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Panama sets the stage for its premier cultural event, the Desfile de las Mil Polleras, on Saturday. This annual parade draws thousands to celebrate the nation’s traditional dress and folklore in the heart of the Azuero region. Organized by the Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá, the parade starts at 1 p.m. in Las Tablas, the …
Read more “Panama’s Iconic Thousand Polleras Parade in Los Santos”
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, who is living in asylum in Colombia, declared himself “innocent” on Monday as a Panamanian court opened a trial over allegations he laundered money linked to bribes paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Martinelli, 73, appeared by video link before Judge Baloisa Marquínez in a Panama City criminal court alongside …
Read more “Martinelli Pleads Innocent as Panama Opens Odebrecht Money Laundering Trial”
Costa Rica’s passport ranks 26th in the world according to the 2026 Henley Passport Index, released this January by Henley & Partners. This position allows Costa Rican citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 148 destinations, a drop of three from last year’s 151. The index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association, measures …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Passport Holds Steady in Global Rankings”
Five presidential hopefuls met in the fourth and final debate last night run by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Álvaro Ramos of Partido Liberación Nacional, Ariel Robles of Frente Amplio, Juan Carlos Hidalgo of Partido Unidad Social Cristiana, Luis Amador of Partido Integración Nacional, and Douglas Caamaño of Alianza Costa Rica Primero laid out plans on …
Read more “Final Presidential Debate Highlights Key Issues Ahead of Costa Rica’s Elections”
Former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, now in asylum in Colombia, and around 20 other defendants went on trial Monday in Panama on accusations of money laundering linked to bribes paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Odebrecht pleaded guilty in 2016 in a U.S. court to paying more than $788 million in kickbacks, mainly across Latin …
Read more “Trial begins in Panama over alleged Odebrecht bribe laundering”
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) turned down two legal challenges aimed at stopping Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele from entering Costa Rica. The decision came as our country prepares for the national elections on February 1. The TSE ruled that the petitioners failed to prove any direct harm to their own political rights from Bukele’s presence. …
Read more “Costa Rica Tribunal Denies Efforts to Bar Salvadoran President Bukele’s Visit”
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) has raised concerns over a ban on nighttime flights at the nation’s airfields, which has hindered prompt medical attention for patients needing urgent air evacuations. The restriction, implemented in October 2025, limits operations at uncontrolled aerodromes after dark, including those vital for ambulance services that transport critically ill …
Read more “Patient Lives at Stake as Costa Rica’s Night Flight Restriction Delays Transfers”
As the tennis world turns its eyes to Melbourne Park for the 2026 Australian Open, Colombia’s Camila Osorio stands out as a player ready to make her mark. At 24 years old and ranked No. 78 in the world, Osorio enters the main draw with a mix of experience and determination that could turn heads …
Read more “Camila Osorio Targets Deep Run at 2026 Australian Open”
Property owners in Costa Rica have just days left to meet the deadline for the 2026 Luxury Home Tax. The Ministry of Finance issued a reminder this week that declarations and payments must be submitted by January 15 to avoid penalties. This tax, known formally as the Impuesto Solidario para el Fortalecimiento de Programas de …
Read more “Property Owners in Costa Rica Face Strict January 15 Luxury Tax Cutoff”
In last night’s heated presidential debate hosted by the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones, Laura Fernández of the Partido Pueblo Soberano came under heavy fire from rival candidates. The event, the third in a series leading up to the February 1 elections, saw Fernández defending the current administration’s record while opponents zeroed in on her past …
Read more “Costa Rica Presidential Hopefuls Unite Against Fernández in Debate”