Work on restoring the Teatro Nacional, Costa Rica’s premier cultural landmark, came to a sudden stop this week after the Sala Constitucional issued a ruling that cited irreversible damage from improper techniques. The decision highlights gaps in oversight for protecting national heritage sites and raises questions about the impact on the country’s arts scene and …

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At my recent high school reunion, one curious ex-classmate asked me to describe a “typical day” for me in Costa Rica. I was stumped. After over thirty years of working in a variety of professions here, I am now semi-retired. No two days are alike. One day might include a 50 kilometer bike ride followed …

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The murder of U.S. citizen Kurt Van Dyke, a 66-year-old hotel owner and popular long time surfer, has drawn attention to security challenges in the Caribbean side of our country. Tourism Minister William Rodríguez extended condolences to Van Dyke’s family while maintaining that Costa Rica continues to rank as a secure spot for travelers and …

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A Spanish airliner touched down in Caracas, reopening European commercial routes to Venezuela after months of airspace restrictions tied to U.S. military actions. An Air Europa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Madrid landed at Maiquetía International Airport near Caracas shortly after 9 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft arriving at 9:07 …

Read more “First European Flight Lands in Caracas Post-Maduro Capture”

Costa Rica’s roads face mounting pressure as the number of cars on the road expands at a rapid pace, outstripping infrastructure improvements and pushing traffic congestion to new heights. With nearly two million vehicles now registered, daily commutes have turned into prolonged ordeals for residents, highlighting a systemic challenge that shows no signs of easing. …

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The Cuban national baseball team has arrived in Nicaragua for a four-game exhibition series starting tomorrow, overcoming recent visa requirements and flight disruptions to prepare for the World Baseball Classic. Despite Nicaragua’s February 8 imposition of visas on Cuban citizens and the suspension of direct flights from Havana, the Cuban squad traveled in groups via …

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Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health has rolled out a nationwide vaccination campaign against measles following a marked increase in cases across the Americas. The move comes after national health officials confirmed an imported case from Mexico and noted rising infections in neighboring countries. Data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) shows 14,891 confirmed measles …

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A French appeal court Tuesday refused to enforce compensation for Nicaraguan plantation workers left sick or sterile after working with a noxious pesticide, over what it called “disproportionate” damages. In 2006, a Nicaraguan court ordered multinational chemical giants Shell, Dow Chemical, and Occidental Chemical to pay $805 million to about 1,200 former banana plantation workers …

Read more “French appeals court blocks DBCP payout to Nicaraguan banana workers”

Three attacks in the Pacific and the Caribbean against boats allegedly carrying drug traffickers left eleven people dead, the U.S. armed forces said on Tuesday. The attacks took place on Monday and resulted in “four dead on the first vessel in the eastern Pacific, four on the second vessel in the eastern Pacific, and three …

Read more “US Southern Command Says 11 Killed in Three Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats”

Costa Rica became the latest country to urge its citizens to leave Cuba immediately amid a worsening fuel shortage that has crippled transportation, power supplies and basic services across the island. The Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the advisory calling on nationals in Cuba to depart while commercial flights are still available. Officials …

Read more “Cuba Faces Deepening Fuel Crisis as Governments Worldwide Issue Travel Warnings”