QCOSTARICA — Given the ideological division that Costa Rica is experiencing and the need to make decisions that favor the country, former legislator and perennial presidential candidate, Otto Guevara, proposed to President Rodrigo Chaves to hold a multi-issue referendum to decide on the development of Cuidad Gobierno (Government City), the sale of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) and the construction of a marina and cruise terminal for Limón. Guevara adds that the proposals for the 4×3 workdays and the exploitation of natural gas and gold in the community of Crucitas can also be elucidated throug ..read more

QCOSTARICA — A series of recent changes carried out by Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migració, will allow the Juan Santamaría International (San Jose) Airport  – SJO – to process arrivals and departures of tourists in less than one hour. Is it an unrealistic or fanciful dream? Not quite. The speed and efficiency of the process are already becoming apparent. These initiatives not only address the concerns of travelers but have also enabled the primary international airport in Costa Rica to operate more efficiently, and awarded as the best regionally in Central ..read more

QCOSTARICA  – Suffering a medical emergency, whether it be something from a sickness right to triple bypass surgery, if you don’t have insurance, you could be looking at an exorbitant cost Pretty scary. Especially when you are unable to return home. Such was the situation for a man from Ontario, Canada, who was stranded in Costa Rica due to a shortage of available hospital beds. Globalnews.ca reports Emma Rice and her father Grant are finally both back in Ontario after the 69-year-old was put on a ventilator earlier this month — an experience that she describes as “pretty scary” for both ..read more

Individuals and their families embark on a dramatic journey characterized by substantial emotional and physical changes as life nears its end, especially in the 6 months before death symptoms. Understanding these changes is crucial for providing compassionate care, preparing emotionally, and ensuring the individual’s remaining time is as comfortable and meaningful as possible. This article delves into the significant transformations that occur in the six months leading up to death, offering valuable insights for family members, healthcare providers, and caregivers. By exploring these critical ..read more

Q24N (The Verge) While most of the world still runs on dirty fossil fuels, Costa Rica has generated nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources of energy for nearly a decade. For comparison, the US generates just over 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. Costa Rica made global headlines in 2015 for generating 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy for 75 days in a row. Today, it consistently gets around 99 percent of its electricity from renewables. Even so, it’s not a perfect system. Climate change poses new risks to the power grid, and Costa Rica has a ..read more

QCOSTARICA (CTV) When Kema Ward-Hopper and her then-fiance Nicholas Hopper, both from the U.S., decided to get married in Costa Rica, they had no idea that they’d end up relocating there a few years later. But a series of devastating events led the couple and daughter Aaralyn, now 15, to a new life in the Central American country’s very own “blue zone,” one of the regions of the world where people live longest and are the healthiest. A beach in Costa Rica is seen in this undated file image. (Jake Marsee / Pexels)beac Ward-Hopper, a health and life coach, was diagnosed with breast cancer a few ..read more

QCOSTARICA — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Costa Rica have signed an agreement that will help improve bilateral trade and investment ties. The two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during a virtual ceremony. The UAE and Costa Rica signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during a virtual ceremony CEPAs signed by the UAE are broad free trade agreements that typically also include clauses covering investment and services. “The agreement, which was signed by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and M ..read more

QCOSTARICA -San José is a city of surprises. Two of my favorite surprises can be found in one fascinating, historic building in Downtown San José. That building is called the Steinvorth Building, an early 20th century warehouse located just a half block north of Avenida Central. Café La Mancha offers a “third-wave” coffee experience, featuring premier coffee from individual growers. Two of the businesses I enjoy in this building are Café La Mancha, and The Costa Rican House of Chocolate. They are both worth a visit. Let’s look at each of these businesses Café La Mancha Café La Mancha is a coff ..read more

QCOSTARICA — Different commercial and productive sectors in Costa Rica have their eyes set on today, Saturday, April 20, the date on which the ban on plastic bags would come into effect. However, the same regulations impose staggered deadlines to apply their provisions and also ask for some technical requirements that are not yet ready, which implies that not all of its provisions have yet been met. The main rule was approved in 2019 and placed limits on the use not only of plastic bags but also plastic straws and bottles. A regulation would deepen the logistical details of executing the law ..read more

QCOSTARICA — According to the Costa Rica based Fundación por la Libertad de Expresión y Democracia (FLED) – Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy  – report the majority of traditional media in Nicaragua avoid covering the activities of Miss Universe, Nicaraguan Sheynnis Palacios. “As part of FLED’s media monitoring, we were able to verify that outlets that still operate in their analog version in Nicaragua –both radio and television– are not covering any of the activities of the Miss Universe organization,” stated the report. FLED members include former Violeta Barrios de Cha ..read more