Cybercrime is a serious problem in Costa Rica. The number of victims is rapidly growing and so are the different techniques used by criminals to commit them. Behind the epidemic of cyberbanking fraud hitting Costa Rica are not independent criminals, but rather complex structures that function as criminal enterprises. The Cybercrime Prosecutor’s Office revealed that …

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Traffic came to a standstill yesterda afternoon on National Route 32 after a massive landslide forced the complete closure of one of the country’s busiest highways. Officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) say the main route linking San José to the Caribbean port city of Limón is expected to stay closed …

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Guatemalan officials handed over former mayor Romeo Ramos Cruz to US authorities this week, marking another blow to drug networks operating in Central America. Ramos, 57, faces serious accusations of playing a central role in moving cocaine shipments bound for American streets. Authorities arrested Ramos on May 15 in his hometown of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, …

Read more “Former Guatemalan Mayor Extradited to US on Cocaine Conspiracy Charges”

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica named Jennifer Savage as its new chargé d’affaires yesterday. She steps in to lead the diplomatic mission until the next ambassador arrives. Savage, a career Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, brings close to 30 years of experience in consular, political, economic, and management positions. Her …

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The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) has arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of American businessman Eshraghollah Vatani. Vatani was reported missing at the end of May in Quepos and was tragically found dead days later in Cartago. A 21-year-old man, identified as Carrier, and a 17-year-old girl are believed to be responsible for …

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Representatives from 184 countries began negotiations on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in Geneva to draft, within ten days, the first global treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution that threatens to choke the planet. At the official opening of the debates, Ecuadorian diplomat Luis Vayas Valdivieso, who chairs the negotiating committee, urged states to take …

Read more “Plastic Pollution Costs $1.5 Trillion Annually”

IKEA plans to open its first store in Costa Rica after signing a franchise agreement with Sarton Group. The deal announced today gives Sarton exclusive rights to build and run IKEA operations in the country, along with Panama. Sarton Group already handles IKEA stores in places like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Spanish …

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In the decades I have lived here, there were two sporting events that were so big that the country came to a brief standstill. One was the 2014 World Cup run, in particular the knockout round win-by-penalty-kicks over Greece. The other was much quicker, taking barely two minutes. Within that brief time frame, Claudia Poll …

Read more “The Day Costa Rica Stopped to Celebrate Claudia Poll’s Olympic Victory”

A new report by the Comptroller General’s Office (CGR) revealed that poor management of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) in granting forest use permits is compromising the conservation of forest resources in Costa Rica. The report covered the Osa, Central Pacific, and La Amistad Caribbean …

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A team led by Costa Rican biologist Maritza Guerrero has developed a natural biostimulant using microalgae that promises to revolutionize agriculture. The product, named Phyco-Plus, enhances crop productivity, regenerates degraded soils, captures carbon dioxide, oxygenates soil, and purifies water. This innovation positions Costa Rica at the forefront of nature-based solutions for global agricultural and environmental …

Read more “Costa Rican Scientists Cut Microalgae Farming Costs by 95%”