World News by Wild Rose

Catholicism is Costa Rica's state religion, yet only half of adults now call themselves Catholic. Here is how faith shapes holidays, law and daily life. The post Costa Rica Religion and Culture Guide appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica weather follows two calendars, Pacific and Caribbean, and 2026 adds a strong El Niño drought. Here is what the national weather service expects. The post Costa Rica Weather and Climate Guide 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Costa Rica exchange rate eased on Monday 5 October as the dollar slipped for a second day on Monex, after a 3.1% rebound from its 2026 low. The post Costa Rica’s Colón Firms 0.4% Against Dollar on Monday appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica central bank chief Róger Madrigal says 2026 multinational layoffs are not causing a broad labour-market slide, though 1,600 free-zone jobs went. The post Costa Rica Central Bank Chief Sees No Broad Labour Market Hit From Layoffs appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica air ambulance: the police air wing said it had no night plane for a shot boy in Limón, then flew the vice-president next morning, La Nación says. The post Costa Rica Air Ambulance: No Night Plane for Shot Boy, Then State Plane Flew VP appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica FDI rose 23.4% to US$2.74 billion in the first half of 2026, led by free zones, while tourism investment fell 27%. What the Procomer data show. The post Costa Rica FDI: Foreign Investment Rises 23.4% to US$2.74 Billion in First Half of 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica extradites five men to the United States after 2025 drug busts: 48 kg of crystal meth and 70 kg of cocaine. Who they are and what happens next. The post Costa Rica Extradites Five Men to the United States to Face Drug Charges in Florida appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica inflation has been below zero for 16 months. The central bank chief expects it to turn positive in September as fuel gets dearer. What it means. The post Costa Rica Inflation to End 16 Months Below Zero, Central Bank Chief Says appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica foreign minister Manuel Tovar was fired after 139 days for not telling President Fernández about a Trump meeting. What happened and what’s next. The post Costa Rica Foreign Minister Fired After 139 Days Over Missed Trump Meeting appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica’s President Laura Fernandez on Thursday fired her foreign minister for attending a meeting on Latin America’s security led by US President Donald Trump without telling her. Fernandez said she should have been the one to attend the meeting of Trump’s anti-cartel “Shield of the Americas” alliance in New York, and that Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar’s failure to consult her caused “great strategic damage.” The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General...

Bringing your pet to Costa Rica in 2026: the two SENASA timing windows, the titre test myth, when you need an import permit, and what it really costs. The post Bringing Your Pet to Costa Rica: SENASA Rules, Vets and Costs appeared first on The Rio Times.

Starting a company in Costa Rica means choosing an S.A. or an S.R.L. The notary, what a foreigner may own, the set-up bill and the annual charges. The post Starting a Company in Costa Rica: S.A. or S.R.L. for Foreigners appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica permanent residency takes three years of temporary status, and marriage is no shortcut. The naturalisation exams, the fees and the real timeline. The post Costa Rica Permanent Residency and Citizenship: The 2026 Rules appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica tax residency turns on 183 days, but the country still taxes only local income. What is taxed, what is not, and the bill that would change it. The post Costa Rica Tax Residency and the 183-Day Rule, Explained for 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

A Costa Rica work visa is granted post by post, never in general. The categories in Ley 8764, what your employer must prove, the fees and the waiting time. The post Costa Rica Work Visa 2026: The Employer-Sponsored Route Explained appeared first on The Rio Times.

Freelancing in Costa Rica starts with your residency category, not your invoices. Article 80, the Caja, TRIBU-CR and the digital nomad limits, explained. The post Freelancing in Costa Rica: What Foreigners May Legally Do in 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Shopping and daily life in Costa Rica in 2026: the supermarket ladder, the Saturday feria, what a basket of food costs, the 13 percent IVA and SINPE. The post Shopping and Daily Life in Costa Rica: Ferias, IVA and SINPE appeared first on The Rio Times.

Expat communities in Costa Rica are easy to join and hard to count: where foreigners cluster, what the organised clubs charge, and how to meet Costa Ricans. The post Expat Communities in Costa Rica: Where They Are and How to Join appeared first on The Rio Times.

Learning Spanish in Costa Rica in 2026: what the schools charge a week, where they cluster, why you default to usted, and whether you need a student visa. The post Learning Spanish in Costa Rica: Schools, Costs and the Usted Rule appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica tenant rights under Ley 7527: the three-year term, the rent-increase cap in a deflation year, notice periods, eviction grounds and remedies. The post Costa Rica Tenant Rights: Your Lease Under Ley 7527 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Renting in Costa Rica in 2026: real market rents, the deposit rule landlords misstate, who pays utilities, the 13% VAT threshold and the tourist-zone gap. The post Renting in Costa Rica: Prices, Deposits and the Fine Print appeared first on The Rio Times.

Cuba says Costa Rica never formally notified it of a diplomatic rupture. San José's foreign minister replied that the break is firm and clear. The post Costa Rica Stands by Its Break With Cuba as Havana Says It Was Never Told appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan topped the third Security Council straw poll for UN chief, but a single veto from a permanent member could still end her bid. The post Costa Rica’s Grynspan Retakes Lead in Race to Become First Woman UN Chief appeared first on The Rio Times.

The Costa Rica Cuba break was confirmed by Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar on 18 September 2026, with consular services moved to Panama's embassy. The post Costa Rica Cuba Break Confirmed by San José on 18 September 2026 appeared first on The Rio Times.

Costa Rica's foreign minister confirmed on 17 September 2026 that relations with Cuba are formally severed, not merely downgraded — what changes. The post Costa Rica Cuba Relations Formally Severed, Foreign Minister Confirms appeared first on The Rio Times.

COSTA RICA · MONEY & BUDGETS Key Facts —The record The colón closed at 446.93 per dollar on the Monex wholesale market on 16 September — the strongest since the central bank’s records began in December 2007, and a fifth straight record session. —Today’s reference The BCCR reference for 17 September is 443.43 to buy […] The post Costa Rica’s Record-Strong Colón: What It Means for Expat Budgets appeared first on The Rio Times.