AGP Executive Report

UN Secretary-General race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett surged to the lead after the UN Security Council’s second closed-door straw poll, edging Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and keeping the race wide open as candidates jockey for at least nine “encourage” votes without a veto. Costa Rica governance & tech: Costa Rica’s official timekeeping rules changed via a new decree, shifting the scientific standard to atomic clocks at ICE-Lametro without changing everyday hours; and a Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon will use Costa Rica’s 5G testbed to build regional prototypes. Environment & science: Researchers exploring deep Pacific seamounts off Costa Rica discovered a new octocoral species, “golden tree” Laurinque elenya. Local economy: ECLAC says Latin America’s growth will stay sluggish, forecasting 2.2% for 2026 (2.5% in 2027), warning it’s too weak to lift living standards. Health & justice: Costa Rica is investigating a San José nursing home owner accused of collecting a deceased U.S. resident’s pension for years, allegedly using forged paperwork to keep payments flowing.

UN Spotlight: The UN Security Council’s second closed-door straw poll for the next secretary-general put Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett narrowly ahead with eight “encourage” votes, edging Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi (both on seven), while the U.S. criticized the broader selection process as unfair and too opaque. Costa Rica Governance: Costa Rica’s new executive decree updates how the country defines official time with atomic clocks at ICE-Lametro, without changing the time zone or everyday schedules. Public Safety & Health: Costa Rican authorities are investigating a San José nursing home owner accused of collecting about $750,000 in Social Security payments for a retired American woman who died in 2005, allegedly using forged documents for years. Science & Nature: Costa Rica researchers identified a new octocoral family from deep-sea seamounts near Isla del Coco, adding to the country’s growing marine discoveries. Weather Watch: After a quieter Friday, Costa Rica’s IMN warns weekend instability may bring the wettest conditions Saturday afternoon, especially along the Puntarenas coast.

UN Secretary-General race: Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett surged to the top in the UN Security Council’s second secret straw poll, taking eight “encourage” votes; Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi each got seven, keeping the contest tight as the Council weighs when to hold the next round. Costa Rica justice: San José authorities are investigating a nursing home owner accused of collecting a deceased U.S. resident’s pension for about 20 years, allegedly using forged documents to keep payments flowing. Regional hunger milestone: A UN report says hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean fell for a fifth straight year, and the Dominican Republic is the last country to reach “zero hunger.” Costa Rica weather: After flooding-driven storms eased Friday, the National Meteorological Institute warns instability returns this weekend, with Saturday expected to be the wettest day. Sports (CONCACAF): Trinidad and Tobago open their Nations League campaign Sept. 24 vs Haiti, with Costa Rica also in the same group.

UN Leadership Watch: The UN Security Council’s second secret straw poll for the next secretary-general put Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett narrowly in front, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan slipping to a tie for second—no candidate yet has the nine “encourage” votes needed to clear the path. Weather & Safety: Costa Rica’s rainy stretch is expected to return this weekend after a quieter Friday; the IMN warns storms will build Saturday, with the wettest conditions likely along the Puntarenas coast. Aviation Shift in San José: The government plans to move many domestic connections out of Juan Santamaría (SJO) to Tobías Bolaños (Pavas), a change that could mean a new ground transfer for arriving international passengers. Urban Greening: Curridabat is planting Bosque Tacaco, a pocket forest using native species and a dense Miyawaki-style approach to boost wildlife habitat in a small space. Diplomacy: UAE Ambassador Omar Al Neyadi presented credentials to Costa Rica President Laura Fernández, signaling continued push to strengthen bilateral ties.

UN Secretary-General Race: The UN Security Council is holding a second secret straw poll to gauge support for the next boss after António Guterres. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is the early front-runner, with contenders including Rafael Grossi, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Olara Otunnu, Macky Sall—and newly entered Ivonne A-Baki. Costa Rica Politics: Legislator José Miguel Villalobos says he will voluntarily suspend his law license to serve full-time in the legislature, after pressure over whether lawmakers should practice law while in office. Education in Costa Rica: The Hummingbird program is expanding English lessons to 100 rural schools, using live online instruction to close gaps where specialized teachers are scarce. US Visa Access: The State Department expanded its $750 fast-track visa interview pilot to five more countries, including Costa Rica, with interviews targeted within 10 business days. Local Culture & Faith: San José hosts the sixth edition of “Acts 29,” bringing digital evangelizers together for a week of prayer and mission in the online world. Prime Video in Latin America: Prime Video announced a $2B-plus investment for Latin America through 2030, adding Costa Rica to markets getting expanded streaming options.

UN Leadership Race: The UN Security Council is holding another secret straw poll Friday to gauge support for eight contenders to replace António Guterres, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan among the early front-runners. Education Access in Costa Rica: Costa Rica is expanding its Hummingbird program, bringing live online English lessons to 100 rural schools so students can learn with specialized teachers even where none are available. Local Transport Costs: Costa Rica raised bus fares on Route 505 between San José and the Nicaragua border, including a near-28% jump to Peñas Blancas. Justice and Extradition: Costa Rica is processing 24 extradition requests tied to international drug trafficking, following the 2025 constitutional change that allows extraditing nationals in limited cases. UN Secretary-General Candidates: Ivonne A-Baki and Olara Otunnu presented their visions to member states, with A-Baki emphasizing conflict prevention and UN renewal. Regional Spotlight: Prime Video says it will invest $2B+ in Latin America through 2030 and add Costa Rica to its third-party subscription and rental/purchase rollout.

Costa Rica Politics: Opposition parties are challenging President Laura Fernández’s “state secret” decree at the Constitutional Court, arguing it’s too broad and could block public oversight of budgets, procurement, and contracts. Disaster Response: After Tropical Wave #33, Costa Rica keeps 473 schools closed and more than 1,300 people in shelters as rivers remain dangerous and saturated ground raises landslide risk. Rights Milestone: Costa Rica became the first Central American country to extend marriage equality to same-sex couples, with the first legal weddings reported in Heredia. Public Health: Health authorities stepped up drinking-water monitoring and epidemiological surveillance to prevent flood-related illnesses like leptospirosis. Environment & Science: Researchers reported a new family of golden coral off Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco, adding to the deep-sea biodiversity picture. Sports: NORCECA’s women’s continental volleyball championship starts Aug. 21 in Santo Domingo, with Costa Rica in Pool B alongside Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Marriage Equality: Costa Rica became the first Central American country to legalize same-sex marriage, with the first couple marrying in Heredia just after midnight Tuesday. Flood Response: Tropical Wave #33 left 473 schools closed and about 1,300 people in shelters as rain eased but saturated ground keeps landslide risk high. Public Records Clash: Opposition lawmakers asked Costa Rica’s Constitutional Chamber to suspend a sweeping state-secrecy decree covering broad security categories, arguing it could block oversight of budgets and contracts. Surveillance Fears: A lawmaker warned the secrecy could enable spyware use against political rivals, citing concerns around “Operation Pegasus.” Heat Stress at Work: A new focus on occupational heat stress highlights risks for both outdoor and indoor workers, with Costa Rica’s prevention rules tied to risk levels. UN Race: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan faces another vote as Ecuador’s Ivonne Baki enters the UN secretary-general contest. Sports & Community: Little League International urged a hard line against betting on youth games as the 2026 World Series begins.

Crime & Public Safety: A new Costa Rica survey finds 96% of respondents want tougher laws against organized crime, citing record homicide levels and a security climate that still leaves 20.6% feeling less safe than a year ago. Energy & Infrastructure: Coopeguanacaste is pushing ahead with the Abangares solar park to strengthen the grid during the dry season and cut reliance on hydro. Politics & Pensions: Costa Rica moves to scrap “lavish” lifetime pensions for former presidents, with a bill filed to end payments even for current and future ex-leaders. Tourism Strategy: The government rolls out “Wellness Pura Vida,” pitching nature-based longevity and mental well-being experiences as a national tourism brand. Environment & Travel Disruptions: Heavy rains have forced closures and triggered flooding impacts, including shelter needs and dry-season strain on the Pacific side. International Spotlight: Brazil intercepted 702kg of cocaine hidden in coffee beans destined for transshipment via Antwerp, underscoring the region’s drug-smuggling routes. Science & Wildlife: Researchers in Costa Rica use AI touchscreen tests to study capuchin cognition in the wild, rewarding monkeys for learning the screen-to-food link.

Energy & Infrastructure: Costa Rica is pushing ahead with the Abangares Solar Park to strengthen the grid during the dry season and add clean power for more than 85,000 cooperative families. Public Finance: The government moves to scrap “lavish” lifetime pensions for former presidents, filing a bill that would end the payments with no exceptions. Tourism Strategy: Costa Rica is rolling out “Wellness Pura Vida,” pitching nature-based mental health and longevity experiences as a new tourism brand. Climate Watch: El Niño is deepening Costa Rica’s split weather—drought is expanding across the Pacific slope, Central Valley and parts of the northwest, while the Caribbean sees unusually heavy rain. Road Safety: New INS figures show pedestrian deaths in Costa Rica are alarmingly high in 2026, with injuries and fatalities tracking near last year’s total. Wildlife & Science: Researchers tested AI touchscreen rewards with wild capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica’s Taboga Forest Reserve, showing they can learn the screen-to-banana link.

Road Safety Crisis: Costa Rica’s national insurer INS says pedestrian deaths are on pace to match all of 2025 in just six months, with 14 deaths already recorded in the first half of 2026—urging more prevention and respect from all road users. Economy & Cost of Living: The dollar keeps sliding in Costa Rica, hitting ¢448.96—its lowest since the BCCR began tracking Monex in 2007—while analysts point to bi-weekly salary demand for colones and delayed interest-rate effects. Energy Prices: Gas prices are set to flip in September: regular should drop about ¢51 per liter, but diesel could jump if RECOPE’s request is approved. Politics & Fairness: President Laura Fernández has sent a bill to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents, with no exceptions or grace period. International Spotlight: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan is emerging as a frontrunner to become the UN’s first female secretary-general, with a preliminary vote showing strong early support. Environment & Community: A Costa Rican mother’s home built with about 7 tons of recycled plastic highlights growing reuse efforts, while a “coffee frog” species faces risks from farming practices.

Former President Pensions: Costa Rica President Laura Fernández sent a bill to Congress to fully abolish special pensions for former presidents, with no exceptions or grace period, citing that payments to seven ex-leaders have topped 5.469 billion colones. Security Crackdown: U.S. and Costa Rican authorities say they dealt a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in La Guácima, seizing 66 kg of cocaine in a vehicle stop and about 925 kg in a linked home raid. Economy Watch: The dollar exchange rate kept sliding, hitting ¢448.96, as analysts point to bi-weekly colón demand from salary payments and warn rate cuts won’t quickly change the pressure. Energy Costs: RECOPE says September will flip the gas price pattern again—regular expected to drop while super rises—after new shipment conditions. Travel & Safety: A report highlights Costa Rica as a top retirement destination for safety, while also warning about petty crime. Local Business: Fogo de Chão opened its first Costa Rica restaurant at the Sheraton in Escazú. Nature & Culture: A “coffee frog” species tied to Costa Rican coffee farms is back in focus as researchers warn farming practices may threaten it.

Border & Weather Watch: Heavy rain in Bocas del Toro left damage reports across multiple communities and kept officials monitoring the Sixaola River, urging residents to avoid swollen waterways. Digital Safety: Scammers are using AI to geolocate ordinary holiday photos—Costa Rica travelers beware before posting. Tourism & Business: Fogo de Chão opened its first Costa Rica restaurant at the Sheraton in Escazú, bringing its churrasco concept to the country. Local Environment: Volunteers say trash from the Tárcoles River keeps washing onto Guacalillo Beach, turning cleanup weekends into a constant battle against upstream waste. Science & Nature: Deep-sea dives near Costa Rica identified a genetically unique yellow coral, Laurinque elenya, requiring a new family for classification. Health Systems: PAHO wrapped a regional ICD-11 training course with Costa Rica among participating countries, aiming to strengthen mortality coding in health systems.

Health System Update: Costa Rica is changing how it prioritizes healthcare waiting lists, shifting from “how long you’ve waited” to clinical risk, severity, and impact on quality of life, with new categories from P0 (under 24 hours) to P4. Infrastructure & Environment: Route 27 is launching an innovation challenge to reuse highway waste—especially tires and plastics—after only 12% is currently being recycled, with up to €20,000 for a working prototype. Disaster Watch: A tropical wave is bringing more rain, and the National Emergency Commission has raised parts of the Caribbean and eastern Northern Zone to yellow alert, with gusty winds possible. Local Life & Politics: The Legislative Assembly condemned remarks by legislator Cindy Murillo after she called opposition lawmakers “escorts,” sparking division and a formal motion. Science & Nature: Deep-sea researchers identified a new bright-yellow coral off Costa Rica, so genetically distinct it required a new family for classification. Tourism & Sports: The WSL Garabito Surf City Pro at Playa Hermosa moves into quarterfinals, semifinals and finals in one session.

Trash Crisis in Costa Rica: Guacalillo Beach near the Tárcoles River is getting hit hard by household waste—plastic, cardboard, syringes and more—washed in from the Central Valley, with weekend cleanups repeatedly undone by new debris after heavy rain. Health System Update: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health changed healthcare waiting-list rules so priority now depends on clinical risk, severity and impact on quality of life—not just how long someone has waited. Weather Alert: A tropical wave is pushing Costa Rica into yellow alert for the Caribbean and eastern Northern Zone, with rain and gusty winds expected through the weekend. Tourism & Care: Costa Rica keeps drawing dental and medical tourists, with new reporting highlighting how U.S. patients travel for treatment and pair it with a vacation. Politics in Congress: A legislator’s “escorts” remark sparked division in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, leading to a motion condemning the language. Environment & Science: Researchers identified a new deep-sea coral off Costa Rica, named Laurinque elenya, after genetic work showed it didn’t fit known coral families.

Health System Update: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health is changing how it prioritizes patients on healthcare waiting lists, shifting from “how long you’ve waited” to clinical risk, severity, complication risk, and how the delay affects quality of life. Weather Watch: A tropical wave is pushing Costa Rica’s Caribbean and eastern Northern Zone into yellow alert, with rain and gusty winds expected through the weekend. Environment & Wildlife: Researchers identified a new deep-sea coral off Costa Rica that’s distinct enough to create a new coral family, highlighting how little is known about Pacific seamount life. Nature Tourism: A new look at Costa Rica’s water taxi ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay spotlights the mangrove journey as part of the adventure, not just transport. Local Life: Día de la Madre is a full national holiday in Costa Rica, with offices shut and specific pay rules for anyone who works. Biodiversity Close-Up: UNED researchers are monitoring an agami heron colony near Caño Negro, where about 1,000 birds have formed a rare refuge and breeding site.