Guatemala faces ongoing challenges with gang activity, and recent events highlight how these groups test the system’s limits. On October 12, officials announced that 20 leaders from the Barrio 18 gang had broken out of Fraijanes II prison, a facility near the capital. This incident led to quick action, including the arrest of 23 guards …
Read more “Guatemala’s Prison Escape and Central America Security Risks”
The United States announced on Friday financial sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro for failing to combat drug trafficking, drawing a strong response from the president, who vowed he would not take “a single step back.” The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the leftist leader’s wife and one of his sons, as well …
The coastal town of Tamarindo will host its fourth Halloween Fest from October 29 to November 1, drawing families, athletes, artists, and local business owners together for a mix of sports, art, food, and entertainment. The event, organized by the Tamarindo Integral Development Association (ADIT), aims to support the local economy during the slower months …
My family was recently cleaning up our backyard, tidying up the mass of branches that had been ditched on the property by the local electric company after a recent tree-trimming campaign of the four massive mango trees that line the far side of the garden. As my husband and I made progress on the mountain …
Read more “Costa Rica Expat Guide to Creative DIY Home Repairs”
A head-on collision on the Bernardo Soto highway in Buenos Aires de Palmares, Alajuela, turned deadly Friday morning, killing Éricka Benavides, advisor to Congressman and presidential candidate Eli Feinzaig, and injuring three others, including Feinzaig himself. The crash happened around 8 a.m. when the pickup truck carrying Feinzaig, Benavides, and their driver slammed into an …
Read more “Costa Rica Politics Shaken by Fatal Crash with Eli Feinzaig”
The Guatemalan government announced Friday that it will ask the United States for an FBI team of experts to help recapture the leaders of the Barrio 18 gang who escaped from a prison. Last week, the government revealed the escape of 20 members of Barrio 18—designated a “terrorist” organization by both countries—from Fraijanes II prison …
Read more “Guatemala Seeks FBI Help After Gang Leaders Escape Prison”
Immigrants in Costa Rica continue to deal with long waits for their residence cards, known as DIMEX, as the immigration system struggles with backlogs. Approval times for residency applications have stretched from six to eight months in the past to 14 to 18 months or more now, leaving many in uncertainty. The General Directorate of …
Read more “Costa Rica Residency Backlog Hits 38,000 in October”
US military strikes that Washington claims have targeted “narco-terrorists” ferrying drugs to American soil are having little to no impact on Latin America’s bustling narcotics trade, experts say. The strikes have killed at least 37 people, most of them in Caribbean waters, according to US figures. Relatives and the home governments of many of the …
Read more “Latin America Questions US Boat Strikes in the Drug War”
Costa Rica’s health officials have stepped up alerts on the dangers of methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol, aligning with similar actions across Latin America amid recent cases in neighboring countries. The Ministry of Health here has long monitored alcohol products for adulteration, a practice that persists in informal markets where methanol, a toxic industrial chemical, …
Read more “Costa Rica Warns on Methanol Risks in Alcohol Amid Regional Outbreaks”
Costa Rica added another spot to its list of inclusive coastal destinations this week. Playa Blanca in Punta Morales de Chomes now stands as the country’s 17th accessible beach, equipped with features that let people with disabilities reach the shore and sea without obstacles. A group of 40 visitors marked the opening on October 21. …
Read more “Costa Rica Adds 17th Accessible Beach at Playa Blanca”