Sunday
02 February 2003
Moderate earthquake shakes Costa Rica
A moderately strong
earthquake shook Costa Rica on Friday but there were no reports of damage.
The 12:32 p.m. (18:32 GMT) quake was measured at magnitude 5.0 by the
U.S. Geological Survey, which said it was centered about 95 miles (150 kilometers)
west-northwest of the capital, where people felt it.
U.S. agrees to safeguards as first round
of trade talks with Central America ends
The first round of talks on an eventual free
trade pact between the United States and Central America ended Friday with
assurance for worried Central American producers that some products might be
protected.
Complete Story
Ticos Cool to Bush
Speech
The
bipartisan applause and hoots of approval that filled the House Chamber of
the U.S. Capitol during Tuesday night's State of the Union address by
President George W. Bush, resounded as grunts of disapproval and deepening
worry in Costa Rica.
Complete Story
$2-billion insurance
fraud
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) hold at least 20 Costa Ricans suspects in an investigation on an
alleged insurance fraud in the United States. The Costa Rican Attorney
General, Carlos Arias, explained that the $2-billion fraud took place in
Florida. Acting upon the request of a US court, at least 50 local
law-enforcement agents took part in at least 10 raids in several towns.
Their aim was locating documents and other evidence linking locals to the
fraud. Apparently, administration professionals here are linked to the
management of the money, which in part would have been deposited in local
bank accounts.
Deficit lower than expected
Last year, the expenses of the Government
of Costa Rica surpassed its revenues. The negative balance -some $627 million-
equals 3.95 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the
Ministry of Finance. However, the negative figure was an improvement on the 4.3
percent of the GDP fiscal deficit that had been estimated for the year. For this
year, the goal is 3.1 percent of the GDP, according to official sources.
|
The
Week in Review: 26 January 2003 - 01
February 2003
From
the Daily News! |
Health care for immigrants
The arrival of foreigners from countries
with lower health indicators than Costa Rica is a source of worry for local
authorities. That population demands care and, in order to avoid discrimination
against the immigrants, when they arrive at a hospital here, the social system
is forced to ensure their protection. Friday
31 Jan
·
Colombian refugees double
During the last year, as conditions
worsened in their already harassed country, the numbers of Colombians seeking
refuge in Costa Rica doubled, according to the office here of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees. Friday
31 Jan
·
ICE defies the Government
In a clear
challenge to the government of Abel Pacheco, the board of
directors of ICE did not present yesterday the expense cut
proposal hat the administration requested to for the 2003
and the unions marched to demand the President to stop the
budget reductions or there will be a general strike.
Thursday 30 Jan
·
7 year old girl murdered in Tres Rios
This Wednesday, 7 year old Ema Elizabeth Gσngora
was playing in one of the coffee plantations with her brother while her family
worked in the area, when she asked permission to go to another cafetal (coffee
plantation) about 400 meters nearby. Her brother did not accompany her and this
is when she disappeared. Thursday
30 Jan
·
OIJ
Investigating Death of American
The OIJ is
investigating the death of an American who died from three gunshots. Steve
Willians, 54, died this past Thursday in a San Jose hospital where he was
admitted on January 16th for injuries to his stomach and neck.
Wednesday 29 Jan
·
Protest
Without Sense
In the midst of a climate of mutual recriminations
with the unions and civil employees of the Costa Rican Institute of Electricity
(ICE), the Government considers that the protest summoned for today in that
organization does not have "any sense".
Wednesday 29 Jan
·
Free
Trade Negotiations
Monday
morning began the first round of talks on
the Free Trade Agreement, known as the
TLC, between negotiators of Honduras,
Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, who are expected to an
agreement this year with the United
States. Tuesday
28 Jan
·
San
Sebastiαn jail ordered to receive more
prisoners
No
new prisoners were received at this
facility, south of downtown San Jose,
since the 16th of December last year, when
a
judicial resolution prohibited it due to
overcrowding problems. Tuesday
28 Jan
·
Escazϊ woman
arrested
Police arrested a
woman charged more than 15 years ago in Chicago for fraud
in excess of $2,000,000. It is alleged that she was
involved in money laundering and involved in illegal
financial transactions.
Tuesday
28 Jan
·
First
round of Free Trade talks begin
The delegates of the five Central American
governments and the United States that
will sit down this Monday in San Jose to
discuss the Free Trade Agreement (TLC). Between
protests and applause this week, in Costa
Rica begin the first round of negotiations
of the TLC between Central America and the
United States could be with posters and
protests. Monday
27 Jan
·
Immigration
officials continue to apply pressure
Immigration officials were out in
full force and in the plain light of day
in places were foreigners regularly
gather. It was reported to insidecostarica
that on Sunday morning a group of
'officials' were gathered at the front of
the Gran Hotel Costa Rica and checking
documents. Monday
27 Jan
·
|
