Mass trial for 486 alleged gang members begins in El Salvador

Footage released by the attorney general's office shows large groups of men in prison attending the trial via video link. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Splitscreen which shows reporter Mimi Swaby on the left and a picture of several men on trial in a prison Mass trial for 486 alleged gang members begins in El Salvador A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang members has begun in El Salvador, the country's attorney general's office has said. The group are collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes - including murder, extortion, drug and arms trafficking - between 2012 and 2022. United Nations experts say mass trials "undermine the exercise of the right to defence and the presumption of innocence of detainees". But the attorney general's office said it had "compelling" evidence that would allow "maximum penalties" to be imposed on those found guilty. The BBC's Mimi Swaby explains why El Salvador are taking this approach and why its led to widespread criticism from rights groups. More on this story: Mass trial for 486 alleged MS-13 gang members begins in El Salvador Mass trial for 486 alleged MS-13 gang members begins in El Salvador Relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, have told BBC Persian he is due to be executed on Wednesday. An officer dressed as Spiderman to carry out a Halloween sting operation on a gang in Peru. CCTV shows Ross Monaghan's final moments in a bar in Spain after Eddie Lyons Jnr was gunned down outside. The meeting comes after the Trump administration mistakenly deported a Maryland resident due to an 'administrative error.' The greenhouse is decorated with all 30 articles of the UN Human Rights Declaration. Rapper and activist Smack Jay from Zambia brought his flows to Rathcoole Primary as part of Human Rights Week. Eugenia and Michael Kozlov gave an emotional account of how they heard the news that their son was free. Under the president's executive order, officials can quickly remove migrants entering the US illegally. Men dressed as devils - "talciguines" - whip the faithful in a playful Easter tradition in El Salvador. The BBC goes inside controversial Salvadoran mega-jail that holds thousands of inmates. The first group of 2,000 prisoners have been moved as part of President Nayib Bukele's self-declared war against gangs. Conservative MP Bob Stewart was confronted by activist Sayed Alwadaei outside a Bahraini embassy reception. The Colombian star, who features on the World Cup anthem, was asked about human rights issues. Footballer Jess Fishlock explains why she will go to Qatar, despite homosexuality being banned. The storm travelled through Central America, causing thousands to evacuate their homes. The foreign secretary says she is "trying to remember" when asked to name which human rights issues she has raised with Gulf state leaders. The UK Bill of Rights will take away the duty of the state to protect everyone from harm, says Shadow Justice Minister Ellie Reeves. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab says Parliament must have "the last word" on human rights. Peter Tatchell's high-profile activism has seen him take on archbishops, presidents and boxers. Officers have been training with young women to try and prevent them from being groomed by gangs. Around 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks tackled the blaze, the state's military fire department said, adding that no one was hurt. The BBC's Will Grant spoke to several Cubans as the country grapples with severe electricity shortages, which is attributed in part to US sanctions. BBC international correspondent Quentin Sommerville travelled to Culiacán in northern Sinaloa state following an explosion in violence. BBC's Will Grant visits Puerto Vallarta, a popular coastal resort town, to see the damage. The BBC's Will Grant describes how locals are feeling in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, Mexico, after a wave of violence hit the streets. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", was killed during a security operation to arrest him, Mexico's defence ministry has said. One hundred and fifty eight captive-bred juvenile tortoises were released on the Galápagos island of Floreana. Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parades began with a tribute to Brazil's President Lula, illustrating his rise from poverty to power. About 8.2 million people participated in the first drill of the year, achieving an average evacuation time of 1 minute and 52 seconds. A rare phantom jellyfish has been spotted by scientists exploring the deep sea in the South Atlantic. BBC Senior international correspondent Orla Guerin joined a special operation over Colombia's cocaine heartland, tasked with destroying crude cocaine labs hidden deep in the jungle. The BBC's Will Grant is in Cuba's capital, Havana, where people lined the streets to pay tribute. BBC reporter Norberto Paredes is in Caracas as the Venezuelan government begins to release its political prisoners. The BBC's Cuba Correspondent, Will Grant, looks at the close ties between the two nations. BBC Mundo has spoken to Venezuelans in the country's capital about the latest US military operation. Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at the key questions following US strikes on Venezuela and seizure of its president. President Donald Trump has said the US will "run" Venezuela after it launched strikes on the country and captured President Nicolas Maduro. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at what we know about the "active pursuit" of an oil tanker by the US Coast Guard off the coast of Venezuela. The Venezuelan opposition leader talked about she escaped Venezuela after months in hiding. The Venezuelan opposition leader made her first public appearance in 11 months moments before the interview.