United Airlines Starts Direct San Francisco to San José, Costa Rica Flights

United Airlines started a new daily nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to San José, (SJO) on May 22, connecting the U.S. West Coast with Costa Rica. The first flight landed at 7:15 a.m., greeted with Costa Rican gifts and a traditional folk dance. Here is the rest of the schedule: Route Departure Arrival Frequency …

Capybara Dies After Rescue from Wildlife Trafficking in Costa Rica

One of the five capybaras rescued during an operation against illegal trafficking on Thursday died over the weekend due to mistreatment and malnutrition. The young male was unable to recover from the damage suffered during transport. “His digestive system was completely empty, with no gastrointestinal contents and the presence of gas, indicating that he had not …

Costa Rica Celebrates EU’s Low-Risk Deforestation Classification

Costa Rica just scored a big win for its farmers and exporters. The European Union classified the country as low-risk for deforestation under its Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect December 30, 2025. This means easier access to EU markets for Costa Rican coffee, cocoa, timber, and other key exports. The EUDR targets seven …

Venezuela’s Maduro wins landslide in election boycotted by opposition

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s party swept the board in parliamentary and regional elections that were boycotted by the opposition in protest over his disputed re-election last year. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela won 23 out of 24 state governor positions and scored 82.68 percent of the votes cast for lists of National Assembly members, the …

El Salvador Journalists Warn of Rising Repression Under Bukele Government

The main journalists’ association in El Salvador denounced on Sunday the increase in “persecution” against media outlets and human rights defenders by the government of Nayib Bukele, accusing it of creating a climate of “fear” in the country. The complaint comes amid strong criticism from international organizations, which also accuse Bukele, an ally of U.S. …

China Donates 100 Buses to Nicaragua Amid Ongoing International Sanctions

China donated 100 buses to Nicaragua on Saturday, in a new installment of aid to the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, which faces U.S. and European sanctions for human rights violations. The public transport buses were delivered during a nighttime event in central Managua, led by the presidential couple and accompanied by music. …

Keylor Navas Returns to Costa Rica for Gold Cup, Catalonia Friendly Uncertain

Keylor Navas, the 38-year-old goalkeeper, is set to rejoin the Costa Rican national team for the 2025 Gold Cup, marking his return after retiring from international duty in May 2024. Head coach Miguel Herrera confirmed Navas’ inclusion in a preliminary 60-player list for the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 6 across the …

St. Regis Papagayo: Marriott’s Luxury Resort to Open in Costa Rica in 2027

Marriott International will bring its prestigious St. Regis brand to Costa Rica with the St. Regis Papagayo, set to open in early 2027 in the Gulf of Papagayo. Construction begins in July 2025, with the first phase, including residences, expected to complete by December 2026. Spanning 20 hectares with 634 linear yards of beachfront, the …

Panama Faces Strikes, Marches as Union Chiefs Detained

Thousands of people marched in Panama on Friday to protest the arrest of two trade-union leaders who have spearheaded demonstrations against the right-wing government of President José Raúl Mulino. Two officials from SUNTRACS—the country’s largest construction union—are being held on money-laundering charges, while the union’s left-wing chief, Saúl Méndez, has sought asylum in the Bolivian …