Month: February 2026

An El Salvador abortion rights group closed its legal operations after two decades of defending women jailed for pregnancy terminations, citing a hostile environment under President Nayib Bukele’s government. The Citizens’ Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion announced its dissolution today in San Salvador. The organization will shift to a regional activism model while maintaining …

Read more “El Salvador Abortion Rights Group Shuts Down Amid Civil Society Restrictions”

Costa Rica asked Nicaragua to increase police patrols along the San Juan River. The request targets the movement of gold-bearing sediments taken illegally from the Crucitas area in northern San Carlos. Public Security Minister Mario Zamora Cordero sent a formal letter to Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco on February 20. In it, Zamora called on …

Read more “Costa Rica Asks Nicaragua to Increase Patrols Over Illegal Gold Smuggling”

Economists called on the Central Bank of Costa Rica to adopt measures that reverse the sharp drop in the dollar exchange rate. The local currency keeps gaining ground, and this movement now hits businesses and households across the country. The dollar trades below 480 colones. It reached ₡474 in bank windows in recent days, the …

Read more “Costa Rica Central Bank Urged to Cut Rates and Act on Exchange Rate Collapse”

Panama published the Supreme Court ruling that annuls the concession granted to a Hong Kong-based company to operate two ports at the entrances to the Panama Canal. The decision, which appeared in the official gazette, makes the January 30 ruling final and not subject to appeal. Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, …

Read more “Panama Finalizes Supreme Court Ruling Scrapping Hutchison Ports Deal”

Costa Rica began to tighten immigration controls Sunday on flights arriving from Mexico. Officials want to stop anyone linked to drug trafficking from entering the country after Mexican forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes. El Mencho, age 59, led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He stood as one of the most wanted men by …

Read more “Costa Rica Tightens Mexico Flight Checks After El Mencho Death”

I had just successfully reviewed the first four of five camera traps in a sleepy little town tucked into a rich valley bordering the volcano Rincón de la Vieja. The last camera is the hardest to reach. It’s located in a jungle stream at the far end of a cow farm just outside of town. …

Read more “Cow Wrangling and Camera Trapping in Costa Rica”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not shut down TSA PreCheck lanes at U.S. airports, after a brief, fast-moving sequence of announcements during the ongoing partial DHS shutdown. TSA PreCheck remains in operation for travelers, with TSA indicating the program is continuing as usual while airport staffing levels are monitored. Some airports temporarily …

Read more “DHS backtracks on TSA PreCheck suspension as Global Entry remains in limbo”

Mexican forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a raid that set off clashes and blockades across multiple states. Mexican soldiers killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the head of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel known as El Mencho, during a special forces operation in the town of Tapalpa. …

Read more “Mexican Forces Kill Cartel Boss El Mencho Sparking Violence Alerts”

A major winter storm pushing blizzard conditions across the U.S. Northeast is forcing widespread flight cancellations at airports that many Costa Rica travelers use for connections, increasing the likelihood of delays and last-minute rebookings for trips to and from San José and Liberia this week. Flight-tracking data showed 3,076 flight cancellations and 11,299 delays across …

Read more “Costa Rica Flights Disrupted by US East Coast Snowstorm”

Starbucks stores in Costa Rica are offering the Cannon Ball Drink, a limited-time beverage tied to a partnership with content creator MrBeast. The drink went on sale Feb. 20 and is scheduled to remain available through March 6 at participating locations. The Cannon Ball Drink blends lemonade with two established Refresher flavors Strawberry Açaí and …

Read more “Starbucks adds limited-time MrBeast tie-in drink at select Costa Rica stores”