Traffic Safety: Costa Rica’s Traffic Police fined 472 drivers in the first half of the year for not using child safety seats, with penalties of ¢245,000 and points on the license. Tax Crackdown: President Laura Fernández unveiled a plan to fight smuggling and tax evasion without raising taxes, including tighter customs controls and a reform of the General Customs Law. Immigration & Courts: A U.S. appeals court ordered the release of an ICE detainee with end-stage kidney disease, citing bail-worthy medical and legal concerns. Diplomacy: Costa Rica held farewell ceremonies for ambassadors from Colombia, Peru, and Italy as their missions wrapped up. Economy Watch: UNED projects relative stability for Costa Rica’s exchange rate and interest rates into late 2026, while fuel prices remain a key risk. Tech & Mobility: Uber opened its app to traditional “red taxi” drivers, offering sign-up bonuses and referrals. Public Health: Costa Rica confirmed two new monkeypox cases and activated health surveillance. Crime & Justice: The U.S. requested extradition of three Costa Ricans and one Mexican linked to alleged Sinaloa Cartel cocaine trafficking via clandestine air routes. Culture & Film: The Costa Rica Film Festival (July 23–Aug 1) kicks off with a theme of “Cinema That Unites Us,” adding a dedicated Afro-Caribbean section. Local Nature Science: Researchers recognized a Costa Rican tree frog as a separate species after decades of misidentification, helped by its underwater courtship calls.