The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, July 17, 2003

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! Members of la Sele squad celebrates one of the three goals it scored in yesterday's game against Cuba. Both Costa Rica and Cuba move on to the next round of the Gold Cup leaving Canada behind.
TT Photo / AFP

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July 17

Audition and Analisis of the tale El Aguila,
This activity aims to teach children 7-9 about tolerance. Today, 2- 3 p.m., at the Public Library, San Joaquín de Flores. Info: 265-8043.

La Gaviota
Don’t miss this play writen by Anton Chéjov starting tonight at 8 p.m., at National Theater, Ca. 25. Info: 257-8304.

Sele Blows-Out Cuba, Qualifies
For Next Round of Gold Cup

FOXBORO, Massachusetts -- Costa Rica's beloved National Soccer Team (La Sele) was able to overcome last Sunday's humiliating 1-0 loss against Canada by shutting-out Cuba 3-0 Wednesday afternoon.

Costa Rica dominated the game, seizing valuable opportunities and taking advantage of weaknesses in the inexperienced Cuban team's defense. Ticos Wálter Centeno, Steven Bryce at 72, and Erick Scott were able to score goals at minutes 45, 72 and 77 minutes.

With the win, Costa Rica finished the first round of the Gold Cup in first place in Group D with three points and a positive two goal difference.

Despite the crushing defeat, Cuba also qualifies for the next round as result of its 2-0 win over Canada last Monday. Canada is out of the tournament.

Cuba moves on to face the United States next Saturday also at Foxboro stadium.

Costa Rica is now preparing for its next match against El Salvador. "We're going to war with El Salvador," Tico trainer Steve Sampson announced shortly after the game.

-AFP

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Ombudsman Intervenes in
Northern Zone Farm Dispute

Ombudsman José Manuel Echandi traveled to the Northern Zone town of Sarapiquí yesterday to serve as a mediator between police and squatters that earlier in the week were involved in a violent dispute over a farm belonging to multinational banana exporter Standard Fruit Company, an Ombudsman's Office press release stated.

One squatter died, several were wounded and 10 (seven men and three women) were arrested Monday following a confrontation with police who were attempting to expel them from the farm near the Río Frío de Sarapiquí. (TT Daily, July 15 and 16).

After intense negotiations, Echandi was able convince the squatters two return two weapons they had taken from the police officers during the confrontation.

"They agreed to return the weapons and hand them over the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) in Heredia, which is currently investigating the death that occurred during the confrontation with police," Echandi said.

Squatter Gerardo Moya, who had a long criminal record which included escaping from prison, charges of physical and sexual abuse against minors and armed robbery, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds during Monday's confrontation.

Echandí also announced the beginning of an investigation to determine if there was police brutality during the expulsion.

The squatters have agreed to await the final ruling by a local Agrarian Tribunal, which is studying their legal situation.

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Chang Confident Manned Mission to
Mars Will Take Place During the Next Decade

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to test the motor he designed that runs on a plasma-based fuel that will make it possible to send a manned vessel to Mars sometime during the next decade, Costa Rican astronaut Franklin Chang announced during a ceremony in his honor at EARTH University Tuesday.

Chang announced NASA plans to assemble a miniature version of the motor during the second semester of 2004. If the motor is a success, work may begin on a full-sized version that would could be installed on a manned space vessel.

"Plasma, which combusts at temperatures of up to 6,000 degrees centigrade will allow spacecraft to travel at faster speeds for longer distances than ever imagined," Chang, who holds a doctorate in physics, said. "If the experiments work, the motor will be tested at the International Space Station before the first manned vessel can be sent to the red planet sometime after 2018."

-AFP

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