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☆ I slept in my car and showered in the factory to work 12-hour shifts at Tesla. I still got laid off after 5 years.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementWhen I received the email stating that my position had been eliminated, I was already on my way to work. Camping in the car parkI worked really hard while I was at Tesla and wanted to be as efficient and productive as possible. In 2021, I started sleeping in my car and showering in the factory to avoid my lengthy commute. AdvertisementI was camping in the car between my work shifts for a whole year. I worked hard for them, but that does not mean I plan to give up being a hard worker.

Persons: —, Nico Murillo, Tesla, doesn't, I'd, I've, It's Organizations: Service, Tesla, Business Locations: Fremont , California, GNC

☆ Murders, imprisonment and violence: Threats to press freedom grow in Latin America
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Esteban Campanela | Sol Amaya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the challenges faced by many media workers in Latin America, where experts say the status of press freedom is increasingly worrisome. The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed in a press conference that they believed the crime was linked to his journalistic work. Last week, the Mexican president criticized the US State Department’s report on human rights in the world, which refers to concerns over press freedom in Mexico, saying that US authorities should “be respectful”. In a publication in social network X, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said US officials are not concerned about the human rights of Cubans and that the United States has its own human rights violations. Nicaragua: Ortega-Murillo regime targets journalismHarassment of the press in Nicaragua has been widely reported on numerous occasions.

Persons: CNNE, Francisco Cobos, ”, Cobos, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, López Obrador, Enrique Peña Nieto, Felipe Calderón, Lourdes Maldonado López, Maldonado López, Séptimo Día, Roberto Figueroa, Xochitl Zamora, Lourdes Maldonado, Maldonado ´, Marco Ugarte, AP López Obrador, Andres Oppenheimer, Javier Milei, Lopez Obrador, Abraham Jimenez, Jimenez, civically, “, Miguel Diaz, Yamil Lage, Jiménez, Bruno Rodríguez, Ortega, Murillo, Juan Lorenzo Hollman Chamorro, Hollman Chamorro, Chamorro, Carlos Fernando Chamorro, Rosario Murillo, … provocateurs, Chávez, Vos, Chavez, ” Edgar López, López, Juan Pablo Lares, Maximiliano Bruzual, Ariana Cubillos, Nicolas, Maduro’s, Yván Gil, ” Jeannine Cruz, Gustavo Petro, Nayib Bukele, Gonzalo Zegarra, Rey Rodríguez, Manuela Castro, Ana María Cañizares, Ivonne, José Álvarez, Elvin Sandoval, Iván, Sarmenti, Español Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Protect Journalists, Univision, Televisa, Prosecutor’s, AP, CIA, Canel, Getty, Cuban Foreign, La Prensa, National Police, ”, El, Regional, Democracy, Nicaraguan, State Department, National College of Journalists, Venezuelan, TC Television, Communication, “ Locations: Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Latin America, Mexican, American, Tamaulipas, McAllen , Texas, Tijuana, Morelos, Tijuana , Mexico, Spain, Cuban, Havana, AFP, United States, Costa Rica, El Confidencial, Managua, NIcaragua, Sur, Washington, Venezuelan, “, Caracas, ”, Ecuador, Guayaquil, America, Argentina, Colombian

The fear of the ongoing crackdown by President Daniel Ortega – on the Catholic Church in particular but not sparing evangelicals – has become so pervasive that it is silencing criticism of the authoritarian government and even mentions of the repression from the pulpit. Her work recording hundreds of instances of church persecution recently won her an International Religious Freedom Award from the U.S. State Department. “If it’s dangerous to pray the rosary in the street, it is exceedingly so to report attacks,” Molina said. Despite the growing fear, many faithful continue to attend church services – where they remain available. “The dictatorship, what it wants is to completely eliminate the Catholic faith, because they haven’t succeeded in making the church kneel before them,” Molina said.

Persons: Daniel Ortega –, –, ”, Martha Patricia Molina, ” Molina, ’, Ortega, Nicaragua’s, ” Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Alicia Quiñones, It’s, Molina, Mother Teresa’s, didn’t, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Silvio Báez, Pope Francis, Dolly Mora, “ It’s, they’re, “, haven’t, Nicole Winfield Organizations: MIAMI, Central American, Catholic Church, U.S . State Department, Associated Press, “, . government’s, PEN International, Ortega’s Sandinista, Liberation, University of Central America, Jesuit, Vatican, AP, Lilly Endowment Inc Locations: Nicaragua, Nicaraguan, United States, Americas, America, –, Rome, Managua’s, Miami, ”

☆ Costa Rica Arrests Ex-Panama Presidential Hopeful Tied to Money Laundering Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE/PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Costa Rican police on Tuesday arrested Panamanian businessman and former presidential hopeful David Ochy on charges of fraud and money laundering, judicial authorities said on Tuesday, following an Interpol request. Ochy was wanted by Interpol for being central to a case linked to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who was in July sentenced to over a decade in prison for money laundering. Ochy enrolled as a presidential pre-candidate for Martinelli's Realizing Goals party ahead of the 2024 vote, which protected him from facing trial in the Martinelli case last summer. Ochy faces criminal charges for money laundering and using a fraudulent Costa Rican identity card, Zuniga said. Carlo Diaz, who heads Costa Rica's state attorney's office, said he could be extradited to neighboring Panama though he must first face criminal proceedings in Costa Rica and could even serve a prison sentence there.

Persons: David Ochy, Ochy, Ricardo Martinelli, Martinelli, Randall Zuniga, Zuniga, Carlo Diaz, Javier Caraballo, Alvaro Murillo, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland, Sandra Maler Organizations: JOSE, PANAMA CITY, Tuesday, Interpol, Central American Locations: PANAMA, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Costa Rica, Rican, Caribbean, Pococi, Costa Rica's, Panama, San Jose, Panama City

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaraguan police said Friday they want to arrest the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, accusing her of intentionally rigging contests so that anti-government beauty queens would win the pageants as part of a plot to overthrow the government. It all started Nov. 18, when Miss Nicaragua, Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios won the Miss Universe competition. Ortega claimed the protests were an attempted coup with foreign backing, aiming for his overthrow. It didn't help that many ordinary Nicaraguans — who are largely forbidden to protest or carry the national flag in marches — took advantage of the Miss Universe win as a rare opportunity to celebrate in the streets. Palacios, who became the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe, has not commented on the situation.

Persons: Karen Celebertti, James Bond, Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios, Daniel Ortega, Palacios, Ortega, Nicaraguans, Celebertti “, Celebertti, ”, —, “, Palacio's, Lady Rosario Murillo, Palacios ’, ” Murillo Organizations: MEXICO CITY, —, Miss, Facebook, National Police, Sandinista, Jesuit University of Central, Nicaraguan Locations: MEXICO, Miss Nicaragua, Jesuit University of Central America, Nicaragua

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua's increasingly isolated and repressive government thought it had scored a rare public relations victory last week when Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios won the Miss Universe competition. Ordinary Nicaraguans — who are largely forbidden to protest or carry the national flag in marches — took advantage of the Saturday night Miss Universe win as a rare opportunity to celebrate in the streets. Palacios' victory — along with photos she posted on Facebook in 2018 of herself participating in the protests — overjoyed Nicaragua's opposition. Thousands have fled into exile since Nicaraguan security forces violently put down mass anti-government protests in 2018. Palacios, who became the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe, has not commented on the situation.

Persons: —, Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios, Daniel Ortega's, Palacios, Nicaraguans —, Nicaragua's, Silvio Báez, ” Báez, Lady Rosario Murillo, “, ” Murillo, Ortega, Ortega's Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Miss Nicaragua, Miss, Sandinista, Facebook, Jesuit University of Central, Nicaraguan Locations: MEXICO, North Korea, Jesuit University of Central America, Nicaragua, America, Caribbean

☆ Costa Rica makes first-ever fentanyl gang arrests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Four suspects were taken into custody, two Costa Ricans and two Colombians, along with 1,100 fentanyl pills in an operation backed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that included raids in three towns in central Costa Rica, Security Minister Mario Zamora said at a press conference. The arrests "raises alarms because it confirms the presence of fentanyl" in Costa Rica, said Zamora. As of last month, Costa Rican authorities had been carrying out 10 fentanyl investigations since last year, according to government data. Violent crime in Costa Rica has surged this year with homicides at a record, and the growth blamed on gang turf battles over the country's role as a major transit point for the illicit trade. The fentanyl arrests come as around 70% of Costa Ricans disapprove of President Rodrigo Chaves' crime fighting record, according to a recent poll.

Persons: Mario Zamora, Zamora, Rodrigo Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, David Alire Garcia, Bill Berkrot Organizations: JOSE, Costa Ricans, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomson Locations: Costa Rican, United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Costa Ricans

☆ Costa Rica arrests 8 bank employees in probe of $6 million heist
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The National Bank of Costa Rica's headquarters are pictured in San Jose, Costa Rica February 12, 2020. The 3.3 billion colones ($6.2 million) in question were first detected missing at the National Bank of Costa Rica in August through internal audits, and last month the attorney general's office announced an investigation. The principal suspect is a low-level bank employee accused of robbing cash and stashing it away in paper bags out of sight from security cameras, investigators said. This seems like something out of a movie (…) This is not a robbery from the National Bank, it is a robbery from Costa Ricans." ($1 = 528.8750 colones)Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Juan Carlos Ulate, saddens, Bernardo Alfaro, Alfaro, General Carlo Diaz, Rodrigo Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, David Gregorio Our Organizations: National Bank of Costa, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, National Bank of, Authorities, bank's, Central American Bank for Economic Integration, National Bank, Thomson Locations: National Bank of Costa Rica's, San Jose, Costa Rica, MEXICO, Costa Rican, National Bank of Costa Rica, Costa Ricans

☆ Costa Rica, Honduras Agree to End Visa Rules and Ease Trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this month, Costa Rica introduced mandatory visa requirements for Hondurans seeking to enter, saying the measure was needed to boost security, which prompted reciprocal action from Tegucigalpa. Earlier this year, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves proposed a set of security measures in response to surging crime, including a record-setting pace for murders. Costa Rican police have attributed rising violence to an uptick in international criminal groups trafficking drugs to the United States. Specifically, Costa Ricans seeking to enter Honduras will need a certificate showing their criminal records, while Hondurans seeking to enter Costa Rica will need a certificate detailing any police record. (Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in Costa Rica; Additional reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Leslie Adler)

Persons: Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Xiomara Castro, Gerardo Torres, Alvaro Murillo, Gustavo Palencia, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Leslie Adler Organizations: JOSE, Central, Costa, Honduran Locations: Costa Rica, Honduras, Central American, Tegucigalpa, Costa Rican, Central America, United States, Costa Ricans

A European Union flag flutters outside the congress palace ahead of the European Political Community summit in Granada, Spain, October 4, 2023. The council said all three jurisdictions either lacked tax information or failed to deliver on commitments regarding governance and transparency reforms. Barring Russia, it said in a statement, the EU list only includes "small and vulnerable countries like Belize yet fails to include any EU member state" which were given the same Global Forum rating. Oxfam's EU tax expert Chiara Putaturo also slammed the list as "toothless" for not screening the United States, the UK, or EU states such as Luxembourg and Malta, adding "countries deemed too big to be listed can no longer escape scrutiny." The EU Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Jon Nazca, Chiara Putaturo, Sarah Morland, Alvaro Murillo, Jose Sanchez, Bill Berkrot, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, OECD's, Transparency, Information, EU, Marshall, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Seychelles, Caribbean, Belize, Antigua, Barbuda, Russia, Panama, EU, United States, Luxembourg, Malta, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Mexico City, San Jose, Belmopan

☆ Chinese embassy criticizes Costa Rica for 5G company restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign for 5G is seen at the World 5G Exhibition in Beijing, China November 22, 2019. The Chinese embassy in San Jose criticized the remarks in a statement. "These comments gravely affect the confidence and expectations of Chinese companies to undertake economic-trade activities in Costa Rica and they erode the good energy to develop bilateral relations," the embassy wrote in a statement. In August, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves approved a decree aiming to regulate 5G mobile network development and banned firms from countries that have not agreed to an international cybercrime convention. Chaves issued the directive shortly after Laura Richardson, a senior U.S. military commander, visited Costa Rica, where she questioned growing Chinese investment in Latin American infrastructure development including ports and 5G networks.

Persons: Jason Lee, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Laura Richardson, Alvaro Murillo, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, JOSE, Central American, Costa, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Costa Rican, San Jose, Costa Rica, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, U.S

☆ Costa Rica to declare state of emergency amid migrant surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves said on Tuesday that he has ordered officials to declare a state of emergency as the number of migrants passing through the small Central American nation has risen sharply. "I have instructed the security ministry to take a firm stance with anyone who takes Costa Rica's kindness for weakness," Chaves said at a press conference, referencing recent riots by migrants crossing the country. So far in September, more than 60,000 people have passed through the Costa Rican border town shared with Panama, Paso Canoas, where fewer than 20,000 people live, another official said. Costa Rica's Chaves will visit Panama in early October to hold discussions on the migrant crisis. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Costa Rica's Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, Anthony Esposito, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: JOSE, Central, Thomson Locations: Costa Rican, Panama, Paso Canoas

☆ After Taking Away Critics’ Citizenship, a Country Takes Their Houses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Frances Robles | More About Frances Robles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The campaign is a throwback to the leftist party’s first time in office in the 1980s, when the Sandinistas expropriated homes, setting off yearslong legal disputes. Mr. Ortega was beaten at the ballot box in 1990 but after changes to the constitution that made it possible for him to win, Mr. Ortega reclaimed the presidency in 2007. He spent the next decade chipping away at the country’s democracy by interfering with the National Assembly, elections and the Supreme Court. Tens of thousands of people rose up against Mr. Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, in 2018, accusing them of becoming exactly what they had once fought against: leaders of a dictatorial family dynasty. The move to start seizing properties in recent days follows the confiscation of a prominent Jesuit university and the arrests of several priests.

Persons: party’s, Daniel Ortega, Ortega, Rosario Murillo Organizations: Sandinista, National Assembly, Jesuit, Harvard University

☆ Costa Rica's homicide rate rises in deadliest year ever
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People cross the street, one day after Costa Ricans elected Carlos Alvarado Quesada, as the new president, in San Jose, Costa Rica April 2, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - More than 656 people have been killed so far in Costa Rica's deadliest year on record, official homicide data showed on Friday, though the government expects this figure to soar past 900 by the end of this year. Costa Rica's homicides hit a record 654 last year according to the historically peaceful Central American country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). The national rate for violent deaths is set to rise to 16 per 100,000 people this year, from 12.6 in 2022. Costa Rica's security minister Mario Zamora told Reuters in a statement that there are no "magic" and short-term responses to tackle crime in the country, and that it would need a series of security and prevention initiative.

Persons: Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Juan Carlos Ulate, Costa, Randall Zuniga, Mario Zamora, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla's, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Carolina Pulice, Sarah Morland Organizations: Costa Ricans, REUTERS, JOSE, Judicial Investigation Agency, Central, Authorities, Reuters, Central American, Thomson Locations: San Jose, Costa Rica, Costa Rica's, Jose, Caribbean, Limon, Colombia, United States, Europe

☆ Intel to invest $1.2 bln in Costa Rica over next two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSAN JOSE, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Intel (INTC.O) will invest $1.2 billion in Costa Rica over the next two years, the company said in a press release on Wednesday. The announcement comes after the U.S. State Department said in July that it would partner with Costa Rica's government to support the Costa Rican semiconductor sector through the 2022 Chips and Science Act. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Costa, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: REUTERS, JOSE, Intel, U.S . State Department, Costa, Science, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, Costa Rican

☆ Costa Rica prosecutor opens case into president for 'influence peddling'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves Robles attends the session "Leadership for Latin America" during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File PhotoSAN JOSE, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's top prosecutor has opened a case against President Rodrigo Chaves and various other government officials for allegations of "influence peddling," the Attorney General's office confirmed on Tuesday. The Attorney General's office said it could not comment further because the case was in a preliminary "private" stage. It is the prosecutor's second investigation involving Chaves in less than a month, following a July 17 probe over an alleged abuse of power. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo, Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Valentine Hilaire and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Costa, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Arnd, Costa Rica's, Rodrigo Chaves, Leonel Baruch, Chaves, Alvaro Murillo, Isabel Woodford, Valentine Hilaire, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Economic, REUTERS, JOSE, Agence France, Presse, Thomson Locations: America, Davos, Switzerland, AFP

☆ Juul seeks authorization on a new vape it says can verify a user’s age. Here’s how it works
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Nadia Bidarian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —E-cigarette company Juul Labs is seeking US authorization to sell a “next-generation” vape with age verification capabilities in the United States. If authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration, Juul Labs hasn’t yet decided on the name to market their new product in the US. Courtesy JuulAdvertising itself as an alternative nicotine product, Juul publicly advises that adults vape only as a replacement for combustible cigarettes. In total, Juul Labs has agreed to pay more than $1 billion in its various legal settlements. Even with limited flavors, the FDA banned Juul products in the US last year after reviewing Juul’s applications seeking marketing authorization for their devices.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Joe Murillo, it’s, Juul, Robin Koval, vaping, ” Koval, Kirk Phelps Organizations: CNN, FDA, US Food and Drug Administration, Juul Labs, Truth Initiative, Tobacco Survey, Labs, Canada, Tobacco, Virginia, Centers for Disease Control Locations: United States, Canada, Washington, DC, Virginia

☆ Drug onslaught pushes violence to record levels in Costa Rica: Security Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alvaro Murillo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Costa Rica closed 2022 with a record 656 murders. In parts of Costa Rica, authorities are seeing violence synonymous with Mexican cartels like torture, gang killings, and assassinations carried out by highly trained hitmen. In May, Chaves named as security minister Zamora, who also held the post under the 2010-2014 presidency of Laura Chinchilla, and has a reputation for being tough on crime. Zamora said the situation was very different to when he was first security minister. The measures are due to be rolled out across Costa Rica by 2025.

Persons: We've, Mario Zamora, Costa, Rodrigo Chaves, Chaves, Zamora, Laura Chinchilla, Moin, Alvaro Murillo, Diego Ore, Sarah Kinosian, Stephen Coates Organizations: JOSE, Costa, Costa Rican Security, Reuters, Costa Ricans, Central American, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Colombia, Costa Rica, Costa Rican, Sinaloa, Central America, Europe, Costa Rica's, Limon, Costa

☆ Costa Rica charges former president Solis with corruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, July 6 (Reuters) - Costa Rica said on Thursday it has charged former President Luis Guillermo Solis with corruption, accusing him of involvement in a 2017 improper transfer of government funds to state-owned Bancredito. Solis, who governed between 2014 and 2018, denied the charges. "I categorically reject the charges that have been brought against me," the former center-left leader said in a video posted on Twitter. "I know I did not commit any crime," he said in a text message to Reuters. "This is a case that has already been prosecuted," he wrote in a text message, saying he would not comment further.

Persons: Luis Guillermo Solis, Solis, Helios Fallas, Sergio Alfaro, Alfaro, Fallas, Alvaro Murillo, Brendan O'Boyle, Edwina Gibbs, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: JOSE, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica

☆ Insight: Catholic clergy report surveillance, beatings amid Nicaragua's crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( David Alire Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's five-year campaign against the Catholic church has intensified since February, according to interviews with five priests inside and outside the country. This week's brief release of Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez raised hopes for a turning point. The priests describe heavy surveillance of church services by police or civilian members of government-sponsored community councils, especially since Easter. His latest restrictions seem aimed at silencing priests, Erick Diaz, 33, a Nicaraguan priest in exile in Chicago, said. Nine church leaders inside and outside Nicaragua did not respond to interview requests for this story.

Persons: Daniel Ortega's, Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez, Mexican Bishop Ramon Castro, Pope Francis, Nicaragua's, Ortega, Rosario Murillo, Bishop Alvarez, Alvarez, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, Brenes, Martha Patricia Molina, Molina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Erick Diaz, David Alire Garcia, Philip Pullella, Ismael Lopez, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Sunday, Nicaraguan, Catholic, Vatican, Reuters, Organization of American, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Nicaraguan, Managua, Nicaragua, Mexican, Eastern Europe, Matagalpa, Texas, Leon, Vatican, Chicago, Rome, San Jose

☆ World Bank green lights $500 mln loan to boost Costa Rica's budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAN JOSE, June 16 (Reuters) - The World Bank approved a new $500 million loan to Costa Rica aimed at strengthening support for the government's budget, according to a statement from the international lender released on Friday. The loan will support the Central American country's post-pandemic efforts to grow employment and wages and assist small and medium-sized companies. "While Costa Rica has made much progress in the environmental, economic, and social spheres, the reduction of poverty and inequality remains an ongoing challenge," Carine Clert, World Bank country manager for El Salvador and Costa Rica, said in a statement announcing the new financing package. The 19.5 year loan includes a four-year grace period, with an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus a variable margin in U.S. dollars, the statement added. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia Organizations: JOSE, World Bank, Central American, Bank, El, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, El Salvador

☆ World Bank green lights $500 million loan to boost Costa Rica's budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Alvaro Murillo, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia Organizations: JOSE, World Bank, Central American, Bank, El, Thomson Locations: Costa Rica, El Salvador

☆ Costa Rica president gets tougher on security as crime soars
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE, April 19 (Reuters) - Costa Rica's president on Wednesday presented a set of security measures in response to surging crime rates in the Central American country, which is currently on track this year to beat 2022's record murder rate. Costa Rica ended 2022 with a record 12.6 homicides per 100,000 residents, according to the judicial research agency OIJ. "We are going to mend the course we lost a long time ago," said Chaves, a week after criticizing those who condemned the security crisis. The country's main business chamber on Friday called for a state of "national emergency," fearing a hit to foreign investment and tourism. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Isabel Woodford and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Mexican probe into missing students beset by delays and failure, watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), human rights experts who have tracked the investigation, on Friday urged the military to cooperate with informational requests, and for prosecutors to issue more arrest orders. "We have insisted on the need for verifying and carrying out these arrest orders," she told a news conference. Prosecutors last year called for the arrests of 83 military, police and government officials, among others, with 21 of the arrest orders later withdrawn. Buitrago said the GIEI has now sent evidence to prosecutors supporting the arrest orders that were dropped. The rights experts said the military had told them that certain documents and records did not exist even after the GIEI had obtained some of those same records.

☆ Human rights court begins review of high-stakes El Salvador abortion case
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mayela LopezSAN JOSE/SAN SALVADOR, March 22 (Reuters) - The Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Wednesday began hearing the historic case of a Salvadoran woman who was denied an abortion in 2013 despite doctors' calls to terminate her high-risk pregnancy. They recommended an abortion but would not perform the procedure given El Salvador's severe prohibition. Beatriz appealed to the Supreme Court and the IACHR, but the Salvadoran court rejected her request and in June 2013 she underwent a C-section. The court's public hearing, which is being held in San Jose, Costa Rica until Thursday, was marked by both anti-abortion protests and demonstrations of support for Beatriz. Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in San Jose and Nelson Renteria in San Salvador; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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