Nicaragua convicts historic Sandinista commander of corruption

Nicaragua has convicted the historic Sandinista commander Bayardo Arce, a former economic adviser to President Daniel Ortega, on corruption charges and confiscated his assets, the Nicaraguan government said on Tuesday, without specifying the sentence. Arce, 76, was jailed in late July of last year after falling from favor in an internal purge within the circles …

Costa Rica Presidential Election Could End in First Round

Conservative candidate Laura Fernández has increased her chances of winning Costa Rica’s presidency in the first round next Sunday, according to a poll released Tuesday night. Fernández, the ruling party’s candidate and an admirer of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, leads voting intention with 44%, according to a survey by the prestigious University of Costa Rica …

Costa Rica Faces Growing Obesity Challenge as Weight-Loss Drug Awaits Approval

Costa Rica draws praise for its fresh foods, active habits, and solid public health network. But a shift toward heavier weights threatens that picture. Overweight and obesity now touch a major part of our population, driving up risks for long-term illnesses and adding pressure to medical resources. Data from health officials show that about 70% …

Coco Gauff Falls in Straight Sets to Elina Svitolina in Australian Open Quarterfinals

American tennis player Coco Gauff exited the Australian Open after a quick loss to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. The third-seeded Gauff struggled from the start and could not recover, dropping the match 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour on Rod Laver Arena. Gauff, ranked third in the world, committed 28 unforced errors and …

Poás Volcano National Park Remains Shut as Bridge Repairs Drag On

Travelers planning a visit to Poás Volcano National Park face ongoing disruptions after authorities extended the closure of the site’s main access route. The park, a popular day trip from the Central Valley, shut down on the 21st following severe damage to the bridge over Quebrada Tigre on Route 120 in Poasito. The Ministry of …

Winter Storm Triggers Flight Cancellations at Liberia Airport in Costa Rica

Flight disruptions hit Guanacaste Airport hard this week as a winter storm sweeps across the United States and Canada. Officials at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia report multiple cancellations, with inbound and outbound legs affected. The issues stem from harsh weather conditions in key departure cities like Dallas, Denver, Newark, Toronto, and Boston. …

Can a New Supermax Prison Slow Costa Rica’s Gang Violence

Last year I wrote an article suggesting that Costa Rica build a maximum security prison like the one in El Salvador. The idea was that it would be only for white collar criminals, and the tone was satirical, though some readers appeared to take it seriously. Maybe those readers knew something I didn’t, because the …

Panama hosts talks to coordinate Haiti support after UN funding effort falters

About thirty countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have been meeting in Panama since Monday to draft an emergency plan for Haiti, which is facing one of the region’s worst humanitarian crises amid gang violence. The meeting comes after the United Nations failed to raise even a quarter of the $908 million it requested …

El Salvador Protesters Demand End to Bukele’s State of Emergency

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of San Salvador on Sunday, calling for an end to President Nayib Bukele’s state of emergency. The measure, in place since March 2022, has drawn sharp criticism for enabling arrests without warrants and suspending key constitutional rights. The protest coincided with the anniversary of the 1992 peace accords …