News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Costa Rica’

Marketwire, a full-service newswire and communications workflow solutions provider, today announces the debut of NoticiasDigitales, the newswire industry’s first real-time business-to-consumer digital news service to publish Spanish-language news on Latin American websites. An enhancement to its Spanish-language press release distribution circuits, Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales displays press releases on more than 100 leading newspaper, financial and economic news, and media websites and portals that bring corporate news to millions of influential Spanish-speaking viewers across North America, Central America and South America.

“With the rapid growth of social media and ‘citizen journalism,’ the future of the newswire industry depends on leveraging new technologies to offer effective business-to-consumer news delivery solutions,” commented Marketwire Vice President of Emerging Markets Hector Botero. “Ethnic, emerging and international markets represent enormous, untapped opportunities for an online digital news distribution service, and we are extremely excited to launch an industry first to our clients who target Spanish-speaking audiences.”

Participants in the large web network at the core of Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales include major news media, business, finance and technology websites published in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. Examples of participating websites are Caracol Radio, Clarín.com, Dinero.com, El Universal.com and Nacion.com.

A 30-day testing period revealed that between June 11 and July 11, 2008, Marketwire’s NoticiasDigitales received more than 4 million total impressions from visitors in 21 countries. Thirty percent, or 1.2 million of those impressions came from visitors in Colombia, an economy growing at 6.8 percent a year (two full points faster than the Latin American average); 29 percent, or 1.18 million of the impressions were from the United States; 13 percent, or 520,000 impressions, came from visitors in Argentina, a country that has experienced four consecutive years of more than 8 percent growth in GDP; and 11 percent, or 431,000 impressions, came from Mexico, a country counting the United States as its largest trading partner.

Now, by adding more than 100 websites and 3 million-plus monthly views to its comprehensive Latin America distribution circuits that, combined, reach more than 80,000 media points in Latin America, Marketwire reinforces its position as the leading Latin American market press release distributor. NoticiasDigitales is included in all of Marketwire’s Spanish-language press release distribution circuits: five Latin America/South America distribution packages; newslines to 17 Latin American countries; and its industry-leading North America Hispanic newsline that reaches more than 5,000 journalists and editors through Marketwire’s NoticiasFinancieras news syndicate generating news for print publications with combined circulation exceeding 3 million daily, and readership, including web properties, exceeding 10 million.

About Marketwire

The only fully integrated North America-based global newswire, Marketwire, Inc. is a full-service partner to IR, PR and MarCom professionals seeking top-tier news distribution, media management, multimedia and monitoring solutions. Marketwire’s customer-centric corporate philosophy focuses on being the best by infusing every aspect of its business with the following core attributes: precision, adaptability, innovation and simplicity.

Marketwire delivers its clients’ news to the world’s media and financial communities, fulfilling disclosure requirements in North America in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and serving as Primary Information Provider (PIP) with the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA). With a reputation for technology leadership, Marketwire offers innovative products and services — including Social Media, Search Engine Optimization, Dashboard Mobile Financial, News Dashboard coverage reports, exclusive access to networks such as the Canadian Press Wire Network, Easy IR and Easy PR workflow solutions, and more — that help communication professionals maximize their effectiveness while ensuring accuracy and best practices.

Having merged companies (Market Wire and CCNMatthews) in April 2006, and enjoying a combined history of 25 years of service, Marketwire is now majority-owned by OMERS Capital Partners, the private equity arm of one of Canada’s largest pension funds. Marketwire distributes the majority of press releases issued by publicly traded companies in Canada and serves more than 8,000 clients worldwide through 19 offices on four continents. For more information, visit us at www.marketwire.com. “*

Laureate Education, Inc. today announced it has acquired the Universidad Tecnológica de México (UNITEC), one of the largest private universities in Mexico, and the Universidad Latina and Universidad Americana (UAM) in Costa Rica.

UNITEC has eight campuses throughout Mexico, including six in Mexico City, one in Guadalajara and one in Monterrey. The university has a 40-year tradition of providing higher education throughout the country, and today serves more than 36,000 students.

UNITEC has obtained the highest level of institutional accreditation by the Federation of Private Mexican Higher Education Institutions (Federación de Instituciones Mexicanas Particulares de Educación Superior) and is a member of Mexico’s National Association of Private Higher Education Universities and Institutions (Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior). UNITEC offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, engineering, health sciences, architecture and graphic design.

Universidad Latina, the largest private university in Costa Rica, was founded in 1989 and has more than 16,000 students. The university is widely recognized for its health sciences programs, including medicine and dentistry. UAM, founded in 1997, has more than 4,000 students, and specializes in business education. Combined, the schools have 13 campuses throughout Costa Rica.

“Laureate’s position as the global leader in international higher education is a direct reflection of the strength and reputation of each university within our network,” said Douglas L. Becker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Laureate Education, Inc. “We are proud to bring these important universities into our network, as they will enhance our ability to meet the needs of the growing number of students in Mexico and Costa Rica.”

About Laureate Education, Inc.

Laureate Education, Inc. is a global network of more than 35 accredited campus-based and online universities offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 405,000 students around the world. Laureate students are part of an international, multicultural, networked academic community that spans 18 countries and more than 90 campuses throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Laureate’s international universities offer more than 130 career-focused, multi-year undergraduate, masters and doctorate degree programs in career fields including engineering, education, business, healthcare, hospitality and information technology. For more information, visit www.laureate-inc.com. “*

Leaders from the Hispanic business community held a press conference this morning to announce Tampa Bay as the first city in the United States chosen to host the 18th Annual Retailers of the Americas Conference. Present at the press conference to discuss highlights of the event were the following members of the Tampa Bay’s Host Committee:

– Derek Lloyd, President of Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay (CACCTB),
– Augustine Martinez, USHCC President & CEO,
– Julio Fuentes, President of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“The CACCTB is committed to the growth and development of the Tampa Bay region and Florida.” stated Mr. Lloyd. “We are pleased to welcome our Caribbean, South and Central America neighbors to Tampa Bay and provide a favorable setting which encourages numerous opportunities to promote and expand their business successfully.”

Tampa was selected due to leading attributes such as its diverse Hispanic heritage and the opportunities that Tampa Bay region provides globally and locally for its cultural ties, airport facilities, port, industrial centers and distribution of goods. From a business perspective the Tampa Bay region provides more than just theme parks, it provides an industry that parallels the growth in global commerce and communication.

“Tampa holds such a talented cross-section of people, all looking to promote the city and what it has to offer,” said Augustine Martinez. “In our preliminary search for the perfect city to name as host for this one of a kind event, we were blown away by the Tampa community. We highlighted Tampa for the simple fact that, when thinking of how to bring commerce to the U.S., Tampa has it covered. Geographically and culturally, it is the perfect gateway to the Americas.”

“On behalf of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we show full support of this great conference,” said Julio Fuentes, FSHCC President. “We are excited that the city of Tampa was chosen and extend the invitation to Hispanic businesses in the rest of Florida to participate.”

“Small businesses play a significant and important role in our economy. We need to continue opening markets at home and abroad to raise living standards and consolidate democratic gains in the hemisphere,” said Senator Mel Martinez on the benefit the conference will have on Tampa and the state of Florida.

The 18th Annual Retailers of the Americas Conference, also known as XVIII Congreso del Comercio Detallista de las Americas, will host hundreds of business executives and dignitaries from across Latin America and the United States. The conference, expected to see an attendance of 3,000, will convene in Tampa between November 20 -22, 2008.

The press conference took place at the Embassy Suites (Downtown) at 10:30AM. Speakers also included the Honorable Faye Culp, Florida House of Representatives and Neighborhood Services Administrator Santiago Corrada.

Background:
The mission of the 18th Annual Retailers of the Americas Conference is to integrate the commercial sectors in the western hemisphere in a collaboration effort to develop strategies and initiatives directed at fortifying technological know-how, economic development and the creation of jobs. Previous host countries include, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Puerto Rico and Argentina.

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of more than 2.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate more than $388 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.”*

The consul generals of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay plan to announce the initiative Tuesday in New York City. “*

One company reaping the rewards is avVenta Worldwide, which has 415 employees in San Jose, Costa Rica; Kiev, Ukraine; and London, as well as Charleston, S.C. Since avVenta launched in 2005, it has built a business out of doing behind-the-scenes production work on Web ads for the agencies that work with some of the world’s biggest marketers, including General Motors, Microsoft and Bank of America, at rates about 20% to 50% lower than what agencies pay for similar work in the U.S., ad executives say.

AvVenta, a play on the Italian phrase “to go forward,” usually doesn’t come up with the creative ideas behind the ads it produces — it doesn’t fine-tune the ad copy or pick which pictures, graphics or animations should be included in the campaigns. In fact, it usually doesn’t even have direct relationships with the marketers. Instead, ad agencies mostly based in the U.S. dictate the specifications for the design of Web sites, digital ads and other online promotions.”*

The government’s forced use of antipsychotic drugs, in people who have no history of mental illness, includes dozens of cases in which the “pre-flight cocktail,” as a document calls it, had such a potent effect that federal guards needed a wheelchair to move the slumped deportee onto an airplane.

“Unsteady gait. Fell onto tarmac,” says a medical note on the deportation of a 38-year-old woman to Costa Rica in late spring 2005. Another detainee was “dragged down the aisle in handcuffs, semi-comatose,” according to an airline crew member’s written account. Repeatedly, documents describe immigration guards “taking down” a reluctant deportee to be tranquilized before heading to an airport.”*

The store that began as a shelf in Martinez’s barbershop in 1993 has grown into a local institution with an international draw, bringing in hundreds of authors, such as literary giants Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez and Carlos Fuentes and high-profile speakers, including Nobel Peace Prize-winning Costa Rica President Oscar Arias.

Anchored by Martinez’s mission — to get people of all ages to read, in English or Spanish — the store has prospered as a community center, holding English and music classes, and where residents can attend a poetry reading or pick up a book or magazine.”*

The organization’s recent poll in 18 regional countries found that seven out of ten Latin Americans reject the presence of immigrants in their country. Ecuador and Costa Rica are the most intolerant countries towards newcomers, whereas Uruguay and Nicaragua appear to be highly tolerant towards immigrants.

The study shows that only 35% of Chileans think foreigners should be able to have the same rights as they do. The concept of foreigners living in Chile is supported by 13% of the population, while only 9% of Chileans think that poor people from a different race should be able to come to their country. Additionally, only 28% of all Chileans back the idea of open regional migration in order to promote integration.”*

U.S.-based Spirit Airlines is expanding its presence in Latin America, aiming to cater to passengers not served by the big commercial carriers like American Airlines, Continental and Delta. “Less than 5 percent of the population used air transportation within the region in 2007 - which means there is room for growth if the fares are reasonable,” says Robert Booth, chairman of U.S.-based consultancy AvGroup.

In the past 12 months, Spirit has opened up seven new routes to Latin America - connecting its Fort Lauderdale hub with Port-au-Prince, Haiti; San Jose, Costa Rica; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Lima, Peru; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Managua, Nicaragua and Panama City, Panama.”*

*From: http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) today announced a renewed partnership agreement with popular Latin TV personality Claudia Molina, who serves as a spokesperson for Qwest in the Hispanic community.

Since signing on as a Qwest spokesperson a year ago, Molina has made numerous appearances at cultural events in Phoenix, Tucson and Denver on behalf of the company, as well as represented Qwest in various media campaigns.

“Claudia has been a great partner for Qwest,” said Hector Placencia, director of multicultural marketing at Qwest. “She is a talent who is very well respected among our Hispanic customer base, and we are thrilled to continue to build upon the great work we have done with her in the Hispanic community.”

“I am proud to be affiliated with Qwest,” said Molina. “It is a company that delivers on its Espiritu de Servicio® promise, and its commitment to serving the Hispanic community through information and educational opportunities is unparalleled.”

A Colombia native, Molina currently appears on Univision’s popular “Sabado Gigante,” has been a host and reporter on “Republica Deportiva,” and has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows in the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.

As part of its Espíritu de Servicio, Qwest has created several products tailored to the Hispanic market, such as Qwest® Plan Latino, a long-distance calling plan with reduced rates to Mexico and Latin American countries.”*

*From: http://www.businesswire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

High-octane guitar arpeggios pierce through the opening bars of the new song by Cienfue, “Macho de Monte Suite,” the title track on his eagerly-awaited new release.

Cienfue, the artistic name for versatile Panamanian musician Camilo Navarro, is set to unleash a fresh gamut of sounds on Costa Rican audiences for the first time, for two nights. He is scheduled to play tonight at San Pedro’s Jazz Café and tomorrow at San José’s Latino Rock Café.”*

*From: http://www.ticotimes.net
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

A burgeoning Hispanic population in the U.S. has created a strong demand for Spanish-speaking contact center agents. Many American companies find such agents in Mexico.

While Mexico’s close proximity and attractive labor costs are strong selling points, some companies are also starting to consider other Latin American alternatives, according to a destinationCRM.com article. Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina and Panama are among the options, says Peter Ryan, head of contact center outsourcing for Datamonitor.”*

*From: http://www.itbusinessedge.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Fox Sports en Español announced today the return of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup for the fourth consecutive year. The 2008 edition will once again be televised exclusively in Spanish by the leading all-sports cable network, starting with live coverage of the quarterfinal between Motagua of Honduras and Mexico’s Pachuca tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

The eight-team field for the 2008 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup includes Mexico’s Pachuca and Atlante FC, Costa Rica’s Saprissa, Jamaica’s Harbour View, Honduras’ Motagua, Guatemala’s Municipal, and Major League Soccer’s D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo.

“The CONCACAF Champions’ Cup is a key event on the international soccer calendar and the participation of the Mexican teams, as well as of D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo, makes it a must-watch for our viewers across the country,” said David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of Fox Sports en Español. “We’re proud to be the exclusive Spanish-language television home of the longest-running international competition in the region.”

Semifinal rounds will take place on April 2-3 and April 9-10, while the finals will take place April 23 and April 30.

The CONCACAF Champions’ Cup is the longest running international competition in the region and has crowned the CONCACAF Confederation champion club since its inception in 1962. The winner of the 2008 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup will again qualify to the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan later this year. The Champions’ Cup runner-up will be one of three CONCACAF invitees to the 2008 Copa Nissan Sudamericana.

2008 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup Quarterfinals Broadcast Schedulea

DATE

TEAMS

TIME (ET)
Tues., March 11 Motagua (HON) vs Pachuca (MEX) 8:00 p.m.
Wed., March 12 Municipal (GUA) vs Houston Dynamo (USA) 2:00 a.m.
Wed., March 12 Harbour View (JAM) vs D.C. United (USA) 3:00 a.m.

Thurs., March 13
Atlante FC (MEX) vs Saprissa (CR) 11:30 p.m.
Tues., March 18 D.C. United (USA) vs Harbour View (JAM) 7:30 p.m.
Wed., March 19 Houston Dynamo (USA) vs Municipal (GUA) 8:30 p.m.
Wed., March 19 Pachuca (MEX) vs Motagua (HON) 11:00 p.m.
Thurs., March 20 Saprissa (CR) vs Atlante FC (MEX) 10:00 p.m.

a Home team is listed first and all times are Eastern. Telecast schedule is subject to change; not all games will air live.

For a complete schedule of Fox Sports en Español’s exclusive telecasts of the 2008 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, www.foxsportsla.msn.com.”*

*From: http://www.businesswire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Medellin’s real estate sector is growing thanks to growing interest by foreign buyers and improved credit for local purchases of residential and commercial real estate, industry officials say.

“There has been a notable increase in Medellin from foreign clients, possibly due to the real estate situation in the United States, which is an incentive to evaluate other areas of high investment potential,” says Carlos Mario Osorio, general manager of the Medellin office of Century 21. “The recent construction boom is related to the growing access to credit for private investment, mainly in industrial, commercial and residential real estate.”"*

*From: http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Univision Radio, a division of Univision Communications Inc. and the leading Spanish-language radio broadcaster in the United States, joins forces again with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital(R) through the network’s Promesa y Esperanza (Promise and Hope) broadcast on February 7 and 8.

The Spanish-language radio fundraiser helps raise money and awareness in Latino communities for children who are battling cancer and other diseases at St. Jude, the premier pediatric cancer research center.

“At Univision, and at each of the local stations in the Univision Radio network, we are proud of the role we play for Hispanics in the U.S.,” said Monica Rabassa, VP Marketing, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs of Univision Radio. “Our work with St. Jude is another example of our commitment to our communities. The amazing response of our staff and listeners since we started our partnership 10 years ago demonstrates the importance of the St. Jude message of hope.”

This year, for the first time, Univision Radio Puerto Rico is joining in the effort to support St. Jude. In addition to Puerto Rico, Univision Radio will support Promesa y Esperanza through several of its local radio stations in Albuquerque, Dallas, El Paso, Fresno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, McAllen, Miami, New York, San Antonio, San Diego and San Francisco. Univision Radio will also support the event through its syndicated radio programming, Recuerdo, RadioCadena Univision, and El Piolin por la Manana, in more than 20 markets.

“We are very fortunate to have the support from Univision Radio and the Hispanic community to ensure that no child is ever turned away from receiving treatment because of a family’s inability to pay,” said John P. Moses, Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “We want the community to know that every donation, even as little as $20 a month, helps make a difference in saving a child’s life at St. Jude.”

More than 85 cents of every dollar St. Jude receives goes directly to research and treatment. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance. The hospital’s daily operating costs are nearly $1.3 million, which are primarily covered by public contributions.

Opened in 1962, St. Jude freely shares its research findings with hospitals everywhere.

St. Jude’s International Outreach Program shares its expertise and knowledge with partner countries around the world, including Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela.”*

*From: http://sev.prnewswire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Discovery Familia, the all-family, Spanish-language network from Discovery Communications, and DIRECTV Más(TM) are taking the network on the road and bringing it to life with a national mall tour that will provide Hispanic viewers, in key markets, a taste of their exceptional programming offerings via interactive activities and demonstrations that the whole family can enjoy.

The traveling exhibit, made possible in partnership with DIRECTV Más(TM), recreates the warmth of the family home, with a spectacular 900-square-foot structure equipped with a living room, family room, kitchen, and backyard where a host of surprises are in store for visiting parents and their children. Among these:

– Experience a virtual trip to an exotic location. Families will walk away with a family portrait featuring destinations from some of Discovery Familia’s signature travel shows as if they had been there in the flesh (Top Five, Mas Que Una Fiesta, A Dónde Vamos, and Samantha Brown: Passport to Latin America).
– Visit the Discovery Familia kitchen, where smells and tastes come to life. Our hostess Mamá Tamales certainly knows her way around the kitchen. Do not miss her mouth watering hourly demonstrations of recipes similar to those featured in our most popular culinary shows (Relatos con Sabor, Con Gusto y Sazón, and Around the World in 80 Flavors).
– Bring the children over to our backyard for a memorable afternoon with Doki, the network’s playful daytime host. Kids will have a blast playing in the bounce house, putting on temporary tattoos, coloring in Doki and Friends color books, and meeting Doki in person!

These, plus a host of other activities, will make for a memorable day for the entire family. The national tour will also provide families and their children with fun takeaways, as well as a chance to win some exciting prizes. Adults can register to win one of two fabulous prizes.

– National Grand Prize: Trip for a family of four to Costa Rica
– Local First Prize: 42” HD flat screen TV

The Discovery Familia tour kicks-off on February 9th starting with the Great Mall in Milpitas, California followed by Simon Property Group mall’s in: Brea, California; Irving, Texas; Miami, Florida; Jersey City, New Jersey; Langhorne, PA; and Calumet City, Illinois (full schedule and dates below).

“DIRECTV Más(TM) is committed to supporting essential family values by bringing wholesome entertaining and educational content to Hispanic families across the nation. We are proud to offer Discovery Familia to our customers, a network that clearly achieves both of these objectives, and to partner with them during the official on the ground launch in 2008,” said John A. de Armas, vice president, WorldDirect(TM), DIRECTV, Inc(R).

Created to strengthen the family bond, Discovery Familia was launched in the fall of 2007 as an answer to a deep seated need for family centric programming in Spanish.

“With Discovery Familia the entire family has a place to call home, where the best in family oriented programming can be found all under one roof. The channel is, at its core, all about what is best for Hispanic families; a safe haven were the family bond is strengthened through programming that not only entertains but also educates and inspires.” said Luis Silberwasser, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Discovery Networks U.S. Hispanic Group.

– A channel that is meant to be a safe haven, a warm, familiar and welcoming place that feels like home.
– A channel that celebrates the best of our Hispanic heritage and that helps to preserve our language and customs.
– A channel that brings Hispanic families together and that achieves this via high quality entertaining shows that the whole family can enjoy.

During the day Discovery Familia is all about the kids, with its Discovery Kids en Español programming block which features shows that stimulate kids thirst for knowledge. Animated friends like Doki take children by the hand into brave new worlds of exploration and discovery. The channel is meant to be a partner to parents by providing the tools to help their children preserve their native language and become life-long learners.

The evenings on Discovery Familia bring the entire family together with culturally relevant, entertaining and educational programming that feature poignant shows about parenting, natural history, home, cooking and travel.

National Tour Schedule

– Great Mall, Milpitas, CA – February 9 & 10
– Brea Mall, Brea, CA – February 16 & 17
– Irving Mall, Inving, TX – February 23 & 24
– Dadeland Mall, Miami, FL – March 1 & 2
– Newport Center, Jersey City, NJ – March 29 & 30
– Valley Mall, Langhorne, Pennsylvania – April 5 & 6
– River Oaks Center, Calumet City, IL – April 12& 13 “*

*From: http://www.hispanicprwire.com
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

Todo está listo para el concierto que ofrecerá el reggaetonero puertorriqueño Daddy Yankee en febrero próximo en Costa Rica, luego de cumplirse una sencilla lista de peticiones que hizo el afamado artista.

El intérprete de Impacto no realizó ningún pedido extravagante para la actuación que tendrá en el Jacó Beach Music Festival, a celebrarse en la playa de Jacó, en el Pacífico, el próximo dos de febrero, informaron los organizadores en un comunicado.”*

*Leer más en Español: http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx
Translated: using Google or Altavista/Babel Fish

World famous Mexican rock band Molotov is set to pop the lid off 2008 with their first concert of the year to be held in San José.

Frontman Tito Fuentes and his band of four are scheduled to play here Jan. 19, according to United Press International newswire. Molotov, a favorite of MTV Latino América, is sure to play material from “ Eterniamente,” the band’s latest album released in October with the single “Yofo.””*

*From: http://www.ticotimes.net
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

The Miss Latin America Organization continues to expand its network of pageant affiliates nationwide and has just added Oklahoma to the growing list of states holding preliminaries to select their delegates to the Miss Latina US™ and Miss Teen US Latina™ national pageants. Higher Reach Enterprises by LCM has picked up the state license and will produce the first ever Miss & Teen Oklahoma Latina™ Pageants in history. Oklahoma is the latest state to become part of the largest Latina pageant network in the world started in the United States.

“We’ve seen an increased interest of young Hispanic women in participating in our pageant,” said President and Founder Acirema Alayeto. “I think it is a further indication of the new generation of Hispanic women evolving in the United States; one that is intent on obtaining recognition of the personal and cultural attributes of young Hispanic women beyond their physical beauty. Their desires for achievement, recognition and the betterment of themselves and their families are shaping the future economy and culture of this country.” Alayeto concluded.

More states are sought for greater representation of the Latino population that now stretches all over the country as never before. Since 2003, national heritage representations are also being accepted.

Previous Miss Latina US titleholders have come from Arizona, California, Florida, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Washington, D.C. They have been of Mexican, Cuban, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Peruvian, Bolivian, Costa Rican, Nicaraguan and Dominican descent, a testament to the vast number of nationalities that comprises the large Hispanic population now living in the United States of America.

The winner of the Miss Latina US Pageant advances, in representation of the USA, to the international competition to select Miss Latin America held annually in different Latin American countries. Single Latinas ages 18 to 27 are encouraged to participate in their state preliminaries or apply for state representation where none exist. Information on participation and directorship opportunities can be found at www.missamericalatina.com.

The current Miss Latin America is attorney Heidi Garcia of Guatemala. Yalena Matos (Cuban) of Oregon holds the Miss Latina US title and Nicole Korrody (Mexican) of Texas reigns as Miss Teen US Latina.

# # #

About Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc.: based in Miami, Florida, it is the oldest and largest producer of Latina pageants worldwide. Beginning in 1981, founding President Acirema Alayeto created an international pageant system where Latin American women from around the world annually compete for the title of Miss Latin AmericaA®, best known worldwide as “Miss America Latina.” The company also produces the annual Miss Latina US™ and Miss Teen US Latina™ national pageants.”*

*From: http://www.prlog.org
Traducido: usando Google o Altavista/Babel Fish

They typically start poorer than migrants to rich countries, earn less money and are more likely to travel illegally, which raises the odds of abuse. They usually move to countries that offer migrants less legal protection and fewer services than wealthy nations do. Yet their earnings help sustain some of the poorest people on the globe.

There are 74 million “south to south” migrants, according to the World Bank, which uses the term to describe anyone moving from one developing country to another, regardless of geography. The bank estimates that they send home $18 billion to $55 billion a year. (The bank also estimates that 82 million migrants have moved “south to north,” or from poor countries to rich ones.)

Nicaraguans build Costa Rican buildings. Paraguayans pick Argentine crops. Nepalis dig Indian mines. Indonesians clean Malaysian homes. Farm hands from Burkina Faso tend the fields in Ivory Coast. Some save for more expensive journeys north, while others find the move from one poor land to another all they will ever afford. With rich countries tightening their borders, migration within the developing world is likely to grow.”*

Virginia Castro, a native of Costa Rica living in California, is just one of the many satisfied users of Palabra, Vida y Fe (Word, Life and Faith), OCP’s family-friendly guide to prayer and the Lectionary readings for Spanish speakers.

“Palabra, Vida y Fe is an outstanding resource,” says Virginia. “The easy-to-read narrative is very special because it is to the point and reaches the heart of the people. I have other books of prayers, but I prefer Palabra. I use it to teach my grandson.”

Virginia isn’t alone. Parish leaders are among those who are finding that Palabra, Vida y Fe is an excellent aid for daily prayer. “*

Alina Trejos used to live relatively well, buying a car, paying for college and even taking a European vacation on her salary from a job taking bets on American football.

No more.

A controversial U.S. crackdown on the $12 billion online gaming industry has hit hard in Costa Rica, where an abundance of English speakers and lax laws once made it home to the highest concentration of Internet gambling companies in the world — nearly 200 — and earned it the nickname of the “Las Vegas of the Internet.””*

It may be difficult for GPS addicts to comprehend, but Costa Rica doesn’t have a standardized system of addresses — at least not ones that can be typed into MapQuest. Many streets aren’t named, and virtually none have signs. Many houses don’t have numbers. Only a few pockets of the country use anything close to the “123 Main St.” format that Americans would recognize.

Instead, most Costa Rican addresses are expressed in relation to the closest community landmark. In colonial times, that was the church or town hall. Today it could be a fast-food joint or car dealership.

For some, the quirky system is a reassuring link to their country’s agrarian past, a colorful affirmation of what it means to be “Tico,” or Costa Rican. Almost everyone beams when they talk about the “old fig tree” and the “old Coca-Cola plant.” Both of those San Jose-area landmarks have been lost to history, but locals still cite them when giving directions as if they still existed. For a disoriented visitor, it’s proof that magical realism is alive and well in Latin America.”*