US President Invokes Wartime Law to Send Criminal Gang Members to El Salvador

El Salvador imprisoned 238 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang and 23 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang in a maximum-security prison on Sunday, after they were sent by U.S. President Donald Trump, who invoked a wartime law to expel them. Trump invoked the Enemy Aliens Act of 1798, last used during …

Nationwide Power Outage Hits Panama After Generator Failure

Panama plunged into darkness late Saturday night when a nationwide blackout hit following an explosion and subsequent fire at the La Chorrera Thermoelectric Power Plant in Panamá Oeste. President José Raúl Mulino confirmed that the outage, which began just before midnight, was triggered by a “technical fault” in a private generator operated by PanAm Generating …

Tourist Denied Exit at Costa Rica Airport Over Yellow Fever Vaccine Rule

A Peruvian tourist in transit was barred from leaving Juan Santamaría International Airport upon arriving in Costa Rica because he lacked a yellow fever vaccination. Minister of Health Mary Munive clarified the policy amid growing confusion. “He planned a day visit to see a friend before flying onward. Transit passengers staying in the airport are …

Samara Beach Unveils Retractable Walkway for Inclusive Tourism

Samara Beach launched a retractable walkway made from recycled plastic caps, a pioneering step toward inclusive tourism in Costa Rica. The project, unveiled during a special event, aims to ensure people with disabilities and seniors can safely access the sea at this popular Nicoya canton destination. The initiative unites the Chamber of Tourism of Playa …

Costa Rica Suspends Permits in Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge to Protect Environment

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber ordered the suspension of all concessions and permits in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area in Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean. The Court also suspended previously granted permits, aiming to prevent serious and irreparable environmental damage to the refuge’s maritime-terrestrial zone—a coastal area safeguarded under environmental laws. These precautionary measures …

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Activity Surges, Alert Raised

Poás Volcano in Costa Rica is undergoing intense and unprecedented activity, marked by persistent tremors, high gas emissions, and structural deformation, according to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI). Experts say this behavior is unlike anything seen in recent records. “We can’t predict exactly what will happen because this is a new situation for Poás. …

Costa Rica Exchange Rate Hits Historic Low, Central Bank Steps In

The exchange rate in Costa Rica has plummeted to a historic low, with the dollar reaching ₡499.90 on Thursday, March 13, in the Foreign Exchange Market (MONEX)—a level not seen since May 7, 2008, when it stood at ₡497.20. The market saw $29.52 million traded across 266 transactions, with the dollar’s selling price ranging from …

Guatemala Hosts Literary Festival Amid Free Speech Crackdowns

More than 60 authors from 15 countries will converge on Guatemala to confront the “turbulent times” facing Central America, debating freedom of expression, migration, and more at the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival, organizers announced. “It is no secret that Guatemala, and Central America as a whole, face significant challenges” regarding freedom of expression, said festival …

Radar Failure in Honduras Disrupts Central American Flights

A radar system failure at the Area Control Center in Honduras disrupted international flights across Costa Rica and Central America on Friday, March 14. The precise cause of the failure has not been specified by authorities at this time. Luis Miranda, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, confirmed that flight operations in Costa Rica have resumed …