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A panel of United Nations human rights experts pressed the international community on Thursday to take action against Nicaragua’s leaders, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, for what they described as systematic violations amounting to crimes against humanity. The experts presented their findings for the first time to the UN General Assembly, highlighting a pattern of repression that has gripped the country since 2018. The Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, an independent body created by the UN Human Rights Council , outlined severe abuses in their report. They accused the Ortega-Murillo administration of extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, and torture. These acts, the experts said, stemmed from the government’s response to widespread protests in 2018, which left around 300 people dead. Nicaraguan officials have long dismissed those demonstrations as a U.S.-backed coup attempt, but the experts painted a different picture: a deliberate campaign to crush oppositi...

Amsterdam University in Netherlands invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoctoral and Academic Positions, one of two large, publicly

Utrecht University in Netherlands invites application for vacant PhD and Postdoctoral Scholarships, a university in Utrecht, one of

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in Switzerland invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Academic Positions, the largest

Zurich University in Switzerland invites application for vacant PhD, Postdoc and Academic Positions, located in the city of

Panama’s government faces mounting pressure to relocate more Indigenous Guna families from low-lying Caribbean islands as sea levels continue to rise, building on the 2024 move of over 1,200 residents from Gardi Sugdub. The relocation effort highlights the direct impact of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Guna Yala archipelago, also known as the San Blas Islands. These coral atolls, home to the Guna people for generations, sit just 50 centimeters to one meter above sea level. Scientists project an 80-centimeter rise in surrounding waters by the century’s end, making many islands uninhabitable by 2050. In June 2024 , Panama completed Latin America’s first large-scale planned climate migration. Around 300 families, totaling about 1,350 people, left Gardi Sugdub for a new mainland settlement called Isberyala, located a short boat ride and drive away. The government spent $15 million on the project, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank. The site includes ...

ABC News Live has launched the second season of its docuseries “Last Lands,” with an episode that spotlights Coiba Island in Panama. The island, once a notorious penal colony, now stands as a protected national park facing modern threats. Correspondent Bob Woodruff leads viewers through the remote site off Panama’s Pacific coast. Coiba served as a prison from 1919 to 2004, housing thousands of inmates under harsh conditions. Today, it forms the core of Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning over 2,700 square kilometers of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The episode examines how the park shelters diverse wildlife, including sharks, whales, and rare bird species. Rangers and international teams patrol the area to combat illegal fishing and drug trafficking routes used by cartels. Woodruff joins these patrols, showing the daily challenges in safeguarding the habitat. Panama established the park in 1991, but full protection came after the prison closed. The gov...

The Panama Canal plans to build two ports for $2.6 billion by 2029 amid uncertainty over the future of Hong Kong–based concessionaire Hutchison Holdings, the canal authority said Monday. The plan calls for the construction and concession of two terminals—Corozal on the Pacific and Telfers on the Atlantic—to increase container-handling capacity from 9.5 million TEUs a year to 15 million. The project is being announced as the future of the Balboa (Pacific) and Cristóbal (Atlantic) ports, operated by Panama Ports, a Hutchison subsidiary, remains unclear. “We think that if it isn’t done here in Panama, it will happen elsewhere in the region, and we have to decide whether we want to stay competitive,” said Víctor Vial, Vice President of Finance at the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), at a press conference. Vial made the remarks after meeting with about twenty companies interested in the project, including Hong Kong’s Cosco Shipping Ports, Singapore’s PSA International, Taiwan’s Evergreen, Ge...

Fans across the globe now have another shot at securing seats for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as the organization opens the second phase of ticket sales. This stage, called the Early Ticket Draw, began on today and runs through October 31 at 11 a.m. ET. It follows strong demand in the first phase , where over one million tickets sold out quickly. FIFA released another million tickets for this draw, giving supporters a fair chance through a randomized process. Fans enter at FIFA.com/tickets , and the timing of their entry during the period does not affect their odds. Those with a FIFA ID log in directly, while new users create an account first. Participants must be at least 18 years old, and no purchase is needed to join the draw. This phase prioritizes residents of the host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—with a dedicated time slot. After the entry period ends, host country residents who entered get selected randomly for a 72-hour priority window starting November 12, depe...

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has filed a request with the country’s Supreme Court to revoke the nationality of opposition leader Leopoldo López, accusing him of calling for a U.S. military invasion and promoting an economic blockade against Venezuela. The move, announced by Foreign Minister Yván Gil on his Telegram channel, marks an unprecedented step in the ongoing political tensions. Maduro’s petition cites López’s alleged involvement in urging foreign intervention, including support for U.S. deployments in the Caribbean that the Venezuelan government views as a threat to its sovereignty. The White House describes these operations as counternarcotics efforts, but Maduro maintains they aim to oust him from power. López, 54, a former mayor of Caracas’s Chacao district, lives in exile in Madrid after fleeing Venezuela in 2020. He responded to the request on social media, stating that Maduro seeks to silence dissent by stripping away his citizenship. “Maduro wants to take away m...

Douglas College in Canada invites application for vacant Research and Academic Positions, the largest public degree-granting college institution

Saskatchewan University in Canada invites application for vacant Research and Academic Positions, a Canadian public research university, located

The United States announced on Friday financial sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro for failing to combat drug trafficking, drawing a strong response from the president, who vowed he would not take “a single step back.” The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on the leftist leader’s wife and one of his sons, as well as on Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, his right-hand man. It was an unusual move. The U.S. sanctions list is usually reserved for drug kingpins, terrorists, and dictators implicated in serious human rights abuses. The decision came the same day the United States announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier and its escort fleet to join the military offensive that has operated since August to “counter narco-terrorism” in Latin America. It is the first time a president of Colombia, the world’s largest producer of cocaine, has received such a sanction. “President Petro has allowed drug cartels to thrive and has refused to stop this activit...

The Guatemalan government announced Friday that it will ask the United States for an FBI team of experts to help recapture the leaders of the Barrio 18 gang who escaped from a prison . Last week, the government revealed the escape of 20 members of Barrio 18—designated a “terrorist” organization by both countries—from Fraijanes II prison near the capital. “One of my first actions as minister will be to request today the collaboration of the United States government to deploy an FBI team specialized in gangs and fugitives, to assist us in the search for the 16 escaped gang members,” said the new security chief, Marco Antonio Villeda. “We need all possible help. The FBI has the capability and the willingness to come and work with us to capture these people as soon as possible and get them off the streets,” Villeda insisted at a press conference alongside President Bernardo Arévalo. The United States called the escape “unacceptable,” prompting Arévalo to remove the security leadership. ...

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in United States invites application for vacant Postdoctoral Positions, a cancer research institute

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in United States invites application for vacant Postdoctoral and Academic Positions, a cancer

Scientists have identified a new salamander species in the remote páramo of Chirripó National Park, highlighting our country’s rich biodiversity and the pressing challenges facing high-altitude ecosystems. Named Bolitoglossa chirripoensis, this medium-sized amphibian stands out with its dark body marked by golden spots on the back and white flecks along its sides and tail. Researchers from the University of Costa Rica first spotted the salamander in November 2019, just five meters from the entrance to the Crestones Base Refuge. The find came during fieldwork in the park’s high-elevation zones, where conditions test the limits of life. It took nearly five years to complete the studies, including detailed morphological exams and genetic tests, confirming it as a distinct species from others in the Talamanca range. Jeremy Klank, a biologist and master’s student at the University of Costa Rica, led much of the work. He notes that the salamander’s body differs in size and build from relat...

The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica have teamed up to bid for hosting the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams, expanding from the current 32. U.S. Soccer Federation President Cindy Parlow Cone led the announcement in New York on October 20. She stated, “We are very proud to lead this bid for the 2031 World Cup together with our Concacaf partners in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.” The event brought together leaders from all four federations, highlighting a shared goal to advance women’s soccer across the region. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had named the United States as the sole candidate back in April. He noted then that partnerships with other Concacaf nations could form part of the plan. With no other bids submitted, this group stands as the frontrunner. FIFA plans to make its final call in April 2026. Parlow Cone stressed the bid’s focus on long-term growth. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity to grow wom...

University of Michigan in United States invites application for vacant Research Positions, a public research university in Ann

Polycythemia or Erythrocytosis – Handouts – Lecture for 4th level students in Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis on 21 October

Bolivians on Sunday elected a pro-business center-right senator as their new president, ending two decades of socialist rule that have left the South American nation deep in economic crisis. With 97 percent of ballots counted, Rodrigo Paz had 54.5 percent of the vote compared to 45.4 percent for his rival, right-wing former interim president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) said. Paz, the 58-year-old son of a former president, has vowed a “capitalism for all” approach to economic reform, with decentralization, lower taxes and fiscal discipline mixed with continued social spending. With dollars and fuel in short supply and annual inflation at more than 20 percent, weary voters snubbed the Movement Toward Socialism party founded by former president Evo Morales in a first electoral round in August. Bolivia is enduring its worst economic crisis in decades, with long queues now a common sight at gas stations. “We hope the country improves,” homemaker Maria Eug...

In Costa Rica’s cooler highland regions, home gardeners harvest fresh broccoli that brings a distinct flavor to everyday meals. This vegetable packs vitamins A, C, E, and K, along with niacin, calcium, iron, and potassium. Research points to its potential role in fighting cancer through natural compounds. For those at elevations of 1,000 meters or higher, like in Cartago, Heredia, Alajuela, or San José provinces, broccoli thrives in the mild temperatures between 15°C and 20°C. Warmer spots push plants to flower too soon, but shade cloth helps moderate soil heat. With food prices climbing, planting your own cuts costs while providing steady supplies. Broccoli traces back to Mediterranean wild types, refined over centuries into modern forms. Local farm stores stock hybrids suited to the country. For seed saving, consider importing organic standards such as Waltham 29, Calabrese, or Green Mountain from abroad. Start seeds in flats with potting soil. Once seedlings reach 5 to 10 centime...

On Friday, the Costa Rican Fishing Federation ( FECOP ) held the second edition of La Alfombra Azul, an event created to celebrate innovation, science, and sustainability related to the ocean and recreational and sport fishing. The event took place at the Costa Rica Marriott Hacienda Belén Hotel and brought together nearly 300 national and international leaders involved in marine management and responsible fishing, including representatives from the public, private, academic, and civil society sectors. “This is an event to celebrate the tourism and sport fishing sector. It is a great opportunity to come together as a sector, connect, and learn about the different projects and initiatives that various groups in coastal communities are developing throughout the country. We are very happy to have helped create this space for unity and conversation within the fishing sector,” said FECOP Executive Director Marina Marrari. Throughout the day, attendees shared experiences, research, and pr...

Costa Rica’s tourism took a hit in the first seven months of 2025, with visitor numbers dropping compared to the previous year. By the end of the third quarter, the country saw 50,000 fewer tourists, a trend that has local businesses and officials paying close attention. This dip comes after years of steady growth, raising questions about what factors are at play and how the industry might respond. Air arrivals, which make up the bulk of international visitors, showed the clearest signs of slowdown. Data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute points to consistent monthly declines starting from late 2024 and carrying into 2025. January kicked off with a small drop, followed by sharper falls in February and May, where arrivals fell by around 7% and 4.7% respectively from the year before. By June, the total for the first half of the year stood at about 1.49 million visitors, down 2.8% from 2024’s figures. Extending that through July and into September, the overall reduction aligns with...

Northeastern University in United States invites application for vacant Postdoctoral Positions, Northeastern is a large, highly residential university

Northeastern University in United States invites application for vacant Postdoctoral and Research Positions, Northeastern is a large, highly

San Diego State University in United States invites application for vacant Academic and Staff Positions, San Diego State

Ohio State University in United states invites application for vacant Postdoc Positions, a large public research university in

Ohio State University in United states invites application for vacant Postdoc and Research Positions, a large public research

Not long ago, a neighbor gave us some peanuts she said were from Peru. Since we’ve had good luck growing peanuts, we were excited to see how this variety would do for us. Our new Peruvian peanuts are growing well, so I thought I’d share some tips on growing peanuts. Peanuts can be an excellent addition to your tropical diet. That’s because peanuts are nearly a complete food. They contain more pantothenic acid (B5) than any other food except liver. They are also rich in vitamins E, A, B1, B2, calcium, phosphorus, iron, oil and protein. Peanuts are actually native to the tropical Americas, so they’re well adapted to our climatic conditions. Known as maní in Costa Rica or cacahuate in Mexico, the peanut still remains a popular food in the region. Peanuts have one of the most curious reproduction traits in the plant kingdom. After the lower flowers are pollinated, they send out long peduncles or shoots, which contain the embryonic seeds. These grow, bend over and bury themselves in the ...

President Rodrigo Chaves has again brushed off Costa Rica’s mounting security problems, labeling them as misunderstandings in a recent interview. Speaking on FOX Noticias, he pointed to drug gang rivalries as the main driver behind the spike in murders, insisting that everyday people face little risk. Chaves explained that most killings happen among street-level drug dealers battling for control of sales territories. “We see a higher number of murders than we’d like, but the vast majority come from wars between these gangs,” he said. He stressed that these conflicts inflate the homicide tally without broadly threatening public safety. The president tied the issue to broader economic gains, noting that Costa Rica remains a peaceful place overall. “This country still stands as a haven of calm, with an economic surge we haven’t witnessed in years, including strong tourism growth,” he added. Yet numbers paint a different picture. Since Chaves took office, the country has logged 2,...

University of Southampton invites application for vacant Academic and Research Positions, a public research university in Southampton, England.

There are close to 200,000 people of Tico origin presently living in the US. I have spent the past month in an area where their numbers are scarce. I was interested in meeting and talking with any who had relocated to this area of the mid-Atlantic. I found a couple Facebook pages geared toward Ticos in the area and posted on both boards indicating my interest in meeting anyone from la comunidad Tico/a. The response was nada. Cero. I wondered if my anglo name had anything to do with the “Hasta la vista!” response. Not every Tico in the US is in the US legally, and to any of them, my inquiry may have looked like an ICE trap. For over thirty years the letters ICE for me have been pronounced EE-say, but this ICE isn’t the electric company. So I understood the reluctance to communicate. Both of these pages have included me in their messenger accounts. My inbox is flooded daily with an array of offers. One guy sends three ads daily, on both boards, offering cable TV and Wi-Fi for only 20 U...

Laura Fernández, the presidential candidate for the Pueblo Soberano party, revealed on Tuesday that she discovered a concealed microphone in her personal office, raising alarms about possible political spying ahead of Costa Rica’s elections. Fernández called reporters to an emergency press conference in Pavas, where she detailed the find. She explained that a tip prompted her to hire an international security firm for a full sweep of her office, home, and vehicle. The team located the device hidden inside an electrical outlet in her workspace. “This hits hard as a Costa Rican and as someone running for president,” Fernández said during the briefing. She held up the small gadget, calling it advanced technology not easily available locally, priced around $3,000, with its own battery, internet link, and voice trigger. She expressed outrage over the breach. “People talked strategy and personal stuff in that room,” she added. “Planting bugs like this in a outlet shows how low some will g...

The National Stadium, a key landmark in La Sabana Metropolitan Park, now carries a new title after a sponsorship agreement. Yesterday, the venue officially becomes INS Estadio, marking the first name change since its opening in 2011. The deal comes from a partnership between the stadium’s administration and the Instituto Nacional de Seguros ( INS ), Costa Rica’s national insurance institute. This three-year arrangement, set to run through 2028, brings in steady funds to support upkeep, upgrades, and overall improvements to the facility. Officials point out that these resources will help maintain the stadium as a top spot for sports and events. Built to replace the original National Stadium from 1924, the current structure holds about 35,000 fans and serves as the home base for the Costa Rican national football team. It has hosted major matches, concerts, and gatherings, drawing locals and visitors alike. The name shift reflects a growing trend in sports venues worldwide, where sponso...

Costa Rica delivered a strong performance last night, defeating Nicaragua 4-1 in their Concacaf World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium. The result marks the team’s first victory in the third round of qualifiers for the 2026 tournament, boosting their hopes of reaching the finals. Alonso Martínez led the charge with two early goals in the 12th and 28th minutes, setting the tone for the match. Manfred Ugalde added a third just after halftime in the 49th minute, and Francisco Calvo sealed the scoreline late with a well-taken set-piece finish. Nicaragua managed a reply through a defensive error by Costa Rica, but the hosts stayed composed and dominated throughout. The game carried extra tension before kickoff when local police entered the Nicaragua dressing room, reportedly attempting to arrest one of their players. Details remain unclear, but the incident did not delay the start, and both teams focused on the field once play began. Coach Miguel Herrera, the Mexican tactician ...

Coffee runs deep in our veins, a tradition that started in the 1700s and shapes our country’s economy and culture today. This October, Starbucks taps into that legacy with its Global Coffee Month, rolling out events across our country to spotlight the bean’s journey from farm to cup. The company kicked off the month-long push on International Coffee Day, October 1, aligning with its broader plans to grow in Latin America. Starbucks aims to open 145 new stores in the region over the next year, strengthening ties with coffee-producing areas like Costa Rica. Locally, the focus stays on education and hands-on fun. Customers can join Coffee Conversations, free sessions in stores that trace coffee’s path from seed to brew. These talks cover farming techniques, roasting, and tasting notes, while explaining Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. Practices program, which promotes fair pay and eco-friendly methods for farmers. For a deeper dive, Starbucks Rewards members get spots in Coffee Master Classes on O...

Costa Rica takes on Nicaragua this Tuesday at the Estadio Nacional in a match that could shape their path in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With both sides still chasing their first win in the third round of CONCACAF qualifying, the pressure builds for Los Ticos to use their home field and past success against their neighbors to grab three points. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. local time, part of Group C where Costa Rica sits third with three points from three draws. Haiti and Honduras lead with five points each, while Nicaragua lags at the bottom with one point from a draw and two defeats. A win here would push Costa Rica closer to the top spot, which guarantees a direct ticket to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The two best second-place teams across groups get a shot at inter-confederation playoffs. Costa Rica has drawn all three matches so far: a 1-1 result away to Nicaragua in September, a 3-3 thriller at home against Haiti, and a 0-0 stalemate on the road ...

Costa Rican Coast Guard officers pulled nearly a kilometer of illegal gillnets from protected waters in the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge during a routine patrol. The operation targeted the Agua Dulce inlet, a key spot in the northern Caribbean where rivers meet the sea, acting as a nursery for fish and other marine life. Personnel from the Barra del Colorado station spotted five separate gillnets set up unlawfully in the area. These nets, known as trasmallos, trap fish by the gills but also snag turtles, dolphins, sharks, and crabs without discrimination. Left in place, they disrupt food chains and harm young species that rely on the estuary for growth. The team removed the nets, which totaled close to 1,000 meters, and took them ashore for decommissioning and disposal. No one was caught in the act, but patrols continue to watch for similar violations. This action fits into ongoing efforts to curb illegal fishing , which affects local communities and the environment. ...

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

University of Leicester in United Kingdom invites application for vacant Research and Academic Positions, a public research university

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent study revealed that the intensive use of agrochemicals in the horticultural region of Zarcero causes physiological stress in earthworms, leading them to flee from contaminated soils. This demonstrates the vulnerability of these organisms to environmental alterations caused by such substances. The research was carried out by student Gabriel Brenes from the Regional Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances at the National University (Iret-UNA) as part of the requirements for a Master’s Degree in Tropical Ecotoxicology. Through both field and laboratory studies on earthworm species abundant in the area, the research determined a reduction in enzyme activity and defense mechanisms when the worms were exposed to soils containing agrochemicals or samples taken from them. After conducting behavioral tests, it was found that 90% of the worms avoided r...