The International Monetary Fund has revealed that El Salvador is advancing talks to sell its state-owned Chivo digital wallet, a move that signals shifts in the country’s Bitcoin strategy. This comes even as President Nayib Bukele earlier insisted his administration would keep acquiring the cryptocurrency. In a statement released this week, the IMF noted that …

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Much of Costa Rica will spend Christmas Eve under sun and strong winds, with only limited rain expected in a few regions, according to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN). Forecasters say a high-pressure system over the Caribbean is accelerating the trade winds, bringing a classic “Navidad ventosa” pattern: breezy to very windy conditions in the …

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Guatemalan authorities arrested a key Barrio 18 gang leader on Tuesday, marking the sixth recapture since a major prison escape two months ago that shook the country’s security apparatus and drew international support. Milton Noel Najarro, also known as “Dark” or “El Soberbio,” led the “Solo para Locos” clique within the gang. Police found him …

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Costa Rica’s Environmental Administrative Tribunal has issued a directive for the RIU Guanacaste hotel complex to repair mangrove and forest areas harmed during its construction in Playa Matapalo, Guanacaste. This decision wraps up a dispute that has dragged on for over 15 years, holding the developers accountable for altering sensitive coastal ecosystems. The tribunal’s ruling, …

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Costa Rica has recorded at least 3,058 homicides since President Rodrigo Chaves took office on May 8, 2022. Data from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) shows our country’s security struggles, with 2023 as the deadliest year at 906 murders. As 2025 nears its end, the tally has reached 833 as of December 16, placing this …

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Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka has declared that 2026 will mark the end of his professional career, setting up a poignant send-off at the Australian Open where he claimed his first Grand Slam title more than a decade ago. The 40-year-old veteran, known for his powerful one-handed backhand and ability to rise against the sport’s …

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As the year winds down and the air fills with the scent of banana leaves and seasoned masa, tamales season has officially arrived in Costa Rica. For those of us here, it’s a cherished signal that the holidays have arrived. But for tourists and fresh expats, diving into this tradition often means navigating a set …

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Costa Rica’s Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) has accepted a complaint and sent it to its oversight unit for review. The focus is on construction permits issued by the Osa Municipality in the Fila Costeña, a mountainous area in the southern Pacific region. The move follows claims of unchecked real estate growth in fragile …

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Thousands of travelers face gridlock at the Peñas Blancas border crossing between Costa Rica and Nicaragua this holiday period, with migration offices overwhelmed by the return of Nicaraguans heading home for Christmas and New Year gatherings. The surge started early this December, as workers and families based in Costa Rica began their trips north. By …

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Authorities arrested a 42-year-old man this week in connection with the deadly fire at Hotel Oriente that claimed five lives in early October. The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) confirmed the detention of the suspect, identified as Hernández Pérez, who faces charges of quintuple homicide and arson. OIJ agents from the Homicide Unit carried out …

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