All Things Panama

Costa Rica is moving quickly toward a demographic shift that will test some of the country’s biggest public systems. What was once treated as a long-term issue is now becoming a near-term challenge for pensions, health care, employment, and caregiving as the share of older adults rises and the number of younger workers falls. Recent …

Read more “Costa Rica Faces Mounting Pressure as Aging Population Grows Fast”

There are champions who win by dominance. And then there are champions who win by will. On Sunday afternoon at Indian Wells, Aryna Sabalenka was emphatically the latter. Staring down a match point in a pulsating final-set tiebreak, the world No. 1 produced the single most important shot of her week — a thunderous backhand …

Read more “Sabalenka saved a match point and beat Rybakina to win Indian Wells title”

China has asked Costa Rican authorities to hand over evidence supporting allegations that Chinese-linked actors were behind a cyberespionage attack on the Costa Rican Electricity Institute, opening a new point of tension in the already strained relationship between San José and Beijing. The request was made publicly Friday by Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaoyao, one day …

Read more “China Presses Costa Rica for Evidence in ICE Cyberattack Dispute”

Costa Rica picked up a splashy piece of global tourism exposure this awards season after a luxury stay in Playa Hermosa was included in the 2026 “Everyone Wins” gift bags handed to select Oscar nominees. The unofficial packages, assembled by marketing company Distinctive Assets for the 24th straight year, were distributed ahead of the 98th …

Read more “Oscar Nominees Get Costa Rica Luxury Villa Stay in $350,000 Gift Bags”

Jannik Sinner won the Indian Wells title on Sunday, beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a tightly contested final that confirmed his growing hold on the biggest hard-court events in men’s tennis. The Italian did not drop a set all tournament and closed the match with a remarkable comeback in the second-set tiebreak after trailing …

Read more “Jannik Sinner claims first Indian Wells crown after beating Daniil Medvedev”

Travel + Leisure has put Costa Rica at No. 7 on its new list of the best trips to take in your 30s, highlighting the country as a place where travelers can mix outdoor adventure with slower, restorative time in nature. In the article, the magazine said Costa Rica stands out for people in their …

Read more “Travel and Leisure Says Costa Rica Is a Top Trip for Travelers in Their 30s”

The 32-year-old Costa Rican music editor is making history tonight as the first person from his country ever nominated for an Academy Award. There is a particular kind of quiet that exists in a film before the music swells, a silence shaped by someone who understands exactly when sound should speak and when it should …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Felipe Pacheco Heads to 98th Academy Awards”

Iraq’s national soccer team will travel to Mexico to play its 2026 World Cup playoff match despite travel difficulties caused by the war in the Middle East, Iraqi Football Federation president Adnan Dirjal confirmed on Saturday. “The national team will depart at the end of the week for Mexico on a private plane, and we …

Read more “Iraq Confirms World Cup Playoff Trip to Mexico Despite Regional War”

The Picnic Festival opened its 2026 edition yesterday, at the Centro de Eventos Pedregal in Belén de Heredia. Sunny skies and temperatures near 29 degrees Celsius marked the opening day as doors opened at 1 p.m. and live music started across multiple stages. This ranks as one of the largest outdoor music festivals in Costa …

Read more “Picnic Festival 2026 Opens in Heredia with Sunshine and Live Music”

Two major international developments have Costa Ricans watching their fuel bills and trade routes with concern. The dispute over ports at the Panama Canal has escalated into a direct confrontation between the United States and China. At the same time, conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global oil supplies. A Hong Kong conglomerate, CK …

Read more “Panama Canal Row With China and Iran Conflict Drive Up Fuel Prices Across Costa Rica”