Europe

Identity theft in Costa Rica Expat Arrested in Costa Rica for Identity Theft

Costa Rica’s Immigration Police (Policia Profesional de Migracion, PPM) have arrested a Swiss citizen by the name of Heinz Augsburguer for swindle and other nonviolent crimes – all while using the stolen identity of Polish citizen Grzegorz Bugaj. Augsburguer has been living in San Jose since 2014, under the assumed name of Bugaj, and has opened bank accounts, credit cards, created sociedades anoni...

North Korea, Iran, Russia, China and President Trump

It would defy all the laws of gravity for President Donald Trump to lose the White House next year. Everything is up – economy is the best in decades, employment for real Americans is at record highs, the stock market almost hit 27,000 for the first time and the U.S. military -- that protects real American citizens -- is getting stronger every day. Our president is 100-percent responsible for thes...

Donald Trump, Muller Report, Russian Collusion President Donald Trump Neither Exonerated nor Vindicated by Mueller

In his Costa Rica Star column of March, 25, Britt Nelson claimed Special Counsel Robert Mueller had “vindicated” Donald Trump and concluded that there was no “collusion” between members of the Trump campaign and agents of the Russian government. I re-read Britt Nelson’s column in the wake of Robert Mueller’s public statements on May, 29, and could only wonder how Mr. Nelson could have come to s...

Boeing 737 Max Grounded, Terrorist attacks in New Zealand Trump Condemns the Horrible Attacks in New Zealand and Grounds the Boeing 737 Max

The world is reeling again after a “white nationalist” gunman opened fire on two Muslim mosques killing 49 worshipers and injuring dozens more in peaceful Christchurch, New Zealand halfway around the globe. News reports say the 49 Muslim homicides outnumber more than all other gun-related murders last year in this country. There is no justification for such blatant and miserable hatred in New Z...

Costa Rica Spain Flights Costa Rica Tourism Board Signs Agreement with Iberia to Promote Tourism to the Country

The Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo and the president of airline company Iberia, Luis Gallego, signed a promotion agreement for Costa Rica in Europe. The announcement was made during the 2019 International Tourism Fair (Fitur). Revelo stated that this agreement will tighten the friendship of Costa Rican tourism with one of the most strategic allies in Spain. “The signing of this agree...

The Realities of Socialism in Global Politics

There is a strong effort underway in the British parliament to remove Prime Minister Theresa May from office and then conduct a second referendum vote on the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? The British people already voted last year to exit the EU, but the pro-EU forces cannot accept the vote and they are fighting tooth and nail to remain in the EU despite th...

Costa Rica Pineapples Drugs Two Pineapple Exports Companies in Costa Rica Raided in Relation to Drug Trafficking

The Ministry of Public Security through the Drug Control Police have been conducting investigations with the purpose of protecting the exports systems of the country that are being used for organized crime to send drugs from Costa Rica to European countries such as Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and England among others as well as the United States. Searches were conducted at two companie...

cocaine, pineapples, drug shipments, Costa Rica Costa Rican Pineapples Loaded with Cocaine Identified as Irish Gang

The group responsible for a shipment of 133 kilos of cocaine hidden in Costa Rican pineapples have been identified as the Kinahan Cartel. The cocaine was discovered in pineapples specially outfitted with waxy, yellow tubes in which the cocaine was hidden. The cocaine was discovered on August 14, aboard a Spanish boat registered as carrying bananas, on its way to Cork, Ireland. The boat was interce...

Costa Rican Keylor Navas Receives Award as the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Season 2017-2018

Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas received this Thursday one of the biggest recognitions of his career, the award as the Goalkeeper of the UEFA Champions League Season 2017-2018. Navas, goalkeeper for Real Madrid, received the award in Monaco, during the gala ceremony that includes the Champions League group stage draw; the Costa Rican went up against Brazilian Alisson Becker goalie for la Ro...

Spain Pineapples Costa Rica Cocaine 67 Kilograms of Cocaine Originating from Costa Rica Found by Spanish Police in Madrid Market

Spanish authorities seized 67 kilograms of cocaine that were hidden in a pineapple cargo that originated from Costa Rica. It was this past Sunday that Spain’s National Police informed of the discovery which was made in a market in the city of Madrid, as part of the operation the police arrested suspects in Madrid and Barcelona. Apparently, the pineapples were hollow and stuffed with cylinder...

Costa Rica Drug Traffic Costa Rican Authorities Take Down Drug Trafficking Organization in Coordination with FBI and DEA

The Costa Rican Drug Control Police (PCD) in coordination with National Direction of Intelligence and Security (DIS), as well as the US agencies FBI and DEA and the German agency BKA , carried out eight raids the morning of this Wednesday in relation to a drug trafficking operation. As explained by the Minister of Security, Michael Soto, during a press conference carried out at 9 a.m. today, t...

Costa Rica Travel Advisory Spain Updates Costa Rica’s Travel Advisory After Recent Killing of Spanish Tourist

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain updated its website with several safety recommendations for citizens traveling to Costa Rica, this after the murder of a Spanish tourist August 4th in Tortuguero, Pococí, Limón. “It is recommended to travel with precaution. Since there have been some violent attacks against women tourists, it is recommended to take self-protection measures and avoid tran...

President Donald Trump, President Putin, Russia Collusion Well…Mr. President There’s Nothing Like Pouring Gasoline on Your Russia Problem When you had no Problem

Well … Mr. President there’s nothing like pouring gasoline on your Russia problem when you had no problem, but now you do and it’s a whole new ballgame. Public and political perception of President Donald Trump’s news conference standing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland leaves everyone – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – shaking their heads. Lord only knows what Pre...

Costa Rica Belgium soccer Costa Rica Falls to Belgium 4-1 in Friendly Match Prior to Russia World Cup

The Costa Rica National Soccer team had its last friendly match before their debut in the Russia World Cup which is scheduled for Sunday. “La Sele” fell to Belgium 4 goals to 1, in a match that demonstrated why Belgium holds the third spot of the FIFA ranking. In the first 20 minutes of the first half, Costa Rica actually looked structured as both teams measured up; the Ticos actually opened ...

Across the Pond, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Stole the Spotlight off Washington, DC

Across the pond, Prince Harry and his Hollywood-dream-girl Meghan Markle stole the spotlight off Washington, DC -- giving us a break from you know what – all the lawyers, politicians and investigations. It’s nice to see a young couple obviously in love about to embark on their public life. At 36-years-old Miss Meghan shines bright in the spotlight. Mainstream media began doing live remotes from...

German Tourist Missing Costa RIca Costa Rican Police Search for German Tourist who Went Missing in Montezuma

The Judiciary Investigative Police in Costa Rica (OIJ) require the help of the public in finding German tourist Gerlinde Hahne, a 75-year-old woman that went missing the afternoon of May 3. According to information released by the family, Hahne came to Costa Rica on April 30 from Munich, Germany, with the purpose of attending her son Tobes Hahne’s, wedding that was scheduled for Saturday, May 5...

Costa Rica Trafficking Human Organs Costa Rica Adheres to Treaty Against Trafficking of Human Organs

Costa Rica became the first non-European country to adhere to the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, also known as Santiago de Compostela Treaty. This is the first international treaty against this type of crime and represents a big step towards battling trafficking of human organs in the world. The treaty’s objective is the prevention and penalization of traff...

Jade Museum Costa Rica The Jade Museum of Costa Rica Inaugurates One of its Exhibits in Spain

Chamanes y Espiritus: tesoros de Museo del Jade, (“Shamans and Spirits: Treasures of the Jade Museum”), is the exhibit that the Jade Museum of Costa Rica took to the Cataluña Archeological Museum in Barcelona, Spain. As part of an international agreement, the European public will now be able to appreciate this exhibit that brings the public close to religious rituals and spirits that our ances...

Edelweiss Costa Rica Edelweiss Confirms Third Weekly Flight Connecting Switzerland and Costa Rica

Swiss airline Edelweiss will begin operating a third flight from Zurich to San Jose, the announcement was made by the Costa Rica Minister of Tourism, Mauricio Ventura, from the ITB Travel Trade Show in Berlin where the country is participating. “Less than a year ago we announced the beginning of operations in the country of this prestigious airline, member of Lufthansa Group, today we feel ver...

Flights Costa Rica Europe Air France – KLM To Offer 7 Flights a Week Between Costa Rica and Europe

Starting October 28, 2018, the Air France-KLM group will operate one daily flight between Costa Rica and Europe during the European 2018-2019 winter season. This is the third time that Air France is increasing its offerings since November 2, 2016, when it opened the Paris-San José route with 2 flights per week. It initially increased to 3 flights per week for the current 2017-2018 winter season...

Spanish Man Missing Costa Rica Spanish Man Who Lives in California Went Missing in Costa Rica

Manuel Alvarez, a 74 year-old man native from Asturias, Spain was reported missing in Costa Rica by his family, who explained the man traveled to this country on January 10 after he had received a call alerting him of a possible fraud to sell properties he owned here. Alvarez, who has resided in San Francisco, California for many years, owns some properties in Costa Rica and visited the country...

A Cocaine Christmas in Costa Rica

Spanish police report that they have broken up one of the biggest drug trafficking operations in Europe, one that has been operating in Europe for forty or more years. How were they caught? Authorities tagged a suspicious shipment of Costa Rican pineapples, and discovered fruit loaded with cylinders coated with yellow-colored wax, made to look like pineapples. Eleven people were arrested in Malaga...

Ostional Costa Rica BBC’s Documentary Blue Planet Showcases The Wonder of the Arribadas in Ostional Costa Rica

Blue Planet II is a documentary series produced by the BBC Natural History Unit, presented and narrated by David Attenborough which explores de planet’s oceans; the filming of the documentary series was done over the course of four years and involved 125 expeditions across 39 countries, one of these was Costa Rica. Costa Rican photographer Sergio Pucci was the person in charge of filming the wo...

Costa Rica's Biodiversity Biodiversity of Costa Rica in Exhibit at the Madrid Royal Botanic Garden

A series of photographs that show the richness of Costa Rica’s biodiversity, particularly that of the Pacuare Nature Reserve is being showcased at the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid, Spain. The exhibit organized by the Royal Botanic Garden (RJB-CSIC) showcases a collection of photographs taken by the students of the Official Program of Masters and Doctorate in Biodiversity in Tropical Areas an...

Dominican Women Nationalized as Costa Rican to Enter Global Sex Trade

Dominican women in Costa Rica, victims of global sex and human trafficking, have reported being married to Costa Ricans to obtain Costa Rican citizenship before being taken to Europe or the United States for exploitation, according to representatives of the Rahab Foundation, a Costa Rican non-profit dedicated to ending human trafficking and aided its victims. Networks dedicated to human traffic...

KLM-Costa Rica Biofuel Alliance First of Its Kind for Eco-Conscious Dutch Airline

The Costa Rican government and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are joining to combat carbon dioxide emissions, said the KLM press office. KLM is the only European airline operating intercontinental flights using biofuel. Over the coming months, the business will collaborate with the Costa Rican government in a first ever such alliance for the company to research the possibilities of flying betw...

Expat Instructors Offer Survival Swim Class for Tots in Mal Pais, Costa Rica

From November 7-15 in the Mal Pais - Santa Teresa area on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, instructors from The Netherlands will offer a survival swim class for children aged two to 12. Private and semi-private lessons are available in 1, 3 or 7-lesson packages. The class instructors describe the activity as follows: "Baby survival is a special technique for very young children (under 2 year ...

Costa Rica Airlines Fly Costa Rica-Amsterdam Direct on KLM’s Dreamliner Jet

KLM launches its new direct service between San José, Costa Rica and Amsterdam, Holland on Halloween on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an eco-friendly craft. The service will operate Tuesdays and Fridays as of October 31, and then additionally on Sundays starting at the end of January 2018, announced the airline. The new craft consumes 20 percent ​​less fuel that the airline's other jets, gene...

Russian Billionaire Has Cash Seized at Costa Rica’s Main Airport

One of Russia's wealthiest individuals had over $20,000 in cash seized yesterday afternoon, Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Costa Rica's main Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José when he was leaving for his home country after a vacation. Andrei Bokarev, 51, whose wealth is estimated by Forbes at $1.69 billion, had arrived in a private jet earlier in the week and participated in a ...

Norway Invests in Clean Energy in Costa Rica and Region

The Norwegian Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) and Sunshine, a subsidiary of Losko, signed a strategic alliance that will facilitate financing of solar energy projects in Costa Rica and countries in Central America. Three solar success stories stand out in Costa Rica for having benefitted from this initiative. Norfund, founded in 1997 by the Norwegian government, has as its primary go...

Suspect in Assault of Tourist in Limón, Costa Rica Captured

Officials of the Costa Rica Tourist Police division stationed in Limón apprehended a man considered the main suspect in the assault of a foreign tourist on Wednesay, October 11. The suspect, a young man with the last name of Walcott, allegedly threatened the tourist and proceded to take away his cell phone and cash on Wednesday afternoon. According to police information, the victim - a Spani...

Costa Rica’s Catholic University Leads Promotion of Pope’s Ecology Proposal

The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation has organized an international congress in Costa Rica from November 29 to December 1, 2017 in which Pope Francis' "Laudato Si" and speeches on the environment by Benedict XVI will be the main themes, reported Papal news sources. Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si" is being used to create a tool to measure and rank countries' efforts in human ...

Prize-Winning Costa Rican Research May Aid Treatment of Deadly Food Poisoning

Listeria may not be part of your daily lexicon, but if you've ever been pregnant it probably was once on your radar. The bacteria can be spread by contaminated food, and can cause a rare infection that can be deadly in 20-30 percent of infections. Pregnant women are 10 times more likely than other people to get a Listeria infection, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control. ...

Foreigner Bound for Spain Caught at Costa Rican Airport Muling Cocaine

Wednesday, September 30 the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica was the scene of the 18th capture of a "drug mule" so far this year, said the Ministry of Public Security. Officials with Costa Rica's drug control police (PCD) stopped a 54-year-old Romanian man surnamed Oprisoni who was heading for Spain, and later discovered he was carrying packets of cocaine in his sto...

Transnational Roche Selects Escazú Village to House Costa Rican IT Service Center

Roche, a branch of Hoffman-La Roche, selected Escazú Village as the new headquarters of its Costa Rican Global Shared Information Technology Services Center. The center will serve the company's operations in Canada and the United States, said a report in Costa Rica's Summa business magazine. F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two di...

8 Costa Rican Scholars Head to UK to Pursue Graduate Studies

The British Ambassador organized a special send off for eight Costa Rican scholars, announced the British Embassy. Chevening is the UK government's global leadership program, offering fully-funded scholarships for future leaders and influencers to study in the UK. On August 21, 2017, British Ambassador to Costa Rica, Ross Denny, hosted a farewell event for the eight Costa Rican scholars who ...

Colombian Ship Bound for Holland Detained in Costa Rica With 50K of Cocaine

So far this year, Costa Rica's police forces have captured over 17.5 tons of cocaine, both in land and sea operations, informed the Public Security Ministry in the wake of an incident at the Moín, Limón port on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. On Thursday August 17, drug control police detained and inspected a ship where they discovered 50 kilos of cocaine attached to its hull, said the ministry. ...

Costa Rican Snake Travels to Scotland on Pineapple; Taken Home by Shopper

A shopper in Scotland brought home something unexpected with his purchase of a Costa Rican pineapple this week. The pineapple was shipped from Costa Rica as are all fresh pineapples with the crown, or green leaves attached to the top, to keep them from ripening too quickly. And this adventurous snake found that a convenient place to hide. The Edinburgh grocery shopper called the Scottish Soc...

Acclaimed Piano Soloist Takes Stage With Costa Rican Natl Orchestra

International acclaimed concert pianist, Markus Groh, will perform this weekend at the Costa Rican National Symphony Orchestra's seventh seasonal concert to be held at San José's National Theater. The concert will include music by Strauss, Haydn and Brahms for two performances - Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. - under the direction of the orchestra's lead conductor, Carl St. Clair. ...

Public Pool in Costa Rica Tourists Lose Son to Pool Drowning in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

A Belgian boy who was on vacation with his family died Tuesday afternoon, August 8, apparently from causes related to having eaten prior to entering his hotel swimming pool in La Fortuna, San Carlos, Costa Rica. The 8-year-old apparently jumped into the pool soon after eating, was rescued alive from the pool and his vital signs were kept going by a doctor on site and emergency rescue workers be...