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updated by 8:00 a.m. CST each day
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Instant Millionaires!
At 7:26, the
National Lottery, drew the winner number for the
grand prize in the Christmas lottery, also known as
'El Gordo'. This year, 300.000.000 Colones ($720.000
Dollars) was the first prize prize, with a second
prize of 35.000.000 Colones, and 20.000.000 Colones
going to the third prize winner.
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This year the
winning number as
20
in the 770
series. All tickets for this draw had been sold,
so a winner was guaranteed.
The event is traditionally held at La Plaza de la
Cultura on Avenida Central with music and songs,
interrupted by the lottery draw. Thousands gathered
to watch live the numbers being called, while the
rest of the country was glued to a television set.
The lottery numbers are sold in fractions of 15. A
player can buy the whole fraction or parts of it,
meaning they would be sharing the prize.
The El Gordo will be
paid in 5 installments this year and not in one lump
sum as in the past.
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Moments following the
draw of El Gordo, lottery officials announced the
location of the sale and the 3 vendors located in
Heredia and San José.
For a complete list of prize
numbers and prizes click here!
Heavy Flood Damages;
Matina Recovering
More than 30 communities and 2000 people were
affected by the floods. Matina, west of Limon, was
the hardest hit.
Authorities are still counting the cost of the
damages caused by the heavy rains of last week,
though it will be several days more before a total
can be summed up.
Saturday afternoon the shelters that housed most of
the displaced starting closing as people started to
return to their homes and commence with the hard
task of cleaning up.
Of the missing during the floods, 3 appeared safe
found in a house near Corina de Matina, while the
Red Cross has begun it's search for the body of
Carlos Leitón
Umañn, 56 years of age.
Casa Alianza Costa
Rica Honored with Social Responsibility Award
Casa Alianza
has been honored with the 2003 “Assuming Social
Responsibility Award” for its work in defense of
children’s rights in Costa Rica. The National Public
Relations Association will present the award to Casa
Alianza.
“...at the Board of Directors meeting, we agreed
that Casa Alianza should receive this year’s
“Assuming Social Responsibility Award” for their
tireless work to combat abuse, aggression, and
sexual exploitation of Costa Rica’s children,” read
the official notice received by Casa Alianza this
10th of December.
Casa Alianza is a not for profit, non governmental
organization dedicated to protecting and defending
children’s rights in Latin America. Casa Alianza has
programs in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua with its regional office in Costa Rica.
The Costa Rican Guides and Scouts Association, as
well as the Panorama Program of the National Radio
Association were also elected to receive this year’s
award.
This is the second honor bestowed on Casa Alianza’s
Regional Office this year. The Human Rights
Ombudsman for the Republic of Costa Rica chose to
honor Casa Alianza for its work with children’s
human rights. Casa Alianza received the
“Contribution to the Improvement of the Quality of
Life” on October 31st, 2003, in San José.
The “Assuming Social Responsibility” award ceremony
will take place at the National Radio Association’s
auditorium on December 18th - the third anniversary
of the murder of Jacqueline Rodriguez Rios.
Jacqueline was brutally murdered and dismembered by
a criminal, who still roams free. Two days later, 14
year old Ivette Badilla León met the same tragic
fate. Casa Alianza’s struggle is far from over….
Model Forests
Costa Rica became a
member of the International Network of Model
Forests, an organization that focuses on
preservation initiatives and sustainable development
in areas of vast natural wealth throughout the
world.
The Network decided on enlisting Costa Rica after its
board of directors - with headquarters in Canada -
received the Reventazon Model Forest Project, an
initiative for the preservation and development of
the Reventazon River Basin.
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Latin American
leaders Hail Saddam's Capture
Leaders from several
Latin American countries on Sunday voiced their
delight at the arrest of Iraq's former leader Saddam
Hussein by the US military forces.
Mexican President Vicente Fox hoped that Saddam's
capture would provide an opportunity to take a step
forward in "Iraq's peace, reconstruction and
democratization process."
In a message sent to US president George W. Bush,
Fox said his government hopes Saddam's capture
should "stop the terrible loss of human lives" that
happened frequently in Iraq during the past few
months and should promote the region's peace and
stability.
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos said he hoped
Saddam's arrest would promote the democratic
reconstruction of the country.
Lagos also expressed the hope that "Saddam Hussein
would receive a fair trial that can lead to a new
political era for the Iraqi people."
The Nicaraguan government said in a statement that
Saddam's arrest is a further step towards freedom"
that will also allow Iraq to "deepen its social and
economic stability."
In August, Nicaragua sent 115 soldiers and military
doctors to post-war Iraq and became one of the first
countries to join a humanitarian mission there.
Ecuador's Foreign Ministry said in a press release
that Saddam's capture represents an important step
in bringing back peace and security to Iraq and
offers new hope for restoration of stability in the
region.
The US forces in Iraq announced earlier on Sunday
that Saddam Hussein, who had been on the run since
his regime collapsed on April 9, was captured on
Saturday evening in an underground hole near his
hometown of Tikrit in northern Iraq.
Chinese Premier, Mexican
President Meet on Ties
Visiting Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Mexican President
Vicente Fox on China-Mexico relations on Friday and
they announced the establishment of a strategic
partnership between the two countries.
Fox held a welcome ceremony for Premier Wen at the
presidential palace before the two leaders started
their talks. After national anthems of China and
Mexico were played, Fox delivered a welcome speech.
The Mexican president said the fact that Premier Wen
chose Mexico as a destination of his first visit
since he took office reflected both sides'
aspiration to further promote bilateral ties.
China is playing an increasingly important role in
the world, and Mexico is willing to work together
with China for a more prosperous and equitable
world.
Premier Wen said in reply that he hoped to enhance
mutual trust, expand common ground, deepen
cooperation and seek common development between the
two countries through his visit.
During their talks, Fox spoke highly of the smooth
growth of Mexico-China relations and said that the
Mexican government adheres to the one-China policy
and sees China as a friendly and reliable partner
for cooperation.
Mexico looks forward to working with China in
promoting the all-round development of Mexico-China
relations, Fox said.
Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, Secretary of Economy,
Secretary of Treasury and Public Credit, and
Secretary of Foreign Relations briefed Wen and other
Chinese guests on cooperation between Mexico and
China in tourism, trade, energy, finance, aviation
and the fight against terrorism, as well as future
plans of cooperation in these fields.
Since China and Mexico established diplomatic
relations 31 years ago, their bilateral ties, which
have withstood the test of time and vicissitudes on
the international arena, are at the best period for
development, Premier Wen said.
As China and Mexico are both important developing
countries, forging an enduring and friendly
cooperation partnership not only conforms to the
fundamental and long-term interests of the two
peoples, but also contributes to boosting the
South-South cooperation, enhancing the overall
national strength of the developing countries, and
promoting establishment of a fair and rational new
world order, he added.
Wen said he fully agreed with President Fox's
comment that "The two countries are cooperation
partners and in no way rivals in competition," and
"Relations between the two countries are facing a
unique and strategic fine opportunity."
Premier Wen formally announced establishing a
strategic partnership between China and Mexico. To
achieve that end, he put forward the following five
proposals:
Firstly, an inter-governmental standing committee
should be created to guide and coordinate bilateral
cooperation in various fields.
Secondly, exchanges between the Chinese and Mexican
governments, parliaments, parties and
non-governmental organizations should be intensified
while the role of the existing cooperation
mechanisms in diplomacy, trade, culture and
education as well as science and technology should
be brought into full play.
Thirdly, diversity of bilateral economic cooperation
should be promoted. China encourages investment by
both Chinese and Mexican enterprises in Mexican and
China, to jointly develop international markets.
China is willing to increase its imports from
Mexico. Meanwhile, the two countries should sign
agreements on investment protection, avoidance of
double taxation, etc at an early date.
Fourthly, bilateral exchanges in culture, education
and science and technology should be further
deepened. China is considering approving Mexico as a
tourism destination for its nationals and
establishing cultural centers in each other's
cities. China is also ready to sign a new agreement
on scientific cooperation with Mexico.
Fifthly, coordination and cooperation in
multilateral affairs should be strengthened so as to
safeguard the interests of the developing countries
and contribute to world peace and development.
After the meeting, the two leaders attended the
signing ceremony of health and cultural cooperation
agreements as well as accords on intellectual
property rights protection and telecommunications.
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