Connect with us

Central America

Nicaragua opposition leader flees to Costa Rica to avoid detention

AFP

The head of Nicaragua’s opposition party Citizens Alliance for Liberty said Tuesday she had left the country for Costa Rica, fearing she would be added to the list of rival politicians arrested by President Daniel Ortega’s government.

“Nobody is safe anymore,” said Carmella Rogers, also known as Kitty Monterrey, in a televised interview with Telenoticias in Costa Rica — her first public appearance in several days.

“(Staying) didn’t make sense, they were going to take me to jail or they were going to deport me.”

Last week, officials canceled the CxL head’s national identity card and passport.

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

“I’ve been in hiding since Friday,” Monterrey said. “I was looking for a way out that had to be gradual to get here in a safe way. It was difficult and I’m tired, but here I am.”

The 71-year-old’s exile comes after her right-wing party on Friday was disqualified from standing in November’s election by the electoral court, which is dominated by the ruling party.

The party’s vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada had been placed under house arrest that week. 

With three months to go before the country’s elections, Nicaragua’s government has detained 32 opposition politicians that they accused of treason. 

Among them are seven potential candidates who could run against Ortega, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term. 

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

The 75-year-old former guerilla first took office in 2007 as part of the left-wing Sandinista National Liberation Front. 

His government faces sanctions from the United States and the European Union, which accuse him of humans rights violations and the repression of opposition figures, which began with anti-government protests in 2018.

Ortega accuses the opposition of trying to overthrow him with the support of the United States. 

Despite her presence in Costa Rica, Monterrey, who has an American father and Nicaraguan mother, said: “I am never going to stop being Nicaraguan. I am going to continue to fight for Nicaragua, this does not end here.” 

She will seek to legalize her stay in Costa Rica under her US citizenship. 

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow

“I think I will stay in Costa Rica if possible,” she said. “I want to be close to my country.” 

Monterrey’s opponents blame her for blocking efforts by Nicaragua’s opposition parties and other social forces to mount a unified fight against Ortega. 

“It’s not that we are divided, it’s that there have been different opinions,” said Monterrey, who has said the CxL is best-suited to lead the charge. 

Even though it was clear the government “was committing fraud, we had to continue doing the impossible within the civic route,” she said. 

Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_728x90
previous arrow
next arrow
Continue Reading
Advertisement
20260224_estafa_mh_300x250

International

Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History as First Player to Score in Six World Cups

Cristiano Ronaldo made football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player ever to score in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup.

The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in Portugal’s Group K match against Uzbekistan in Houston. Just six minutes into the game, Ronaldo found the back of the net with a right-footed strike from inside the box, sending the Portuguese fans into celebration.

The “Commander” sparked excitement throughout the stadium with his iconic celebration, as supporters joined in with his famous “Siuuu!” chant to honor another milestone in the career of one of football’s greatest stars.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo has now scored in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and North America 2026. With his two goals in this tournament, he has surpassed Lionel Messi’s record, as the Argentine has scored in every World Cup he played except South Africa 2010.

The Portuguese captain has also reached nine World Cup goals, matching Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time top scorer in the history of the tournament.

Ronaldo’s achievement came just one day after Messi also made history by becoming the outright leading scorer in World Cup history, reaching 18 goals after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria.

With his appearance at the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has also extended another remarkable record by becoming the first player to participate in six consecutive editions of the tournament, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential players in football history.

Continue Reading

Central America

Costa Rica Launches Largest Police Operation in History, Dismantles Major Drug Cartel

Costa Rican judicial authorities on Tuesday announced the largest police operation in the country’s history, resulting in the dismantling of a major local drug trafficking organization allegedly led by a man who was extradited to the United States earlier this year.

More than 1,500 law enforcement officers carried out 97 raids across different regions of the country, targeting 41 suspects and seizing assets valued at nearly $22 million, according to Michael Soto, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

Speaking in a video statement, Soto described the operation as unprecedented in scale and coordination.

“This is the largest operation we have ever conducted. Never before have we carried out so many raids with our officers working alongside prosecutors from the Public Ministry and security forces from the Executive Branch. It is historic,” Soto said.

The operation, dubbed “Riverside,” was the result of months of investigations conducted with support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Authorities said the large-scale crackdown dismantled one of the country’s most significant criminal organizations involved in international drug trafficking, a major contributor to the security crisis affecting the Central American nation, long known for its stability and tourism industry.

According to investigators, the operation focused on uncovering the multimillion-dollar business activities of a Costa Rican criminal network allied with a Colombian group known as “Los Costeños.”

The alleged leader of the organization was identified as Edwin Pérez, also known as “Pecho de Rata,” who was extradited to the United States on March 20 alongside former Security Minister and former Supreme Court magistrate Celso Gamboa.

Both men were arrested on June 23, 2025, shortly after a legislative reform came into effect allowing Costa Rican citizens suspected of drug trafficking to be extradited to foreign jurisdictions.

Among those detained during the operation were two prison officers, two former professional football players and a model. Prosecutors indicated that the suspects could face charges including domestic and international drug trafficking, arms trafficking, possession of explosives, smuggling drugs into correctional facilities, money laundering and participation in organized criminal activities.

Authorities stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional arrests and asset seizures could follow as prosecutors continue to examine the network’s operations and financial structure.

Continue Reading

Central America

Ancient Maya Ceremonial Site Reveals New Clues About Preclassic Ritual Practices

An international team of archaeologists has uncovered a unique Maya ritual structure at the pre-Hispanic site of El Tigre, located in Guatemala’s northern department of Petén, offering new insights into ceremonial practices and social organization during the Late Preclassic period (100 B.C. – A.D. 150).

The discovery was announced on Monday by researchers from the Lechugal Norte–El Tigre Archaeological Project, a multidisciplinary initiative involving experts from Guatemala, France, Mexico, and Canada who have been conducting excavations in the area during the 2025 and 2026 field seasons.

“This is a structure with highly distinctive characteristics that allow us to make significant advances in understanding ritual practices at sites of medium-scale monumentality,” said project director Julien Hiquet during a press conference.

The structure, named “Okox” — meaning “mushroom” in the Indigenous Q’eqchi’ language — features a distinctive keyhole-shaped design and stands out for its exceptional state of preservation. Unlike many Maya structures, it was not modified or covered by later construction phases, enabling researchers to study its original architectural features.

According to the archaeological team, El Tigre functioned as a residential and administrative center that supported thousands of inhabitants during the Preclassic era.

Excavations at the site revealed several infant burials strategically placed within the platform’s fill as ritual offerings. Researchers also uncovered the remains of a high-ranking adult male buried in a seated position and accompanied by a stingray spine awl, an object commonly associated with bloodletting and self-sacrifice ceremonies in Maya culture.

Officials highlighted the significance of the discovery for understanding the development of Maya society and religion. Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Rossina Cazali, described the find as “a window into a pivotal stage” of Maya history.

Archaeologists believe the findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of ceremonial traditions, political organization, and social dynamics in the Maya lowlands during a critical period of cultural development.

Continue Reading

Trending

Central News