Archive for August, 2009
Monday, August 17th, 2009
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he has information that indicates that U.S. troops were involved in removing deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya from power and putting him on a plane to neighboring Costa Rica.
Zelaya told Chavez that when he was awakened by armed Honduran troops on June 28 he was taken to the U.S. military base in Honduras and that U.S. generals made the decision to send him to Costa Rica, Chavez said today.
U.S. President Barack Obama doesn’t understand what is happening in the region, Chavez said, and should close military bases in Honduras and Guantanamo, Cuba.
“I think Obama is lost, he’s confused,” he said on his weekly television program. “We’re not asking him to intervene in Honduras. To the contrary, we’re asking him to take the empire’s hands off of Honduras and its claws out of Latin America.”
Phone messages left at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas seeking comment weren’t immediately returned.
Zelaya has been seeking support to return to Honduras since his removal. Roberto Micheletti, the former president of the Congress, took over as the acting president.
Obama, who met with leaders from Mexico and Canada on Aug. 10, said that democratic order must be restored to Honduras. He also said that the same Latin American countries that asked him not to intervene in the region are now asking him to take action to restore Zelaya.
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Monday, August 17th, 2009
While search crews canvassed a rugged mountain region in northern Costa Rica on Sunday for signs of a missing Chicago doctoral student, friends and family of the man set up camp online to share stories, post updates of the investigation and provide comfort for those struggling with the loss.
By Sunday evening, 167 people had become members of a Facebook group dedicated to the search for David Gimelfarb, a 28-year-old psychology student who vanished Aug. 11 while hiking the remote Rincon de la Vieja, a 35,000-acre national park in the Guanacaste province. Gimelfarb’s family had become concerned last week when they had not heard from him in two days and park rangers had found the student’s abandoned sport utility vehicle in the reaction area’s parking lot.
Fearing the worst, the student’s parents flew to Costa Rica on Thursday to help Costa Rican authorities and the local Red Cross begin their search. Luda Gimelfarb, the student’s mother, also pleaded with officials at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica to join the search, but they have yet to do so, she said. The embassy did not return e-mails or calls on Sunday.
Reached by phone in Costa Rica, Luda Gimelfarb said she was frustrated by the embassy’s response, but holding out hope her son could be found alive.
“I am just praying for him,” she said. “He’s an experienced hiker. He’s not a professional, but he’s experienced enough to take care of himself. All I can do is hope for a safe return.” (more…)
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Monday, August 17th, 2009
The founder of Internet- and telephone-based gambling operation BetOnSports has entered guilty pleas to three U.S. charges, including a racketeering charge, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday.
Gary Stephen Kaplan, age 50, will forfeit US$43.7 million to the U.S. government as part of a plea agreement, the DOJ said. He pleaded guilty Friday to charges of conspiracy to violate the U.S. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute, conspiring to violate the Wire Wager Act and violating the Wire Wager Act, the DOJ said. The Wire Wager Act generally prohibits gambling businesses from using wired communications to take bets.
Under the plea agreement, Kaplan would serve between 41 and 51 months in prison. (more…)
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Saturday, August 15th, 2009
The Costa Rican Health authorities confirmed Friday one new death from A/H1N1 influenza, raising the country’s death toll to 29, the highest in Central America.
The patient, a 49-year-old rural woman, died Tuesday of a lung infection.
The health authorities are also investigating Monday’s death of a 26-year-old man.
Costa Rica has reported a total of 856 H1N1 patients, including President Oscar Arias. Among them, 91 have been hospitalized.
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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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Thursday, August 13th, 2009
That is the question being posed by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) in its fight to put the brakes on a possible reduction in electrical rates.
The state institution is using the scare tactic to pressure a move against a possible reduction of 12% in electrical rates, saying that any reduction would leave the institution without the financial resources to meet the power demands of the country.
This is not the first time ICE has used scare tactics, as we all remember the blackouts of 2007, when the state energey provided announced a series of rotating power blackouts that affected all areas of the country.
It is not clear if the 2007 blackouts were really due to problems in the production of energy or simply the actions akin to a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum.
Elbert Durán, an ICE spokesperson, explained that the “candle” reference is to make the point that any drop in ICE revenues from reduction in rates would mean a lower investment in infrastructure and the institution’s ability to move forward in several projects that would guarantee the power needs of the future.
“We have taken preventive action to guarantee the people that there would be no more ‘apagones’ (blackouts”, said Durán.
The ICE officials added that for many years ICE ran in the red, but now (with the current rates) the institution can continue to invest in the country’s future energy needs.
The reduction in electrical rates is being spearheaded by the Cámara de Industrias, which comes before the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep) – government regulator of public prices and services – on August 24 for consideration.
The Cámara, in its petition, argues that ICE received approval in its rate hike at the beginning of the year to spend ¢98 billion colones for the purchase of bunker and diesel fuels, however, in reality the institution needs ¢42 billion and as such electrical rates should be reduced.
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Thursday, August 13th, 2009
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — Carlos Costly scored twice and Carlos Pavon and Malvin Valladares added goals in Honduras’ 4-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifier in the CONCACAF region.
After six of 10 qualifying games, Costa Rica leads with 12 points followed by Honduras and the United States with 10 each, Mexico with nine, and El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago with five each.
The top three teams will advance automatically to the World Cup. The No. 4 team faces a playoff with South America’s No. 5 for another berth.
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Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias received treatment at home for the H1N1 swine flu virus on Wednesday, but officials said his symptoms were mild and he could recover by next week.
Health ministry doctors tested people who have been in recent contact with the president, including members of his Cabinet, Arias’ office said, a day after announcing he was ill with a mild case of the virus.
The 68-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner is the first head of state known to have contracted swine flu, which has spread around the world since April and could eventually affect 2 billion people.
Arias was being treated with the antiviral Tamiflu for symptoms like body aches and fever, but was working on his computer and answering the phone, presidential spokeswoman Lisbeth Barbosa said.
“He will probably be back to a full schedule next Monday,” she said.
More than 20 people in Costa Rica have died of swine flu, which was declared a pandemic on June 11 and has killed more than 800 people worldwide. The World Health Organization stopped trying to get a precise count of flu cases.
Arias is considered a high-risk case because he also suffers from asthma. He began feeling sick over the weekend and was tested for H1N1 on Monday.
Last month, Arias brokered talks to resolve the political crisis in Honduras, where a de facto government unrecognized by most of the world has been holding power since the army ousted President Manuel Zelaya in a June 28 coup.
Negotiations broke down two weeks ago over whether the interim leadership would let Zelaya return to power. Arias’ illness is unlikely to affect the situation.
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
There is no doubt that the long awaited Heredia – San José is a great success. Yesterday, users of the train had to line up for hours at the Estación del Ferrocarril al Atlántico, in barrio La California, getting in line shortly after noon to be the first on the 4pm train to Heredia.
According to Miguel Carabaguíaz, president of the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer), a 3:30pm train was added and two more trains were added for the 4pm run, where only has been scheduled.
The train is expected to carry some 3.000 passengers daily, however, if the demand continues that number maybe much higher.
Carabaguíaz said that people are getting on the train as a novelty and is asking that only those who need the train to go to and from work or school to use it.
The railway president added that the old “blue” trains had to be added to the service to assist the modern trains as the demand yesterday peaked at 5.300 passengers.
“People got on the train to Heredia and then had to be asked to get off and get in line again to go back to San José”, said Carabaguíaz.
The train service runs Monday to Friday during morning and afternoon rush hours only, taking less than a half hour to go one way from Heredia to San José.
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
After fielding a young squad that advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda has called his first choice XI for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against group-leading Costa Rica.
Inter Milan’s David Suazo is still out with a leg injury, but captain Amado Guevara from Toronto FC, Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios, Parma’s Julio de Leon join veterans Carlo Costly and Carlos Pavon on the Catrachos squad to take on the Ticos in the 50th edition of the Clasico Centroamericano at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.
“They know us very well and we know them, but it all depends on what you do, not Costa Rica, but what we do,” Guevara told La Prensa. “I think that is the key to the game.”
Honduras has seven points from five matches and is currently third in six-team group, three points behind the United States. However, the Catrachos are just one point in front of Mexico, which is home for a clash against the United States at Estadio Azteca, and two points ahead of El Salvador, which is at winless Trinidad & Tobago.
“At this point they’re all tough games, but our meetings with Honduras are always extra intense,” Costa Rica coach Rodrigo Kenton told FIFA.com. “We’ll just have to focus and get back to the form we had that brought us to first place.”
Costa Rica has the slight edge in the all-time series between the neighboring counties, winning 19, losing 14 with 16 draws since 1930. But the Ticos have enjoyed a distinct advantage of late, playing in the last two World Cups and firmly establishing its place among the top teams in CONCACAF.
“El Lobo”Guevara is aware of the history.
“In 50 years, we have only won twice,” Guevara said.
The Ticos sit atop the group in the final hexagonal stage with 12 points from five matches, including a 3-1 victory against the United States on June 3 in Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose.
Costa Rica has not lost to Honduras since 2005, but Kenton is aware of Catrachos’ confidence, especially playing in San Pedro Sula where they have won six consecutive qualifying matches.
“Honduras (is) a strong team physically, and they are always difficult at home,” he told FIFA.com “They’re technical and they move the ball around very well. We’ll need to be aware of that.”
While his team has historically struggled against Costa Rica, Honduran midfielder Ramon Nunez is hoping his team’s recent form at home can continue.
“Here at home we must be invincible,” Nunez said. “We hope that the streak will continue and hopefully be a great game.”
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