Fernández Wins Costa Rican Presidential Election Amidst Global Tensions
Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday, February 2, 2026, promising to continue the political reorientation initiated by outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, according to the Associated Press. Preliminary results showed Fernández secured a first-round victory, eliminating the need for a runoff in a crowded field.
Fernández's victory occurred amidst rising global tensions, including warnings from Iran's supreme leader about a potential "regional war" if the U.S. attacks, as reported by NPR. These warnings followed President Trump's hints at a possible military strike against Iran, prompting a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.
Domestically, the Trump administration faced legal challenges and scrutiny over its policies. A coalition of civil rights organizations and U.S. citizens sued the State Department over its suspension of immigrant visa processing for individuals from 75 countries, which went into effect on January 21, 2026, NPR reported. The lawsuit argues that the policy attempts to "eviscerate decades of settled immigration law." The affected countries include Afghanistan, Somalia, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, Russia, and Canada.
The Trump administration also faced criticism for exempting new experimental nuclear reactors from environmental review, according to NPR. This exclusion removes the requirement for companies to disclose the potential environmental harm caused by the construction and operation of these reactors, which are being built at sites around the U.S. Supporters hope the reactors will power data centers needed for Artificial Intelligence.
Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump's documentary, "Melania," outperformed box office expectations during its opening weekend, grossing approximately $7 million domestically, NPR reported. Data from Amazon MGM Studios indicated that the film's audience was largely white (75%), women (70%), and 55 or over (72%). Top markets for the film included Dallas, Orlando, Tampa, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, and West Palm Beach. Amazon acquired the rights to the movie in early 2025 for $40 million and invested $35 million in marketing.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment