Archive for August 14th, 2009
Friday, August 14th, 2009
The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – national weather service – says that the “”canícula” – the hottest time of the year – will linger for several more days, at least until Monday.
Temperatures during this period a several degrees higher than normal.
Yesteday (Thursday) downtown San José recorded a temperature of 26.4 Celsius; 29 in Pavas; 30 in Alajuela; and 34.7 in Liberia, Guanacaste.
During this period typically there is no rain.
Rebeca Morera of the IMN explained that some areas could see some showers. However, come next week the heavy rains typical of the “rainy” season will be back.
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
Beginning today and running until tomorrow the malls and shopping centres will full to the brim with shoppers looking for that special gift for mother on Mother’s Day, which in Costa Rica is August 15.
And retailers are ready for what is perhaps the second most important shopping day in the year, with offers and promotions to attract customers.
The malls and shopping centres are expecting a wave of shoppers this afternoon when the “quincena” – mid month paycheck is paid today, which is normally paid on the 15th of each month, but given that the 15th falls on a Saturday and a legal holiday, the majority of employers pay the Friday.
This year should be no different than past years, as the economic crisis doesn’t extend to leaving mother without a gift on her special day.
Typical gifts include appliances and electronics, perfume and flowers.
Appliance retailers are all stocked up with washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens and other appliances to help mother at home. Cellular phones are also popular gifts, as well as television sets and DVD players.
Taking mother out for dinner is also a tradition. Restaurants are expecting a wave of customers to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Gifts for the modern mother now include a day at the spa for a facial, relaxing massage or an esthetic makeover.
Mother’s Day in Costa Rica is not only a special day for all mothers, but for all employees as well, as it is a legal holiday and anyone who is required to work on August 15 will be paid double their normal pay for the day.
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
The Costa Rican government on Thursday received 1,000 bicycles and 10,000 soccer balls donated by China for children in rural areas.
The donation was made during a ceremony at a low-income school in San Jose that was attended by Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and Yu Bo, the Chinese charge d’affaire to Costa Rica.
Yu said the donation was a part of agreements reached during a visit to Costa Rica by Chinese President Hu Jintao last November.
“Costa Rica is a sports country. People like soccer, and they enjoy mountain-biking,” Yu said. “This small donation can contribute to the growth of youths, and more importantly, it is proof of the sincere friendship between the Chinese and Costa Rican people.”
Stagno thanked China for the donation and lauded the ties between the two nations. He said the bicycles would be distributed in different rural districts to help students go to school.
Sports Minister Osvaldo Pandolfo said the donation also benefits sports activities in Costa Rica.
“We want to thank the Chinese government for this aid. I am sure that these materials will be distributed in the zones where they are needed,” Pandolfo said.
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
The president of Costa Rica came down with the H1N1 flu at the peak of his country’s traditional flu season.
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias remained in self-imposed quarantine Thursday after revealing that he had contracted swine flu.
“Apart from ailments like fever and a sore throat, I feel in good condition and capable of carrying out my responsibilities through telecommute,” Arias said in a statement from his home, where he’s waiting out the seven-day contagious period. “The pandemic does not discriminate.”
It’s unclear how the 68-year-old president contracted the virus, which has infected more than 177,000 people worldwide and been blamed for more than 1,270 deaths. But Arias, who most recently made headlines for his role in the Honduran peace talks, is using swine flu as a teaching tool in a region where infections are on the rise.
Costa Rican health officials say swine flu is approaching its peak and they’re doing everything possible to stem its spread.
To respond to the pandemic — in Costa Rica, there have been 798 infections, including 27 deaths — authorities have prolonged school vacation by a week, canceled the largest annual religious event, handed out free antiviral medication, and wiped down the insides of trains and buses with disinfectant. (more…)
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Friday, August 14th, 2009
An earthquake of 5.8 magnitude shook on Thursday the Costa Rica’s Pacific Oceans without immediate reports of victims.
The Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (Ineter) said the earthquake occurred at 3:37 a.m. local time (0937 GMT) and its epicenter was located some 505 km south to Managua.
The Ineter added that the earthquake had some 15 km depth.
The earthquake was “an event related to the tectonic processes from the clash between the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates,” the Ineter said.
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