Mixed Marks For Nicaragua’s Public Education System

When Nicaragua’s public schools open their doors next month for the new academic year, 2,500 students and an equal number of teachers will show up for their first day of class on shiny new mountain bikes.

World Court Rules On Nicaragua/Colombia Sea-Border Row

A long-anticipated International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that was supposed to settle a decades-old maritime boundary dispute between Nicaragua and Colombia has instead riled relations further still for the two countries.

Ortega’s Sandinistas Earn Crushing Victory In Nationwide Municipal Elections

President Daniel Ortega’s Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) mauled the reeling opposition in nationwide municipal elections held earlier this month, leading Nicaragua closer toward one-party state status with wins in more than 80% of the country’s towns and cities.

Nicaragua Creeps Ahead With Pricey ALBA Oil Project

Just months after pledging to build a long-dreamed-about “Nicaragua Canal,” the government of President Daniel Ortega is now turning its attention to another dizzyingly expensive megaproject: a Venezuelan-backed oil pipeline and refinery scheme dubbed the “Supremo Sueño de Bolivar,” Bolivar’s Supreme Dream.

Nicaragua Again Dreaming Of A “Grand Canal”

With no viable opposition to convince him otherwise, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is pushing full steam ahead with plans to build an ocean-to-ocean canal that would be longer, deeper and significantly more expensive than its busy Panamanian counterpart.

Obama Administration Threatens Nicaragua’s Ortega With Soft “Sanctions”

The administration of US President Barrack Obama has sent Nicaragua a volley of economic warning shots in recent months, withholding several million dollars of aid money and threatening even bigger “sanctions” should the government of President Daniel Ortega fail to improve its tarnished democratic credentials.

Ortega Muscles Through A Makeover Of Nicaragua’s Election Rules

(Photo credit: welshkaren/flickr)

Nicaragua’s Sandinista-controlled Asamblea Nacional (AN) has rubberstamped a series of electoral and municipal reforms that President Daniel Ortega and his allies say will “consolidate and strengthen direct democracy” and protect future elections from the types of fraud and tampering allegations that have plagued past contests.

Clean Energy ‘Revolution’ In Nicaragua

Wind turbine in Nicaragua (Flickr/Nyall & Maryanne)

A spate of new power projects, surging foreign investment and a welcome dose of positive press coverage are helping transform Nicaragua’s go-getter energy goals from pipe dream to reality.