Rico’s Q – Today, we unveiled the updated design of the Q. This marks the initial phase in the revamping process of QCostarica.com, featuring a more streamlined appearance.
In the coming days, we will be making further adjustments to the pages.
Thank you for your patience as we work towards our goal.
Q COSTARICA — At the weekly press conference today, Wednesday, July 30, President Rodrigo Chaves, may make history, as it would be the first time a sitting president leaves office voluntarily.
In the last several months, maybe more, the President has left open the possibility of implementing this measure, which has gained momentum in recent weeks.
At Casa Presidencial, there has been an air of mystery, announcing on Tuesday, on social networks, that a decision will be forthcoming today.
A question being asked in social circles is whether a President of Costa Rica could resign to run for a legislative seat.
For several months, Rodrigo Chaves has spoken about the possibility, leaving the question of whether he will or not.
The issue of the possible presidential resignation has direct bearing on the Legislative Assembly, where there are divided opinions regarding whether the resignation should only be announced or whether a vote should be taken to approve or reject it.
“As far as I know, and as I’ve heard from many analysts and specialists, it’s just a matter of knowing the resignation. No one is forced to work on something they don’t want to,” responded Pilar Cisneros, the leader of the ruling party in the Legislative Assembly.
“There may be one or two dissenters, but the rest insist it’s just a matter of knowing, not approving,” she added.
For his part, legislator Eli Feinzaig of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), who ran against Chaves in 2022, said publicly there is still “no defined or definitive criterion on the matter.”
Other legislators considered that if a vote has to be taken, they must accept the resignation.
Legal Criterion
From a legal point of view, constitutional lawyer Rubén Hernández, pointed out two elements regarding the possibility of a Presidential resignation: The first is that the president cannot resign.
This opinion is based on Article 136 of Costa Rica’s Constitution, which states that the president and vice presidents will take office on May 8 and will automatically cease to hold office at the end of the constitutional term, that is, four years later.
“In my opinion, the president cannot resign. The Constitution must be interpreted harmoniously. The 1871 Constitution allowed the president to resign, but the 1949 Constitution eliminated that possibility,” Hernández told Observador.com.
“If the people vote for a specific person, it means they will serve for the entire term, unless there is a physical or mental difficulty that prevents them from doing so,” he added.
The second element is that if the president ultimately resigns, the Assembly must hear the case and vote on whether or not to accept it.
“There is a 1992 case law in which the (Constitutional) Court, commonly referred to as the Sala IV, stated that it wasn’t enough to simply take note, but that the Assembly had to make a decision. If he submits it, the Assembly would have to vote on whether to accept it or not,” he said.
He asserted that if Congress rejects the President’s resignation, he could file an appeal for protection before the Constitutional Court.
“There should be no vote,” is the opinion of José Miguel Villalobos, the president’s personal lawyer.
According to Villalobos, the constitutionalist’s interpretation is flawed, firstly regarding the fact that he cannot resign, citing Article 121 of the Constitution.
“Don Rubén Hernández’s interpretation is completely flawed; it violates the letter of Article 121, paragraph 8 of the Constitution and the spirit of the law,” he stated.
On the Sidelines
From the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – Costa Rica’s elections tribunal, there has not been an official statement on the matter, given that there is no recent history of a presidential resignation.
If Chaves resigns, it’s to be a candidate for deputy and become president of the Legislative Assembly, as he has stated on several occasions.
Could Chaves lose the option to run for legislator?
“I can’t say because it would be a pre-judgement of the criteria; This issue is addressed when assessing the registration of the candidacy,” said Andrei Cambronero, the TSE lawyer.
Arias could assume the presidency
Costa Rica’s Constitution establishes the line of succession in the event of the temporary or permanent absence of the democratically elected president.
According to Article 135, the vice presidents are the first to be called upon to replace the president. However, if none of them can assume the position, the responsibility falls to the president of the Legislative Assembly, in this case, Rodrigo Arias.
A similar situation occurred during Oscar Arias’ second term, when both vice presidents resigned before the end of their four-year term.
In conclusion, we will just have to wait for today’s announcement.
Q COSTARICA — Although the government of Rodrigo Chaves agreed to receive flights carrying migrants deported from the United States, the country lacked the minimum conditions to guarantee their care, according to a recent report by the Defensoría de los Habitantes (Ombudsman’s Office).
The Defensoría noted that since February 20, when the first flight from the United States landed, authorities were warned about deficiencies in the reception and assistance process for returnees, but improvements were implemented late and partially.
Defensora Angie Cruickshank Lambert criticized the fact that the care provided to the more than 200 migrants—including women, children, and adolescents—failed to meet national and international human rights standards.
“These people never intended to enter the country; they were forcibly transferred and detained, as a result of a migration agreement between two countries. I hope this unfortunate story does not repeat itself,” she warned.
Among the report’s main observations, the Ombudsman’s Office warned that migrants were treated “as a package,” without considering their personal and family circumstances or the complexity of their nationalities and political contexts.
Furthermore, it denounced that school-age children were unable to access their right to education while they remained at Costa Rica’s Temporary Migrant Care Center (CATEM-Sur), located in the southern zone, near the border with Panama, an area known for having significant infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in transportation and basic services. This lack of infrastructure impacts various aspects of life, including access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for residents and tourists alike.
The Ombudsman’s Office document includes new recommendations to prevent similar situations from recurring in the future, emphasizing that any migration agreement must guarantee the comprehensive protection of human rights from the outset.
Q COSTARICA — On Saturday, the National Assembly of the Partido Acción Cuidadan (PAC) ratified Claudia Dobles Camargo as its presidential candidate for the 2026 national elections to be held on Sunday, February 1.
The PAC agreed to form a coalition with the Agenda Democrática Nacional (ADN) party.
In addition to formalizing the presidential candidacy, the assembly also elected the new party authorities for the 2025-2029 term.
Claudia Dobles Camargo is a Costa Rican architect and urban planner. Dobles, the wife of former President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, served as the First Lady of Costa Rica from 2018 to 2022.
She represents the PAC as the first female presidential candidate in the party’s history, in a political context where she proposes a transformative agenda focused on sustainable development, social justice, and state modernization.
Q24N (EFE) Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stated last week that during a visit to Japan next September, he will present the interoceanic Canal project to build a gas pipeline and another for a port in the Pacific to the government of that country, with a view to “finalizing an agreement to move them forward.”
Japan, the president explained when referring to the pipeline, is “an important user of the gas” that transits through the Canal “and that comes from the United States,” so “this project could be of great interest to them.”
“They have informally mentioned that they are very interested and perhaps they would be willing to participate as a business. But that is a very personal assessment that does not yet have much foundation,” Mulino said during his weekly press conference, confirming that he will make a four-day visit to Japan in early September.
Japan is the third largest user of the Canal, while 42% of the Japanese merchant marine flies the Panamanian flag and represents 32% of the 8,800 ships currently flying the Panamanian flag, according to statements made last May by the Central American country’s Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, when announcing Mulino’s visit to the Asian country next September.
Through the international cooperation agency JICA, Japan is financing the construction of Metro Line 3 with a $1.036 billion loan.
A gas pipeline worth between US$4 and US$8 billion
The Panama Canal Administration, which is an autonomous Panamanian state, has already announced that it will put the gas pipeline project out to tender as part of a program to diversify its activities, although it has not provided further details.
But Canal Affairs Minister José Ramón Icaza has said that the bidding process could take place in 2026 or no later than 2027, and that the pipeline will cost between $4 billion and $8 billion, depending on the business model implemented.
“The pipeline would be highly reliable for liquefied petroleum gas (LGP) leaving the Gulf of Mexico and transported to Northeast Asia, so it would be an alternative route to the Panama Canal, which will have a capacity of one million barrels per day, depending on the business model approved,” Icaza stated in early July during his speech at the 10th International Financial Summit.
The pipeline will meet the demand for the LGP segment, which is expected to continue growing at least until 2045 and currently accounts for about 1,350 ship transits through the Canal per year.
Thus, the pipeline could handle between three and five transits per day, freeing up space for other types of cargo to cross the waterway, according to Minister Icaza’s explanation.
Meetings with shipowners and visit to the Osaka Fair
Mulino stated that in Japan he will speak “with important institutional and private players in the maritime and railway industries, as well as with all the shipowner groups, who represent more than half of the ships that come from there, loyal to our merchant marine registry for decades.”
Panama’s merchant marine is one of the largest in the world, with 8,814 flagged vessels and 243.7 million gross registered tons, according to data updated this Thursday by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
“I’ll be at the Osaka Fair for the last two days of my visit. I’m only going to Japan for four days. The Osaka Fair is going to be a major hub for trade and a great opportunity. Panama will have a stand there to showcase ourselves, to showcase the country in this new version we’re trying to outline and move forward,” Mulino added.
Last June, as the Philippines endured the intense heat of the dry season, GameZone heated things up even more with the thrilling GTCC: Summer Showdown.
This exciting tournament brought together 135 of the nation’s best Tongits players from all across the country for five days of fierce competition from June 24 to 28. They battled not only for glory and pride but also for a huge prize pool of ₱10,000,000, making this event one of the most significant in Filipino card gaming history.
GTCC was more than just a card game tournament—it became a platform where inspiring stories, clever strategies, and emotional victories unfolded, drawing the Filipino gaming community closer together. What started as an online qualifying event quickly grew into one of the most intense and captivating competitions ever held in the country. Behind every played hand was a story filled with family ties, hardships, ambitions, and the power of community support.
The GTCC journey officially began in April when GameZone opened registration for the Tongits Multi-Table Tournament through their platform, gzone.ph. From April 25 to May 16, players nationwide—both beginners and seasoned pros—had the chance to join the competition. GameZone made it particularly welcoming by providing all registered players with free chips to participate in daily qualifying tournaments. This allowed participants to practice, develop their strategies, and compete without worrying about entry costs.
Thousands of players joined these early rounds, eager to earn points, win small cash prizes, and climb the leaderboard. But only the top 135 scorers earned a coveted spot in the Summer Showdown, a list officially announced on May 27. This revealed early on that these competitors were serious—they came not just to take part, but to win and claim their place in Tongits history.
With 135 finalists ready, GameZone designed a tournament format that would test every aspect of their Tongits mastery. The players were divided into three groups of 45—Groups A, B, and C. Each group faced a tough elimination stage where they played three games of 20 rounds each. Only the most consistent and skillful could survive this phase.
From there, 84 players advanced to the Promotional Round, but the challenges they faced became even tougher. This round was split into two important phases:
Only nine players would reach the semifinals—five from the Upper Bracket and four from the Lower Bracket. Having proved their talent, these players prepared for the ultimate challenge.
The semifinals featured a 60-round grueling match that tested mental endurance, patience, and skill. Every decision—whether to discard a card, draw, or call “Tongits”—carried weight, and pressure mounted as fatigue set in.
The finals pushed the top three players to their limits even further. They faced an intense 100-round battle of focus, stamina, and strategy. This was more than a game; it was a test of nerves, anticipation, and mental toughness as they fought for the championship title.
What set the champions apart from the rest? GTCC showcased that success required more than just basic skill—players needed to combine different strengths:
Beyond the cards, the stories of the top players made the GTCC unforgettable:
GTCC 2025 wasn’t just a tournament—it was a defining moment for Filipino gaming culture. With nail-biting matches, unforgettable moments, and heartwarming stories, it brought Tongits pride and attention like never before. The exc
itement and passion it sparked continue to inspire both players and fans.As this chapter closes, the next is already beckoning. Registration is now open on gzone.ph for the next season. Thousands are readying themselves to rise up, sharpen their skills, and chase the dream.
Could you be the next champion?
Visit gzone.ph, start practicing, and join the growing community that celebrates competitive Filipino card gaming. The next Grand Champion could be you.
Q COSTA RICA — One day before the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) – Supreme Electoral Tribunal, deadline of July 31 for resigning and running for a legislative seat expires, several ministers in the Rodrigo Chaves government will announce their departure.
On social media, Casa Presidencial announced that the list of ministers and other government officials who will leave their posts to fully join the Partido Pueblo Soberano campaign for the February 2026 elections will be announced on Wednesday, July 30th.
Although not officially confirmed, the names of several leaders are resonating strongly in the political corridors, such as:
Legislator Pilar Cisneros, one of the government’s leading figures in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, confirmed days ago that several cabinet members will leave their positions to enter the electoral arena.
“I know some will resign, that much is clear to me. I think there are people who think they can contribute more by running for a (legislative) seat,” said the legislator.
The Partido Pueblo Soberano, founded by supporters of the president and officially established on July 12, will be the political platform that Chavismo will use to try to expand its influence in the Legislative Assembly.
And will Rodrigo Chaves resign?
There is the possibility that Rodrigo Chaves himself will run as a candidate for a legislative seat.
According to the TSE, the president is permitted by law if he or she resigns before July 31.
At this time, the possibility of Chaves resigning to seek out a legislative seat has not been officially ruled out, although it has not been confirmed either.
Over the long weekend, as is custom, the President visited the province of Guanacaste to celebrate the 201st anniversary of the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya (most of what is today’s modern-day Guanacaste) to Costa Rica.
Chaves did not publicly address the question on the minds of many: will he or not?
Casa Presidencial is maintaining an air of mystery, urging people to monitor the government’s social media channels.
Fraud during trip planning
Travelers are at risk of fraud well before they leave home. An analysis of Mastercard’s aggregated and anonymized transaction data reveals that in 2024, the fraud rate in sectors associated with the early stages of trip planning increased more than 12% compared to the previous year.
Travelers commonly encounter manipulated destination photos, fake confirmation links, and false offers, with fraudsters preying on the desire for discounted travel amid inflation and economic pressures.
Fraud increases with transaction volume
Popular tourist destinations, particularly those that attract large crowds, are prime targets for fraudsters due to the high concentration of visitors and the increased volume of transactions. For example, scammers establish fake tour companies, luring tourists with irresistible offers for guided tours, excursions, or exclusive experiences.
These fraudulent operators may require prepayment or offer unusually low prices to entice travelers. Once paid, the tour may either never occur or be drastically different from what was promised.
In the accommodation sector, fraudsters may exploit vacation rental platforms or travel websites by creating fake listings, leading tourists to book non-existent properties or ones that vastly differ from the advertised descriptions.
Planning a trip can be exciting, but it’s important that travelers take steps to ensure their security throughout their journey.
Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rica is positioned among a select list of tourist destinations highlighted in the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) report: “Travel Trends: Purpose-Driven Journeys.”
The study reveals that today’s consumers prioritize purpose-driven experiences when choosing international travel. The almost universal use of social media, where many travelers post attractive photos of adventures and exotic foods, has encouraged others to enjoy similar experiences.
In this context, Costa Rica ranks sixth as the most relevant destination worldwide for wellness tourism, a trend that has gained momentum in recent years. The world leader in this category is Namibia. These trips prioritize relaxation, well-being, and self-care over busy itineraries or high-impact activities.
The report also highlights the growing interest in national parks as purpose-driven destinations. In this area, Costa Rica represents 5.1% of global spending on these types of experiences, placing it among the countries with the highest tourism investment in nature. South Africa and Zambia top the list with 23.3% and 15.5% respectively.
Regarding culinary experiences, Quepos, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, is also recognized among the 43 most visited culinary destinations in the world, thanks to the freshness of its seafood and its proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park, an attraction that complements the gastronomic experience.
The Mastercard Economics Institute study underscores that unique experiences will continue to be the main driver of tourism, beyond any economic variables. Once again, Costa Rica’s potential to continue attracting visitors seeking these types of experiences is evident. These factors have been instrumental in the country enjoying a high average stay of 13.2 nights and a return visit rate of 6.7 times per visitor, according to data from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
The constant renewal of the tourism industry is a joint effort of the ICT (Institutional Commission of Costa Rica), business chambers such as Canatur, and the private sector, key to maintaining Costa Rica’s competitive status as a destination.
Furthermore, the participation of the financial sector is crucial to driving the industry’s digitalization and financial inclusion, especially among MSMEs, which represent nearly 90% of tourism businesses.
Promoting the use of digital payment methods contributes to a more agile, modern, and connected experience for tourists when interacting with local businesses. Public-private partnerships are key to further strengthening this strategic industry for the country.
Q COSTARICA — Intel announced last week the closure of its microprocessor assembly and testing plant in Costa Rica to relocate operations to Asia in pursuit of “greater efficiency” and competitiveness.
“After a thorough review of our business, today we are announcing changes that will drive greater efficiency and utilization within our global manufacturing network. This includes the phasing out and closure of Intel’s Assembly and Test Plant (ATM) in Costa Rica to consolidate operations in Malaysia and Vietnam over the coming months,” the company said.
Intel, one of Costa Rica’s leading exporters, added that “these actions are necessary to remain competitive in a dynamic industry.”
The plant closure is part of a global restructuring the company is undertaking, which includes staff reductions.
Back in 2014, Inted had closed its manufacturing operation in Costa to make way for a transformation of the operation toward more research and development efforts.
However, the manufacturing plant was reactivated six years later.
In Costa Rica, Intel manufactures key products such as the Intel 3, Intel 7, and Intel 18A, which it exports to more than 100 customers in 44 countries.
The company stated that Costa Rica “continues to be a key part of global operations” with Intel Products (Engineering) and Intel Corporate (Global Services) operations, which employ 2,000 people.
The Research and Development Center carries out design, prototyping, testing, and validation of integrated circuit and platform solutions; while the Global Services Center designs, executes, transforms, and innovates global business processes in the areas of finance, human resources, sales, marketing, and the supply chain.
“For nearly three decades, Intel has been innovating and investing in Costa Rica, and this legacy will continue,” the company stated.
Qorvo closes operations in Costa Rica after 29 years
In an unrelated action, and what we can hope is not the start of a trend, Qorvo, an American company specializing in semiconductors and radio frequency (RF) solutions with over 29 years of experience in the country, has officially announced the closure of its operations in Costa Rica.
Qorvo employs approximately 300 people and has been located in the Metropolitan Free Trade Zone in Barreal de Heredia since 1996.
“Intel’s decision, as well as Qorvo’s announcement, should be seen as a warning that reflects the serious challenges facing the country’s competitiveness, and that jeopardizes investment, the creation of quality jobs, and economic growth,” said Ronald Lachner, president of the Free Trade Zone Association.
Qorvo currently maintains a global presence in North America, Asia, and Europe, where it has engineering, manufacturing, support, and distribution centers.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rican authorities lifted the alerts for the Poás Volcano eruptions on Wednesday and announced the reopening of the national park, one of the most visited in the country, starting July 30, after four months of closure.
“This decision was made in response to a significant decrease in volcanic activity. According to information from the Technical Advisory Committee on Volcanology and Seismology, made up of various experts, there has been a decrease in seismic activity, the acid lake has recovered, and gas emissions have stabilized,” reported Alejandro Picado, president of the National Emergency Commission (CNE).
Picado explained that the last major eruption was recorded on May 19, but noted that this is an active volcano and that surveillance and prevention measures will be maintained.
On reopening, to educate visitors about volcanic hazards and protect the safety of visitors, authorities installed informational and preventive signs at the shelters within the park to protect against potential eruptions.
National park officials are working to improve the infrastructure and trails for safe access to the facilities, as well as fine-tuning operational and logistical matters.
The Poás Volcano National Park was closed on March 10 due to increased activity, particularly gas, rock, and ash eruptions that reached over 4,000 meters (4 kilometers) above the crater.
The Poás Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica, but its eruptive activity has increased since last March. This colossus is located about 60 kilometers west of the capital, San José, and its crater is 2,708 meters above sea level.
Between 2017 and 2018, the Poás National Park was closed for 16 months due to the constant release of gases and ash, which affected the economy of nearby communities that depend on tourism. There have been closures in subsequent years, but not as extensive.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica is expected to conclude the second half of 2025 with a moderately growing economy, inflation contained below Costa Rica’s Central Bank (BCCR) target range, and a relatively stable exchange rate.
All of this is happening amid a global environment affected by trade tensions between the United States and its main trading partners.
This is indicated by the most recent revision of the Economic Projections Report by Grupo Financiero Mercado de Valores, which highlights that the Costa Rican economy is always exposed to the international economic environment, and particularly to the trade policy decisions of the United States, its main trading partner.
Pablo González Sánchez, Junior Manager of Stock Market Portfolios, reported that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow 3.5% this year, driven primarily by domestic demand, and 3.8% by 2026. He also expects domestic consumption to maintain a similar increase to that seen in 2024.
“Our revised projections consider a scenario of uncertainty and volatility. While exports will face a complex international environment, they will continue to contribute positively to the country’s growth, albeit to a lesser extent. We expect consumption to remain dynamic thanks to a low inflation environment, higher real incomes, and favorable credit conditions,” González noted.
Regarding inflation, it is expected to remain contained and reach positive territory by the end of the year, ending the period at 0.2%. Although a return to the Central Bank’s target range (3% with a one percentage point variation) is projected until the fourth quarter of 2026, this trend is due to external factors, such as the drop in international oil prices, but the final result could vary depending on climatic factors that offset a rise in food prices during the rainy season.
Therefore, the Central Bank is expected to continue making prudent decisions regarding the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which is expected to remain at 3.75% throughout 2025. Looking ahead, any downward changes to the MPR will be due to favorable changes in inflation risk scenarios, which depend on the international situation.
Exchange rate and fiscal results. Grupo Financiero Mercado de Valores (Financial Market Group) has lowered its exchange rate projection against the Colon, estimating that the dollar will range between ¢505 and ¢515 by the end of 2025. Although the movements observed in the first half of the year have not been as large as expected at the beginning of the year, the entity maintains its analysis of upward pressure in the third quarter, followed by an appreciation of the colon in October, November, and December, in line with seasonal market patterns.
The inflow of dollars into the country from the private sector continues to be one of the main reasons why the exchange rate remains stable and even trending downward. Although factors that increase demand for foreign currency could arise in the coming months, their effect is still uncertain.
In this scenario, it is important for both individuals and companies to consider the possibility that the price of the dollar will continue to fluctuate, as exchange rate volatility will be part of the financial environment for the remainder of the year.
Regarding the fiscal dimension, Grupo Financiero Mercado de Valores estimates that the primary balance will reach 1.1% of GDP at the end of the year, similar to that shown the previous year. A slight increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio is also projected, which would be around 59.9%.
“This situation requires a clear strategy from the Ministry of Finance to strengthen tax collection, especially considering that no new external Eurobond placements or significant tax reforms have been implemented in 2025. Active debt management, compliance with the fiscal rule, and a sound budget allocation will continue to be key to maintaining the stability achieved,” González indicated.
For Grupo Financiero Mercado de Valores, there are six main risks that could affect the performance of domestic economic variables.
Pablo González noted that global economic conditions have been strongly affected by the trade policy decisions of the United States, where the Trump administration reactivated a tariff agenda that has led to tensions with its main partners, including China, the European Union, and Mexico.
“In the United States, the first effects of this trade policy on the real economy have already been evident. During the first quarter of the year, US GDP contracted by -0.5% year-on-year, driven by a larger trade deficit and a drop in investment, as households postponed spending decisions due to uncertainty,” González explained.
The report also notes that, while inflation in the United States has eased, upside risks from tariffs persist. The Federal Reserve (FED) has kept its benchmark rate unchanged, but the market still expects at least two cuts during the remainder of the year.
The situation is also tense in other regions. Europe remains modestly growing, while in China, domestic measures have managed to sustain GDP growth, without yet reflecting the real impacts of Trump’s tariff policy. Latin America, meanwhile, faces fiscal pressures and monetary policy challenges amid a fragmented international environment.
Q COSTARICA — The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) – Costa Rica’s judicial agency akin to the U.S. F.B.I., confirmed that Malcolm-Jamal Warner died accidentally due to asphyxiation by submersion, according to an autopsy.
The information was confirmed today, Tuesday, July 22, after the completion of forensic examinations.
The OIJ also detailed that Warner’s body remains in the Judicial Morgue in Heredia and is awaiting pickup by a funeral service contracted and authorized by the deceased’s family.
The news of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death broke internationally this Monday, July 21, after he drowned Sunday afternoon at Playa Grande de Cocles, in Limón.
According to information by Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), Warner had arrived in Costa Rica on Sunday, July 13, 2025, with his daughter and had been staying at an undisclosed hotel.
The video published by TMZ captured Warner at the Juan Santamaria International Airport – San José airport (SJO), arriving on a flight from Atlanta, one week before his tragic death by drowning.
Wagner Leiva, Director of Emergency Response at the Red Cross, detailed the work done by first responders at the scene.
“On Sunday, around 2:10 pm, a 9-1-1 call for help regarding a water accident came in. We responded with three units; upon arriving at the scene, we found two men. One of them was transported in critical condition to the Clinica de Hone Creek in Puerto Viejo; the other patient (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), unfortunately, no longer showed vital signs, despite our efforts,” explained Leiva.
The identity and condition of the second individual is yet unknown.
U.S. media outlets such as TMZ, Page Six and The New York Post shared new details of the incident, citing Caribbean Guard, a lifeguard association in the Southern Caribbean, as a source.
On their Facebook page, Caribbean Guard posted:
“Lamentamos profundamente el fallecimiento de Malcom – Jamal Warner, en Playa Grande.
“Fue arrastrado por una fuerte corriente de resaca y falleció por ahogamiento. Fue todo muy rápido y a pesar de haber gente en la playa que entró a rescatarlo, no llegaron a tiempo.
“Fue sacado bajo el agua ya sin signos vitales y a pesar de habérsele suministrado maniobras de RCP en la playa no hubo éxito en su reanimación.
“Playa Grande es una de nuestras playas más desafiantes. Es una playa conocida por surfistas locales y hay rótulos (en ingles y español) que advierten del peligro de muerte por ahogamientos.
“Es una playa que Caribbean Guard ha patrullado durante los últimos años. Sin embargo este domingo, no.
“Debido a los recientes incidentes acuáticos en Playa Negra hemos destinado recursos ahí y en Chiquita, otra playa emblemática, por sus corrientes.
“Desde Caribbean Guard, asociación de guardavidas voluntarios, hacemos un llamamiento al Presidente de la Nación, al gobierno nacional, a la Municipalidad de Talamanca y toda la comunidad caribeña, para seguir sumando esfuerzos para minimizar este problema que, tristemente, viene en alza en TODO EL PAIS.
“Hacemos todo lo que esta a nuestro alcance. Hemos salvado numerosas vidas en los últimos años, y si Caribbean Guard no existiera, los ahogamientos se contarían por docenas. Ponemos todo de nuestro lado para minimizar los riesgos pero si no tenemos ayuda del gobierno, políticas publicas claras y un fuerte respaldo de los empresarios de la zona, esto va a seguir sucediendo.”
Translation:
“We deeply regret the death of Malcolm Jamal Warner at Playa Grande.
“He was swept away by a strong rip current and died from drowning. Everything happened very quickly, and despite people on the beach who came to rescue him, they didn’t arrive in time.
“He was pulled underwater with no vital signs, and despite CPR being administered on the beach, he was unsuccessful.
“Playa Grande is one of our most challenging beaches. It’s a beach known for local surfers, and there are signs (in English and Spanish) warning of the danger of death from drowning.
“It’s a beach that the Caribbean Guard has patrolled for the past few years. However, not this Sunday.
“Due to the recent aquatic incidents at Playa Negra, we have allocated resources there and at Chiquita, another emblematic beach, due to its currents.
“From Caribbean Guard, an association of volunteer lifeguards, we call on the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise throughout the country.
“We are doing everything in our power. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn’t exist, drownings would number in the dozens. We are doing everything we can to minimize the risks, but without government assistance, clear public policies, and strong support from local businesses, this will continue to happen.”
Q COSTARICA – Potholes or ‘huecos’, uncovered manhole covers, and other serious road defects pose a risk to drivers and pedestrians on Costa Rica’s roads.
Perhaps Costa Rica’s legislators could take a tip from our southern neighbour, Panama, where lawmakers are discussing a new bill that proposes the State compensate those affected with up to US$10,000, who until now had to bear the cost of the damages to their vehicles.
“Fix them” or “This is dangerous” are the most common complaints from some residents of a residential area in Panama City with countless potholes on their roads, the major Spanish-language multimedia news agency, EFE, recently reported.
“The streets must be in good condition so as not to have to compensate anyone and, even more importantly, to protect people’s lives because in these accidents, material damage is the last thing that matters,” legislator José Pérez Barboni of the Movimiento Otro Camino (MOCA), the proponent of the law, told EFE.
Although there are no official statistics on traffic accidents in Costa Rica caused by poor road conditions, material damage to vehicles is common.
The purpose of such a law would be to establish civil liability on the part of the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT), the government entity responsible for planning, constructing, maintaining, and managing the country’s road infrastructure and transportation systems, including highways, bridges, and other public works projects, and/or contracted companies that may be involved in “injuries, damages, or losses” resulting from “omissions” or “negligence” on public roads, by means of compensation to the affected party.
The compensation would not only be limited to vehicles but also to pedestrians affected by potholes, gaps, or cracks in deteriorated pavement, or sinkholes resulting from poor road construction and maintenance.
In the case of Panama’s proposed bill, it also covers damages due to the absence of manhole covers or power service coverage, poor infrastructure design, and lack of road signage and lighting. However, it exempts the State from liability in the case of damage caused by “force majeure,” such as natural disasters or “extraordinary events.”
A national public services authority would be in charge of processing the cases and paying compensation, which would have a time limit of, say, not more than a year or 18 months.
Rather than creating a new government agency, perhaps Costa Rica’s Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Publicos (ARESEP) – regulatory authority of public services, to which the affected party must present documents proving that the damage was caused by the poor condition of the road.
“What we are considering for the regulation of the law, once it can pass the stages, is that it will have to be evaluated by three authorized workshops, so that they can objectively determine the extent of the damage without additional costs,” explained explained Barboni as in the case of the proposal in Panama.
The Poor Condition of the Roads: Poor Construction and a “Business”
Costa Rica has over 8,500 kilometers of paved primary roads and an additional 31,525 kilometers of secondary roads, many of it is in disrepair, suffering from a lack of maintenance and new investment.
The poor condition of roads is so common in Costa Rica. Although there have been improvements over the years, the situation today, in 2025, with a quadrupling of the vehicular fleet, we can honestly say is not better, if not worse.
Every driver has a story or three of potholes. Read more: Why are there so many potholes in the roads of Costa Rica?
One of the most recent examples of the failure of the MOPT to provide safe roads is the bridge work on the Ruta 27, allowing access to and from the development on the north side of the pista that includes the already opened Walmart and soon to open McDonald’s and Gollo stores, among others to come.
In the last two months, there have been two serious accidents that involved at least one death because of poor design, infrastructure, and a lack of signage alerting drivers to the uneven road surface, in both directions, which continues today.
Another example is the newly opened north section of the Circunvalacion (ruta 39) that, well, let’s just say, exemplifies the lack of seriousness and commitment on the part of the MOPT officials to provide a safe road.
In addition to poor design, the main causes are poor compaction of the materials, road construction without understanding the legal specifications, and water leaks from damaged pipes located beneath the roads, among others.
Also, in Costa Rica, roads tend to deteriorate more quickly because it’s a business; they come back and hire another company, meaning the company that built the road doesn’t have to repair anything.
In some cases, the initial road builder is re-hired to make the repairs.
Understanding Costa Rica’s numbering of the road system
Most parts of the country are accessible by road. The country’s total road network includes a mix of paved and gravel roads, with most secondary roads also paved.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Q COSTARICA — Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the hit American series ‘The Cosby Show’, died this Sunday, July 20, at the age of 54 while vacationing in Costa Rica.
According to reports, Warner was swimming with his family at Playa Grande, in the town of Cocles, Limón, when a rip current swept him out to sea around 2:30 pm and prevented him from returning to shore.
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) reported that several people on the beach tried to help him, but their efforts were in vain. The Red Cross declared him dead at the scene.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner rose to international fame in the 1980s for his role as the youngest son of Dr. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) on the popular NBC sitcom for eight seasons, appearing in each of the 197 episodes.
Theo was the only son among four daughters in the Huxtable household, and he would be one of the prime representations of American teenage life and Black boyhood on a show that was the most popular in America for much of its run from 1984 to 1992.
Throughout his career, he also worked as a director, musician, and poet, leaving his mark on various areas of African-American art and culture
Q COSTARICA — Starting in 2026, applying for a visa to enter the United States will be significantly more expensive due to a new mandatory US$250 surcharge added to current fees.
The measure was approved as part of the new immigration law known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025.
The objective of the legislation is to reduce the number of people who enter as tourists and then remain illegally, strengthening immigration control.
The new “Visa Integrity Fee,” as it has been dubbed, will apply to all nonimmigrant visas, including tourist (B-1/B-2), student (F, M), temporary work (H-1B), and exchange programs (J-1), among others. With this new imposition, the total processing cost will increase from US$185 to US$435.
According to the State Department, this fee will be mandatory and unavoidable for both new applications and renewals initiated after the law goes into effect.
For this reason, interested parties are advised to complete their procedures as soon as possible to avoid the increase.
Although an exact implementation date has not yet been announced, it is estimated that the fee will begin in late 2025 or early 2026.
The only possible relief is the possibility of making the surcharge refundable if the visitor complies with all immigration laws during their stay in the United States.
This change will particularly impact those planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, Canada, and primarily the United States, which will host most of the tournament’s matches.
Millions of fans wishing to travel to soccer’s biggest event must now factor this additional expense into their budgets.
The Visa Integrity Fee represents a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration and economic policy, with direct effects on tourists, students, and temporary workers around the world.
The United States issued nearly 11 million nonimmigrant visas in 2024, according to State Department figures.
Q REPORTS (EFE) Several Latino groups condemned an agreement between the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to share the data of 79 million users with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating that it could be used for raids and deportations.
The data transferred to ICE will be those of Medicaid recipients, a federal and state program that provides health coverage to low-income people. This information includes addresses and confidential information that could be used by Immigration agents in immigration raids.
“Sharing Medicaid data with ICE is a violation of trust and privacy. Nearly 80 million Americans could be affected. This measure turns healthcare into a weapon,” criticized the Latino organization Unidos US, one of the largest in the country, on the social media platform X.
“Many working families will avoid Medicaid for fear of exposing them to ICE,” the organization continued, lamenting that this move could cause some families to not enroll in the program for fear of sharing their data, leaving thousands of children across the country without coverage.
And it concluded by asking Congress to halt the measure to protect families and all communities’ access to healthcare.
Approximately 26.8 million Latinos are enrolled in the Medicaid program, which was enacted in 1965 by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, according to the organization Voto Latino.
In a statement, this Latino group described the agreement with ICE as “an unprecedented violation of public trust” that raises “serious questions” about the interests of immigration agents in accessing this information.
“The use of healthcare data as a weapon to enforce immigration laws is a flagrant abuse of power and an alarming escalation of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement measures,” it denounced.
It also noted that “more than 50% of Latino children receive health coverage from the ‘Children’s Health Insurance Program,'” which many of them access through Medicaid.
The agreement with ICE comes amid a crusade by President Donald Trump’s administration against undocumented immigrants in the United States, which has led to the arrest and deportation of thousands of people.
The Administration has also suspended immigration programs that granted legal status to hundreds of thousands of migrants, such as TPS and humanitarian parole, leaving thousands of these beneficiaries in limbo and forcing them to leave the country they arrived in legally or remain in the shadows to avoid deportation.
Q COSTARICA — In the context of World Dog Day, July 18, Kantar IBOPE Media, a leader in media research, shared findings that reflect how dogs not only fill homes with joy, but also play an increasingly visible role in Costa Rican advertising and consumer behavior.
According to recent data, 50.6% of Costa Ricans have at least one dog at home, with 45% having one, 28% two, and 27% three or more. This figure confirms the strong connection between people and their pets, and is not surprising considering that 7 out of 10 people in the country say their dog is part of their family.
This emotional bond also translates into consumer habits: 81% of dog owners have purchased a product for their pet in the last 30 days. Among the most purchased products are soaps, shampoos, and talcum powders (57%), wet and dry food and snacks (47%), and flea, tick, and parasite repellents (27%).
Paw Print Advertising
This relationship has also impacted brand behavior. Between the first half of 2024 and 2025, advertising presence in the “Dog Food” category grew by an average of 54%. In traditional media, this category represents 37% of the sector’s share, while in digital media it reaches 57%, demonstrating how communication is adapting to Costa Ricans’ new consumption habits.
Furthermore, brands in the sector use 4 of the 7 available media to communicate with their audiences, highlighting the importance of creating multiplatform messages aimed at those who consider their dogs a member of the household.
“The data confirms it: in Costa Rica, the love for dogs is not just an emotion, it’s also a reality that transforms lifestyle habits, purchasing decisions, and advertising strategies. This World Dog Day, we celebrate these loyal companions who have gone from being in the backyard to occupying a place in our hearts, our homes… and now, in advertising campaigns,” said Yamil Rojas Pineda, Client Service Executive at Kantar IBOPE Media.
In a country where dogs occupy an increasingly important place in daily life, these data allow us to understand not only the emotional bond between people and their pets, but also the opportunities this behavior represents for brands, media, and the consumer industry.
On World Dog Day, it’s worth recognizing that behind every paw print there is a story, a connection, and a trend that continues to grow.
Q COSTA RICA — After the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) was announced, the party that will be running with Chavismo in the 2026 elections, last Saturday, the next step is to select a candidate to continue Rodrigo Chaves’ administration for the 2026-2030 term.
Former Minister of Planning and the Presidency, Laura Fernández, officially declared her interest in being the candidate for the February 1, 2026, elections during an interview with Telediario.
Party Secretary General Francisco Gamboa, who was Chaves’ former Minister of Economy, provided some details about the candidate selection process for the Chavista campaign.
Interested individuals can register up to July 28, with a registration fee of ¢750,000 colones and a participation fee of ¢3,000,000 colones. The participation fee is refundable if the candidate is not elected by the National Assembly.
In addition to the fees, candidates must meet other requirements such as submitting a sworn declaration of compliance with legal and ethical standards and a clean criminal record.
The final decision on the candidate selection will be made by the party’s National Assembly on a date that has yet to be announced.
Gamboa stated that the date of the National Assembly meeting will be determined in accordance with the deadlines set in the electoral calendar.
Fernández officially became the first person to formalize her interest in running. “If you can interpret it that way, I will present my pre-candidacy within the timeframe established by the PARTY. I have made the decision together with my family,” she declared on Monday’s Telediario.
Her name has been mentioned since she was in the Chaves administration and after she resigned from her position, within the timeframes established by law.
The former minister added that she feels ready to run, although she emphasized that it is a democratic process and that the final decision on the presidential candidate will depend on the party’s National Assembly.
Fernández is listed as responsible for the political group’s government program and public policies, according to the organizational chart released by the PPSO.
On Saturday, July 12, Pilar Cisneros announced the group of parties that make up the PPSO party, which is expected to be the ruling party after the elections in February. The leads, although she cannot be re-elected to her legislative seat, leads the campaign team’s political and communications strategy.
During the event held in downtown San José, Cisneros explained that the PPSO will be supported by four other parties: Creemos, Partido Esperanza y Libertad, Motiva, and Renacer Democrático.
The five groups will not register as a formal coalition, but will operate as a “de facto coalition.” According to Cisneros, they will present a single presidential ticket and a joint list of candidates for the Legislative Assembly.
The party’s organizational structure also includes political figures such as Freddy González, Royner Mora, José Eduardo Alvarado, and Carlos Valenciano.
Earlier this week, days after the announcement, cracks began to appear in the “de facto coalition.”
Q COSTARICA — Tourist arrivals in Costa Rica by air fell 4.5% in June 2025 compared to the same month the previous year, according to the most recent report from the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) – Costa Rican Tourism Board.
This decline reinforces the downward trend affecting the main channel for international visitors, with the exception of April, when the flow increased by 4.6%.
Since November 2024, the country has reported consecutive declines in tourist arrivals by air.
Data shows that the United States, the largest source market, saw a 4.9% decrease in air arrivals compared to June 2024. In total, 159,401 U.S. tourists entered the country that month, well below the 167,554 last year.
Meanwhile, visits from Canadians also declined by 5.7%, while visits from Mexico fell 11.4%.
European air tourism showed an overall drop of 9.3% in June. Notable declines were from Germany (-13.7%) and Spain (-14.4%), two priority markets in the ICT’s tourism attraction campaigns.
Other significant declines were from France (-14.2%) and the United Kingdom (-3.3%), countries that traditionally maintain high demand for the nature and adventure destinations that Costa Rica offers.
While Costa Rica reports a sustained decline, global tourism maintains a positive trend. Between January and March 2025, year-on-year arrivals grew 5% (more than 3% compared to 2019), totaling approximately 300 million tourists. Asia and the Pacific led the way with a 13% increase, followed by Africa with a 9% increase, while Europe and the Americas each grew by a 2% increase.
According to the UN tourism agency, international tourism has not only fully recovered from the pandemic but has surpassed those levels in terms of travel. The solid start to 2025, with a 5% increase in arrivals and strong regional momentum, reinforces expectations of a new global record in 2025.
On June 17, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, William Rodríguez, told legislators of the Tourism Commission that “we are facing a challenge, not a crisis.”
On that occasion, Rodríguez insisted that these are internal matters for the airlines. For example, they will not have more units available in the short term. This affects the results and decreases the number of seats in Costa Rica. However, the explanations from the leader and the government have changed in the nine months since arrivals changed course.
He also argued that there were destinations in the Middle East and Asia, such as China, that had not fully reopened after the pandemic. Once they reopened, they returned to the competition.
The business sector remains adamant that the country is losing competitiveness. This is a result of the dollar exchange rate, which makes Costa Rica more expensive compared to other nearby destinations in the region and other parts of the world.
The ICT had projected that starting in April, an increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year, with monthly growths of between 2% to 4%, but the forecast has not been met.
JUnit testing isn’t limited to unit tests; it also supports complex integration testing scenarios. By using advanced features like configuration management, container support, dependency injection, and data validation, JUnit can effectively handle full-stack, microservice, and API integration testing.
No component functions entirely independently in a modern application architecture, particularly one that adheres to layered or service-oriented design. All modules, including controllers, database handlers, services, and third-party API clients, are a part of a larger system that needs to work together flawlessly.
Integration testing is crucial in this situation. Although unit testing verifies that each component is correct when used alone, it ignores the interactions between those components. By detecting problems that unit tests frequently overlook these integration testing makes sure that these parts function as intended.
Avoiding integration testing creates a fictitious sense of assurance. In isolation, code may seem stable, but when it is deployed, it may not work. You obtain a thorough safety net that increases system dependability, reduces regressions, and aids in delivering consistent performance across environments by incorporating integration testing into your workflow. Integration testing in the end serves as the glue that verifies your architecture, making sure that all of your applications and moving components work together as a cohesive whole.
The demands of integration testing increase with the complexity of applications. When used in conjunction with contemporary frameworks and tools, JUnit, typically thought of as a tool for unit tests, can be utilized for much more complex testing techniques.
The advanced methods listed below will help you improve your JUnit integration testing.
Development teams can increase test reliability, identify cross-layer bugs sooner, and boost confidence in the stability of their application architecture by devoting time to creating strong JUnit-based integration tests.
Here are some key strategies that can significantly improve the quality and efficiency of your integration test suite:
As software systems become more complex and distributed, ensuring quality across a wide range of environments is a growing challenge. Integration testing, in particular, requires validating interactions between services, databases, APIs, and UIs under real-world conditions. This is where using a remote test lab or cloud platform becomes highly practical.
Cloud-based solutions like LambdaTest serve as an efficient remote test lab, helping teams avoid the complexity of maintaining local infrastructure or physical device farms. With on-demand access to 3000+ real browsers, operating systems, and device combinations, it enables fast, scalable testing across real environments.
LambdaTest is a GenAI-powered test execution platform that allows you to perform manual and automated tests at scale across 3000+ browser/OS combinations and 10,000+ real devices. This allows teams to validate behavior across platforms without the overhead of maintaining a traditional device lab.
For teams using automation and CI/CD, LambdaTest integrates seamlessly with frameworks like JUnit, Selenium, TestNG, Cypress, and Playwright. It supports parallel test execution, shortening feedback cycles, especially useful in integration testing where full-stack validations can become bottlenecks.
As a remote test lab, LambdaTest also enhances visibility and debugging. Each session includes logs, console output, screenshots, video recordings, and network data. Features like network simulation, geolocation testing, and intelligent UI comparisons make it easier to catch issues missed in local testing environments.
Security and scalability are built in. LambdaTest supports secure tunnels for staging/internal environments and meets enterprise-grade compliance standards, making it a strong option for teams of any size.
Choosing a remote test lab like LambdaTest helps you scale testing intelligently, reduce maintenance effort, and ship reliable software faster, with broader coverage and smarter diagnostics.
Unit testing was the initial purpose of JUnit, but it has since developed into a flexible and strong framework that can facilitate thorough integration testing. Deep production-like validation across application layers can be achieved with JUnit when combined with contemporary technologies such as WireMock for external service mocking, Testcontainers for environment simulation, and Spring Boot for context loading. By using JUnit and sophisticated integration testing techniques, developers can go beyond testing discrete components.
It gives them the ability to check how modules work together, how information moves through the system, and how the application acts in real-world situations. Smooth end-to-end functionality, increased system reliability, and early detection of complex bugs are all made possible by this degree of testing. Teams can expedite delivery pipelines, lower post-deployment failure rates, and create more robust software by investing in organized and automated JUnit-based integration testing techniques. Robust integration testing has become essential to quality assurance and the long-term success of applications in today’s fast-paced development environment.
AI in software testing enables predictive defect analysis by leveraging historical data and code behavior patterns to identify high-risk areas before bugs occur. This approach helps teams improve accuracy and speed in modern release cycles.
Using machine learning models, predictive defect analysis is a proactive method that predicts the locations of software codebase defects. Predictive analysis uses historical data, including past bug code complexity, developer activity, and test execution patterns, to identify high-risk areas in the application rather than depending only on reactive bug tracking or comprehensive test coverage.
Using this information, AI models generate risk profiles for every module or component, directing QA teams’ testing activities accordingly. This change from thorough testing to risk-based prioritization significantly boosts productivity, assisting businesses in identifying important problems early and cutting down on time-to-market.
AI-driven predictive defect analysis harnesses multiple data sources and intelligent algorithms to drive smarter testing decisions:
Mining and analyzing historical defect data is one of AI’s most potent software testing capabilities. AI can detect recurrent patterns in bug occurrence by looking at years’ worth of previous bug reports, severity classifications, timestamps, impacted modules, and resolution histories. These patterns assist the system in identifying the most vulnerable parts of the codebase and the circumstances in which bugs are most likely to resurface.
AI will identify components as high-risk if, for instance, a particular module has a history of experiencing performance bottlenecks during high-load situations or if a particular API regularly results in integration problems. This realization enables QA teams to more thoroughly test and keep an eye on these areas before a change is implemented. This past knowledge gradually feeds back into the system, increasing accuracy with each cycle of releases.
Code is always changing; it doesn’t just exist. AI tools are ideally suited to monitor this development by analyzing the effects of change. AI can assess how volatile a given section of code is by looking at commit histories, pull request patterns, code churn rates, and even developer activity. Regression problems are statistically more likely to occur in components that are regularly altered or touched by several developers.
AI systems identify these regions as high-risk, alerting QA teams to expand their testing coverage in those areas. Furthermore, AI can identify module dependencies, allowing it to anticipate which other areas of the application may be impacted when a change is made to one component. This saves time and effort during the debugging process by directing focused testing and preventing ripple-effect bugs from infiltrating production.
The ability of AI to correlate test coverage with defect trends is another revolutionary use of AI in software testing. AI does more than traditional tools, which can only tell you what proportion of your code is covered by tests. To identify weak points where test coverage might be inadequate or deceptive, it compares test execution data with past bug trends.
For instance, AI may indicate that the current test cases are ineffective—possibly lacking depth or failing to replicate real-world edge cases—if a module routinely generates high-severity bugs despite having adequate test coverage.
A significant amount of important QA information can be found in unstructured text, such as problem descriptions, user feedback, QA notes, and support tickets, even though organised data, such as test coverage and defect logs, offers useful information. Software testing is being revolutionised by a branch of artificial intelligence known as Natural Language Processing (NLP).
In software testing, AI-powered predictive defect analysis is more than just a futuristic idea; it offers real advantages that revolutionize QA teams’ workflow, risk response, and quality acceleration. This clever strategy improves software testing in the following ways.
Cloud-based cross-browser testing solutions are designed to accelerate website testing and improve responsiveness across a wide range of devices. Comprehensive test suite capabilities help developers ensure their applications are optimized for consistent performance and user experience across all browsers and devices.
As Test AI becomes a core part of modern quality assurance, having an intelligent, scalable, and automation-ready testing platform is essential. These platforms provide the infrastructure and insights needed to support AI-driven testing strategies, enabling intelligent test orchestration, self-healing tests, and predictive defect analysis. They go beyond basic test execution by powering smarter, faster, and more reliable testing workflows.
This high-availability infrastructure supports rapid iteration cycles essential for training and refining AI models.
KaneAI is a GenAI-native testing agent that allows teams to plan, author, and evolve tests using natural language. Built for high-speed quality engineering teams, it integrates seamlessly with LambdaTest’s end-to-end capabilities for test planning, execution, orchestration, and analysis.
Not only will software quality assurance be automated in the future, but it will also be intelligent and predictive. Software testing teams are no longer restricted to finding bugs after they happen, thanks to the use of AI, especially predictive defect analysis. Rather, they are prepared to predict the areas where defects are most likely to appear, which enables them to take preventative action and stop problems before they affect users or cause releases to fail. This move from reactive to data-driven strategic QA radically alters testing in the software development lifecycle.
Quality has evolved into an intelligent, integrated process that provides real-time insights and changes, with the product no longer serving as the final checkpoint. Teams acquire the ability to confidently make well-informed decisions, distribute resources effectively, and maximize test coverage. Traditional testing techniques are inadequate as applications get more complex, development cycles get shorter, and user expectations keep rising. Adopting AI can help QA procedures become more future-proof, not just improve them. Businesses that use AI in their testing approach will be able to produce software more quickly, safely, and intelligently, giving them a competitive advantage in the current digital-first environment.
The performance of the Android emulator on Mac directly impacts test execution, automation reliability, and debugging speed. Poor emulator responsiveness can delay regression cycles and reduce feedback accuracy. This article covers configuration tips, hardware optimizations, and emulator settings to boost performance and ensure stable, efficient Android testing on macOS.
Particularly in the early stages of development, when actual device access may be restricted, emulators are essential for testing mobile applications. Optimizing the Android emulator on Mac is important for QA teams and developers using macOS for reasons other than performance it also affects productivity and quality control. Slow or underperforming emulators introduce inconsistencies, slow down test execution, and use up system resources, all of which can produce unreliable results.
In development environments that require rapid iterations and continuous testing, these problems become especially problematic. A slow emulator impedes QA teams’ ability to meet strict release deadlines, slows down feedback loops, and irritates developers. Furthermore, testing runs the risk of missing important bugs that only manifest in production if performance problems prevent the emulator from accurately simulating real device conditions.
This jeopardizes the accuracy of your testing and may result in expensive post-release fixes as well as unhappy users. Teams can achieve more accurate results, faster test execution, and easier integration with CI/CD workflows by optimizing the Android emulator. Developers and testers can concentrate on what matters—creating excellent Android apps that function flawlessly in the real world—as the testing process becomes more streamlined and dependable overall.
Before you optimize, understand your Mac’s capabilities:
You must use advanced techniques and move beyond a simple setup if you want to optimise the effectiveness and dependability of your QA testing on Android emulators.
Testing flexibility is a must in today’s fast-paced dev cycle. Whether you’re a QA working remote, a PM verifying fixes during a meeting, or a dev checking builds on the go, you need quick access to testing tools from any device. But if you’ve tried accessing an Android emulator from an iPhone, you know how limiting it can be.
That’s where cloud platforms like LambdaTest come in handy. It gives you access to a fast, browser-based Android emulator for iPhone, no need to install anything or use a physical Android device. Just open your iPhone browser, pick your Android version or device, and start testing. It’s responsive, easy to use, and actually works well on mobile.
LambdaTest is a GenAI-powered test execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale across 3000+ browser/OS combos and 10,000+ real devices. So, whether you’re testing mobile websites, APKs, or Android-specific features, you’ve got the environment you need, right from your iPhone.
You can upload APKs, debug layout issues, simulate real gestures (swipe, scroll, tap), and get fast feedback on Android behavior, all without needing a desktop. And since a real device-based approach, the results are way more reliable than generic simulators.
Plus, it’s not just about convenience. You can capture screenshots, record sessions, grab logs, and push bugs straight into Jira, GitHub, Slack, or Trello, direct from your mobile browser. So collaboration with your team stays smooth, even if you’re away from your desk.
Need to test on staging or local environments? LambdaTest supports that too with LT Tunnel so that you can run Android emulator tests from your iPhone, even on internal builds. And for teams doing automation or working with CI/CD, everything scales easily without the headache of maintaining devices.
So if you’ve been looking for a simple, reliable way to run an Android emulator for iPhone, LambdaTest is a solid option. It’s fast, flexible, and fits right into modern testing workflows, without making things complicated.
A fast, dependable, and scalable testing workflow can be the difference between a tedious, time-consuming QA process and an optimized Android emulator for Mac. Slow virtual devices or unreliable test environments can no longer afford to hold QA teams back as mobile applications get more complex and release cycles get shorter. This is where optimizing your Android emulator configuration helps.
Testers can achieve noticeably better emulator performance by taking advantage of Apple Silicon’s native support through ARM64 system images, carefully configuring AVD profiles to mimic real-world devices, and efficiently allocating system resources. This leads to quicker test executions, smoother interactions, and faster boot times, which increase overall productivity.
Additionally, automation and scripting that lower human overhead are made possible by integrating command-line tools like adb and the emulator CLI. Advanced techniques that further improve the stability and control of your QA process include running emulators in headless mode, creating isolated test environments using user sessions or containers, and utilising snapshot features to ensure consistent test states. You can emulate a variety of Android settings, find more issues before they become public, and provide smooth user experiences on a larger range of devices with the correct emulator configurat
Q COSTARICA — While there is no official evidence that Canada rejected a specific proposal from Costa Rica, the Embassy of Canada to Costa Rica, in San José confirmed that it received a request from the government of Rodrigo Chaves, asking Canada to accept some of the migrants deported by U.S. President Donald Trump and who rejected repatriation to their countries of origin, including Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
Costa Rica has been dealing with a significant migratory influx, including people deported by the United States who do not wish to return to their countries of origin.
Costa Rica requested Canada’s assistance in receiving these migrants, but the exact nature of the proposal and Canada’s response have not been specified.
Canada has clear immigration policies and requires visas or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for most travelers entering the country.
Costa Rica also has its own immigration laws and social security and health care systems for foreigners.
The immigration situation in the region is complex, and both nations have their own policies and procedures.
Q COSTARICA — With the arrival of August 2, the date on which thousands of people will mobilize toward the Basilica of the Angels in Cartago, for the annual romeria (pilgrimage), the College of Pharmacists of Costa Rica (ColFar) launched a series of tips to avoid health complications.
When participating in this pilgrimage, it is recommended to adopt preventive measures regarding hydration, sun protection, nutrition, correct use of medications, and specific health conditions, according to ColFar.
Among the main recommendations is the importance of staying hydrated by carrying between two and three liters of water per person, drinking it in small amounts every 15 to 20 minutes, and supplementing with oral fluids to replenish salts and electrolytes.
“Alcoholic or sugary beverages should be avoided, as they can promote dehydration. It’s prudent for young children not to participate, due to their greater vulnerability. Pets can also suffer burns from hot pavement or heat exhaustion,” said Yajaira Quesada, a doctor from the College of Pharmacists.
Pharmacies will be available before and during the romeria to assist with medications, hydration, skin care, and special needs.
Q COSTARICA — After months of uncertainty and the emergence of several apparent parties aligned with the president, on Saturday, July 12, supporters of President Rodrigo Chaves announced that the Partido Pueblo Soberano (PPSO) will be the electoral vehicle for the current government’s continuity in the 2026 elections.
As part of the announcement, the campaign team that will lead the government’s strategy for the 2026 elections was revealed.
The new political leadership will be headed by figures trusted by the president and former leaders of the current government:
In addition, Francisco Gamboa, former Minister of Economy, will serve as General Secretary of Pueblo Soberano, and Mayuli Ortega, founder of the party, will serve as president.
At this time, a presidential candidate has not been announced, but everything points to Laura Fernández. The announcement will be made in approximately a month.
According to Cisneros, five political groups have aligned themselves with the goal of presenting a single presidential candidate and a single list of legislators. These groups are Pueblo Soberano, Movimiento Tiempo de Valientes, Creemos, Renacer Democrático (PRD), and Esperanza y Libertad.
Presidential Reelection Continues
During the press conference on Saturday, Cisneros also noted that the party’s main goal is to secure between 38 and 40 legislative seats and thus implement the reforms the country needs.
If successful, Pueblo Soberano will likely promote a constitutional change to allow for continuous presidential reelection.
“However, for this to happen, 40 seats are needed to pursue this constitutional amendment,” Cisneros said.
Due to the limitation on consecutive terms, there is speculation that Rodrigo Chaves may resign from his presidency in order to pursue a legislative seat. If this happens, he would need to resign by July 31 to comply with electoral regulations.
As for Cisneros, she made it clear that she will not renounce her seat as a PPSD legislator. That is, she ruled out declaring herself an independent legislator for the remainder of this last legislative term of the current constitutional period.
“I am not going to join any party. Right now, I am in the PPSD simply and simply because the law requires me to, because the Supreme Electoral Tribunal requires it. But I am one of the Costa Ricans who does not believe in political parties; I don’t want to join any,” Cisneros stated.
Q COSTARICA — Following the announcement of new U.S. visa revocations for several high-ranking officials and public figures in the country, Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves asserted that these decisions are not arbitrary, but rather respond to clear criteria related to security, drug trafficking, and the defense of democracy.
Chaves made it clear that these are not in any way capricious decisions, without mentioning Rodrigo Arias, President of the Legislative Assembly, who was notified this week of the loss of his visa to the United States.
“People need to understand that the United States has very clear rules related to international crime, drug trafficking, and attacks against democracy. This is not a decision made by a local embassy; that comes from the top,” Chaves stated, alluding to the internal mechanisms of the U.S. government.
For Chaves, the lack of formal explanation from the U.S. government does not mean there is no reason.
“No one makes a decision there without having discussed it at the highest levels. Anyone who says it was the embassy here, no, sir,” he emphasized, noting that these measures are being replicated in other Latin American countries.
President Chaves invited those affected to seek their own answers: “Go ask Arias, Vanessa Castro, the vice president of the Legislative Assembly, the legislators, the ladies who are calling about something related to Huawei, the magistrates, why did they take away your visas? Don’t ask me.”
Long List
The list of Costa Ricans who have lost their entry permits to the United States continues to grow, with no specific explanations from the U.S. embassy in San José or the U.S. State Department.
Among the names that stand out are Paul Rueda, a magistrate of the Constitutional Court; Johana Obando and Cynthia Córdoba, independent legislators; Francisco Nicolás, a PLN legislator; Vanessa Castro, a PUSC legislator; Sofía Machuca, an ICE auditor; and the Arias brothers (two-time former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner Óscar, who had his U.S. Visa revoked in April and Rodrigo, President of the Legislative Assembly, just last week).
Although the U.S. government has remained officially silent, former Senator Marco Rubio previously warned that action would be taken against Costa Rican officials who attempted to undermine cybersecurity or cooperate with governments considered enemies by Washington, such as China.
Chaves made it clear that he would not elaborate on the matter, but insisted that “this is serious” and that those being sanctioned may have engaged in acts that violate principles the United States takes very seriously: democracy, security, and the fight against organized crime.
Q COSTARICA — The Sistema de Integrado de Compras Públicas (SICOP) – Integrated Public Procurement System – is the platform for public entities looking to rent a warehouse, for technological supplies in general, to more specific needs, such as the decommissioning of metal coins.
In recent months, the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) – Central Bank, has put into circulation new ¢10, ¢50, ¢100, and ¢500 coins and withdrawn the old. The question then arises as to what will happen to the coins that are being discontinued.
First, the Central Bank details that the banks are collecting the coins, which will be reviewed, counted, and packaged before transferring them to the BCCR.
Next, the decommissioning process will be required, for which a supplier is being sought.
“Destruction consists of physically rendering the coins useless using specialized machinery that crushes or deforms them,” the Central Bank explains. This ensures that the coins are no longer used as a means of payment.
“The resulting material, mostly composed of brass-coated steel, has a residual value. The Central Bank receives income from delivering this recoverable waste to the contractor,” they add.
The resulting materials from the coins could be smelted and transformed for use in the manufacture of new metal products.
At the beginning of the year, the Central Bank had announced that 2025 would mark changes to Costa Rica’s “monetary cone,” which refers to the set of banknotes and coins that make up the national currency.
The project sought to improve user security and convenience with smaller and lighter coins.
Along the way, there was an adjustment in materials. The coins are now made of copper-based alloys, which makes them easier to identify by machines and allows for greater resistance to corrosion.
In addition, the designs were streamlined by including illustrations of wildlife and culture, which will attempt to reduce counterfeiting.
How will the change go?
The change that was already underway is the ¢500 coin, which is now valid only in the two-color design that celebrates the country’s historical milestones:
The next denomination is the ¢100. The Swing Criollo design will be circulating starting this July, and the second image is expected to arrive in October. It is not yet known when the old coins will be released, and they will now be exchanged for the following options:
A smaller silver piece will be available as a replacement for the ¢50 coin. The new collection consists of six motifs:
The Central Bank has already issued 5.8 million coins with the morpho butterfly design. More designs will be released throughout the year, culminating in the rabbit, which will be available in January 2026.
The ¢25 coins, meanwhile, are already circulating in the Limón edition, which depicts the Southern Caribbean. Representations of the other provinces will be added to this collection.
“Touch, look, turn” will also work with coins.
The arrival of such a varied monetary cone has also led to recommendations so people can identify the coins that are being released.
According to the Central Bank, there are three tips:
Q24N — Do you know that widespread feeling that one day isn’t enough to solve all the problems that await us? Well, you should know that today, Wednesday, July 9th, that idea could become partially true.
This is because there’s a high probability that this will be one of the shortest days in the history of our planet.
Although no scientist knows exactly what’s behind this phenomenon, recent studies reveal that the Earth’s rotation, the movement it makes on its axis, appears to have accelerated in the last five years.
But don’t worry: the change is so subtle that no adjustment to the clock hands is necessary. However, some more sensitive equipment (such as satellites or GPS) may require technical adjustments.
Accelerated Rotation
The warning was issued by astrophysicist Graham Jones of the website timeandate.com, who makes precise time measurements with advanced tools.
In a post, the expert explains that the Earth’s complete rotation lasts exactly 86,400 seconds, the equivalent of 24 hours.
However, since 2020, the planet appears to have accelerated.
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the Earth completed its rotation a few milliseconds faster than expected.
To put this in perspective, a millisecond is very small—it’s equivalent to 0.001 seconds. A blink of an eye lasts 100 milliseconds. And the flapping of a bee’s wings lasts about 5 milliseconds.
But back to the topic at hand: according to Graham, before 2020, the shortest day ever recorded by atomic clocks, which measure time with great precision, was -1.05 milliseconds.
In practice, this means that the complete rotation on its axis was completed moments before the clock struck 86,400 seconds.
Atomic clocks
And this has been happening frequently lately: in recent years, this shortening of the day has occurred every year.
A record of -1.66 milliseconds was recorded on July 5, 2024, as well as -1.47 on July 9, 2021, -1.59 on June 30, 2022, and -1.31 on June 16, 2023.
Experts project that this “loss of time” will likely be repeated in 2025.
According to Jones, this could happen on three specific dates in the coming weeks: July 9, July 22, and August 5.
On these days, the Moon is farther from the equator and exerts less gravitational influence.
And the prediction is that the rotation will complete between -1.30 and -1.51 milliseconds on these stipulated dates.
Why is this happening?
How can this “acceleration” of the Earth be explained? Scientists are still not entirely sure.
An article written by Jones cites some possible explanations.
“Long-term variations in the Earth’s rotational speed can be affected by a variety of factors, including the complex motions of the planet’s core, oceans, and atmosphere,” he writes.
The fact that atomic clocks capable of more precise measurements have only been available since the 1950s also makes it difficult to understand these long-term dynamics.
In the same article, researcher Leonid Zotov, considered a world authority on the Earth’s rotational motions, admits that no one expected such a phenomenon.
“Most scientists believe this has something to do with the planet’s interior. Oceanographic and atmospheric models aren’t sufficient to explain this massive acceleration,” notes the expert, who works at Moscow State University, Russia.
Zotov projects that the trend for the coming years will be a reversal of the phenomenon. As a result, the planet we inhabit will enter a phase of deceleration.
Clocks
The way we perceive the passage of time has changed throughout history. Getty Images
Rotation is not a constant movement
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program in the UK, Professor Hannah Fry said: “Throughout history, we have always defined our time according to the speed of the Earth’s rotation.”
“But our planet isn’t very good at measuring time. After all, we live on a somewhat irregular rock floating in space,” joked the Professor of Public Understanding of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge (UK).
Fry emphasizes that rotation is not a constant motion and has undergone significant variations throughout the geological eras.
“The planet used to spin much faster in the past. We can verify this by analyzing ancient corals and counting their inner rings, similar to how we do with trees,” he explains.
“About 430 million years ago, the year had 420 days,” he explains. “In other words, there were many more nights between each birthday.”
Q COSTARICA — The arrival of a mass of Saharan dust is deteriorating air quality in several regions of Costa Rica this week.
According to Daniel Poleo of the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – the national weather service, the Costa Rican Air Quality Index shows values ranging from very unfavorable to unfavorable.
“The country will experience fairly high levels of Saharan dust, affecting air quality, diminishing the good quality we have been experiencing in recent days,” Poleo added.
“The mass of dust over the region inhibits precipitation. In this case, respirable particles can generate or cause respiratory problems, particularly midweek and into the weekend,” he explained.
Furthermore, the greatest risk is primarily for people with allergies, children, and the elderly.
The IMN noted that these conditions are typical of this time of year; July and August are the peak concentration of dust masses in Costa Rica.
Meanwhile, the decrease in rainfall has a negative impact, allowing for the accumulation of suspended particles.
“This is known as calima, which can remain in the air for several days,” the expert emphasized.
“Then, an atmosphere filled with calima remains, and this causes respiratory problems, particularly in older adults, children, and people suffering from respiratory illnesses,” Poleo warned.
Keep in mind that Sahara dust is a mass of very fine mineral particles, composed primarily of sand and clay, that rise from the Sahara Desert.
Authorities recommend taking precautions this week and next, especially for vulnerable groups.
Suggested measures include:
Weekly Forecast
According to the IMN, the following are expected for the remainder of July and the first few days of August.
Rainy conditions will continue throughout the Caribbean, due to an increase in trade winds.
Normal conditions will be expected in the South Pacific and the Eastern North. In addition, less rainy than normal conditions will be expected in the North Pacific, Central Pacific, Central Valley, and the Western North.
The country will experience an intensification of the Canícula (Domestic Heatwave), particularly in the North Pacific, where there will be much less rain than normal.
Rainy conditions will continue in the Caribbean due to an increase in trade winds.
There will also be less rain than normal in the North Pacific, the Central Valley, and the Northern Zone. Normal conditions are expected in the Central and South Pacific.
Normal conditions are expected in much of the country this week, with less rain than normal in the North Pacific and the Western North Zone.
Normal conditions are expected in much of the country, with less rain than normal in the North Pacific.
Q COSTARICA — The Guanacaste Airport announced two new air routes from Canada, operated by Westjet, the Canadian airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with flights beginning operations on December 12, 2025.
Direct flights from Vancouver and Winnipeg will arrive in Guanacaste weekly, on Fridays and Saturdays, until April 25, 2026.
The flight from Vancouver will arrive at the Guanacaste airport at 9:21 a.m. and depart for the return flight at 10:30 a.m. The flight from Winnipeg will arrive at 6:01 a.m. and depart at 7:00 a.m.
With this expansion, Guanacaste Airport strengthens its leadership in air connectivity with Canada, its second-largest tourist source market.
“WestJet is delighted to add Guanacaste Airport to its network from Winnipeg and Vancouver, deepening our commitment to serving the diverse and vibrant regions of Costa Rica,” said Mike Perkins, WestJet Senior Manager of Airport Affairs.
The airport currently offers direct flights to and from Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. Starting in December, it will add connections to Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa.
Thus, Guanacaste is positioned as the airport with the most direct routes from Canada to Costa Rica, consolidating its regional leadership.
Between January and May 2025, 147,743 Canadian tourists entered the country by air, with Guanacaste being its main gateway, according to the ICT.
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), announced on Tuesday the approval of a special procedure for the temporary immigration normalization, for humanitarian reasons, of 25 foreigners deported from the United States who are currently housed at the Temporary Care Center for Migrants (Catem), located in the canton of Corredores, in the southern zone.
According to resolution D.JUR-0222-07-2025-JM, the measure will allow these individuals to legally remain in Costa Rica for an initial period of six months, extendable for equal periods if the immigration authority so determines.
During this time, they may freely travel throughout the country, work as self-employed individuals or employees, and remain at a care center or another facility authorized by Immigration, provided the stipulated conditions are met.
These 25 people entered the country in February as part of a diplomatic agreement between Costa Rica and the United States. Initially, 200 people deported from the United States were transferred to Catem.
Of this group, the majority have already left Costa Rica through the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) program of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), have sought refugee status, or have left the country under a previously granted special modality.
Currently, those remaining in Catem have not requested refugee status or the voluntary return option.
Beneficiaries of this new provision must carry the resolution certifying their immigration status and present it to authorities when requested. Furthermore, the authorization will be automatically revoked if the person commits crimes in Costa Rican territory, poses a threat to public safety, or leaves the country for any reason.
The resolution establishes requirements to guarantee the security and legality of the process, such as criminal record checks using national and international systems, biometric verification, and the integration of all documentation into individual files.
The DGME warned that if a criminal record or links to organized crime networks are detected, the permit will be revoked and immigration legislation will be applied to the person’s departure from the country.
The document, signed by the Immigration Director, Omer Badilla Toledo, emphasized that this is an exceptional and temporary measure adopted to respond to the humanitarian situation of these individuals, who cannot be returned to their countries of origin and have not expressed any intention to leave the country by other means.
© Copyright - Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv
