Sherman Guity Wins Paralympic Gold

Costa Rican Paralympic athlete Sherman Guity achieved a historic double gold medal triumph at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, winning both the 100m and 200m events. In the 200m final, Guity set a new personal best of 21.32 seconds, surpassing his previous record from Tokyo 2020. He also secured gold in the 100m with a Paralympic record time of 10.65 seconds.

These victories bring Guity’s total Paralympic medal count to four, solidifying his status as one of the world’s fastest para-athletes. His remarkable achievements have inspired Costa Ricans nationwide, with thousands celebrating his success and praising his determination and resilience in overcoming adversity to become a distinguished gold medalist on the global stage.

Costa Rica Strengthens Fight Against Illegal Fishing

For the third consecutive year, a course on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) was held in Costa Rica, training 34 legal and environmental professionals to combat related crimes. The program, organized by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in collaboration with various organizations, combines theoretical lectures with virtual reality simulations to provide hands-on experience of coast guard operations.

Moisés Mug, Science Director of FECOP, emphasized the importance of this training in addressing knowledge gaps in the legal process and combating impunity. The course aims to better prepare justice personnel to handle cases related to illegal fishing, which poses a significant threat to Costa Rica’s economy and environment, particularly impacting the sport fishing industry that generates around 520 million dollars annually

Venezuelan Opposition Candidate Seeks Asylum

Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia has fled to Spain amid what opposition leader Maria Corina Machado calls a “brutal wave of repression” following disputed presidential elections on July 28. The opposition claims Gonzalez Urrutia won the election, but President Nicolas Maduro was declared the victor by the regime-loyal electoral authority. Facing arrest warrants and threats, Gonzalez Urrutia sought refuge in the Spanish embassy before being granted asylum in Spain.

The Venezuelan government has issued charges against him, including usurpation of public functions and incitement to disobedience, which could result in a 30-year jail sentence. The opposition published its own tally showing Gonzalez Urrutia winning about two-thirds of the votes, while the electoral authority claims it cannot provide a breakdown due to an alleged cyber-attack. Post-election violence has resulted in 27 deaths and 192 injuries, with the government reporting 2,400 arrests.