First European Flight Lands in Caracas Post-Maduro Capture

A Spanish airliner touched down in Caracas, reopening European commercial routes to Venezuela after months of airspace restrictions tied to U.S. military actions. An Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Madrid landed at Maiquetía International Airport near Caracas shortly after 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft arriving at 9:07 …

Costa Rica’s Vehicle Boom Fuels Worsening Traffic Gridlock

Costa Rica’s roads face mounting pressure as the number of cars on the road expands at a rapid pace, outstripping infrastructure improvements and pushing traffic congestion to new heights. With nearly two million vehicles now registered, daily commutes have turned into prolonged ordeals for residents, highlighting a systemic challenge that shows no signs of easing. …

Cuba Baseball Team Lands in Nicaragua for Prep Series Amid Visa Shift

The Cuban national baseball team has arrived in Nicaragua for a four-game exhibition series starting tomorrow, overcoming recent visa requirements and flight disruptions to prepare for the World Baseball Classic. Despite Nicaragua’s February 8 imposition of visas on Cuban citizens and the suspension of direct flights from Havana, the Cuban squad traveled in groups via …

Costa Rica Begins Measles Vaccination Drive Due To Recent Surge

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health has rolled out a nationwide vaccination campaign against measles following a marked increase in cases across the Americas. The move comes after national health officials confirmed an imported case from Mexico and noted rising infections in neighboring countries. Data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) shows 14,891 confirmed measles …

French appeals court blocks DBCP payout to Nicaraguan banana workers

A French appeal court Tuesday refused to enforce compensation for Nicaraguan plantation workers left sick or sterile after working with a noxious pesticide, over what it called “disproportionate” damages. In 2006, a Nicaraguan court ordered multinational chemical giants Shell, Dow Chemical, and Occidental Chemical to pay $805 million to about 1,200 former banana plantation workers …

US Southern Command Says 11 Killed in Three Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats

Three attacks in the Pacific and the Caribbean against boats allegedly carrying drug traffickers left eleven people dead, the U.S. armed forces said on Tuesday. The attacks took place on Monday and resulted in “four dead on the first vessel in the eastern Pacific, four on the second vessel in the eastern Pacific, and three …

Cuba Faces Deepening Fuel Crisis as Governments Worldwide Issue Travel Warnings

Costa Rica became the latest country to urge its citizens to leave Cuba immediately amid a worsening fuel shortage that has crippled transportation, power supplies and basic services across the island. The Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the advisory calling on nationals in Cuba to depart while commercial flights are still available. Officials …

Costa Rica Braces for Nicaraguan Migrants Amid Illegal Gold Boom

Costa Rica deals with mounting pressures along its northern border as illegal gold mining expands and a potential influx of Nicaraguan migrants’ looms. Officials point to Crucitas, in San Carlos, Alajuela province, as the focal point where these issues converge, threatening the environment, local communities, and border control. Security Minister Mario Zamora addressed lawmakers, highlighting …

Route 27 Sets Reversible Lanes for Sunday Return Traffic

Drivers heading back to the capital from the Pacific coast will see all lanes on Route 27 flow only toward San José this Sunday, February 22. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport put the measure in place because public schools and colleges resume classes Monday, February 23. Officials expect heavy volumes of vehicles from …

U.S. State Department Warns Old Passports Canceled Immediately Upon Online Renewal

The U.S. State Department issued a direct reminder to American travelers renewing passports online. In a recent Facebook post, officials explained that the old passport becomes automatically canceled upon submission of the application. It cannot be used for international travel, even if the new passport has not yet arrived in the mail. This policy has …