Try GOLD - Free
Five things to know about Costa Rica
The Straits Times
|February 03, 2026
A favourite tourist destination for its stunning beaches and rich natural beauty, Costa Rica has recently seen its tranquillity shattered by the impact of drug trafficking.
-
Here are five things to know about the small Central American country of 5.2 million inhabitants, which went to the polls on Feb 1 to elect a new president and lawmakers.
NO MILITARY
Despite its location at the heart of a violent and conflict-ridden region, Costa Rica has long clung on to a stable democracy since its only civil war, which lasted 44 days in 1948.
That year, it abolished its military a rarity in Latin America.
In the 1980s, when several other Central American countries were mired in civil wars, neutral Costa Rica acted as peace broker, earning then President Oscar Arias Sanchez the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987.
In recent years, the country has seen an increase in organised crime. Drug trafficking has infiltrated even into spheres of the state, tarnishing Costa Rica's image with high-profile corruption cases.
This story is from the February 03, 2026 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
My patient was dying, but would his wife accept it?
How doctors can better navigate difficult patients and families.
4 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
CIAO CHAMPION FRANKIE DETTORI
Legendary Italian jockey hangs up boots for good, signing off with two winners in Brazil
2 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
$549,000 for a ticket to space?
Chinese firms play catch-up in space tourism
4 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Golden Village has new Century Square outlet
Golden Village (GV) will open its second cinema in Tampines at shopping centre Century Square on Feb 10.
1 min
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Iguanas fall from trees in icy Florida weather
Iguanas stunned by cold temperatures dropped from trees in usually balmy Florida on Feb 1 as icy conditions blasted southern US states, dumping nearly a half-metre of snow in some areas and whipping up high winds that caused traffic chaos.
1 min
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Nvidia chief says proposed plan to invest US$IOob in OpenAl 'never a commitment'
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said the company's proposed US$100 billion (S$127 billion) investment in OpenAI was \"never a commitment\" and that the company would consider any funding rounds \"one at a time\".
2 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
S'pore's first Al nanosatellite to be launched under national space push
Scientists here will soon launch a small, lightweight \"nanosatellite\" carrying AI-powered edge computing, allowing it to analyse and prioritise information to be sent back to Earth, such as images unobscured by cloud cover.
2 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Patients empowered to play bigger role in own healthcare journey and decisions
Now more than ever, patients are taking their health into their own hands.
5 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Five things to know about Costa Rica
A favourite tourist destination for its stunning beaches and rich natural beauty, Costa Rica has recently seen its tranquillity shattered by the impact of drug trafficking.
2 mins
February 03, 2026
The Straits Times
Chinese speculators set the stage for gold and silver crash on Jan 30
In the history of the silver market, prices had traded above US$40 an ounce for only a handful of brief periods before 2025.
5 mins
February 03, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size