Costa Rica is moving to ban highly hazardous pesticides, thanks to a new bill that is currently being discussed by congressional representatives in the Special Permanent Commission on Environment. The initiative would prohibit these chemicals, which have already been banned in at least 70% of OECD member countries. It was presented in June 2023 by …
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As Costa Rica continues to battle rising crime rates, a recent robbery involving two American tourists has captured widespread attention, thanks to a series of viral TikTok videos. Anna Manocha and her friend Carolina López traveled to Costa Rica in early March in search of adventure and the famed “Pura Vida” lifestyle. But their vacation …
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Of the many strange and interesting species that many hope to encounter during their time in Costa Rica, arthropods are generally lower on the list. Of the 365,000 or so arthropods found in Costa Rica, the ones that may evoke the most feelings of fear and disgust are ticks. Ticks are ectoparasitic arachnids that practice …
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The Costa Rican government, under President Rodrigo Chaves, has implemented stringent new regulations for inmates in maximum-security prisons, drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s controversial anti-gang crackdown led by President Nayib Bukele. The reforms, announced by the Ministry of Justice and Peace, impose significant restrictions on family visits, conjugal visits, telephone calls, and parcel deliveries, prompting …
Read more “Costa Rica’s Harsh Prison Reforms Spark Hunger Strikes, Protests”
Recent studies by Costa Rica’s Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) have revealed a significant uptick in jaguar sightings within Corcovado National Park, a biodiversity hotspot on the Osa Peninsula. Data collected through an extensive network of camera traps indicate a rebound in the jaguar population, a promising sign attributed to robust environmental protection …
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Costa Rica observed Workers’ Day (aka Labor Day) today, May 1, which is a public holiday dedicated to recognizing the contributions of our country’s workforce. The day is established as a mandatory paid holiday under the nation’s Labor Code, ensuring that all workers receive their wages whether they take the day off or continue working. …
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The ongoing eruptions of Poás Volcano have triggered health concerns for the community of Grecia and nearby areas like Sarchí, Alajuela, and San José, where a Green Alert remains in place for seven areas. The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry at the National University (UNA) reported that early Wednesday morning, Grecia experienced its longest period of …
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Although Costa Rica has a high life expectancy, questions have arisen about the quality of life in our country. Alerts are being raised, especially regarding health issues. For example, when people with heart diseases that require surgery go to the social security system for an operation, they have to wait nearly 640 days, almost two …
Read more “The Paradox of Costa Rica’s Healthcare: Long Lives, Long Waits”
Costa Rica ranks as the second-worst country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for transportation infrastructure quality, surpassed only by Colombia among 38 member nations. Coupled with the highest number of vehicles in Central America—344 cars per 100,000 people—this creates significant challenges for daily travel, impacting residents, expats, and tourists alike. The …
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Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Mbappé become superheroes dodging rivals with “dreamlike” acrobatics: FIFA returns to the video game scene with a mix of soccer and extraordinary player powers, designed in Colombia. In an office in Bogotá, a group of tech-savvy forty-somethings specializing in design and 3D modeling are bringing FIFA Rivals to life — …
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