Costa Rica ranks fifth in Latin America for incarceration, with 343 people per 100,000 behind bars, trailing only El Salvador, Cuba, Panama, and Brazil, according to the World Prison Brief. Globally, it sits 22nd out of 224 jurisdictions. The prison population has surged from 7,575 in 2000 to 19,728 by late 2023, reflecting growing social …
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In Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya, fishermen are raising urgent concerns about a growing crisis threatening their livelihoods and the region’s marine ecosystems. Illegal fishing, overexploitation, and institutional neglect are pushing fish stocks to the brink, leaving coastal communities like Isla Chira facing economic hardship and potential hunger. Local voices, aired at a recent Legislative …
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Tourists—can’t live with them, can’t live without them. They, and the money they spend here, account for close to 10% of the GDP in Costa Rica. If I had a dollar for every tourist I’ve dealt with over the years, I’d be a rich man. Or at least have enough to buy a decent car. …
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Costa Rica has rolled out a new ocean forecasting system on Cocos Island, aiming to improve marine safety, support conservation, and strengthen the country’s digital monitoring capabilities. The Ocean Prediction for Costa Rica (OP4CR) project, which started in early 2025, is a partnership between Mercator Ocean International, the European Union, and several Costa Rican institutions …
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US soldiers arrived in Panama yesterday to conduct military exercises focused on protecting the Panama Canal, a key global trade route. The US Embassy confirmed the deployment, stating the drills are part of a bilateral agreement signed in April. This agreement allows US troops to operate near the canal for training and joint operations but …
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At least 330 people were evacuated on Thursday in Guatemala following an eruption of the Fuego volcano, located 35 km from the capital, according to the civil protection agency, which declared an orange alert. The volcano, considered the most active in Central America, caused a deadly avalanche on June 3, 2018, that wiped out a …
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Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of journalists, declaring two appeals against the Presidency admissible for actions that stifled press freedom during President Rodrigo Chaves’ press conferences. The decisions, announced yesterday highlight growing tensions between the administration and the media, as Chaves’ hostility toward journalists draws scrutiny. These rulings come amid Costa Rica’s …
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Costa Rica’s Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, a biodiverse gem on pur southern Caribbean coast, is under siege from unregulated development and government inaction. Environmental groups and local communities are sounding alarms, calling for urgent action to protect this Ramsar Site 783, recognized globally for its wetlands, mangroves, and critical habitats for species like manatees and …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Gandoca-Manzanillo Faces Unregulated Real Estate Boom”
June 5th is International Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1972 to call attention to issues involving the environment. The idea promised us a brighter future, a cleaner world, and an awareness of taking care of the earth. Fifty-three years have passed since the first Environment Day, and we still see garbage pumped …
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Costa Rica’s geographic position and economic openness make it a target for money laundering, primarily driven by drug trafficking, according to the 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) from the U.S. Department of State. Though not a major financial hub, organized crime exploits various sectors to clean illicit funds, posing ongoing challenges for our …
Read more “Money Laundering in Costa Rica: Key Methods and Challenges”