Costa Rica Court to Review Extension of OIJ Director’s Suspension

The suspension of Randall Zúñiga, director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, could be extended for three more months after Judicial Inspection asked the Supreme Court to keep him away from the post while disciplinary proceedings continue. Corte Plena is expected to review the request on Monday, May 18, unless an extraordinary session is called …

Costa Rica Airport Security Scare Ends After Vehicle Inspection

A security alert tied to an Interpol warning temporarily restricted access to parts of Juan Santamaría International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a police response at Costa Rica’s main international gateway in Alajuela. The alert centered on a suspicious vehicle located in the airport parking area. According to reports from judicial and airport authorities, Interpol …

Nicaragua Exile Warns Rosario Murillo May Not Survive Politically Without Ortega

Nicaragua’s co-president Rosario Murillo would not survive in power after the death of her husband, Daniel Ortega, former guerrilla commander Mónica Baltodano said in an interview while in exile in Costa Rica. Baltodano, 71, fought, like Ortega, in the Sandinista National Liberation Front guerrilla movement, the leftist FSLN, which in 1979 overthrew the four-decade dictatorship …

Costa Rica Prosecutors Question Fabricio Alvarado in Alleged Sexual Abuse Case

Former Partido Nueva República legislator and three-time presidential candidate Fabricio Alvarado appeared Tuesday morning at Costa Rica’s Prosecutor General’s Office in San José for a formal indagatoria, or preliminary questioning, tied to three criminal complaints alleging sexual abuse. Alvarado, an evangelical pastor, singer and former lawmaker, entered the Fiscalía General at 7:30 a.m. and left …

Guatemala Reports Sharp Increase in Virtual Kidnappings

Guatemalan authorities are reporting a sharp increase in virtual kidnapping extortion schemes that deceive victims with fabricated threats against family members and demand immediate bank transfers. The Ministry of Public Prosecution’s specialized unit against kidnappings logged 183 complaints through May 5 this year, an average of 10 cases per week. That compares with 157 complaints …

Best Brands Expands in Costa Rica with New Santa Ana Trade Center Store

Costa Rican footwear and accessories chain Best Brands has opened a new store at the Santa Ana Trade Center, marking its 35th sales point in the country and reinforcing its expansion strategy in the western part of San Jose. The project required an investment of approximately $450,000 and spans 670 square meters on a single …

Costa Rica Food Earns Spot Among World’s Top 100 Cuisines

Costa Rican cuisine has earned a place on TasteAtlas’ list of the 100 best cuisines, giving the country a modest but welcome boost in international food recognition. The TasteAtlas Awards 25/26 ranked Costa Rican cuisine 85th globally, with a score of 3.98. The ranking was based on 590,228 valid ratings for 18,912 foods in the …

Earthquake Shakes Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Near Jacó

A significant earthquake shook Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region this morning, startling residents and visitors in Jacó, Garabito and parts of the Central Valley. The tremor struck at 10:22 a.m. The National Seismological Network reported a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 and placed the epicenter about 11 kilometers south of Jacó, in the canton of Garabito, …

A Record Snook, a Costa Rica Fishing Story, and a Friendship Behind It

Some fish stories are about the fish. This one is about a friendship. To understand what happened on Saturday, May 9th, off the coast of Quepos, Costa Rica, you first need to know about Ward Michaels. Ward is one of my very best friends in life, a man of extraordinary character, honesty, and an almost …

Costa Rica Move Rumor Follows Marjorie Taylor Greene Home Sale

Former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is once again drawing attention in Costa Rica after online claims suggested she may have moved to the country with her fiancé, Brian Glenn. For now, there is no confirmed evidence that Greene has relocated to Costa Rica. The claim spread this week after conservative commentator Laura Loomer alleged …