A group of UN experts denounced on Tuesday that the Nicaraguan government has extended its repression of critics of co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo beyond the country’s borders. Ortega, a 79-year-old former guerrilla in power since 2007, and Murillo, 74, tightened control over opponents after the 2018 protests that left more than 300 dead, …

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Kim Torres, a filmmaker raised in Costa Rica, steps into the spotlight with her first full-length movie, “If We Don’t Burn, How Do We Light Up the Night.” The film premieres today at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, marking a key moment for Costa Rican cinema on the global stage. Born in …

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Costa Rica’s leading beverage company, FIFCO, has agreed to sell its core operations to Dutch giant HEINEKEN in a deal valued at $3.25 billion. The move hands over control of popular brands like Imperial beer to HEINEKEN, which already owns a quarter of FIFCO’s Distribuidora La Florida unit. FIFCO made the announcement yesterday, marking the …

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In a follow-up to our article published late yesterday on this fast-moving story, Costa Rica’s lawmakers decided against stripping President Rodrigo Chaves of his legal shield, letting him sidestep a corruption trial for now. The vote came up short at 34 in favor and 21 opposed, missing the 38 needed to move forward. This marks …

Read more “Costa Rica Lawmakers Reject Lifting Immunity for President Chaves”

Costa Rica’s Congress began today to debate whether to lift President Rodrigo Chaves’s immunity so he can be tried for alleged corruption. The special session was opened by the head of Congress, opposition figure Rodrigo Arias. This is the first time a Costa Rican president has faced a request to remove immunity. The conservative leader, …

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Costa Rica Surfer Leilani McGonagle took home the top prize at the 2025 Super Girl Surf Pro in Oceanside, California. She beat out strong competition to become the first non-American to ever win this event. The tournament wrapped up over the weekend of September 19-21, drawing crowds to the beach for high-level surfing and music. …

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Costa Rican authorities are probing reports of missing fentanyl from public hospitals, raising fears that the potent painkiller is slipping into illegal markets. The Costa Rican Social Security Fund, known as the CCSS, recently filed a formal complaint with the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) over suspected discrepancies in fentanyl stocks at Hospital México in San …

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Google Maps has rolled out an expanded Street View feature across Costa Rica, giving people a chance to check out more streets and spots from their devices. The update captures fresh images from a pickup truck that traveled roads between May 2024 and July 2025, including remote areas and natural sites. Content creator Trevor Rainbolt, …

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In a Havana park, in broad daylight, a young man walks erratically, shuffling his feet with a vacant stare, like a zombie. It’s the effect of “el químico,” the synthetic drug that has set off alarms on the island. In a country accustomed to low levels of drug use, consumption of this highly addictive synthetic …

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A troubling scam has gained traction in Costa Rica this year, where criminals trick people into thinking they’re kidnapped and then extort money from their families. Authorities call it virtual or psychological kidnapping, and it’s hitting workers from small companies hard. The Judicial Investigation Agency, known as OIJ, has tracked 26 reports from January through …

Read more “Rising Virtual Kidnapping Scams Target Costa Rica Businesses”