2026 - Page 10 of 39 - Wild coast magazine

Pop star Shakira acquitted in Spanish tax fraud case

18 May

Shakira found not guilty in Spain tax evasion trial

Roger W. WatsonCulture and Entertainment

A Spanish court has decided in Shakira’s favor in her prolonged tax battle, instructing officials to refund several million euros in penalties and accrued interest, a ruling that adds a new significant episode to the singer’s complex dealings with Spain’s tax authorities.A court in Spain has cleared Colombian singer and global music icon Shakira in a tax fraud case linked to the 2011 fiscal year, concluding that authorities failed to demonstrate she was officially a tax resident in the country during that period. The ruling, which was made public through court documents reviewed by international media outlets, orders the Spanish…

18 May

An asteroid discovered days ago will narrowly miss Earth

Miles SpencerScience and Technology

A recently detected asteroid will pass relatively close to Earth this Monday, attracting the interest of astronomers and space agencies worldwide. Even with the narrow cosmic distance, experts stress that the object poses no risk to the planet and will proceed safely along its trajectory through space.Astronomers are closely monitoring an asteroid known as 2026JH2, a rocky object expected to glide past Earth at an estimated distance of about 91,593 kilometers, roughly 56,900 miles. According to calculations from the European Space Agency, its trajectory will bring it to nearly one quarter of the usual gap between Earth and the moon,…

Panama City, in Panama: What investors look for in ports, warehousing, and last-mile networks

16 May

Panama City, Panama: investor guide to ports, warehousing, and last-mile

Roger W. WatsonEconomy

Panama City serves as Panama’s core center for commerce and logistics, standing among the Western Hemisphere’s essential hubs for transshipment and distribution. Its strategic edge stems from geography, offering direct access to the Panama Canal, a rail link that crosses the isthmus, major container terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and Tocumen International Airport for cargo operations. Investors assess the city’s port infrastructure, storage facilities, and last-mile networks by considering overall throughput, operational performance, regulatory conditions, and the efficiency of final delivery to end customers.Key qualities investors seek in port operationsInvestors evaluating port assets or logistics operations linked…

14 May

Property Taxes in Panama: What Every Owner Needs to Know

Connor HughesInvestments and Business

It’s widely recognized that Panama’s real estate scene keeps drawing in domestic buyers and international investors alike, driven by its stable economy, expanding urban landscape, and appealing tax incentives. Still, aside from the actual cost of acquiring a property, understanding the taxes that may apply once someone becomes a property owner in the country is crucial.Gaining a clear grasp of what real estate taxes in Panama entail and the way they operate enables you to make better informed choices and effectively map out a long-term investment plan. Elements like property taxes, capital gains, and rental income form part of the…

Placebo and nocebo: the power of expectation in health

13 May

The psychology of healing: placebo, nocebo, and expectation

Connor HughesScience and Technology

Expectations influence physiology, and the terms placebo and nocebo describe the corresponding beneficial or adverse results shaped by those expectations. A placebo effect arises when an inert intervention or therapeutic context leads to an improvement in health, whereas a nocebo effect appears when harmful outcomes or unwanted symptoms emerge due to negative expectations. These responses are not imaginary; they trigger observable shifts in symptoms, biological indicators, neural activity, and behavior. Grasping these effects is essential for clinical practice, research design, public health strategies, and responsible communication.Key Definitions and DistinctionsPlacebo: improvement attributable to psychological and contextual factors rather than the specific…

13 May

New directions in addressing obesity

Connor HughesScience and Technology

Obesity is increasingly understood not as a matter of willpower or aesthetics, but as a multifaceted, long‑term medical condition shaped by biological, behavioral, social, and environmental influences. This broader understanding has prompted major shifts in prevention strategies, clinical practice, public policy, and scientific research. This article outlines the factors behind this change, reviews supporting evidence and examples, presents emerging tools and care models, and examines the challenges and consequences for patients, healthcare professionals, and communities.What obesity is and why it mattersObesity is commonly identified using body mass index thresholds (BMI ≥30 kg/m² for adults), though this metric offers only a…

What ethical debates are emerging around AI-generated scientific results?

13 May

Discussing the ethics of AI-driven scientific outcomes

Sophie CaldwellScience and Technology

Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly used to generate scientific results, including hypotheses, data analyses, simulations, and even full research papers. These systems can process massive datasets, identify patterns faster than humans, and automate parts of the scientific workflow that once required years of training. While these capabilities promise faster discovery and broader access to research tools, they also introduce ethical debates that challenge long-standing norms of scientific integrity, accountability, and trust. The ethical concerns are not abstract; they already affect how research is produced, reviewed, published, and applied in society.Authorship, Credit, and ResponsibilityOne of the most pressing ethical issues centers…

Burkina Faso: CSR initiatives supporting maternal health and safe water access

13 May

Supporting maternal health and safe water through CSR in Burkina Faso

Miles SpencerSocial Responsibility

Burkina Faso continues to confront enduring public health issues, as maternal mortality remains elevated by global benchmarks, with recent estimates placing the ratio in the lower hundreds per 100,000 live births (figures differ depending on source and year). Access to safely managed drinking water and essential sanitation varies widely: urban centers enjoy far stronger coverage than rural areas, where numerous health facilities also struggle with inconsistent water and sanitation services. Maternal health is closely tied to the availability of safe water, since clean water, reliable sanitation, and hygiene within both health facilities and communities directly lower infection risks, support healthier…

What trends are reshaping software development with AI code generation?

13 May

Key trends in AI code generation for modern software development

Sophie CaldwellScience and Technology

AI code generation has shifted from experimental tooling to a foundational layer of modern software development. What began as autocomplete for snippets now influences architecture decisions, testing strategies, security reviews, and team workflows. The most significant change is not just speed, but a redefinition of how humans and machines collaborate across the software lifecycle.Copilots Pervading Everything: Spanning IDEs and the Broader ToolchainEarly AI coding assistants were initially built to offer suggestions within the editor, but now copilots are woven throughout the entire development lifecycle, spanning requirements collection, code evaluation, testing, deployment, and system observability.IDE copilots generate functions, refactor legacy code,…

What strategies help diversify portfolios without sacrificing expected returns?

12 May

Maximizing portfolio diversification while maintaining expected returns

Sophie CaldwellInvestments and Business

Diversification seeks to curb risk by allocating investments across a range of assets, industries, and approaches. Many worry that adding extra positions might water down potential gains. Yet, when applied deliberately, diversification can maintain or even boost anticipated returns by elevating risk-adjusted results. The essential focus lies on uncorrelated return sources, cost efficiency, and disciplined portfolio construction.Focus on Low-Correlation Assets, Not Just More AssetsIntroducing assets that behave independently can lessen overall portfolio volatility while preserving expected returns, since correlation rather than sheer asset count is the key factor.Equities across regions: Developed and emerging markets often experience different economic cycles. Historically,…