Author: allthingspanama.net

Honduras electoral officials started a partial recount of votes yesterday from the November 30 presidential election. The race remains close, with right-wing candidate Nasry Asfura, supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, holding a narrow edge. The National Electoral Council launched the review of about 2,800 vote tally sheets, covering close to half a million ballots …

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Heredia will soon welcome a new addition to its hospitality scene with the opening of the Hyatt Place Cariari/Convention Center. The project, backed by a $21 million investment, stands as a boost to local tourism and employment. Set to begin operations in the first half of 2026, the hotel positions itself near the former Real …

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Travelers heading to Honduras face ongoing hurdles at land borders, where officials shut down crossings each night. The country’s immigration service halts operations for tourists from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., a practice that stands out in Central America. Most neighbors, including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, keep their borders open around the clock. This …

Read more “Honduras Sticks with Nighttime Border Shutdowns, Complicating Travel for Visitors”

A U.S. blockade on oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela would likely trigger a steep drop in exports, with experts estimating reductions of up to about 50%. Trump ordered what he called a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned tankers, escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government, which the United States does not recognize. The U.S. …

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Biologists at the University of Costa Rica have uncovered 16 new species of leafhoppers after examining insect collections that sat untouched in museums for over three decades. The find also includes nine species newly recorded in the country, pushing the total known Scaphytopius species in Costa Rica to 29. Carolina Godoy and Andrés Arias-Penna led …

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Fitch Ratings has confirmed Costa Rica’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating at ‘BB’ and kept the outlook positive. The decision points to steady progress in public finances and solid economic growth, even as global pressures like U.S. tariffs test the export sector. The economy held firm in 2025. Gross domestic product expanded 4.1 percent, …

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Venezuelan migrants make a “key” economic contribution to the countries where they live, undermining claims that they are merely a burden, according to a study by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) released Wednesday. More than seven million Venezuelans live outside their country due to the crisis endured by the oil-rich nation under the government …

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Travelers from the United States can expect lower airfares to Costa Rica next year, according to a recent forecast from Dollar Flight Club. The travel service analyzed thousands of flight data points and ranked San José and Liberia among the least expensive international spots to reach in 2026. The report places San José at number …

Read more “Costa Rica Ranks Among Cheapest 2026 Flight Destinations from US”

In San Salvador, a court sentenced environmental lawyer Alejandro Henríquez and community leader José Ángel Pérez to three years in prison on charges of aggressive resistance and public disorder. The ruling came after their arrest following a protest that called on President Nayib Bukele to stop the eviction of families from a peasant cooperative on …

Read more “El Salvador Court Sentences Activists to Three Years but Grants Conditional Release”

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves lashed out at opposition lawmakers after Congress rejected a request to strip him of immunity, a step that could have opened the door to an investigation and possible removal from office. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal had asked legislators to lift Chaves’ protections so he could be investigated for allegedly using …

Read more “Costa Rica’s President Attacks Opponents After He keeps His Immunity”