Daily Archives: November 30, 2011

Legislature gets 33 tasks for the special session

Tuesday marked the end of the regular session of the Asamblea Legislativa as stipulated in the Costa Rican Constitution. Now it is the executive branch’s turn to establish the agenda of what lawmakers can consider. The period is known as … Continue reading

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Another arson blaze quelled at city hospital

Someone tried to set fire to Hospital San Juan de Dios again Tuesday. This is the latest in a series of small set fires that have taken place over the last year. Hospital workers controlled the small blaze on the … Continue reading

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Costa Rica seeks data on environmental claim

In a letter to Nicaraguan officials Tuesday, Enrique Castillo, Costa Rica’s foreign minster, said a road along the northern border has no effect on Nicaraguan territory. The alleged environmental damages were done because Costa Rica has been forced to build … Continue reading

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Colombian rebels blame army for hostage deaths

Colombia’s main rebel group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, known as the FARC, is blaming the government for the deaths of four security force members held captive by the rebel group for more than a decade. A rebel statement … Continue reading

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Efforts to salvage euro include central control

European finance ministers gathered in Brussels Tuesday in another effort to resolve the continent’s debt crisis and save the euro as its common currency. The ministers appeared set to negotiate terms of proposals that would have until recently been unthinkable. … Continue reading

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American Airline’s parent seeks bankruptcy protection

American Airlines’ parent company, AMR Corp., has filed for bankruptcy after failing to secure a deal with pilots to cut labor costs. The nation’s third largest airline said Tuesday it sought bankruptcy court protection to reduce its costs and debt … Continue reading

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Overall Latin region poverty rate reported to be lower

Between 1990 and 2010 the poverty rate in Latin America dropped by 17 percentage points from 48.4 percent to 31.4 percent, while the indigence rate fell by 10.3 percentage points from 22.6 percent to 12.3 percent, according to a report … Continue reading

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Criminal magistrate will study allegations against lawmaker

A Sala III magistrate will study allegations against a sitting legislative deputy to determine if a criminal case will proceed. That was the word Tuesday form the Poder Judicial. Costa Rican law outlines a special process for high-level officials who … Continue reading

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Foundation gets $200,000 to fight human trafficking here

The United States ambassador signed a $200,000 grant to a prostitution rehab center in San José Tuesday. The approved grant for Fundación Rahab, “Prevención, protección, promoción de procesos penales y atención de mujeres adultas y adolescentes víctimas de trata para … Continue reading

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Peace center will hold its own celebration of army abolition

The Quaker Peace Center is miffed that President Laura Chinchilla has invited Panama’s president, Ricardo Martinelli, to the 63rd celebration of the abolition of the Costa Rican military. So the center is holding its own celebration in Parque Central, the … Continue reading

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Heredia father faces molesting allegation

Police arrested a man Monday in a park in Heredia because they suspect that he was molesting his 2-year-old daughter. According to the Heredia police commissioner, Daniel Calderón, the agency received a phone call alleging the crime. Calderón said agents … Continue reading

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Medical strike negotiations expected to continue today

The Unión Médica Nacional has joined striking anesthesiologists in a strike at public hospitals. More negotiations are expected today to end the standoff. The Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social operates the public hospitals, and officials there say that more than … Continue reading

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Major Christmas season events begin this Thursday

A spectacular parade, a magnificently decorated Christmas tree and a two-day inauguration of a nativity scene are separate signature events of the the holiday season in San José. They are right around the corner and approaching faster than Santa’s sleigh … Continue reading

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Gold mine developers lose their high court appeal

The Sala Primeria of the Corte Suprema de Justicia, acting as an appeals court, has upheld a lower court decision that cancels a concession to construct an open pit gold mine. The decision in the case became known today via … Continue reading

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