Nicaragua Arrests Ex-Mayors & Ex-Military in Ortega’s Latest Crackdown

Between 15 and 20 people—including former mayors and ex-military officers—were arrested in Nicaragua over the weekend for alleged political reasons, opposition figures and exile-based media outlets reported on Sunday. President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, have tightened their grip on Nicaraguan society since the 2018 opposition protests they label a Washington-backed coup …

Centroamérica Cuenta Literary Festival Tackles Freedom of Expression

Guatemala is set to host the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival from May 19 to 24, bringing together 60 writers from 15 countries, plus Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, to discuss freedom of expression, migration, and more. The event, founded in 2013 by exiled Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramírez, will shine a light on the region’s challenges …

Alcaraz downs Sinner to win Italian Open in Roland Garros warning

Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating rival Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final and firing a warning shot for Roland Garros. Alcaraz, who will climb to world number two behind Sinner on Monday, won his third title of the season, eventually dominating Sinner and silencing the over 10,000 fans …

Mass Fish Kill in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lagoons Raises Alarm

In Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands, the Madre de Dios and Santa Marta lagoons are reeling from a mass fish kill that’s left local communities in Matina and Siquirres sounding the alarm. Dead fish, including snook, sea bass, rainbow bass, mojarra, and tilapia, have been washing up for days, with locals pointing to chemical runoff from …

Lord of the Rings Stars Showcase Costa Rica’s Culture and Food

Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, famous for playing Pippin and Merry in The Lord of the Rings, brought their travel show Billy & Dom Eat The World to Costa Rica for an episode packed with local flavors and traditions. The actors spent five days exploring Nicoya, Alajuela, Sarapiquí, and San José, immersing themselves in the …

Nicaragua Bans Dual Citizenship in Controversial Reform

Nicaragua’s National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment, eliminating dual nationality for Nicaraguan citizens, a move driven by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. The reform, approved unanimously in a special session in Niquinohomo, changes articles 23 and 25 of the Constitution. It states that Nicaraguans who acquire another citizenship will lose their Nicaraguan nationality, arguing …

Venezuelan Migrants in El Salvador Gain Appeal Rights After SCOTUS Decision

Lawyers for the 252 Venezuelan migrants deported by the U.S. government under Donald Trump and held for two months in El Salvador denounced on Friday that their clients are victims of “physical” and “moral” torture. A law firm hired by the Venezuelan government has been unable to visit the migrants in the mega-prison where they …

Living with Costa Rica’s Spiders: An Expat’s Wild Encounters

I’m going to come out and say it immediately, I’m not particularly knowledgeable about Costa Rica’s spiders. This little country boasts over 2,000 species that come in a dizzying variety of sizes, shapes, and colors and you would need to talk to a knowledgeable arachnologist (arachnid scientist) to get any information about the vast majority …

Costa Rica Sees Tourism Rebound in April 2025, Breaking Seven-Month Decline

After seven months of declining visitor numbers, Costa Rica welcomed a surge of international tourists in April 2025, signaling a potential recovery for our vital tourism sector. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), 231,678 foreign visitors arrived by air, a 4.6% increase over the 221,573 recorded in April 2024, adding 10,105 travelers to …

IACHR Warns of Attacks on Journalists in Costa Rica

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed concern over attacks by the government against journalists. The entity confirmed that three direct attacks on journalists during visits to the Presidential House were documented. The report highlights a complaint filed by the Association of Journalists …