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24 Mar 2006 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, March 24, 2006
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Officials Investigate Abandoned
Truck
Containing 16 Kilograms
of Cocaine
Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) are investigating the case of an abandoned truck discovered to be carrying 16 kilograms of cocaine seized Wednesday in Cañas, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, according to OIJ spokeswoman Karina Guevara.
(Click for more)
Arias Will Ask United States
to
Prioritize Poverty, Not Just
Terrorism
President-elect Oscar Arias said yesterday in an interview with Radio Monumental that he would ask the United States to avoid making the fight against terrorism “its only priority” and to designate more resources for reducing poverty.
(Click for more)
Mango Harvest Threatened By Heavy Wind and Rain
Bad weather during the first three months of this year will likely result in a smaller-than-usual mango harvest, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).
(Click for more)
Costa Rican Scientists
Create Computer Chip
At German University
Four Costa Rican scientists created a “totally Costa Rican” computer chip in a German university that can be used commercially and medically, according to its creators.
(Click for more)
March 24
Today
Editus in Concert with Walter Flores (pianist, flutist, composer) and bass player Mario Alvarez, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, east of San José.
Feria del Chiverre, food, rides and more, March 24-26, March 31-April 2, Laguna de Alfaro Ruiz, Alajuela, northwest of San José. Info: 463-3041.
Southern Caribbean Music and Art Festival, Timbaleo in concert, Amphitheater at Playa Chiquita Lodge, Playa Chiquita, festival runs through April 8.
Saturday
Arabika in Concert, Middle Eastern music and belly dancing, Jazz Café, San Pedro.
Orchid Exhibit, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., InBio Park, Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José.
University of Pennsylvania Architecture Symposium, “New Technologies for Architecture and Its Application in the Rain Forest,” $40/general, $20/students, includes lunch and coffee, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Euromobilia, Rohrmoser, west of San José. Info and reservations: 296-3050 ext. 134.
Sunday
Grupo Abril in Concert, Trova and pop, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro.
National Symphony Orchestra, 6:30 p.m., National Theater, San José. Info: 221-1329.
International Arts Festival
Through March 26, Sabana Park, west of San José and venues around the city.
Today :
Piano Show by Manuel Obregón, 6.30 p.m., Sabana Lake
Poland Folklore, 9 p.m., stage outside of National Stadium
Puppets, El Pescador y su Esposa, 10 a.m., 2 p.m., Children's Tent
Saturday:
Perro Zompopo, concert, stage outside of National Stadium
La Luz Prodigiosa ( Spain ), 7:30 p.m., cinema south side of Sabana Lake
Sunday:
Heart of Angels ( Belgium ), play, 6:30 p.m., Sabana Lake
Short Night, 8 p.m., cinema south side of Sabana Lake
Fiestas y Mascaras, documentary, 4 p.m., inside Costa Rican Art Museum, Sabana Park.
The International Arts Festival has many more events scheduled throughout the weekend. For a complete schedule, visit www.festivaldelasartes.com.
Edited By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Officials Investigate Abandoned Truck
Containing 16 Kilograms of Cocaine
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) are investigating the case of an abandoned truck discovered to be carrying 16 kilograms of cocaine seized Wednesday in Cañas, in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, according to OIJ spokeswoman Karina Guevara.
Police received an anonymous call about drugs in the area and discovered the truck, which was carrying scrap metal, abandoned at a gas station, Guevara said. Upon searching the truck's trailer with drug-sniffing dogs, they discovered 16 one-kilogram packets of cocaine inside a refrigerator that was buried among pieces of scrap metal.
The truck was not registered, but officials suspect it could have been headed along the Inter-American Highway toward Nicaragua or Guatemala, countries that have scrap metal processing plants, Guevara said.
In 2005, Costa Rican authorities seized a record 9.8 tons of cocaine and arrested 6,804 people associated with the sale of drugs, according to wire service
ACAN-EFE.
Arias Will Ask United States to
Prioritize Poverty, Not Just Terrorism
President-elect Oscar Arias said yesterday in an interview with Radio Monumental that he would ask the United States to avoid making the fight against terrorism “its only priority” and to designate more resources for reducing poverty.
Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize-winner who served as President from 1986-1990, said that when New York 's twin towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States declared a “war on terror,” and called it “the enemy of all humanity and a cowardly way to take innocent lives.”
However, Arias said the United States should invest more money in combating poverty, improving the environment and curing diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, which are “more urgent and necessary issues.”
“Now I'm going to be able to raise my voice as the President of a country that … had the courage to abolish its army more than 50 years ago,” he said.
Arias, of the National Liberation Party (PLN), will replace President Abel Pacheco May 8 to serve a four-year term.
-ACAN-EFE
Mango Harvest Threatened
By Heavy Wind and Rain
Bad weather during the first three months of this year will likely result in a smaller-than-usual mango harvest, according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).
Unseasonable rains and winds have caused 25% of mangoes to fall from trees prematurely in some regions of the country and 40% in other areas, where high winds have knocked the budding fruits to the ground, the statement said.
“We have to be very attentive to possible problems of insects and diseases that could be worse due to this year's climatic conditions, especially in January and February, when strong gusts of wind caused the mangoes to fall prematurely,” said Juan Mora, a National Innovation Institute (INTA) engineer.
Heavy rains can also allow for the growth of harmful fungi on mangoes, Mora added, such as one that causes black spots and another that causes the fruits to fall from the tree when they're just slightly formed.
He also recommended the use of biologically sound traps to combat fruit flies, which can also damage the harvest and are more prevalent during the rainy season.
-Tico Times
Costa Rican Scientists Create
Computer Chip At German University
Four Costa Rican scientists created a “totally Costa Rican” computer chip in a German university that can be used commercially and medically, according to its creators.
The chip was developed by Costa Rican engineers Paola Vega, Alexander Mora, Roberto Pereira and Renato Rímolo to have three different functions that can be applied in the industries of computers, commerce and biomedicine.
The four researchers were scheduled to present the chip, which measures 10 millimeters, to a group of scientists at a San José hotel yesterday.
Vega worked on developing the chip to be so small that it could potentially replace bar codes to store commercial data, while Mora developed the chip to be a smaller and less expensive way of monitoring human vital signs, such as heart and brain function, from a distance. His research is part of an initiative of the European Union that seeks to improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the operating costs of clinics.
The third function of the chip was developed by Roberto Periera and Renato Rímolo, who created a “software” that allows for the rapid design of microchips. The system “allows one to do in hours what before took years,” Pereira explained.
The four engineers decided to combine developing three functions into one chip to reduce research costs.
The German Academic Exchange Service academically supported the researchers, who were also sponsored by Intel.
-ACAN-EFE
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