Archive for the ‘Costa Rica News’ Category
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Well, that’s one way to get over losing the Super Bowl! New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady headed to Costa Rica last week with his wife Gisele Bundchen and their 2-year-old son Benjamin, and the trio was spotted soaking up the sun with friends on the beach near her Santa Teresa home on Friday. Bundchen, in an animal print string bikini, playfully swung Benjamin around in the air, smooched her husband, and even worked in a little peaceful meditation in the sand. As the sun was setting, the Bundchen-Brady clan settled around a bonfire for dinner, which was delivered by locals and washed down with fresh coconut water.
Also on hand for the tropical festivities: Brady’s teammate Wes Welker, who dropped one of his passes in the game against the New York Giants. Guess it’s safe to assume there are no hard feelings between the wide receiver and Bundchen , who railed against her husband’s teammates immediately after the Patriots’ 21-17 loss in the Super Bowl earlier this month. “My husband cannot f—ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time,” the heated Brazilian supermodel, 31, was caught on tape complaining to a friend. “I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times,” she added — clearly referring to Welker, Deion Branch, and Aaron Hernandez.
A week before the Costa Rican getaway, Bundchen made her triumphant return to the New York Fashion Week catwalk for designer Alexander Wang. She was joined by other supermodel vets Shalom Harlow, Frankie Rayder, Carmen Kass, and Karolina Kurkova. The ladies all hit the runway with turtlenecks pulled up to hide their faces, but rolled them down at the last moment to reveal their identities. “I haven’t done the shows in New York for 10 years,” Bundchen told Vogue backstage. “Frankie, Carmen — those are the girls I worked with back when I started modeling!”
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
PlanetSolar’s Turanor, the world’s largest solar-powered boat, will complete its 18-month journey around the globe this spring. Photo: PlanetSolar
PlanetSolar’s Turanor, which has already made history as the world’s largest solar-powered boat, is about to accomplish another impressive feat: completing its 18-month journey around the globe.
Setting sail in Monaco in Sept. 2010, the solar catamaran has traveled west on a route close to the Equator – to take advantage of the readily available sunshine – and plans to dock back in Monaco this April, TreeHugger reports. The boat’s four-sailor crew made stops in Miami, Cancun, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Abu Dhabi to promote the ship’s clean technology and historic voyage.
Measuring 101 feet long and 49 feet wide, the lightweight carbon vessel features 703 solar panels that charge a giant lithium-ion battery that powers the ship’s engine. Turanor captain and PlanetSolar founder Raphaël Domjan told TreeHugger that the boat’s solar system hasn’t once broken down on the trip so far and that the crew has not had to use the ship’s two backup diesel engines.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
The Fiscal Control Police (PCP) on Monday seized a container with 5,000 cell phones and 740 parcels containing bundles of purchases made on online. The cargo, which arrived in Limon has been marked as lamps and sewing machines.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
This weekend ten semifinalists will be selected to compete for the title of Miss Costa Rica. The selection will be published on the Teletica website and the results will be announced during the first week of March.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
President Laura Chinchilla has ordered public companies to make additional economic contributions to the pension scheme of the Disability, Aging and Death (IVM) fund, administered by the national social security system. Entities such as ICE, Recope, INS and state banks must pay an annual percentage of their net income with the goal to strengthen the system and expand coverage among employed persons living in poverty. A decree issued by Chinchilla on Tuesday specifies a 5 percent annual payment that will increase to 15 percent by 2017.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
The world has changed. A lot. We like to repeat old adages like, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” but it has indeed changed. Granted, our reactions to those changes may make it seem that things are really the same, but that is due to human nature, and only serves to sometimes mask some of the truly dramatic changes that we have wrought.
One area that comes to mind when thinking of radical changes has to do with certain medical/life conditions that did not even exist just a few generations ago. We now commonly see diagnoses of conditions called ADHD or Autism, and we see a whole new crop of kids with problems that did not exist just a few short years ago. (Note: Personally, I do not accept either of these as true medical diagnoses, as there are so many underlying things going on at the same time, not the least of which involve a weaker family structure today, families where both parents work, a passing along to others of our responsibilities as parents in terms of discipline, role models, etc).
But, the point is, there are indeed a number of things going on today that weren’t going on just fifty years ago. These might be some (possibly) little things that have had some kind of impact on everything and everyone. For example, very generally speaking, our physical activity levels are significantly lower today than they were for previous generations. Food portions are way too big, not only in relation to our activity levels, but in relation to basic human needs. The common use of many additives and preservatives with our food, along with artificial flavorings and coloring (so-called processed foods) are also thought – by some – to have had some sort of effect.
(more…)
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Newton, Mass. – January 18, 2012 – TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP), the world’s largest travel website, today reveals Casa Bella Rita B&B was chosen as the overall winner in the Bed & Breakfast category in South American and Latin America by TripAdvisor in its 2012 Travelers’ Choice® awards.
Now in its tenth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honor the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers. Unlike any other hotel honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.
“With the help of millions of travelers around the globe, TripAdvisor is thrilled to recognize the world’s most outstanding hotels for the tenth year of the Travelers’ Choice Awards,” said Christine Petersen, president, TripAdvisor for Business. “From the best bargain hotels to best luxury hotels, remarkable service, value and quality are the hallmarks of our Travelers’ Choice winners.”
As TripAdvisor has continued its growth globally, featuring sites in 30 countries and in 21 languages, the Travelers’ Choice Hotels awards now highlight a broader range of spectacular properties across the globe.
For reviews on Casa Bella Rita B&B go to www.tripadvisor.com/UserReviewEdit
For the complete 2012 Travelers’ Choice list, go to www.tripadvisor.com/travelerschoice.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
The latest in a rash of appliance store robberies is a Moravia branch of a Casa Blanca where armed men pretending to be customers made off with ¢10 million ($19,841) in merchandise. Tactics are similar to two recent robberies in San Isidro de El General, and total losses come to ¢70 million ($138,889).
crr
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
A 58 year old women from Limon was executed by assassins as her husband was forced to watch after the couple refused to sell their small corner store or “pulperia” to narcotraffickers. The victim suffered six bullet rounds to the chest at close range and died at the Hospital Tony Facio. Police searched the area after the shooting, but failed to make any arrests. It is believed the corner store would have provided an excellent front for narcotics sales in the area.
crr
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
The government of Nicaragua has announced that it will make a census of the northern border region with a view toward examining the legitimacy of property titles. Jose Luis Garcia, minister of environment for the Ortega government voiced his suspicions that Costa Ricans have used Nicaraguans to claim land in order to have exclusive water rights for irrigation on the Costa Rican side of there border.
crr
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
Panama’s National Police reported on Friday the recovery of 17 Glock pistols that are believed part of the 215 that were stolen from a Transit police armory in San Jose on Janurary 30th. Officers in Panama made three arrests and also seized $120,000 in cash. which is displayed in a photo along side the weapons in the full article in La Nacion.
crr
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
Since its arrival in Costa Rica in 1997, Intel has invested $800 million in its fabrication plant, located in Belén, Heredia. Mike Forrest, general manager of Intel Costa Rica has announced that the company will spend $80 million this year to upgrade its facility. The full story, including a video in English is published in La Nacion.
crr
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
POLICE should have taken a teenager to hospital when he told them packages of cocaine had burst inside him, according to a senior officer.
Reece Staples, 19, died when parcels of cocaine he had smuggled from Costa Rica leaked into his bloodstream.
But officers, who had arrested him in Basford for criminal damage, did not believe him when he told them he was seriously ill and left him in a police station cell. He collapsed and later died.
The inquest into Mr Staples’ death heard that the 19-year-old had told Sergeant Neil Haynes, who had been involved in his arrest, “I am going to die. I have got coke in my belly”.
Giving evidence yesterday, Paul Saint, head of custody for Notts Police, was asked how a custody officer would be expected to react to news of Mr Staples’ statement.
He said: “He would be expected to have that prisoner immediately conveyed to the hospital.”
Nottingham Coroner’s Court had previously heard that Mr Staples had gone to Costa Rica in early June 2009 and had swallowed at least 19 bags of cocaine.
He was arrested on June 7, 2009, on suspicion of criminal damage in Basford, and was taken to Oxclose Lane Police Station. After his arrest, Mr Staples told Sgt Haynes that packages in his stomach had burst.
The sergeant asked whether he was referring to cocaine, and Mr Staples said he was.
But the inquest heard Sgt Haynes thought Mr Staples was lying and didn’t ask any further questions.
Mr Saint said Mr Staples’ statement should have led to him being taken to hospital. “The simple fact that someone had stated they had swallowed concealed drugs means they should have been conveyed to hospital.”
But he also said the fact Mr Staples appeared as if he had been drinking or taking drugs would not have been a reason in itself to take him to hospital.
“If everyone who suffered from any degree of intoxication was taken to hospital, the custody suites would be empty and the hospitals full.”
He said custody officers would not have been expected to decide whether Mr Staples was under the influence of drink or of drugs.
“I wouldn’t expect them to be able to differentiate between intoxication due to alcohol and intoxication due to drugs.
“The custody staff are not medical experts. We must not attempt to diagnose or assume, because of symptoms, it’s a particular drug or whatever.”
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent told the inquest that guidance was already in place at the time of Mr Staples’ death, urging staff to take a prisoner to an Accident and Emergency department if the person said they had swallowed a concealed drug.
The inquest jury is expected to deliver a verdict on today.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
A man wasn’t allowed to get on his flight from Denver International Airport because his passport wasn’t in good enough shape.
Mike Miller of San Francisco stopped through Denver to see family on his way to a vacation in Costa Rica.
He was going to meet several of his friends who are turning 50 around the same time, but he’s heading back home to San Francisco.
Miller thought if he was going to have problems with his passport it would be in the security or line or maybe later in customs. He never thought a Frontier Airlines ticket counter agent would be the one to tell him he couldn’t leave the country.
“She looked at it and said, ‘We can’t let you go because the condition of your passport is too worn out,’” Miller said.
Years ago, the cover of Miller’s passport started to come unglued, but it kept working for him.
He says he’s taken six trips to other countries in the last few years.
“I’ve never had a problem with it. I’ve even asked the customs officials coming back if I should get a new one because it’s worn and they’ve all told me it’s fine as long as it’s not expired,” Miller said.
It may be fine in most countries, but not Costa Rica.
Frontier says it was trying to save Miller even more trouble, because if he’d made it to the country, they’d have sent him right back to the U.S. and possibly charged a fine to the airline.
Frontier pointed us to a U.S. State Department web page that reads, “Costa Rican Immigration may deny entry if the passport is damaged in any way.”
Miller still isn’t happy with Frontier. He says if they knew that, they should have shared it before he got to the airport.
“[Frontier should] have a large warning if you’re going to Costa Rica before you pull the trigger on the ticket,” he said.
Posted in Costa Rica News | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 20th, 2012
Members of an Indian tribe in Panama are again blocking the Pan-American Highway after a breakdown in negotiations with the government over new dams.
Local television showed groups of Ngobe-Bugle Indians blocking the highway Friday in two spots in the province of Chiriqui near the border with Costa Rica.
Indigenous groups are against changes that the Panamanian government made to a mining law and its plans to build dams in their territory in western Panama.
The Indians first set up a blockade Jan. 30 to protest lawmakers’ refusal to prohibit the large-scale projects.
Mediator Jose Luis Lacunza says the government agreed during the ensuing negotiations to cancel all mining concessions but the talks broke down over dams.
Posted in Costa Rica News | No Comments »
