Author: allthingspanama.net

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, on Thursday demanded that unions lift road blockades to help facilitate an agreement that would end the strike at the Panamanian branch of U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands. Workers from the company, which laid off 5,000 of its 7,000 employees following a month of protests and millions in losses, continue …

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Reading about the massive fish kill on the Caribbean side—due most likely to pesticide and chemical run-off from banana plantations—reminded me once again of why I harbor a dislike for the monoculture industrial farming done in too many places in Costa Rica. I have lived near both pineapple and palm oil plantations. True, they provide …

Read more “Costa Rica’s Industrial Farms Are Harming Wildlife and Workers”

Costa Rica and France have announced a significant partnership to advance blue carbon conservation, timed strategically ahead of their co-hosting of the United Nations Oceans Summit in Nice, France. The French Development Agency (AFD) is providing substantial funding for the initiative, collaborating with Conservation International Costa Rica to safeguard coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, and …

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Costa Rica’s southern region, home to the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, boasts some of the planet’s richest biodiversity. Jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws thrive in rainforests that draw eco-tourists from across the globe. But local conservationists warn that infrastructure projects, like road expansions and potential electrification, could harm these fragile ecosystems if not …

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Costa Rica’s proposed Law for the Development and Promotion of the Maritime Terrestrial Zone aims to loosen restrictions on commercial and tourist activities in our coastal public zones. However, the University of Costa Rica (UCR), backed by over 70 environmental and community organizations, warns that the bill threatens the nation’s ecosystems and coastal communities. The …

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Costa Rica is continuing to deal with a pressing public health issue: 68.5% of adults are overweight or obese, with women at 73.8% and men at 63%, according to a recent study. The 50-69 age group is hit hardest, with 45% classified as obese. This alarming trend prompted an executive decree recognizing obesity as a …

Read more “Obesity Crisis in Costa Rica Threatens Health and Economy”

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves signed a constitutional reform on Wednesday allowing, for the first time in the country’s history, the extradition of Costa Rican nationals accused of drug trafficking and terrorism, the government announced. Once the safest country in Central America, Costa Rica ended 2024 with a homicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people—more …

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Costa Rica fell 2-0 to Catalonia in a friendly match at Barcelona’s Johan Cruyff Stadium, marking the return of goalkeeper Keylor Navas to the national team. Navas, who retired from international duty in May 2024, rejoined La Sele after a standout season with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. His presence bolstered Costa Rica’s defense, but …

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The government of Panama declared a “state of emergency” on Tuesday in a Caribbean province where a subsidiary of U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands laid off about 5,000 workers following a strike that has caused millions in losses. The measure applies to the province of Bocas del Toro, where the company operates a plant whose …

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A joint Costa Rica–Panama operation has dismantled a transnational criminal organization involved in human smuggling and money laundering. Authorities carried out 23 raids Wednesday across Golfito, Ciudad Neilly, and Los Chiles as part of “Operation MATSU.” The coordinated action included the Professional Migration Police, the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), the Ministry of Public Security, the …

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