La Viuda Negra, a Colombian telenovela. Flickr Commos Certain telenovelas, those popular and melodramatic television serials that are the Latin American equivalent of soap operas, should be banned from the airwaves in Costa Rica, according to a legislative proposal considered by a legislator from the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) political party earlier this year. According to a news report p...

Source: Tiendas Ekono The United States may have created the shopping craze known as Black Friday, but retailers in Costa Rica have up the ante with Black November, a month-long celebration to consumption that starts a few weeks ahead of the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. One of the first merchants to roll out Black November in Costa Rica is the department store chain Ekono, a national disc...

Mark Lyons missing in Costa Rica UPDATE: Race officials posted a Facebook announcement before 5:30 pm on November 6th, stating: Mark is alive and well! Thank God! No further details were provided. Mountain rescue squads have been deployed to the Turrubares and Bijagual districts of the northwestern sectors of the San Jose province to look for Mark Lyons, a United States mountain bike (MTB) ...

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) November 04, 2015 - The overseas-living experts at InternationalLiving.com are calling on the public to help them decide who should be the overall winner for their “Best Job in the World” contest. More than 1,000 hopefuls entered the competition, which is looking for a writer to travel to one or more of the world’s best retirement havens and report back on the experience. ...

ZURICH, November 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The EF English Proficiency Index 2015 Shows the State of Worldwide English Proficiency EF Education First released today the 5th annual edition of its EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), the world's largest ranking of countries by English skills. The report identifies global and regional English language learning trends and analyzes the relationship b...

Source: Immigration Experts A foreigner residing in Costa Rica can enjoy insurance coverage extended by a spouse without regard as to the immigration status of the insured. Such was the resolution issued by the Constitutional Chamber of Costa Rica, more commonly known as Sala IV, earlier this year. The Law Office of Immigration Experts Costa Rica has closely followed this case, which was re...

A Kidnapper’s Favorite Currency: Bitcoin On October 22nd, 2015, Hong Kong tycoon Wong Kwan (known as Wong Yuk-Kwan to his family) was released from captivity after his family reportedly paid the kidnappers $13 million in Bitcoin – a far cry from the $70 million the kidnappers had requested. Kwan is the chairman of Pearl Oriental Oil, and had been in captivity for 38 days. He was in rough sha...

US Ambassador Haney. Source: Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica Without security, there can be no development in Costa Rica. Such was the emphasis posited by United States Ambassador S. Fitzgerald Haney as he appeared before the Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Legislative Assembly on the last Friday of October. Ambassador Haney mentioned that there is a priority at ...

Source: Flickr Commons A 17-year old male was calmly taken into custody after he allegedly murdered his stepfather to put an end to a pattern of spousal abuse in Costa Rica. According to a news report filed by Alejandro Monge of national newspaper La Prensa Libre, the 42-year old victim was identified by the last names Ugalde Cruz. The incident occurred in La Fortuna, located in the San Car...

The killer in Merciless stalks his next victim. Source: Globo International Globo’s production of series, known worldwide for its unique character and high quality, is set to delight the Costa Rican audience. Teletica, the largest TV network in Costa Rica, has licensed six titles from the Brazilian broadcaster’s 2015 catalog: the series ‘Merciless’ and ‘The Hunter’, the miniseries ‘Doomed’ and...

Nicuesa Lodge in Costa Rica Tegucigalpa, Oct 29 (EFE; additional reporting by The Costa Rica Star).- The main challenges facing small hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean are access to technology and the global market, industry representatives said at a gathering in the Honduran capital. The event, which is sponsored by the Inter-American and Caribbean Network of Small Hotels and has t...

Source: Ginger Software BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginger keyboard, the leading mobile keyboard and writing enhancement app, announced today that it received Google Play Editor's Choice Award. The Google Play Editor's Choice award is given to apps chosen for their quality, user interface, long-term popularity and innovation. Ginger is one of the few, hand-selected, keyboard apps ...

By Carol Blair Vaughn Who’s Happy in Costa Rica? Forbes Magazine asked on November 13, 2014, “Want to Be Happy?  Move to Costa Rica.” Their conclusions were based on the results of a UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center Qualtrics Survey of 40,000 students from around the world in which Costa Rica emerged as – Numero Uno on the Happiness Index. So why do 50-60% of Americans who move to...

Source: Flickr Commons Carrillo, Costa Rica - October 26, 2015 /PressCable/ — CARRILLO, Costa Rica – Every time Terry Lewis looks out the window he is treated to a view most only dream about. From one side of his house he can look down into forested valleys where colorful birds sing and fly about. From the other, he looks at the azure blue of the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see and ...

Beach house in Costa Rica Press Release by The Costa Rica Star - October 25, 2015 - It's that time of the year when leading international real estate companies such as RE/MAX begin to take account of their achievements, challenges and housing market figures since the beginning of the year. As it happens, 2015 has been an exciting year for RE/MAX in two key housing markets: the United States an...

Outback Jack's Costa Rica Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica, October 23, 2015 (Newswire) - ​​In Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica, Penny and Jack Williams, the owners of Outback Jack's Beach Bar N Grill, are finally retiring to write their books. Rather than selling their internationally known restaurant, they thought it would be a lot more fun to run an essay contest for someone to wi...

By Carolina Ruiz Vega In Costa Rica, video surveillance systems are key security factors for any home or business because they keep an  eye on the owner’s assets, ensure a close monitoring of critical processes or events, and protect people who live or work in that space. How can you keep hackers from accessing security camera systems? Victor Merino, Director of Pelco by Schneider Electric f...

Peace be with you. In the near future, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) population of Costa Rica will be able to enjoy a new dance venue in Downtown San Jose, specifically across from the Roman Catholic Church of La Soledad (The Solitude) in Chinatown. According to a recent news report filed by entertainment journalist Ariel Chaves Gonzalez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, Clu...

Source: Flickr San José, Costa Rica - October 19, 2015 /MarketersMedia/ — Americans and Canadians alike are flocking to Costa Rica, and not just to visit. A new, free report at WeLoveCostaRica.com looks into the phenomenon, pointing out in particular what these committed newcomers from the north appreciate most about the country's Papagayo region in the province of Guanacaste. North Americans ...

Beach house in Costa Rica Santa Clara, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2015 -- Proxio, Inc., provider of the world’s most powerful digital marketing and collaboration solutions for the global real estate industry, today announced a number of new clients across the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America who are leveraging the reach and efficiency of Proxio’s platform. “The response to our n...

Wikimedia Commons The United States Embassy in Costa Rica recently announced that the 2017 Diversity Visa Program Registration, often called the "green card lottery," is now open. Once again, citizens from Costa Rica are invited to apply. The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State. Section 203(c) of the Immigration and N...

Wikimedia Commons Seven years ago, Stephen Fry travelled through all fifty states of the USA in a black cab. But he’s always been fascinated by events south of the border, so now, in this brand new four-part series, he embarks on an adventure into America’s backyard. In episode four, Stephen’s journey continues through Costa Rica and Panama. In Costa Rica he discovers a country, which is a ...

Source: Flickr Commons Nearly 100 low-income families have decided to take over land that belonged to a United States farmer who was killed in Costa Rica. According to a news report recently filed by Alexander Mendez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the squatters have moved into a farm in Coloradito a remote village located near the border with Panama. The farm in question is apparently part ...

Wikimedia Commons Vibrators, inflatable sex dolls, cremated remains, and snakes are some of the contents of the strangest parcels handled by Correos de Costa Rica, the national post office, at sorting and delivery facilities in San Jose. Since about 2006, letter mail in Costa Rica has virtually disappeared; however, courier delivery of parcels and packages has greatly increased over the las...

Pixabay Commons By Carol Blair Vaughn The composition of the world population has changed dramatically in recent decades as life expectancy worldwide has risen from 46 to 68 years – except in Costa Rica, where life expectancy has risen to 77 for men, and 81 for women, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has dubbed this movement, “Older People – a new power for developm...

Source: Supreme Auctions GUANACASTE, Costa Rica, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 14th, 2015, four contemporary eco-luxury villas located on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste Province will be sold at a single luxury no reserve absolute auction, offered by Supreme Auctions in cooperation with Chris Suarez of Keller Williams Realty International, Costa Rica. Each Nirvana Sanctuary ho...

University of Nebraska Press By Carol Blair Vaughn It’s not often in this era of greed and recklessness that a New Age David and Goliath story unfolds, and there is an author onsite to capture the moment. Such is the story of Jeremy Evans' new book, The Battle for Paradise: Surfing, Tuna, and One Town’s Quest to Save a Wave (University of Nebraska Press), which comes out on Oct. 1, 2015, an...

Source: Sylvania Costa Rica By Carolina Ruiz Vega Choosing LED lighting can benefit the environment and your personal finances in  Liberia. A worldwide growing energy demand in a context of scarce energy resources has resulted in an increase of energy prices in recent years. This situation can be felt in Liberia and across Costa Rica. According to the World Economic Forum, lightning d...

Source: Acciona ACCIONA Press Release - ACCIONA Agua, together with the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (AyA), has inaugurated the ‘Los Tajos’ wastewater treatment plant, which will alleviate the pollution load of the rivers María Aguilar, Tiribí and Torres. The installation will be the biggest in the country and is ACCIONA Agua’s first project in Costa Rica. The projec...

Source: VMware WMware, a major enterprise dedicated to virtualization at the server and desktop levels, is looking for top talent to join them at VMware’s Open House event on October 2 and 3 in Heredia, Costa Rica. Opened in 2012, the WMware Costa Rica office is located in the Free Trade Zone (Zona Franca) America and supports management services and internal processes that power VMware’s i...

DENVER - Sept. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- It is well known that Costa Rica is a “Mecca” for outdoor enthusiasts and athletic adventurers of all kinds. With ventures like these, unfortunately injuries are bound to occur. The residents of San Jose are lucky to have a resource like Smart Move to assist them on their road to recovery. At Smart Move, whatever the need may be, they have you covered and adding ...

Washington, Sep 21 (EFE; additional reporting by The Costa Rica Star).- Video-calling and online messaging service Skype said Monday it was trying to fix a problem that was preventing users around the world from logging in or using some of its applications. "We are working to fix an issue which is preventing some users from logging in & using Skype. We apologize for any inconvenience," Skyp...

Source: Andrey Camacho Jimenez, PZNoticias Baker & Partners Press Release -- Stephen Baker, Senior Partner and Advocate at Baker & Partners, joined the defense team for Ann Patton against the San José Public Prosecutor, securing her second acquittal for the murder of her husband, multi-millionaire John Bender, in Costa Rica. John Bender died of a single gunshot to the head in the be...

Source: Saban C21 Media Press Release -- Saban Brands’ TV series such as “Power Rangers”, “VR TRoopers” and “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation” is heading to subscription video on demand (SVOD) service in Middle East, South East Europe, Africa and Latin America through Vubiquity. Saban Brands struck a deal with the content service to make subscription box-sets available for: Qatar, UAE, Sout...

A complaint that unfolded in social media circles has caught the attention of the media and the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP) in Costa Rica. According to a news report filed by metro reporter Paula Ruiz of daily newspaper La Prensa Libre, the incident occurred this past Saturday in San Jose. A woman by the last name of Madden was relaxing in Plaza de la Cultura, a major me...

Source: Wikimedia Commons The traditions surrounding the celebration of Independence Day in Costa Rica have become powerful symbols of the longstanding peace, democracy and civil freedom that Ticos proudly enjoy. It is important to note, however, that these traditions actually originated in other countries, and that other patriotic values are celebrated more so than independence on September 1...

The Guanacaste region of Costa Rica is the most affected by drought conditions and water shortages. During the Tamarindo Beach Marathon, which took place this past Saturday, non-profit organizations and activists complained about the numerous plastic pouches of water thrown along the road at several checkpoints along the race route. Although Tamarindo Beach is not currently facing water shortag...

Bedroom painted with Glidden colors By Carolina Ruiz During childhood, it is necessary to create fun and safe environments; in adolescence, bedrooms should be places that allow them to feel part of society while still being unique. Colors play an important role in this matter. For most of us in Costa Rica, our bedroom is a sacred place: not only for being a private room, but also because...

Wikimedia Commons The Director of Intelligence and National Security of Costa Rica and his romantic partner, who happens to be the Vice Minister of Economy, reportedly held a meeting at a bar in the lovable city of San Jose. According to a news report filed by investigative journalist Carlos Mora of online news daily CRHoy.com, Director Mariano Figueres and Vice Minister Geannina Dinarte ar...

On Thursday afternoon, President Luis Guillermo Solis of Costa Rica signed an Executive Decree that aims to authorize and regulate in vitro fertilization (IVF), a reproductive practice that was prohibited for a couple of years after a landmark ruling in Constitutional Court. The government of Costa Rica has been under pressure to reauthorize IVF since 2012, when Inter American Court of Human Ri...