Poverty in Latin America fell by 2.2 percentage points in 2024 compared to the previous year and now affects 25.5% of the population, the lowest level since comparable data have been available, ECLAC reported. Last year, 162 million Latin Americans were living in poverty in the region, of whom 62 million were in extreme poverty. …

Read more “Latin America Poverty Falls to Record Low in 2024 but Inequality Remains Stark”

Costa Rica’s Ombudsman has sounded the alarm on a deepening crisis of violence against women, with femicides hitting a peak not seen in over a decade. The warning came during observances for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlighting systemic failures that leave women exposed to harm. The Defensoría de los …

Read more “Costa Rica Faces Escalating Gender Violence Crisis, Ombudsman Warns”

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has gotten directly involved in Honduras’s presidential elections by openly backing right-wing businessman Nasry Asfura, just four days before the general vote. Trump broke his silence on the electoral process to urge Hondurans to vote for the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, whom he called the “only true …

Read more “Trump Endorsement Shakes up Honduras Presidential Race”

Scientists report that the 2023-2024 El Niño event delivered a severe blow to coral reefs around Isla del Caño, one of Costa Rica’s key marine protected areas. The warming ocean temperatures pushed these ecosystems past a critical threshold, leading to widespread bleaching and a sharp drop in live coral. Researchers from Innoceana, a marine conservation …

Read more “El Niño Causes Massive Coral Die-Off at Costa Rica’s Isla del Caño”

The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) reported that Route 32 in Zurquí has reopened. This vital road, the main connection between the Central Valley and the Caribbean province of Limón, was closed earlier this morning after a landslide brought debris, branches, and rocks onto the roadway. Authorities urged drivers to exercise caution, warning …

Read more “Update: Costa Rica’s Route 32 Reopens – Again!”

If you’re spending Thanksgiving in Costa Rica, the basics of a good turkey don’t change: crisp skin, juicy meat and lots of gravy. What does change is the setting — maybe you’re in shorts, the windows are open, and the oven is working a little harder in the tropical heat. This classic recipe from Jeff …

Read more “How To Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey With Cornbread and Pecan Stuffing in Costa Rica”

Wondering where I was going to get the pan drippings for the gravy and mashed potatoes I agreed to make for an expat Thanksgiving this year, I starting thinking about last year’s turkey. It was my first Thanksgiving in Costa Rica and away from family. As we sat down to the meal in Escazú, hosted by …

Read more “Thanksgiving in Costa Rica Through a Tico Kitchen”

Transit Police shut down Route 32 at Cerro Zurquí early this morning after landslides dumped debris onto the highway amid ongoing heavy rains. The move came as a precaution to protect drivers on the vital link between the capital and the Caribbean coast. Authorities reported the landslide struck around kilometer 27, blocking the road completely. …

Read more “Landslides Prompt Closure of Costa Rica’s Route 32 at Cerro Zurquí”

Drivers on Costa Rica’s busy General Cañas Highway face temporary full closures over three nights starting this Friday as crews install beams for a new overpass tied to a major development in Heredia. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) confirmed the shutdowns will run from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on November 28, …

Read more “Nighttime Closures Set for Costa Rica Highway This Weekend Amid Overpass Work”

Latin America is navigating a minefield of economic and military threats following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Some leaders have pushed back, others have yielded, and a few have opted to look the other way. No country in “our hemisphere,” as the White House calls the Americas, has escaped what many see as …

Read more “How Latin America Is Adapting to Trump’s New Pressure”