Venezuelan inflation soared to 475 percent in 2025, the highest in the world, driven by a tightening of US sanctions in the lead up to the ouster of leader Nicolas Maduro. Full-year inflation far exceeded the International Monetary Fund’s forecast of 269.9 percent, figures released by the central bank showed Friday. Accumulated inflation for the …
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Mexico announced Friday it will station nearly 100,000 police, soldiers and private security guards across its three World Cup host cities to protect fans and players this summer. President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the details at a military base in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara, one of the venues hit by recent cartel violence. The plan …
Read more “Mexico Announces Plan for 100,000 Security Personnel at World Cup”
This past month I learned a new word: Therian. The first time I heard it used was by our outgoing president, Rodrigo Chaves, who made the sardonic suggestion that a rival political party, the left wing Frente Amplio, was made up of therians. For those as out of the loop on the latest weird trends …
Motorcycles continue to take the heaviest toll on Costa Rica’s roads. In January and February this year, 63 people died while riding motorcycles. Those deaths made up 56 percent of the 113 total road fatalities during the first two months of 2026. Police figures show January ended with 59 deaths on the roads, 32 of …
Read more “Motorcycles Account for the Majority of Road Deaths in Costa Rica”
Costa Rican authorities rescued five sloths and other wild animals in an anti-trafficking operation in the Northern Zone. The Deputy Environmental Prosecutor’s Office led the effort that began Thursday morning. Officials carried out six raids on five facilities in Bijagua de Upala. The sites included tourist centers and a house. The teams recovered three adult …
Read more “Sloths and Tapir Among Animals Saved in Costa Rica Anti-Trafficking Operation”
The last contingent of Cuban doctors still in Honduras departed this Thursday after the agreement under which they had operated in the country for the past two years was not renewed, AFP journalists confirmed. The cooperation program, which at one point included 170 members between doctors and technicians, expired amid pressure from U.S. President Donald …
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The U.S. Embassy in San José has established a dedicated WhatsApp channel to provide U.S. citizens with timely safety and security information while in Costa Rica. The channel, “U.S. Citizen Consular Information: COSTA RICA,” will disseminate security alerts and travel advisories. It shares important information regarding consular services and status updates during emergencies. U.S. citizens …
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In a deepening humanitarian crisis amid escalating Middle East tensions, approximately 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers find themselves stranded in the turbulent waters of the Persian Gulf. The near-total shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by recent conflicts, has halted vital maritime traffic, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire of a widening …
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Costa Rica now has its first symphony orchestra that consists exclusively of women. The Sistema Nacional de Educación Musical assembled the ensemble as part of an initiative from the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The group counts 70 musicians. Members include students and instructors who train through SINEM centers in different provinces. Invited instrumentalists from …
Read more “Costa Rica Forms First Symphony Orchestra With Only Women Performers”
Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked player in women’s tennis, shared news of her engagement to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis on Tuesday, just before the start of the WTA 1000 tournament here in the Coachella Valley. The Belarusian athlete, 27, posted videos on Instagram showing the romantic proposal, which took place on the eve of the event. …
Read more “Aryna Sabalenka Engaged to Georgios Frangulis Before Indian Wells”