Emmy-winning Salvadoran Journalist Deported from US

Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara said Friday he was deported from the United States for reporting on the unjust arrests of migrants under President Donald Trump. Guevara, who was living in the United States without residency documents or a valid visa, was detained in June in the southern state of Georgia while livestreaming on his MG …

Costa Rica Bill Targets Pretrial Detention for Organized Crime Cases

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is moving forward with a bill that aims to strengthen the rules around pretrial detention in response to growing threats from organized crime. The proposal, which reforms the Criminal Procedure Code, comes as the country grapples with increased violence tied to drug trafficking and hired killings. Legislators argue that judges need …

Costa Rica Court Orders Urgent Regulation of Tuna Fishing Law

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has stepped in to push the government on a long-delayed tuna fishing law. The court partially backed an appeal from environmental lawyer Walter Brenes, who called out the Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (INCOPESCA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) for not creating rules for Law 10304. …

Venezuela Tensions Rise After U.S. Strike on Alleged Narco Vessel

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced Friday a new strike in the Caribbean off Venezuela’s coast against an alleged narco-boat, leaving 4 dead. “Following President Trump’s orders, I directed a lethal strike against a drug-trafficking vessel affiliated with organizations designated as terrorist,” the secretary of war said, which he accompanied with a video. “Four narcoterrorist men …

El Salvador Bans Inclusive Language in Public Schools

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has taken another step to reshape the country’s education system. On Thursday, he declared a complete ban on what he calls “inclusive language” across all public schools. This move targets terms that alter traditional Spanish to promote gender neutrality, such as “amigue,” “compañere,” “niñe,” “todos y todas,” “alumn@,” “jóvenxs,” and …

Costa Rica Allows Cryptocurrency Donations for Political Parties

Costa Rica’s electoral authorities have approved a groundbreaking shift, letting political parties accept donations in select cryptocurrencies for the first time. This move, led by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), aims to update campaign funding while keeping tight checks on every transaction. Political groups can now take contributions in Bitcoin, Ether, and USD Coin, but …

Costa Rica Faces Rising Extortion from Informal Lenders, Says UN

A new United Nations study sheds light on the rapid spread of informal lending schemes called “gota a gota” across Costa Rica, where high-interest loans often lead to extortion and violence. These operations, once limited to certain communities, now affect a wider range of people facing financial pressures. The report, released this week by the …

Tragic Blaze at Hotel Oriente Kills Five in Costa Rica Capital

A tragic fire ripped through the Hotel Oriente in central San Jose early this morning, leaving five people dead and sparking questions about building safety in the city’s older structures. The blaze, which started on the third floor just before dawn, quickly spread, trapping residents in what many described as a chaotic scene. Firefighters arrived …

US Revokes Visa of CRHoy Owner Amid Fraud Allegations

The US government revoked the tourist and business visa of Leonel Baruch, the businessman behind Costa Rican news site CRHoy. Reports connect the move to active investigations into money laundering and tax evasion against him. Baruch confirmed the revocation in a statement. He received an email from the US Embassy’s Consular Section stating the decision …

Costa Rica 2026 Elections Kick Off: 20 Candidates Vie for Presidency

Costa Rica’s electoral season began yesterday with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal’s official call for the 2026 national elections. Eugenia Zamora, the TSE president, described the process as one of the country’s core traditions, emphasizing its role in maintaining peace amid growing tensions. The ceremony marked the start of a four-month campaign leading to the February …