Jamaica have been warned by FIFA over the pitch invasion which followed their shock 2-1 win over the United States in a World Cup qualifier this month. Dozens of joyous fans scaled fences and ran on to the field at the final whistle to swarm the home players after their first-ever win over the North Americans. "We can confirm that a warning has been issued against the Jamaica Football Fe...

It is no secret that chocolate can have a powerful effect; comforting, calming or even energizing, depending on your sweet tooth. But more than just inducing various emotional states, chocolate can also contribute to social change – and no one recognizes this more than the innovative team behind Maya Mountain Cacao, Alex Whitmore and Emily Stone. Everything changed for Whitmore when he too...

Indications are that the Chinese consortium Xinwei's offer has the best fit for the requirements of the Nicaraguan Government to win award for the 1785-1805 megahertz band. So stated the director of the Nicaraguan Institute for Telecommunications and Postal Services (Telcor), Orlando Castillo, referring to the proposal to provide mobile phone services and Internet access which was opened to...

Belize’s 31st birthday is not only a celebration of this tiny Caribbean nation’s independence, but a festival of multiculturalism and living proof that racial, religious and cultural harmony does work, the owners of the Lodge at Chaa Creek said today. In the run up to the nationwide celebrations about to take place in Belize under the theme of "Many faces, many dreams, but one goal; celebra...

Guatemala, which suffers one of the highest murder rates in Central America, has given Arnold & Porter a $575,000 four-month pact to promote tourism and investment by pursuing its legal, media and public policy objectives in Washington. According to the pact that runs through Dec. 31, the agreement is “justified by the need to attract foreign investment and tourism through improvement in Wa...

A new initiative aimed at universities in Latin American countries has been launched by the World Environment Center (WEC), a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable development. Called "Pathways to Cleaner Production in the Americas: Educating Future Professionals" , the initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Higher Education for Development (HED...

Costa Rican Jose Vargas was crowned in the 52nd International Fishing Tournament in Nicaraguan river San Juan, local press said Monday. In an interview with Nicaraguan official daily "El 19 digital", Vargas said he was excited for his incredible victory. Vargas won with a 132-pound Atlantic tarpon known as silver king, captured in San Juan River, in San Carlos municipality near the borde...

The Costa Rica Star has previously reported on Dengue Fever in Costa Rica and the Minister of Health addressing the concerns. A total of 8,480 people have been affected by dengue fever in Costa Rica, marking a year-on-year increase of 36 percent, showed an official report released Monday. The report from the Costa Rican Health Ministry said that the percentage represented an increase of ...

While scientists increasingly name new species after celebrities in order to gain much-needed attention for the world's vanishing biodiversity, researchers describing a new snake species from Panama have taken a different route. Dubbing the new serpent, Sibon noalamina ('no to the mine!' in Spanish), the scientists are hoping the multicolored snake's unusual name will draw attention to mining ...

Guatemala and Mexico plan to focus on relations beyond the areas of security and migration, the issues that have dominated the bilateral agenda in recent years, setting development goals jointly once Enrique Peña Nieto becomes the Mexican head of state in December, the Mexican president-elect and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina said. Peña Nieto and Perez Molina met on Monday in Guate...

It seems odd that we haven't gotten more movies with Tom Hanks and Halle Berry together, but 'Cloud Atlas' looks to be one of the best. Directed by the Wachowskis, it spans decades and has a multitude of characters involved. In fact, for those not previously acquainted with the book, the trailer and synopsis seem intentionally vague, but awesome nonetheless. After premiering at TIFF, Cloud ...

Two Colombians, including an ex-professional soccer player, died in an armed attack by unknown assailants at a restaurant in the Guatemalan town of Malacatan on the Mexican border, officials said Saturday. A spokesperson for the National Civil Police, or PNC, told reporters that the victims, identified as ex-professional soccer player Alex Montaño and Luis Henry Hurtado, were talking togeth...

Honduras native Christian Velasquez, a recent immigrant to America, is making himself at home in Greenwich: getting married last year and winning the 20-mile Tour de Greenwich XXVIII cycling race Sunday. He finished fourth in the race two years ago and coached a rider last year. Velasquez, 32, wasn't sure how he would finish Sunday because a recent busy work schedule meant he had little tim...

The Belize Ministry of National Security has launched an investigation to determine how a Lebanese-American imam—said to have key Hezbollah links and who was wanted on a Texas warrant after skipping parole in the US—found his way into Belize and stole the identity of a dead Mennonite by obtaining an official copy of his birth certificate, which he used to obtain a passport and then a driver’s ...

English-speaking people have not always had a positive impact in Nicaragua. In fact, until recently it has been all negative. In the 1600’s, Sir Henry Morgan was given a Letter of Marque by the British Government. This meant that the British thought the Spanish were not good people and Morgan could steal anything he wanted from them. He chose to sack Granada and take all their gold. Ha...

On September 7, 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a report that tracks the deterioration of coral reefs in the Caribbean over the past 39 years. The report indicates that live coral cover over some reefs in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys and the US Virgin Islands has dropped to less than 10%. These losses are thought to be driven by a combination o...

The authorities of El Salvador declared an emergency in the area of Lake Coatepeque, in the northwest of the country due to an algae bloom that has changed the color of its waters. The decision was adopted by the National Red Tide Commission, made of the Ministries of Environment, Health and Agriculture, because of the unusual phenomenon, which gives the water an intense turquoise color. ...

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Costa Rica as you commemorate 191 years of independence this September 15. On this day, Costa Ricans from all walks of life can celebrate your nation’s distinctive history as a crossroads for Mesoamerican, South American, and European civilizations, and your bright future as a ...

NOTE: If you are reading this article on email subscription, you will have to click the title and view it on the website to see the video embedded on the article below. Is Instagram the new CNN? As cable networks and traditional news media lose audience share, Instagram seems to be joining Twitter as an invaluable tool in breaking news situations. The latest example: a massive volca...

University of Washington graduate and Tacoma-native Jason Puracal has been released from prison and is out of Nicaragua, according to a family spokesperson. It's not clear whether he's in the U.S. yet. His family says he's in a safe, undisclosed location. On Wednesday, a three-judge appellate panel in Granada, Nicaragua vacated his conviction and 22-year prison sentence on charges that h...

September 9 marked six months since El Salvador’s gangs declared a truce, which reduced the average daily killings from 14 to 5.5, officials said. On March 9, under the mediation of Military Chaplain Fabio Colindres and former rebel commander Raúl Mijango, the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 (M-18) gangs mutually agreed to cease the war, which had given the country the image of being...

The accord between the Nicaraguan Telecommunications Institute (Telcor) and the Chinese firm Great Wall, which has manufactured satellites for several Latin American, African and Asian countries, could be signed in October. "In mid-October of this year, the two parties are going to conclude the negotiations on all aspects of this contract," said the Chinese firm's vice president, He Xing, ...

Although shark finning has been banned in Costa Rica since 2001, a loop-hole has meant this legislation is proving impossible to enforce. As a global leader of environmental protection, we look to Costa Rica to provide an example to the world in stopping the cruel practice of shark finning. Shark numbers are dwindling and these beautiful creatures are dying pointless deaths. They are pulle...

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, said that the Central American Peace Plan presented by former President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias in 1987 “was an act of great audacity for the time”, in his comments at the inauguration of celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Central American Peace Plan in the National Theatre in San José (Costa Ri...

60% of the world's population have no access to banking services, although 85% have a mobile phone. Brett King, founder of the first mobile banking service in the U.S. and the UK, and specialist in innovation in financial services, was at the XII Latin American Congress on banking automation, which is being held in Panama. He states that the key "to popularize and expand banking services ...

Costa Rica-based melodic metal band SIGHT OF EMPTINESS has finished recording its as-yet-untitled third album, to be released later this year. The CD was recorded at SoloHits Studios in San José, Costa Rica with Swedish producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson (SCAR SYMMETRY, WATAIN, ESKIMO CALLBOY, SOLUTION .45, MISERATION), who traveled all the way to Costa Rica to work with the band closely for abo...

Acciona SA (ANA), the Spanish company that plans to build a desalination facility in Chile’s Atacama desert, said today that it will construct and operate the biggest wastewater treatment plant in Costa Rica. Acciona Agua’s $45 million project will serve at least 1 million people in the Costa Rican capital, or about two-thirds of San Jose’s population on completion, the company said in a ne...

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - The Nicaraguan Tourism Board has launched a partnership with TACA, a leading airline in Latin America, to drive travel bookings to Nicaragua on Expedia.com. In 2011, Nicaragua welcomed one million tourists, many more than in previous years. During 2012's first semester, the number of tourists increased an 11.5% over the same period in 2011. With this fall campaign on Ex...

The Governments of the United States and Brazil today formalized a partnership with the Government of Honduras to increase agriculture production, decrease undernutrition, and promote renewable energy in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. “By leveraging the joint expertise of the United States and Brazil we have an opportunity to help Hondurans rise out of pov...

Panama’s national soccer team took a big step forward towards its dream of playing in the Rio World Cup in 2014 when it defeated Canada for the first time on Tuesday September 12. For fans, reaching the holy grail of soccer would overshadow the opening of the Panama Canal expansion and the election of new president, both scheduled for the year in which the country marks the 100th anniversar...

A must have for shoppers who visit Multiplaza Malls in Costa Rica. This App allows shoppers to be in-the-know about the latest sales and events at both Multiplaza Escazu and Multiplaza Del Este in San Jose, Costa Rica. With over 440 stores, this app makes it easy to keep track of your favorite stores, sales offers and discover what's new. Besides store and mall events, find a place ...

Fifteen Panamanian truckers claimed they were assaulted while driving in Costa Rica from January through August, five more than all of 2011, according to the Panamanian National Cargo Transportation Chamber (CANATRACA). The most recent case involved Nicolás Araúz, a father of four who was shot twice in the head by unknown gunmen on Costa Rica’s Peñas Blancas highway while transporting a tru...

The week of 5-11 September was a relatively quiet period seismically. The United States Geological Survey’s interactive map, showing the week’s earth tremors, recorded a relatively modest 414 tremors of greater than M2.5 – of which just 35 were above M5.0, and just four larger than M6.0. Significant Earthquakes The largest earthquake recorded in the week was the M7.6 event which took pla...

The current rates for investment in dollars available in Costa Rica represent attractive options- which are scarce right now, compared to the international markets. From a report by Aldesa on its blog Pulso Bursátil: Interest rates internationally in dollars are still at historic lows and the market consensus suggests that this Thursday, the U.S. Federal Reserve will accompany the stat...

The biggest drug trafficking trial in Nicaragua’s history unfolds in a modest air-conditioned courtroom. The 24 defendants sit in a crowded dock, joking and waving to relatives. Behind them, police commandos wearing black hoods and toting assault weapons add unmistakable gravitas to the proceedings. Calling witness after witness, prosecutors lay out their case that a strip club operator, a ...

New World Oil & Gas this morning confirmed that drilling will shortly begin on the B Crest project in the Petén Basin, northwest Belize. This follows the arrival of the ThermaSource drill rig into Belize. Crest B is the first of three drill ready prospects that New World has identified since it acquired an interest in the Petén Basin acreage last year. "New World is entering a tremend...

The National Competitiveness Program of Guatemala has announced that the Executive will introduce a draft bill to Congress to replace existing customs regulations. Under pressure from the Guatemalan business sector, the executive has presented a new initiative to Congress, which has already been agreed with various chambers of commerce, said Juan Carlos Pais, Presidential Commissioner for...

An inflation of 5% is expected for 2013, yet the amount allocated for salaries in the national budget for the year has increased by 9.7%. The total amount of the state budget will increase by 7.7% in 2013, while the amount for wages to be paid to government officials will grow by nearly 10%. An article in Elfinancierocr.com reports that "although this year the expenditure for salary paym...

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) programme now has a two-star certified operation that farms and processes tilapia in Costa Rica. The Terrapez S.A. processing plant, which is associated with Aquacorporación Internacional, S.A. group under Rain Forest Aquaculture, was certified in August as BAP's first tilapia plant in Costa Rica. Located in Cañas, Guanacaste, the state-of-the-art, purpo...

Nicaragua will no longer send military personnel to the US military's controversial Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly the US Army School of the Americas (SOA), President Daniel Ortega said during a meeting with a delegation of human rights activists in Managua on Sept. 4. Nicaragua will be the first Central American country to withdraw from the school, w...