Author: allthingspanama.net

The Costa Rican government, under President Rodrigo Chaves, has implemented stringent new regulations for inmates in maximum-security prisons, drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s controversial anti-gang crackdown led by President Nayib Bukele. The reforms, announced by the Ministry of Justice and Peace, impose significant restrictions on family visits, conjugal visits, telephone calls, and parcel deliveries, prompting …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Harsh Prison Reforms Spark Hunger Strikes, Protests”

Recent studies by Costa Rica’s Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) have revealed a significant uptick in jaguar sightings within Corcovado National Park, a biodiversity hotspot on the Osa Peninsula. Data collected through an extensive network of camera traps indicate a rebound in the jaguar population, a promising sign attributed to robust environmental protection …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Corcovado Sees Surge in Jaguar Sightings”

Costa Rica observed Workers’ Day (aka Labor Day) today, May 1, which is a public holiday dedicated to recognizing the contributions of our country’s workforce. The day is established as a mandatory paid holiday under the nation’s Labor Code, ensuring that all workers receive their wages whether they take the day off or continue working. …

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The ongoing eruptions of Poás Volcano have triggered health concerns for the community of Grecia and nearby areas like Sarchí, Alajuela, and San José, where a Green Alert remains in place for seven areas. The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry at the National University (UNA) reported that early Wednesday morning, Grecia experienced its longest period of …

Read more “Toxic Air Alert in Grecia as Poás Volcano Continues to Erupt”

Although Costa Rica has a high life expectancy, questions have arisen about the quality of life in our country. Alerts are being raised, especially regarding health issues. For example, when people with heart diseases that require surgery go to the social security system for an operation, they have to wait nearly 640 days, almost two …

Read more “The Paradox of Costa Rica’s Healthcare: Long Lives, Long Waits”

Costa Rica ranks as the second-worst country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for transportation infrastructure quality, surpassed only by Colombia among 38 member nations. Coupled with the highest number of vehicles in Central America—344 cars per 100,000 people—this creates significant challenges for daily travel, impacting residents, expats, and tourists alike. The …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Transportation Infrastructure Strains Under Growing Demand”

Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Mbappé become superheroes dodging rivals with “dreamlike” acrobatics: FIFA returns to the video game scene with a mix of soccer and extraordinary player powers, designed in Colombia. In an office in Bogotá, a group of tech-savvy forty-somethings specializing in design and 3D modeling are bringing FIFA Rivals to life — …

Read more “FIFA Rivals: New Cartoon-Style Soccer Game with Superhero Moves”

Costa Rica received a $15.6 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to continue to improve conservation efforts for the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), a biodiverse marine region shared with Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia. This funding underscores Costa Rica’s leadership in global environmental stewardship and its commitment to protecting one of the …

Read more “Costa Rica Secures $15.6M for Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Conservation”

El Salvador’s Ministry of Education has launched a new initiative to incorporate Bitcoin education into the national curriculum for young students. The program, titled “What Is Money?”, is part of a broader effort to improve financial literacy across the country and introduce innovative financial concepts to the next generation. The curriculum will initially roll out …

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Costa Rica’s tourism sector, a longtime bedrock of our national economy, continues to face an ongoing decline, with visitor arrivals dropping for seven consecutive months, according to industry data. A strong colón and persistent safety concerns remain key factors undermining the country’s standing as a top travel destination. Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) President …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Tourism in Crisis: Why U.S. Visitors Drop but Europe Flies In”