The United States government has revoked the visas of Rodrigo Arias, president of Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly, and Paul Rueda, a justice of the Constitutional Chamber, expanding the list of Costa Rican officials affected by such measures in 2025.

The Constitutional Chamber confirmed the cancellation of Justice Rueda’s visa but stated it would not issue further comments. Meanwhile, local media reported the case of Rodrigo Arias, who has led the Assembly for the past three years and maintained a critical stance toward President Rodrigo Chaves’s administration.

Visa revocations against Costa Rican political figures began following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to San José in February. During the trip, Rubio warned of potential sanctions against those collaborating with foreign actors that could pose a risk to U.S. cybersecurity.

While in Costa Rica, Rubio praised President Chaves for halting Chinese companies’ involvement in major tech infrastructure projects, including the development of 5G networks.

Since then, the U.S. has also revoked visas of lawmakers Francisco Nicolás (National Liberation Party), Johana Obando and Cynthia Córdoba (Progressive Liberal Party), as well as Ana Sofía Machuca, general auditor of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute. All were accused of allegedly favoring Chinese firm Huawei in 5G-related tenders—criticism led by President Chaves and members of his cabinet.

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In April, even former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias, brother of Rodrigo Arias, had his visa revoked. Arias has publicly criticized the U.S. over its military spending and, more recently, the immigration and trade policies of President Donald Trump.

As with previous cases, the U.S. government has not disclosed the specific reasons behind the visa revocations.

At least seven people have died as a result of a series of earthquakes that have shaken three departments in central Guatemala since Tuesday, according to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).

In its latest update, Conred reported that 2,138 people have been affected, and 347 have been displaced and are receiving humanitarian assistance.

“Our deepest condolences to the families. There are no words at a time like this, but know that the pain you feel is the pain of the entire Guatemalan people,” said President Bernardo Arévalo, expressing solidarity with the families of the victims. Of the seven deceased, five have been identified, while two remain unidentified as the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) continues its work.

To address the emergency, the government has opened nine shelters, currently housing 586 people affected by the tremors.

Since the start of seismic activity, the National Institute for Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh) has recorded 340 earthquakes, including 32 in the last few hours, with magnitudes ranging between 1.2 and 5.6.

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One of the most severely impacted areas is the Santa María bridge, located at kilometer 39+100 on the road to Palín, Escuintla. Authorities have begun coordinating its repair.

A total of 28 road segments have sustained damage: 11 in Sacatepéquez, 7 in Guatemala, 6 in Chimaltenango, and 4 in Escuintla.

Conred has urged the population to drive cautiously, avoid speeding, take extra care in mountainous areas or on roads with a history of structural issues, and report any emergencies to the 24-hour hotline 119.

Health authorities in Panama reported on Wednesday that the country has recorded a total of 6,458 dengue cases and 10 related deaths through epidemiological week 25, which spanned from June 15 to 21, 2025.

Of the total reported cases, 576 patients required hospitalization, and 55 cases have been classified as severe, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health (Minsa).

The metropolitan area and San Miguelito, both in the capital, account for the majority of cases, with 2,753 infections. The reported deaths occurred in the western provinces of Chiriquí (4) and Bocas del Toro (2); the eastern province of Darién (2); and Panamá Este and Coclé, with one death each.

“The national dengue incidence rate during epidemiological week 25 of 2025 is 125.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Most cases have occurred in individuals aged 10 to 59 years,” the official report stated.

Panama is currently experiencing co-circulation of all four dengue serotypes, with DENV-3 and DENV-4 being the most prevalent. This, according to Minsa, “increases the likelihood of severe and fatal cases.”

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The Ministry emphasized that dengue is a serious and potentially deadly disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and noted that it has ramped up nationwide operations through vector control teams to reduce infection rates.

However, officials stressed that citizen participation remains critical, urging the public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites both inside and around their homes.