| Vol.18 No. 717 | Published
Tuesday, July 17, 2018 - First news page |
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U.S. imposes more visa restrictions on Nicaraguans |
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 By AM Costa Rica staff
The State Department is
imposing more visa restrictions on those
it says are responsible for human rights
abuses or undermining democracy in
Nicaragua.
"The Nicaraguan government must heed the Nicaraguan people's call for democratic reforms immediately," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said late Monday. "The United States condemns the ongoing attacks by Daniel Ortega's para-police against university students, journalists and clergy across the country." Nauert said the U.S. will continue to expose those responsible for the violence. Earlier Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the Nicaraguan government's violent crackdown on protesters. A Guterres spokesman said Monday the U.N. chief believes "the use of lethal force is not only unacceptable, but it is also in itself an obstacle to obtaining a political solution to the current crisis." The spokesman called on Nicaraguan authorities to protect the population against attacks, respect human rights and establish accountability for the violence. Nicaraguan human rights officials say police and paramilitary forces killed at least 12 people over the past three days, including two inside a church in Managua and 10 at makeshift roadblocks south of the capital. More than 200 demonstrators have been killed since anti-government protests erupted in April when President Daniel Ortega announced changes to the pension system.
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 More than 200 demonstrators have been killed since anti-government protests erupted in April.
Ortega later dropped his
plans, but the anti-government protests
and violent police crackdown have
continued.
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Specialty beans From Costa Rica wins 27,000% premium at coffee auction |
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff
Bloomberg.com reports that at an auction dubbed the Cup of Excellence, a coffee grower from the town of Copey de Dota in Costa Rica won a record premium for his specialty Geisha beans, 27,000 percent above the benchmark for the standard Arabica variety.
“It’s crazy,” Michael Calderon, the 26-year-old son of the farmer who grew the coffee, said in a telephone interview from San José, the site of the auction. “We were not expecting these results. The place, the altitude, the soil, the processing and drying of the beans, all have direct influence on the quality.”
The father, Luis Ricardo
Calderon, 60, sold a portion of his beans
this week for $300 a pound at the auction
co-sponsored in San José by the Specialty
Coffee Association of Costa Rica. The buyers included Maruyama Coffee in partnership with Sarutahiko Coffee and Yamada Coffee, all of Japan.
That surprising price compares with $1.12 a pound, Thursday’s settlement on ICE Futures U.S. for conventional Arabica beans used by retailers including Starbucks Corp. Bumper global crops including those in Brazil, the top grower, drove the standard variety down 12 percent this year. In contrast, demand by java connoisseurs for a premium brew has surged, triggering the astonishing auction bids.
Any Price
The auction result “reflects the growth at the top end” of the international market with some buyers “willing to pay almost any price for the very rarest and most exceptional coffees,” Peter Giuliano, the chief research officer for the Specialty Coffee Association in Santa Ana, California, said in a phone interview.
The top bean in the Costa
Rica auction is believed to have been
discovered in the village of Geisha in
Ethiopia. The variety has been a frequent winner in world competitions in the past decade. From his farm 96 kilometers (60 miles) from San José, Calderon sold 529 pounds for $158,780 and another lot weighing the same at an average of $111 a pound at the auction.
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 A.M. Costa Rica
wire services photo
The top bean in the Costa Rica auction is believed to have been discovered in the village of Geisha in Ethiopia. The
third-generation grower has 70 hectares (173
acres) and plans to use the money on the new crop,
including a bit more of the winning variety, the
younger Calderon said.
“The price is significant, especially in this environment of low world prices,” Noelia Villalobos, the executive director at the Costa Rican association, said in a phone interview. “The results exceeded by far our expectations. There are other, newer auctions that sell coffee at higher prices, but they include smaller lots, and this auction has been around far longer.” The Cup of Excellence was established in 1999 by Alliance for Coffee Excellence, based in Portland, Oregon. Auctions are held in several countries, including Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Last year in Brazil, the top bean fetched $130.20 a pound, the previous record. |
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Colombia getting more cash to help Venezuelan refugees |
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By A.M. Costa Rica
wire services
The Trump administration is sending $6
million more in humanitarian aid to Colombia to help
it deal with the more than 1 million Venezuelans who
have fled across the border.
U.S. Agency for International Development chief Mark Green made the announcement Monday in the Colombian border city of Cucuta. Green said the Venezuelans are trying to escape what he called an avoidable man-made humanitarian crisis. "They are fleeing hunger. They are fleeing a lack of medicine and a lack of opportunity. More fundamentally, they are fleeing opposition and tyranny, and they are fleeing a dysfunctional despotic regime." The U.S. has already spent $32 million helping Venezuelans in the border region of Colombia, including supplying food, vaccines and aid to hospitals trying to cope with the sea of refugees. Green said the United States condemns Venezuela's delusional and inhumane policies and accused President Nicolas Maduro of human rights abuses. Venezuela's one-time oil-rich economy has collapsed in part because of the global drop in energy prices, failed socialist policies, and government corruption.
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 A.M. Costa Rica wire
services photo
Venezuelans are trying to escape from an avoidable man-made humanitarian crisis.
There are extreme shortages of food,
gasoline and medicine.
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Hundreds of homes are without electricity or cell phone access in zones affected by floods and landslides |
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff
More than 150
technicians from the Costa Rican
Electricity Institute have been
dedicated to attend service
breakdowns that occurred during
the weekend. |
 A.M. Costa Rica
wire services photo
The difficult access to emergency zones, makes more difficult to repair the breakdowns.
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243 schools will be reopened today |
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff
Students from 243
schools located in Turrialba,
Limón, Sarapiquí, San Carlos and
Súla, were closed Monday due to
the effects of heavy rains and
floods during the weekend. |
 A.M. Costa Rica
wire services photo
Many schools will remain closed several days.
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Police seize marijuana and cocaine in Pacific zone |
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By A.M. Costa Rica staff
Police special
operations units made a sweep Monday through the
areas of Jacó and Puntarenas.
While in Jacó, officers said they saw a speeding vehicle whose driver seemed to be avoiding police contact. Although the driver appeared to be trying to leave the area, the officers were able to stop the vehicle. During a search, officers found a musical instrument – a drum – which seemed very heavy. Inside the drum they found a large package of marijuana and arrested the driver and his passengers. Two of the men arrested, identified by police with the surnames of Hernández and Sánchez, are local, and the third was a foreigner with last name Flores. The foreigner's nationality was not reported. During an operation in Puntarenas a quantity of drugs was found in a cargo vehicle. The operation began when the police said they noticed a truck driver who seemed very nervous. They became suspicious and made a complete search of the vehicle where they found what appeared to be packages taped or pasted on the lower floor of the platform. Upon lifting the platform, they found approximately 270 kilograms of what appeared to be cocaine, officers reported. |
 A.M.
Costa Rica wire services photo
The actions of the police in the Central Pacific will
continue, officers said.
The 21-year-old driver of the platform vehicle, identified with the name Montero, was sent to the judicial authorities to be processed for apparent drug trafficking. |
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| House - Apartments For Rent (paid category) |
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wonderful nature. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath on private property
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American owner lives on site, quiet, secure.
For more photos and information write to organicfarmhouserental@gmail.com Code: 9386-072918 |
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| Real Estate For Sale (paid category) |
Jaco Oceanfront
Furnished Condo
 Jaco Oceanfront Condo in excellent condition, completely furnished, with air conditioning, hot water, private parking, equipped gym, large pool and garden area, and 24 hour security. Contains: large bedroom, bath with shower, living/dining area combined with kitchen, equipped with new refrigerator, TV, furniture and cooking equipment. Granite table and counter tops. Continuous cross-current ocean breezes. Located at the south end of Jaco on quiet extensive beach away from noise, traffic and city tourism. Monthly maintenance of $221 includes water, security, cable/internet and pool and garden maintenance. Asking price: $145,000. Contact numbers: (506) 8820-9768 or
(506) 2240-2240.
Code: 9380- 090118
Colinas
Del Sol
Fenced Gated Parcels  Fenced Gated Parcels for Sale
* Colinas del Sol is a fenced and gated project in a
quiet area. * There are 88 clear titled parcels. *
Mountain areas with great views.* Gently sloping level areas ideal for hobby farms, gardening, fruit trees. * Quiet place to get away from the busy city and beach crowds. * All lots have gravel roads to them, water and electricity at each. * Parcels are 5,000 sq. meters or larger, starting at only $50,000 USD * Located in Libertad, Guanacaste, northwest Pacific area of Costa Rica. * 20 minutes to the Liberia International Airport * 15 minutes to the Pacific Beaches * 10 minutes to Medical Facilities * 25 minutes to the Liberia Hospital * 5 minutes to Vista Ridge Golf Club. In Costa Rica, Jeffrey Sandi Murray: jsandimurray@colinasdelsolcr.com In the USA and Canada contact Jim Day: jimday50@aol.com or USA call +517-484-3675 For more information: www.colinasdelsolcr.com Code: 9342-090318 |
 Vista Verde Del Mar (Green View of the Sea) * 4.4 hectares / 10.91 acres. * All roads on property are complete on solid, original ground... no "fill" areas. * Four private 2+ acre parcels available within a ten acre property. * 12 minutes to the Quepos airport or Quepos Hospital. * 17 minutes to the new Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. * Unsurpassed 360 degree vistas of ocean and mountains. * All legal work to convey clean / clear / legal title is complete. * NO PRE-SALE glitches, ready to build on ! * Price to sell $299,000 Brokers Protected. Contact: Mike Michael email: mikemichael@bellsouth.net U.S.A. phone: 770-310-1351 More information Click Here Code: 9350-050419
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Business For Sale
(paid category) |
Versatile 2 Floors Building
in La Sabana  Completely
remodeled building. 14 areas for residence and/or
offices, call center, upscale storage. Transportation
within 50 meters, commuter train, buses and taxis. In
La Sabana, San Jose. School, park, gymnasium, tennis
club and National soccer stadium walking distance.
24-hour security, many restaurants, clubs and social
facilities nearby. Approximately 323 meter
construction.
Asking $295,000.
Contact Jim HolleyE-Mail: jimmy6902001@yahoo.com Local CR phone: (506) 8912-5651 Code:9333-072318
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Three
Cabins in La Fortuna
San Carlos  In La
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Three
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Good income property.
Call Harry +(506) 8682-9219 Email: lagringo2003@yahoo.com Code:9344-081518
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Police car crash leaves officer dead |
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By
A.M. Costa Rica staff
Judicial
investigators say that a
42-year-old officer,
riding as a passenger in
the back seat of a
police vehicle, died
during a crash at 4 a.m.
Monday near the Los
Angeles Catholic Church
in Cartago. |
 A.M. Costa Rica wire
services photo
The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into a truck. |
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