San José, Costa Rica - Monday 05 July 2004

1.415.265 Hits in June!

 

Traffic lights in downtown San José were stuck on green or red from the early morning hours. Traffic work crews restored the system shortly after 12 noon. Click for larger image!

Teen Body Recovered
Poás de Aserrí woke up Sunday morning with a silence following the news that ocean had returned the body of 15 year old Kendy Ballestero Barboza, one of three youths who had been swallowed up by the under currents at Playa Bandera, in Parrita.

Revenue Minister May be Charged
News comes that the Revenue Minister (Ministro de Hacienda), Alberto Dent, may be charged with failing to complete his duties. 

Commission to Look Into Solís Affairs
With the refusal of Comptroller Alex Solís Fallas refusal to resign, a Legislative commission will convene today to look into the affairs of Solís with the intention to remove him from the recently appointed post as Contralor General de la Republica.

Downtown San José Without Traffic Lights Sunday Morning
From about 8am to a little after 12 noon, downtown San José became a traffic nightmare as both pedestrians and drivers dueled for their right to cross an intersection as all the traffic lights were stuck on either green or red.

Migrant Smuggling Suspect Arrested at Miami Airport
One of the most-wanted suspects in an international human smuggling operation that allegedly brought migrants from the Middle East to Latin America and then the United States has been captured in Miami.
 

Canada, Central America Halt Trade Talks Free trade agreement talks scheduled for this week between Central America and Canada have been suspended, a Honduran business leader said Sunday.  Peru declares aviation emergency before soccer competition Peru declared a 90-day state of emergency on Sunday in its air transport sector to keep airplanes flying during Copa America soccer competition and allows smaller airline companies to lease foreign planes when two leading carriers are in trouble. 4 die in possible new Rio drug war RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Four people were killed Sunday in a northern Rio slum in what police believe could be a new war between rival drug gangs. Authorities believe the slayings were triggered by gangs fighting for territory that opened up after a slum's alleged drug lord was killed in a police shooting Friday.  International News from the New York Times

BUSINESS & ECONOMIC NEWS Central American Countries Lure U.S. Retirees. As legions of baby boomers prepare to retire and relocate to warmer climates, a widening range of Central American countries are vying to be their new home. While places like Costa Rica and Belize have long lured U.S. retirees with pristine beaches and cheap living, prices in those countries have risen sharply during recent years.  SPECIAL REPORTS: LATIN AMERICA Independence heroes revisited in a harsher light Latin American independence heroes are making a big comeback -- in print. In many countries in the region, biographies and historical novels about Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, Bernardo O'Higgins and other leading generals of the early 19th century independence wars are leading the bestseller lists, often surpassing books on the crises of the day. In Argentina, the No. 1 book on the bestseller list of the influential daily La Nación is The Myths of Argentine History by Felipe Pigna. Second on the list is The Damned Heroes by Pacho O'Donnell. Way below are current-affairs books on recent cases of government corruption and the country's economic debacle of 2001. THE TAKE: DON'T ASK “What is ecotourism?” The interesting thing about ecotourism is that very few people know how to answer that question. The large part of the problem is that ecotourism means different things to different people. To some, Pirates of the Caribbean might suit well for an ecotourist adventure. To others, eating tree bark while photographing squirrels is a much better alternative. “People, the fickle creatures that we are, went to all the trouble to build cities only later to find ourselves wanting to leave them.”

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Retirement/Relocation Tours for the Non-rich! I am the ONLY Retirement, Relocation Guide in Costa Rica without a hidden agenda. I will show you many of the best areas for value of climate, land, amenities, and building costs. I will introduce you to honest, value, people who will share with you the actual costs of real estate & homes built for people like you. You can then compare these to any of the other "DEALS" promoted by the many other "Tours" Please visit: www.costaricaretireonss.com and contact my References. George Lundquist, Retirement, Relocation Columnist for: www.insidecostarica.com and www.welovecostarica.com

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