Panama to Negotiate With Chiquita Workers Amid Widespread Protests

The government of Panama and workers from the Panamanian branch of U.S. banana giant Chiquita Brands will meet next Monday in an effort to reach an agreement that could end a month of protests and road blockades, a union leader announced Friday. Since April 28, workers have blocked roads in the Caribbean province of Bocas …

Coco Gauff Wins 2025 Roland Garros After Thrilling Comeback Against Sabalenka

Explosive and resilient under pressure, Coco Gauff (World No. 2) was crowned champion of Roland Garros after coming from behind to defeat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (World No. 1); 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-4; this Saturday in Paris, in a rollercoaster match that lasted two hours and 38 minutes. The United States national anthem played once again …

Costa Rica Fights Drug Trafficking as Transit Hub Despite Resource Strains

Costa Rica remains a key route for drugs heading to North America, despite efforts to crack down on trafficking. The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report reveals a slight drop in drug seizures—32.1 metric tons (MT) from January to September 2024, including 20.5 MT of cocaine and 11.5 MT of marijuana, …

Costa Rica’s Bold Plan to End Plastic Pollution by 2040

On World Environment Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for action to tackle plastic pollution, a crisis clogging rivers, oceans, and wildlife worldwide. “By 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” he warned, noting that 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced yearly, half for single use, with only 9% …

Costa Rica’s Soaring Incarceration Rate Fuels Debate Over New Prison

Costa Rica ranks fifth in Latin America for incarceration, with 343 people per 100,000 behind bars, trailing only El Salvador, Cuba, Panama, and Brazil, according to the World Prison Brief. Globally, it sits 22nd out of 224 jurisdictions. The prison population has surged from 7,575 in 2000 to 19,728 by late 2023, reflecting growing social …

Costa Rican Fishermen Sound Alarm on Gulf of Nicoya’s Overfishing Crisis

In Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya, fishermen are raising urgent concerns about a growing crisis threatening their livelihoods and the region’s marine ecosystems. Illegal fishing, overexploitation, and institutional neglect are pushing fish stocks to the brink, leaving coastal communities like Isla Chira facing economic hardship and potential hunger. Local voices, aired at a recent Legislative …

Costa Rica’s Ocean Forecasting System Protects Cocos Island Marine Life

Costa Rica has rolled out a new ocean forecasting system on Cocos Island, aiming to improve marine safety, support conservation, and strengthen the country’s digital monitoring capabilities. The Ocean Prediction for Costa Rica (OP4CR) project, which started in early 2025, is a partnership between Mercator Ocean International, the European Union, and several Costa Rican institutions …

US Soldiers Join Panama for Canal Defense Exercises

US soldiers arrived in Panama yesterday to conduct military exercises focused on protecting the Panama Canal, a key global trade route. The US Embassy confirmed the deployment, stating the drills are part of a bilateral agreement signed in April. This agreement allows US troops to operate near the canal for training and joint operations but …

Fuego Volcano Forces Evacuations in Guatemala Amid Ashfall and Pyroclastic Flows

At least 330 people were evacuated on Thursday in Guatemala following an eruption of the Fuego volcano, located 35 km from the capital, according to the civil protection agency, which declared an orange alert. The volcano, considered the most active in Central America, caused a deadly avalanche on June 3, 2018, that wiped out a …