Author Archives: Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Press group seeks action on Honduran abduction

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The Inter American Press Association condemned the abduction Wednesday morning of Honduras journalist Alfredo Villatoro, asking the country’s president, Porfirio Lobo, to take immediate action in the case. It also urged the government to organize means of ensuring the safety … Continue reading →

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Press group cites murder, abduction and attack against reporter

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The Inter American Press Association has condemned the murder in Mexico of journalist Regina Martínez, and expressed concern at the disappearance in Colombia of a French correspondent and at an attack on a radio announcer in Brazil. According to information … Continue reading →

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Minor Vargas convicted of 10 felony counts by U.S. jury

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

A federal jury in Virginia found Minor Vargas Calvo guilty Monday in a massive fraud scheme that has thousands of victims worldwide. Vargas, 60, was president of a Costa Rican company, Provident Capital Indemnity Ltd., that sold reinsurance bonds to … Continue reading →

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U.N. chief calls for more effort and money in fighting malaria

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called on countries to intensify their efforts to combat malaria, stressing that despite remarkable progress in recent years, much more needs to be done to end the “monumental tragedy” of one child dying every … Continue reading →

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New report spotlights gap facing Latin rural poor

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Latin America has the highest inequality in the world, and nowhere is this more evident than in the poorest rural territories in the region, according to the “Poverty and Inequality 2011: Latin America Report” released Tuesday in Mexico City by … Continue reading →

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Press group issues report critical of Latin leaders

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The Inter American Press Association has concluded its half-yearly meeting, held in Cádiz, Spain, with ratification of its conclusions, in which it declared that: “The main problems facing the press in the Americas are crimes against journalists for the sole … Continue reading →

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Hemisphere poised for week of vaccination programs

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

With the goal of vaccinating some 44 million people, 45 countries and territories of the Americas are set to participate in the 10th annual Vaccination Week in the Americas as well as the first-ever World Immunization Week, both from Monday … Continue reading →

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Famed artist will debut not one but two exhibitions Saturday

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica
Famed artist will debut not one but two exhibitions Saturday

Famed Costa Rican artist Otto Apuy is opening a pair of exhibitions in Liberia. One is at the Daniel Oduber airport and one is at the Hidden Garden Art Gallery five kilometers west of the airport. Both openings are Saturday. … Continue reading →

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U.N. seeks to curb fluctuations in the price of commodities

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday underscored the need to curb the volatility of global food prices through the strengthening of oversight and analysis of international commodities futures markets to discourage the speculation that leads to price fluctuations. “Food and nutritional security … Continue reading →

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Stop the killing of lawyers, U.N. experts tell Honduras

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Two United Nations independent experts today called on the Government of Honduras to adopt concrete measures to stop the killing of lawyers in the country, stressing that they should be able to carry out their functions without risking their lives. … Continue reading →

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San Ramón Action Alliance plans another book sale

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The Community Action Alliance will be holding its second Gran Venta de Libros Usados April 28 at the Regional Museum of San Ramón. The first book sale was a huge success with nearly 1,000 people attending and over $2,200 raised … Continue reading →

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University for Peace opens new center in Netherlands

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The University for Peace headquartered near Ciudad Colón has started a new center in The Netherlands. The Hague location will help the United Nations agency conduct further outreach to the Netherlands and the European Union. The Hague center is housed … Continue reading →

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Piano prodigy picked for New York competition

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

A 15-year-old Costa Rican pianist, Josue Gonzalez Aguilar, will compete at the Sixth New York International Piano Competition, which will be held at The Manhattan School of Music from June 18 through June 22. Twenty-two other pianists, ages 16-21, will … Continue reading →

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Tropical chicken firm opens San José location

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Miami-based Pollo Tropical has opened its first franchised restaurant in Costa Rica, in San Jose’s Parque Central. The opening marks the first of what it hopes will be at least five Pollo Tropical locations of the Latin grilled chicken brand … Continue reading →

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Canadian foundation helps youngsters in Guanacaste

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

A Canadian foundation has provided toys and clothing to 55 children in Guanacaste. The foundation is Kids Explore, based in Williams Lake, British Columbia. The items were carried by a sponsor, Jet Blue, the foundation said. The Hotel Iguanazul in … Continue reading →

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U.N. official praises progress in Haiti’s recovery

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

The United Nations development chief has commended Haiti’s progress in rebuilding its capital, Port-au-Prince, two years after a devastating earthquake rocked the country killing 200,000 people. “I saw a huge difference from the desolation I saw four days after the … Continue reading →

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Freedom House condemns dissident detentions in Cuba

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Freedom House has condemned the arrests over the weekend of an estimated 80 Cuban dissidents, including the leader of the Ladies in White, Berta Soler, and called on the Cuban government to release those who remain in custody and to … Continue reading →

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Humane Society condemns plans for Costa Rican bull run

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Humane Society International has come out against the proposed bull fiesta event Pamplona y Más scheduled to take place next month in Costa Rica. This kind of copycat spectacle, intended to emulate the Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain, … Continue reading →

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