CARLOS ALVARADO

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — After a month of crippling ransomware attacks, Costa Rica has declared a state of emergency. President Rodrigo Chaves, who was sworn in Sunday, made the emergency declaration one of his first acts. The declaration refers to the attack Costa Rica is suffering at the hands of “cybercriminals” and “cyberterrorists.”The Russian-speaking Conti gang had claimed responsibility for the attack. Carlos Alvarado was still president when the attacks began and he said Costa Rica would not pay the gang any ransom. “The FBI estimates that as of January 2022, there had been over 1,000 victims of attacks associated with Conti ransomware with victim payouts exceeding $150,000,000, making the Conti Ransomware variant the costliest strain of ransomware ever documented,” the statement said.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — Nearly a week into a ransomware attack that has crippled Costa Rican government computer systems, the country refused to pay a ransom as it struggled to implement workarounds and braced itself as hackers began publishing stolen information. The Russian-speaking Conti gang claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Costa Rican government had not confirmed its origin. The affiliate attacking Costa Rica could be anywhere in the world, Liska said. A year ago, a Conti ransomware attack forced Ireland’s health system to shut down its information technology system, cancelling appointments, treatments and surgeries. “This is all ideal for phishing, we wish our colleagues from Costa Rica good luck in monetizing this data,” it said.

Nearly a week into a ransomware attack that has crippled Costa Rican government computer systems, the country refuses to pay a ransom as it struggles to implement workarounds and braces itself as hackers begin publishing stolen information

The election of conservative economist Rodrigo Chaves to be Costa Rica's next president has worried many women because of sexual harassment allegations against him.

Costa Rican president-elect Rodrigo Chaves says his runoff victory was a “revolution” by marginalized communities against the country's elites.

Costa Rica Elections A couple walks to cast their vote at the Liceo de Moravia school voting center during general elections, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez) (Carlos Gonzalez)SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in a national election that seemed likely to head to a runoff between the top candidates. Costa Ricans are frustrated by high unemployment, recent public corruption scandals and another surge of COVID-19 infections. Voting centers were busy Sunday morning as some Costa Ricans tried to beat the typical late day crowds. Figueres' National Liberation Party was founded by his father José Figueres Ferrer, who himself served as the country’s president on three occasions in the 1940s, 50s and 70s.

A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in national election in what had been a wide-open field of 25 candidates

A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in national election in what had been a wide-open field of 25 candidates.

Costa Rica Elections A woman casts her vote during general elections in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez) (Carlos Gonzalez)SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in Sunday's national election in what had been a wide-open field of 25 candidates. Costa Ricans are frustrated by high unemployment, recent public corruption scandals and another surge of COVID-19 infections. Voting centers were busy Sunday morning as some Costa Ricans tried to beat the typical late day crowds. He didn't share his choice for president, but said he hoped there would be some surprises among candidates who hadn't polled particularly well.

Costa Rica Elections A woman casts her vote during general elections in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022. Costa Ricans are frustrated by high unemployment, recent public corruption scandals and another surge of COVID-19 infections, but have not swarmed to a candidate. Saborío served as Costa Rica’s vice president during the administration of Abel Pacheco from 2002 to 2006. Previously, Saborío led Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department, which oversees criminal investigations. Costa Ricans living abroad cast ballots Saturday in the country’s consulates.

A former Costa Rican president took an early lead in national election in what had been a wide-open field of 25 candidates.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — Costa Ricans head into national elections Sunday facing a dizzying array of 25 presidential candidates, no dominant issue to drive turnout and nearly one-third of those intending to vote saying they are still undecided. Costa Ricans are frustrated by high employment, recent public corruption scandals and another surge of COVID-19 infections, but no candidate has captured the public’s imagination. Saborío served as Costa Rica’s vice president during the administration of Abel Pacheco from 2002 to 2006. Previously, Saborío led Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department, which oversees criminal investigations. Costa Ricans will also select the 57 members of the country’s Legislative Assembly.

Costa Ricans head into national elections Sunday facing a dizzying array of 25 candidates for president, no dominant issue to drive turnout and nearly one-third of those intending to vote saying they have no clear idea of who their selection will be.

A day after questioned elections, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s government has set about painting as a historic democratic victory what many of the world’s democracies condemned as a sham.

Racism, the climate crisis and the world’s worsening divisions will take center stage at the U_N_ meeting of world leaders, a day after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a grim warning that “we are on the edge of an abyss.”.

A man was shot after a confrontation after a confrontation on a highway in Worcester.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying to entice Central American nations to tackle the corruption and poverty that have helped drive a surge of migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border and presented an early challenge for the Biden administration.

Costa Rica became the latest country to legalize same-sex marriage early Tuesday when a ruling from its supreme court went into effect ending the country's ban. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez)SAN JOSE Costa Rica became the latest country to legalize same-sex marriage early Tuesday when a ruling from its supreme court went into effect ending the country's ban. Theirs was the first legal gay marriage in Costa Rica and it was streamed live on the internet. Costa Rica is the sixth country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, following most recently Ecuador, which allowed it last year. The Legislative Assembly did not act, so at midnight the law banning same-sex marriage was nullified.