Laura Fernández of the Sovereign People party won Costa Rica's presidential election in a landslide victory, according to The Guardian, marking a shift to the right for the Latin American nation. The election took place on Sunday in San José, Costa Rica.
Fernández, a right-wing populist, secured the presidency after campaigning on a platform of cracking down on rising violence linked to the cocaine trade, The Guardian reported. Álvaro Ramos, a center-right economist and Fernández's nearest rival, conceded defeat as the results became clear, according to The Guardian.
In other news, the Mexican government announced a sweeping array of tactics to combat industrial pollution, following investigations by The Guardian that revealed high levels of contamination in a neighborhood around a factory processing U.S. toxic waste. The government plans to implement fines, with an initial penalty of 4.8 million against a plant, according to The Guardian. The investigations focused on Northern Monterrey, Mexico, specifically the Zinc Nacional plant, which has been at the center of ongoing environmental debates, The Guardian noted.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Democrats celebrated a special election victory in Texas for the State Senate, Al Jazeera reported. State Senator-elect Taylor Rehmet, a Democrat, won the election in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 31, 2026. Some commentators described the Democratic win as a "political earthquake," reflecting growing discontent with President Donald Trump's policies months before the US midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera. However, Trump dismissed the contest as a local race, Al Jazeera reported.
In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis continues, with reports of severe health consequences for civilians. Al Jazeera highlighted the case of Jamal, a nine-year-old boy with paralysis and violent spasms, who requires the drug baclofen. Jamal's mother, Shaima, wrote from their family's tent in al-Mawasi, expressing concerns about the availability of the medication, according to Al Jazeera.
In Italy, officials implemented a 2-euro ticket for visitors wanting to get closer to the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Al Jazeera reported. The new fee, which went into effect recently, is expected to generate up to six million euros (7.1 million) to help preserve the historic landmark, according to Al Jazeera.
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