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Postdoctoral researcher /Organometallic chemistry and catalysis (Organometallic Chemistry/Takebayashi group) Posted on 29 May 2025 Organometallic Chemistry/Takebayashi Group Postdoc

The Costa Rican tourism sector, a key driver of our nation’s economy, is grappling with competitiveness issues even as it sees a slight uptick in visitor numbers. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), air arrivals in 2025 are projected to range between 2,663,245 and 2,869,809, aligning with planning for international visitors. In April, the country welcomed 231,678 international tourists, a 4.6% increase from the 221,573 recorded in April 2024, breaking a seven-month decline from September 2024 to March of this year. Tourism Minister William Rodríguez projects a modest growth of 2% to 4% in arrivals for the rest of 2025, a step down from last year’s highs but in line with global trends. However, this slight recovery masks deeper concerns raised by industry leaders. Daniel Campos, president of the Costa Rican Chamber of Hotels, pointed to the appreciating Costa Rican colón, now around ₡500 to the U.S. dollar compared to ₡700 in mid-2022, as a major hurdle. This shift ha...

Workers in Panama at a subsidiary of the U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands rejected on Friday President José Raúl Mulino’s demand to reopen roads they have blocked in protest of a recent pension reform. The company, which laid off 5,000 of its 7,000 employees after more than a month of protests and millions in losses, continues to face roadblocks in the Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro, near the border with Costa Rica. In the midst of the crisis, the government and unions agreed on a draft bill to reinstate the healthcare, and pension benefits that banana workers had before the recent social security reform. Mulino demanded on Thursday that the roads be reopened as a condition for sending the bill to the National Assembly, but the unions insist the law must be passed first. “We remain firm in our struggle,” said Francisco Smith, leader of the main banana workers’ union, in a phone interview. Smith stated that protesters are maintaining around 30 blockades in Bocas del To...

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 to block roads in the Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro, which borders Costa Rica. The unions are demanding the approval of a law to restore benefits they claim were removed in a recent pension reform. However, Mulino insists that the barricades must be lifted “permanently” before sending the bill to the National Assembly. “If the roads are not cleared, there will be no law,” he warned during his weekly press conference on Thursday. Although the conflict is primarily with the government, Chiquita last week dismissed around 5,000 workers for “unjustified abandonment of work.” The company has also halted banana planting, packaging, an...

Job Opportunities at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) in Saudi Arabia, a public university

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 carefully planned. National Route 245, stretching through Osa and Golfito, connects Puerto Jiménez to Carate Beach, a gateway to Corcovado. Built to ease access to national parks and the local airstrip, the road fuels ecotourism, which accounts for 8.2% of Costa Rica’s GDP. Yet, without proper environmental studies, roadwork has raised alarms. Conservationists report wildlife deaths, including ocelots and monkeys, struck by vehicles on busy stretches. “Roads cut through habitats, splitting animal populations and making it harder for species to survive,” said a local environmentalist. Studies sh...

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 UCR argues that the law lacks scientific grounding and could harm Costa Rica’s natural and social heritage. The bill allows municipalities to issue temporary use permits for commercial projects in the maritime-terrestrial zone—a 200-meter coastal strip constitutionally protected as inalienable public land—without requiring environmental impact studies or coastal regulatory plans. This could lead to uncontrolled development, endangering fragile ecosystems like mangroves, dunes, and estuaries, which support biodiversity and act as natural barriers against storms. A 2023 OECD report confirms that Costa Rica’s coastal a...

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Fully Funded PhD Scholarships at Copenhagen University, the second oldest institution for higher education in Denmark. TITLE FACULTY

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 Ministry of the Presidency, and Panamanian officials. According to the OIJ, the network primarily smuggled migrants of Chinese nationality, but also transported individuals from Vietnam, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. Migrants were moved via land, sea, and air, often from China or South America. Smuggling fees ranged from $7,000 to $40,000 depending on nationality. All identified leaders of the operation are Costa Rican. Authorities believe they coordinated the logistics for transporting, housing, and hiding migrants using taxis, public buses, and informal transport networks. Invest...

Costa Rican and Colombian authorities have dismantled a transnational cybercrime ring that defrauded victims of over ₡35 million (about $67,000 USD) by creating fake banking websites to steal login credentials. Today the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), in coordination with Colombia’s National Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office, carried out nine raids—six in Costa Rica and three in Medellín, Colombia. The operation, named “Operation Nexus,” targeted a group responsible for designing and promoting mirror versions of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) website. These cloned sites appeared at the top of Google search results, tricking users into entering sensitive information. Once a person submitted their login details—including username, password, and dynamic token—the criminals had immediate access to their accounts. Withdrawals were typically made within 30 to 40 minutes, often at ATMs. In Costa Rica, authorities arrested a 34-year-old man in Paso Ancho and a 46-year-old wom...

One of my hiking routes around San Isidro de El General features what I think may be the world’s steepest street. Like many streets here, it has no name. One local called it La calle muy cuesta que conecta Barrio Pocito con Barrio Sinai (The very steep street that connects Barrio Pocito with Barrio Sinai), which seems as good a name as any. The steepest part of the street is about 45 to 50 meters in length and climbs about 20 meters in altitude. This rise in altitude is confirmed by the fantastically detailed maps available at topographic-map.com. The base of the street is at 696 meters and the top at 716 meters. Of all the streets and hills I hike here, this is easily the one that requires the most exertion and leaves me sucking wind when I reach the top. Any climb this steep would typically be converted to steps, with a handrail. But this is an actual street, with houses on each side and occasional through traffic. The street (note one pedestrian trudging very slowly up the hill...

University of Greenwich in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Academic Positions, a public university located in London

One of the five capybaras rescued during an operation against illegal trafficking on Thursday died over the weekend due to mistreatment and malnutrition. The young male was unable to recover from the damage suffered during transport. “His digestive system was completely empty, with no gastrointestinal contents and the presence of gas, indicating that he had not eaten for some time,” explained Isabel Hagnauer, veterinarian at the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center (Zooave). The four remaining capybaras are in quarantine under medical observation. All show signs of extreme stress, severe malnutrition, and possible immune deficiencies. An autopsy revealed that the deceased animal had gone several days without food and was fed an inappropriate diet. “These conditions, coupled with the stress of captivity, triggered his death despite the efforts of our veterinary team,” said the rescue center. Another rescued capybara suffers from an injury to a hind leg, and all show abnormal blood test...

The main journalists’ association in El Salvador denounced on Sunday the increase in “persecution” against media outlets and human rights defenders by the government of Nayib Bukele, accusing it of creating a climate of “fear” in the country. The complaint comes amid strong criticism from international organizations, which also accuse Bukele, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, of accelerating repression against his opponents following the recent arrests of lawyers and activists. Additionally, Congress, controlled by Bukele, passed a law this week—at the president’s request—requiring NGOs to register as “foreign agents” and pay a 30% tax on donations received. “The Bukele government and its attorney general’s office have carried out an authoritarian escalation,” said the Association of Journalists of El Salvador, founded in 1936, in a statement. “A very tense and fearful atmosphere is being experienced among organizations (…) May has been a month of persecution, criminalization, ...

Durham University in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Postdoctoral and Academic Positions, a collegiate public research university

The Open University in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Academic and Research Positions, a public university, and

Keylor Navas, the 38-year-old goalkeeper, is set to rejoin the Costa Rican national team for the 2025 Gold Cup, marking his return after retiring from international duty in May 2024. Head coach Miguel Herrera confirmed Navas’ inclusion in a preliminary 60-player list for the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 6 across the United States and Canada. While a friendly match against Catalonia on May 28, has been mentioned as a potential warm-up, Navas’ participation in that game remains unconfirmed. Navas stepped away from the national team last year when his club career was uncertain. Now, he’s thriving as the starting goalkeeper for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, where his standout performances have caught attention. Herrera, determined to bring the veteran back, traveled to Rosario in April with Osael Maroto, president of the Costa Rican Football Federation, to meet Navas. “We had talks, messaged, and went to see him. He’s enthusiastic, with a lot of desire to return,” Herrer...

Marriott International will bring its prestigious St. Regis brand to Costa Rica with the St. Regis Papagayo, set to open in early 2027 in the Gulf of Papagayo. Construction begins in July 2025, with the first phase, including residences, expected to complete by December 2026. Spanning 20 hectares with 634 linear yards of beachfront, the resort will offer 120 hotel rooms and 143 branded residences. Designed by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, with interiors by Gensler Mexico City and landscapes by Maat Handasa, the project draws on local culture and the ocean landscape, blending contemporary aesthetics with Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” ethos. Guests can choose from six dining options: Casa Club for casual gourmet meals, The Cliff with Japanese-Costa Rican fusion, Beach Club & Grill, the signature St. Regis Bar & Speakeasy, and two additional venues. Amenities include a St. Regis Library, multiple swimming pools, a spa, a beach club, a wellness golf course by Pizá Golf, a racquet club, ...

Birmingham University in United Kingdom invites applications for vacant Research and Faculty Positions, one of the largest and

PhD, Postdoctoral and academic Positions at VIB Institute, Belgium. VIB is an excellence-based entrepreneurial institute. Antwerp ApplyBioinformatician – computational

Costa Rican police conducted a groundbreaking operation, seizing five capybaras—a non-native species—in the country’s first recorded case of capybara trafficking. The seizure occurred during a vehicle checkpoint on Route 34, Costanera Sur, in Orotina, Alajuela, along the Pacific coast. The incident began when a vehicle attempted to evade a police roadblock in the Mollejones sector. After a brief chase, officers from the Fuerza Pública stopped the vehicle and inspected its contents. Inside, they found five juvenile capybaras, three females and two males, alongside 60 doses of crack cocaine, marijuana, two bladed weapons, and plastic spurs. Two men, identified by the surnames Torres and Navarrete, both with prior criminal records, were arrested. “This operation marks a historic milestone in our efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade ,” stated the Public Security Ministry. “It’s the first time capybaras have been seized in Costa Rica, highlighting the intersection of drug trafficking ...

I have now spent roughly half my life in Costa Rica. In terms of physical and mental health, I will never regret my decision to leave everything behind and relocate here permanently. I feel great for my age (for those who are counting, I like to say that I reached the finish line—you know, when you fill out a form and it asks your age, and the choices are 18-24, 25-34, etc., up to 65+? That last choice is the finish line). Like everybody else in my age group, my brain has been shrinking for decades, and no amount of ingesting all those things that are supposed to improve brain function—fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds—can change that fact.Recently, I have noticed that my Spanish is slipping. When I arrived, I was an avid student: studying verb charts, listening to voices on the radio, watching the local news, reading the papers, and conversing at bus stops, in line at the bank, and at the local bar. Comfortably fluent within a year and confidently working jobs that required...

The University of Luxembourg in Luxemburg invites application for vacant PhD, Postdocs and Academic Positions, a public research

Elías Alberto Quirós Benavides, a 53-year-old resident of Grecia, Costa Rica, faces serious allegations from the United States for his alleged role in the Sinaloa Cartel and Beltrán Leyva group’s financial operations. U.S. authorities accuse him of leading a sophisticated cryptocurrency-based money laundering network, transferring cartel funds internationally without using regulated banking systems. The U.S. Department of Justice ( DOJ ) charged Quirós Benavides with conspiracy to commit money laundering, alongside other individuals linked to Mexican cartels and narcoterrorism. The charges stem from a California-based investigation targeting the Beltrán Leyva faction, a group that split from the Sinaloa Cartel in 2008 but continues to collaborate on financial logistics. Quirós Benavides allegedly used virtual currencies to obscure the flow of illicit funds, a growing tactic among cartels. Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Organization ( OIJ ) began investigating Quirós Benavides th...

PhD Scholarships at University of Basel, Switzerland, offers attractive terms of employment and supports the advancement of staff.

The University of Basel in Switzerland invites application for vacant PhD and Academic Positions, offers attractive terms of

Prison guards at Pococí Penitentiary in Costa Rica intercepted an unlikely smuggler: a black-and-white cat carrying drugs taped to its body. The incident, which has sparked global attention, highlights the persistent challenge of contraband in the nation’s prisons amid rising organized crime. According to a Facebook statement from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Justice, officers spotted the cat moving through a grassy area near the prison’s barbed wire fence. Suspicious of its behavior, guards captured the animal and found two packages containing 235.65 grams of marijuana, 67.76 grams of heroin, and rolling papers strapped to its back. The drugs were confiscated, and the cat, nicknamed “Narcomichi” by social media users, was handed over to the National Animal Health Service for a health evaluation to ensure its well-being. The Ministry of Justice praised the guards’ decisive action, which prevented the drugs from reaching inmates. Authorities have launched an investigation to uncover the ...

University of Tübingen in Germany invites application for vacant PhD, Research and Academic Positions, a public research university

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Academic Positions, the largest biomedical

Guatemala is set to host the Centroamérica Cuenta literary festival from May 19 to 24, bringing together 60 writers from 15 countries, plus Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, to discuss freedom of expression, migration, and more. The event, founded in 2013 by exiled Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramírez, will shine a light on the region’s challenges and creativity. The festival kicks off with talks in the indigenous towns of Totonicapán and Comalapa, followed by events in Guatemala City. On Tuesday, Ramírez, the 2017 Cervantes Prize winner and former Nicaraguan vice-president, will join Serrat for a conversation about literature’s power to resist oppression. Ramírez, stripped of his citizenship by Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime, will be joined by fellow exiled Nicaraguan writer Gioconda Belli, highlighting the festival’s focus on free speech. “Freedom of expression is everything to us,” said festival director Claudia Neira. “We’re here to share ideas and stories from all an...

The University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Research Positions, a public research

Nicaragua’s National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment, eliminating dual nationality for Nicaraguan citizens, a move driven by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. The reform, approved unanimously in a special session in Niquinohomo, changes articles 23 and 25 of the Constitution. It states that Nicaraguans who acquire another citizenship will lose their Nicaraguan nationality, arguing that swearing allegiance to a foreign state breaks the “legal and moral bond” with Nicaragua. The amendment also requires foreigners seeking Nicaraguan citizenship to renounce their original nationality, except for Central Americans. This reform, which needs ratification in 2026 to take effect, has raised eyebrows, especially given the Ortega-Murillo government’s history of stripping citizenship from critics. Since 2023, nearly 500 Nicaraguans, including writers, bishops , and other opponents , have lost their nationality, often labeled “traitors to the homeland.” The government’s s...

May is perhaps the most important gardening month of the year in Costa Rica. Farmers across the country are planting their crops this month, and gardeners can also take advantage of this time to prepare for the best gardening of the year. All the elements of nature are optimal for the growth of plants. Corn ( maíz ) and beans ( frijoles ) are traditional favorite staple crops for planting now directly in the garden, as well as squash ( ayote ), taro ( tiquisque ) and cassava ( yuca ). Try planting a milpa or traditional indigenous corn patch this time of year, so you can harvest corn on the cob about midyear. Instead of planting corn in long rows, try planting three corn seeds in fertile spots filled with compost and spaced a meter apart. This gives the area more sunlight and provides space for planting companion plants, such as beans, squashes, taro and cassava, with the corn. Pole beans and bush beans ( vainica ) can be planted in the garden at this time to provide an abundance of ...

Lawyers for the 252 Venezuelan migrants deported by the U.S. government under Donald Trump and held for two months in El Salvador denounced on Friday that their clients are victims of “physical” and “moral” torture. A law firm hired by the Venezuelan government has been unable to visit the migrants in the mega-prison where they are held and is seeking a “proof of life,” but has encountered a wall of silence from Nayib Bukele’s government and El Salvador’s judiciary. On March 24, the Ortega Group law firm filed a habeas corpus petition with the Supreme Court to end what it calls the Venezuelans’ “illegal detention” since their arrival on March 16, but the court has not yet ruled. “They are being treated like common criminals, and they have had their hair cut off,” said attorney Salvador Ríos. “They have been disguised (…) Those are tortures, physical torture and torture of a moral order,” he said. Images showing the Venezuelans, hair shaven and chained, being led into the Terrorism Co...

The Vrije Universiteit in Netherlands invites application for vacant PhD Positions, a university in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in

The Vrije Universiteit in Netherlands invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Faculty Positions, a university in Amsterdam,

Hundreds of farmers protested on Friday on a river, aboard boats, to oppose the construction of a reservoir for the Panama Canal that would force many families to relocate. In about thirty motorized canoes, some 400 farmers traveled along the Indio River, whose waters would be dammed into an artificial lake to guarantee freshwater for the inter-oceanic canal. “We don’t want them to take the river’s water; we need that water,” 48-year-old farmer Ariel Troya. “If the project goes ahead, it takes away our entire future,” Troya added. The Panama Canal Authority ( ACP ) decided to build the reservoir to prevent the effects of severe droughts like the one in 2023, which forced a drastic reduction in ship traffic. The project would require about 2,500 people to leave their homes—which would end up underwater with the reservoir—a few kilometers west of the canal, according to the ACP. The demonstrators, including children, navigated the river to its mouth on the Caribbean Sea. Canoes are an ...

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Foreign direct investment (FDI), a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s economy, has taken a significant hit, according to a recent report by fDi Intelligence. Our country, long a magnet for high-quality investment, attracted only 43 FDI projects in 2024, a steep drop from 112 in 2023 and 147 in 2022, signaling a challenging year for its investment landscape. Costa Rica has historically excelled in drawing FDI, particularly in free trade zones, which contribute 15% of national GDP and nearly 60% of exports, driven by sectors like medical device manufacturing and services. In 2023, Costa Rica achieved a record FDI inflow of $3.921 billion, a 24% increase from 2022, with 61% directed to free trade zones and 71% from the United States. However, the 2024 decline in project numbers has raised concerns, with experts noting it as one of the lowest project counts since the post-Intel recovery period in 2014. The fDi Intelligence report highlights a broader regional trend: Latin America and the Caribb...

With great fishing and a renewed focus on family fun, the Presidential Flamingo Fishing Rodeo presented by Marina Flamingo is set to take center stage in the world of sport fishing in mid-July 2025 in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. Final registration and a welcome party hosted by Marina Flamingo and Gurme will take place on July 18. Tournament fishing follows on July 19–20, with after-fishing festivities each afternoon at Marina Flamingo. The gala awards party, hosted by Oceana Restaurant and Marina Flamingo, caps the event on July 20. Proceeds support conservation initiatives across the sport-fishing community and benefit CEPIA, a nationally accredited non-profit that strengthens culture, education, health, and social cohesion in Guanacaste’s coastal communities. The Rodeo is designed to put the fun back in tournament fishing, emphasizing families and junior anglers with minimal rules and low entry fees. Teams can target a wide variety of inshore and offshore species while enjoying Pl...

An environmental activist has filed an appeal against a $925 million housing project in Costa Rica, citing concerns over its impact on local ecosystems and alleged procedural irregularities in its approval. The Bahía Papagayo Project, a $925 million development by ENJOY HOTELS & RESORTS S.A., aims to construct hotels, residences, and recreational facilities across 117 hectares in Playa Panamá, Guanacaste. Touted as a luxury tourism hub, the project promises economic growth but has ignited a fierce debate over its environmental footprint. Led by activist Gad Amit Kaufman, environmentalists argue that the development endangers mature forests, wetlands, and a mangrove swamp—critical habitats for biodiversity and coastal stability. “The project would cause irreversible damage to the mangrove swamp and disrupt the biological corridor for wildlife,” Kaufman said, pointing to the region’s monkeys, raccoons, and coatis as key species at risk. The appeal, lodged with Costa Rica’s Constitu...

Costa Rican speech is rich with expressions that many use daily without knowing their origins. Rodrigo Soto, a well-known Costa Rican author with over 20 published works , including novels and essays, aims to change that with his new book, ¿Idiay? . This work explores the country’s unique vernacular, placing it within a historical and cultural framework. Unlike a dictionary or glossary, ¿Idiay? is a selective and accessible book that digs into the richness of Costa Rican language. It features a range of colloquial terms, from the famous “ Pura vida ” to phrases once used by traditional boyeros (oxcart drivers). Each expression comes with historical anecdotes that show how it started and changed over time. Though the boyero tradition has faded, their words still echo in everyday talk. Soto set out to tell Costa Rican history, from pre-Hispanic days to now, through its language. He said the toughest part was weaving everyday phrases with historical facts in a way that feels natural ...

In Costa Rica, the iconic “May beetles” ( abejones de mayo ), known scientifically as the Phyllophaga genus, are vanishing at an alarming rate. These beetles, which have long heralded the arrival of the rainy season each May, are now a rare sight, even in rural areas. Biologists at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) estimate a staggering 90–95% decline in their populations over the past four decades, sparking concern about the health of the nation’s ecosystems. “For many Costa Ricans, spotting abejones buzzing around porch lights marked the start of the rains,” says Andrés Arias, a 27-year-old UCR biologist who recalls their abundance in his childhood home. “Now, they’re a fleeting memory.” This cultural loss, coupled with ecological consequences, has raised a silent alarm across the country. A Perfect Storm of Threats The decline of May beetles is driven by rampant urbanization, heavy pesticide use , and climate change. Rapid urban expansion has paved over the green spaces where ...

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden invites application for vacant PhD, Postdocs and Faculty Positions, , a

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on Saturday shared images of gang members in a mega-prison to discredit statements made by two leaders of the Quarter 18 gang to the digital newspaper The Lighthouse about an alleged deal that helped him rise to power in 2019. “ Bukele made a pact with the gangs, ” the president wrote ironically on the social media platform X, alongside a video showing handcuffed gang members entering the maximum-security prison, the Center for Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot), which has a capacity for 40,000 inmates. A week ago, Carlos Cartagena, alias “Charli,” and another leader identified as Liro Man from the Revolutionary faction of Quarter 18, told The Lighthouse details of the alleged negotiation that helped Bukele attain power. Cartagena told the newspaper that the gangs negotiated through two of Bukele’s associates—who were sanctioned by Washington—for support to help him become elder of San Savior from 2015 to 2018, and then president in 2019. The inte...

Anyone who has lived here more than a few months is well aware of the myriad problems present in 21st century Costa Rica: Violent crime (our murder rate per capita is not far behind that of Chicago); Theft (on all levels, from a crackhead stealing a bicycle off your porch to an elected official pocketing funds meant for public use); The high cost of living for this region felt doubly by those in the dollar economy; Declining tourism; And the perception that the divide between the haves and have-nots grows wider with each passing year. Most of us handle the situation in a similar way: We go about our lives, take the normal precautions, roll with the occasional punches, and strive to embrace the many positives Costa Rica has to offer. But not all of us. There are those who live here unhappily—you can read their comments in online forums, hear them talking loudly over drinks in a bar, the whining refrains of those for whom life in Costa Rica has become like a bad marriage. They came he...

PhD Scholarships at Karolinska Institutet, a research-led medical university in Solna within the Stockholm urban area of Sweden.

Karolinska Institute in Sweden invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Academic Positions, a research-led medical university in

Heriot-Watt University in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Research and Faculty Positions, a public research university based

An agreement signed by the United States and Panama a month ago does not allow for the installation of U.S. military bases in the Central American country, as claimed by some Panamanian sectors, said newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Kevin Cabrera on Thursday. A month ago, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed an agreement in Panama that authorizes the United States to use three Panamanian air and naval bases for “training,” “exercises,” and other activities for a renewable three-year period. “Nowhere” in the agreement “does it mention opening military bases,” Cabrera said during a press conference at his residence. This agreement “will strengthen our cooperation against drug trafficking and help protect the canal,” he added. Several Panamanian organizations have called for protests against the pact, claiming it violates national sovereignty and allows the return of U.S. military bases to Panama. The ambassador, appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, asserted that the...