DHS backtracks on TSA PreCheck suspension as Global Entry remains in limbo

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 …

Mexican Forces Kill Cartel Boss El Mencho Sparking Violence Alerts

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. …

Costa Rica Flights Disrupted by US East Coast Snowstorm

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 …

Starbucks adds limited-time MrBeast tie-in drink at select Costa Rica stores

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 …

An aircraft landing at Costa Rica Airport damaged the runway lighting system

The event occurred on runway 07. The aircraft completed its landing and parked without further issues. Airport operator AERIS responded immediately. Crews inspected the area, carried out cleaning, and placed backup lights. These steps support safe conditions and allow flights to continue. The airport stays open and processes traffic under the adjusted setup. AERIS reported …

El Salvador mural reimagines the Mona Lisa with recycled plastic caps

Made of plastic caps in many colors and sizes, Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa has a Latin American version: a 13-meter-tall mural erected in El Salvador by a Venezuelan artist. The mural is on the façade of a building in Zacamil, in the Mejicanos district, a working-class area of San Salvador that was once …

One-Lane Travel Returns to Costa Rica’s Tárcoles Bridge

Drivers heading along Route 34 should prepare for delays starting Monday, as traffic on the bridge over the Tárcoles River shifts back to one lane. The measure supports ongoing rehabilitation work on the structure, which connects key coastal areas. Authorities from the Executive Unit for the Tárcoles River Bridge Rehabilitation Project stated that the one-lane …

Venezuela parliament unanimously approves amnesty law

Venezuela’s National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners jailed for being government detractors.  But the law excludes those who have been prosecuted or convicted of promoting military action against the country — which could include opposition leaders like Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, …

Giant Tortoises Reintroduced to a Galapagos Island

More than 150 giant tortoises have been reintroduced to in Ecuador’s famed Galapagos archipelago where they disappeared more than a century ago, the environment ministry said Friday. Park rangers carried large crates containing the 158 tortoises on their backs, hiking seven kilometers (four miles) across volcanic terrain and hard-to-access areas before releasing them, the ministry …