In a Havana park, in broad daylight, a young man walks erratically, shuffling his feet with a vacant stare, like a zombie. It’s the effect of “el químico,” the synthetic drug that has set off alarms on the island. In a country accustomed to low levels of drug use, consumption of this highly addictive synthetic …
Read more “The Synthetic Drug Fueling Zombie-Like Scenes in Cuba”
A troubling scam has gained traction in Costa Rica this year, where criminals trick people into thinking they’re kidnapped and then extort money from their families. Authorities call it virtual or psychological kidnapping, and it’s hitting workers from small companies hard. The Judicial Investigation Agency, known as OIJ, has tracked 26 reports from January through …
Read more “Rising Virtual Kidnapping Scams Target Costa Rica Businesses”
Costa Rica has started bringing in workers from El Salvador to help with shortages in transportation. Fifteen Salvadoran drivers arrived this week under a labor agreement signed by the two countries in 2023. They hold heavy vehicle licenses and will take on roles that local companies have struggled to fill, mainly driving buses and trucks. …
Read more “Salvadoran Workers Arrive in Costa Rica to Address Transport Shortages”
CNN en Español published an article noting that Costa Rica has gone from being “the Switzerland of Central America” to becoming a key route for drug trafficking.“ Renowned for its peaceful and stable environment… today it faces a different reality, as reflected in the report published on Monday by the United States government,” the article said, …
Read more “CNN: Costa Rica Shifts From “Switzerland” to Drug Transit Route”
Chiquita Brands, the multinational banana company, has begun rehiring workers it laid off after halting operations in Panama three months ago due to a strike, Panamanian authorities said Friday. The rehiring’s follow an agreement reached in late August between company executives and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino for the company’s return to the country. Chiquita …
Read more “Chiquita Returns to Panama, Begins Rehiring After Strike Deal”
Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have surged following a series of deadly U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Sea. The Venezuelan government is calling for an international investigation, accusing the U.S. of committing extrajudicial killings under the guise of counternarcotics operations. U.S. Attacks Spark Outrage and Military Response The U.S. military has deployed …
Read more “Venezuela Accuses U.S. of Undeclared War After Deadly Boat Attacks”
One of the year’s biggest olive ridley sea turtle arribadas kicked off on September 13 at Ostional Beach in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province. Thousands of females have come ashore to nest, covering the sand in a dense wave of activity. As of September 20, the event moves into its closing days, with fewer turtles arriving …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Ostional Refuge Sees Major Turtle Nesting Event Enter Final Days”
Costa Rica’s Congress will decide on Monday whether to lift President Rodrigo Chaves’s immunity so he can be tried for alleged corruption, in an unprecedented case in this country with a democratic tradition. The three lawmakers on a special committee that reviewed the motion will present their arguments to the full Legislative Assembly that day …
Read more “Costa Rica to Vote on Lifting President Chaves’s Immunity”
Do I miss living in the USA? It’s a question I’ve been asked many times by both Tico and Estadounidense friends and relatives. And when I’m in Costa Rica, the answer is a confident no. Where I live, the ocean is less than an hour away. The mountains are outside my door. It’s never cold. …
Read more “Life in Costa Rica vs the U.S.: A Real Expat’s Perspective”
The Costa Rican national soccer team is facing a pivotal crisis, confirmed by the latest FIFA rankings published today. La Sele fell seven spots, now sitting at 47th in the world—a sharp decline that highlights growing concerns over the team’s performance. This drop follows a turbulent start to the World Cup qualifiers: a disappointing 1-1 …
Read more “Costa Rica Plummets in FIFA Rankings Amid World Cup Qualifier Struggles”