Daily Archives: September 8, 2011

Principal Financial head gets a 10-year jail term

Elwyn R. Jacobs has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 10 years in prison, court sources said. There was no official announcement of the verdict. Jacobs is the former president of Principal Services S.A. The operation was one … Continue reading

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U.S. scammer convicted in murder-for-hire plots

A U.S. citizen who graduated from being a multi-million-dollar scammer to the intellectual author of two murders got a 50-year sentence in a criminal court Wednesday. He is Jeffery Allan Pearson, who made up to $13 million scamming mostly retired … Continue reading

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Prison guards in Haiti trained in techniques

Haiti’s understaffed prison services will benefit from nearly 300 new recruits, thanks to a United Nations-backed training program covering all elements needed for the job, from psychological understanding to respect for prisoners’ rights to knowing when to use force. “The … Continue reading

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U.S. man in Mazatlan faces grenade parts allegation

Mexico’s attorney general says police have arrested a U.S. man for allegedly smuggling grenade parts to a powerful and dangerous drug gang. Authorities identify the suspect as Jean Baptiste Kingery. Police arrested him last week. Kingery is suspected of smuggling … Continue reading

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Rotavirus shots provide extended benefits, study says

Protection of the rotavirus vaccine seems to extend beyond the children who receive it. Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea that kills more than a half-million people each year, mostly very young children. A recently-introduced vaccine has proved to be very effective … Continue reading

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World tourism reaches record level in first half of 2011

nternational tourism grew by almost 5 percent in the first half of 2011 reaching a new record of 440 million arrivals. Results confirm that, in spite of multiple challenges, international tourism continues to consolidate the return to growth initiated in … Continue reading

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French evening to provide glimpse of diplomatic high life

One of the secrets of international living is to pick the right party. Anyone, particularly a reporter, who lives overseas more than briefly knows that the French and the Italians throw the best parties. And reporters will move heaven and … Continue reading

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New Los Santos hydro project will be inaugurated Monday

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad and President Laura Chinchilla will be inaugurating the new $600 million Planta Hidroeléctrica Pirrís in the Los Santos region Monday. Officials predicted in January that the plant would go on line in September, and they … Continue reading

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Traffic cameras to catch speeders go live today in valley

The Policía de Tránsito are beginning a program against speeders that is almost certainly headed for the Sala IV constitutional court. The program starts today. The Ministerio de Obras Pública y Transportes have erected cameras with radar at five locations … Continue reading

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Finally some good news: Reader finds an honest man

Recently I made a trip to San José on the bus from my home in San Ramón. After conducting my business which took several hours, I tried to telephone my wife, who had promised to meet me at the bus … Continue reading

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La Niña could be forming in the central Pacific

Climate scientists in the United States report that La Niña is making a comeback in the Pacific. This would mean heavier rains in Guanacaste in November and December. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said that evidence suggests that … Continue reading

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Public ceremony Sunday to commemorate 9/11

Public ceremony Sunday to commemorate 9/11

The official anniversary ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States will be Sunday in Sabana Norte. The U.S. Embassy has confirmed via a spokesman that the remembrance is open to anyone. The location is in the … Continue reading

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