Lead Ban Success, Iran Warns War, and a Populist Wins Costa Rica

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Fernández Wins Costa Rican Presidential Election Amidst International Tensions and Domestic Policy Shifts

Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday, promising to continue the aggressive reorienting of the Central American nation's politics started by outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, according to the Associated Press. Preliminary and partial results showed Fernández captured a resounding first-round victory, eliminating the need for a runoff in a crowded field.

The election occurred amidst rising international tensions. Iran's supreme leader warned that any attack by the U.S. would spark a "regional war," as reported by NPR. This warning followed President Trump hinting at a possible attack, leading to a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Trump administration faced legal challenges over a new visa policy. A group of civil rights organizations and U.S. citizens sued the State Department over its suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries, arguing the policy attempted to "eviscerate decades of settled immigration law," according to NPR. The visa ban, which went into effect on January 21, affects countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, Russia and Canada.

In sports news, U.S. sledder Katie Uhlaender was denied her chance to compete at a sixth Winter Games at the Milan Cortina Olympics. An international sports tribunal ruled it lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Uhlaender's case, after she alleged a Canadian point-rigging scheme, NPR reported. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued the ruling, dooming Uhlaender's fight to compete.

In environmental news, a study by University of Utah scientists showed a significant reduction in lead concentrations in humans since the banning of lead in gasoline. An analysis of hair samples documented a 100-fold decrease in lead concentrations in Utahns over the past century, according to Hacker News. The research indicated that prior to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, Americans lived in communities with high levels of lead from industrial sources, paint, water supply pipes, and tailpipe emissions.