Moderator_02
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Copa Holdings to launch Colombia-based LCC Wingo
Oct 20, 2016Panama City-based Copa Holdings will launch Wingo, a low-cost carrier subsidiary of Copa Airlines Colombia, on Dec. 1.
Rendering of Boeing 737-700 in Wingo livery
“Wingo … diversifies and expands Copa Holdings’ business and operational models, allowing us to better serve a market segment where many opportunities for growth and development still exist,” Copa Holdings CEO Pedro Heilbron said Oct. 20.
The new airline will operate in a point-to-point business model, “with a simple organizational structure and low operating costs …offer[ing] low prices and convenient payment methods, as well as the option for travelers to personalize their travel experience with the amenities and services they value during their flight,” Copa said in a statement.
The airline will operate administratively and functionally as a subsidiary of Copa Airlines Colombia, with completely autonomous structures for its commercialization, distribution systems and customer service, the company said.
Catalina Bretón, director of international planning and commercial for New York-based JetBlue Airways since 2014, and previously with Bogotá, Colombia-based Avianca since 2002, will lead Wingo, Copa said. Copa Colombia CEO Eduardo Lombana will oversee operations, administration and finance of both Copa Airlines Colombia and Wingo.
Wingo will operate a fleet of four Boeing 737-700 aircraft, each configured for single-class seating capacity for 142 passengers. The LCC’s route network will cover 16 cities in 10 countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean; most of these routes will be transferred from Copa Colombia’s network.
Wingo’s new domestic routes within Colombia, from Dec. 1, will include: daily Bogotá -Cartagena service; 5X-weekly Cali-San Andres service; 5X-weekly Cartagena-San Andres service; 3X-weekly Barranquilla-San Andres service; and 3X-weekly Bogotá-San Andres service.
Wingo’s new international routes, beginning Dec. 1, will include: daily Bogotá-Caracas, Venezuela service; 6X-weekly Bogotá-Panama Pacifico International Airport (in Balboa, Panama) service; 5X-weekly Panama Pacifico-San Jose, Costa Rica service; 5X-weekly Bogotá–Cancun, Mexico service; 4X-weekly Bogotá-Mexico City service; 4X-weekly Bogotá-Quito, Ecuador service; 4X-weekly Medellin-Panama Pacifico service; 3X-weekly Bogotá-Havana, Cuba service; 3X-weekly San Jose-Guatemala City service; 2X-weekly Bogotá-Aruba service; 2X weekly Cali, Colombia-Panama Pacifico service; and 2X-weekly Bogotá-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic service.
Mark Nensel mark.nensel@penton.com
http://atwonline.com/airlines/copa-holdings-launch-colombia-based-lcc-wingo
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Dairy Company Changes Hands
The Guatemalan company Castillo Hermanos has acquired 100% of the equity interest of Sociedad Alimentos de Primera, a manufacturer of the Bonlac brand of dairy products in Panama.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Corporación Castillo Hermanos will now participate in the dairy market in Panama, through Sociedad Alimentos de Primera S.A., which until recently was owned by the Panamanian company Empresa Panameña de Alimentos S.A
See also: "Purchases and Sales of Dairy Products in Central America"
Prensa.com reports that "Hermanos Castillo is a holding company with investments in over 90 companies in Central America (Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua). It has experience in the production of beers, among which is its flagship brand: Gallo beer. It also produces soft and carbonated drinks."
In Panama, they are entering into a market where other companies with financial muscle are involved. The dairy industry in Panama is dominated by the brands Estrella Azul (Coca-Cola Femsa), Nestle, Nevada Panama (Dos Pinos) and Productos Lácteos San Antonio, S.A. (Prolacsa). Bonlac, which has been absorbed by the operation of Castillo Hermanos, has 12% of the dairy market. Bonlac will continue to operate its business, offices and products as normal. Together with Castillo Hermanos it will work to carry out an orderly and smooth transition without inconveniencing its customers, suppliers or employees, company representatives said in a statement."http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Dairy_Company_Changes_Hands
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Sea Stars Disappear from Beach in Panama
11/05/2016 05:28 pm ETIn the islands of Bocas del Toro, Panama, there is a beach famous for its white sand and the thousands of sea stars that once gathered there. Visitors and locals call the place Starfish Beach. “The whole bottom,” according to Dr. Peter Lahanas, “used to be covered. The seabed looked orange.”
The cushion sea star - reddish-orange with five leather-like arms - inhabits what we call a picture-perfect beach. Fine-grained sand and crystal clear seas silhouetted by a palm tree shore. Here in this edge habitat, where the land meets the ocean, sea stars behave gregariously, gathering in huge numbers to feed and breed.
In 1996, when Dr. Lahanas and his colleagues opened the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC), there were no tourists, no restaurants, no souvenir shops at the beach. It was, Lahanas explained, an “empty little beach that nobody [from the outside] really knew about.” It was an ideal site for biologists to study marine ecology, and likewise, for local fishermen to find fish and lobster.
Around 2003 and 2004, though, the tourism industry also began to discover the beach. One restaurant opened along the waterfront, and then another and another, and soon enough, the area was full of business and visitors. The sand and water, which attracted starfish for countless years, now attracted another gregarious species.
When the tourists arrived, the cushion sea stars started to disappear. Today fewer than two-dozen starfish can be found in the area.
It took millions of years for the Archipelago of Bocas del Toro to form its diverse ecosystem of sand, seagrass, mangroves, and reef; but it has taken less than twenty years of development to seriously threaten that complex environment.
The starfish’s decline is not an isolated case. A decade ago, as one researcher remembers, “you could order large, medium, or small fish for dinner in Bocas. But not any more - its just one size - small!” In a brief period of ecological time, from the early-1990s to the mid-2000s, the fishing industry collapsed. A parallel decline has also occurred with the Caribbean Spiny Lobster. The bulk of seafood now served in restaurants lining Bocas’ picturesque coastline actually comes from across the mountains, from the Pacific Ocean.
Driving these developments in Bocas are an estimated 120,000 tourists that annually visit the islands desiring seafood, service, and fun. The growth of tourism has created much-needed employment for a struggling community. As one hotel owner explained, “When I was young, there was no work in Bocas. You either had to go to Panama City, or the mainland to work on the banana plantations.” Because of tourism, Bocas’ millennial generation has found work at home, as tour guides and service workers.
But is it really necessary to trade work for ecological health? Conservation has not kept apace with the influx of foreign interest and investment. Untreated sewage, runoff, and sediment pour into the sea, suffocating reefs and other organisms dependent on clean water and light. Algal blooms flourish in the bay. Coral bleaching, already spurred by global warming, increases with local actions (and inaction.) The combination of overfishing, pollution, and climate change has turned Bocas into another tale of environmental declension. Meanwhile, tour companies, developers, and the Panamanian government promote Bocas as an untouched “paradise,” waiting to be discovered.
Visitors, it seems, are unaware of the consequences below the surface of their visit. They arrive to the beautiful islands, and quietly, the sea stars, the fish, and the lobster disappear. What type of paradise is that?
In Bocas, a small yet committed community of activists are working to combat environmental problems accompanying tourism development. They have pushed forward a progressive platform of regulations - for marine protected areas, turtle nesting grounds, and a seasonal lobster moratorium. But many of these policies remain unenforced. Why?
“The root of the disease,” in the words of the ecological thinker William Ophlus, “is not defective public policies but a defective public philosophy.” If both locals and tourists do not respect or understand the meaning behind the law, the law or policy is irrelevant.
According to ITEC researchers, the cushion sea star abandoned its namesake beach because of increasing human disturbance. Sea stars are extremely sensitive to vibrations in the water. The crowd of new visitors kicked up sand (creating turbidity); curious beachcombers would touch the animal and lift them out of the water (causing air to enter the marine invertebrates body and later float to the surface); and party-going visitors produced a cacophony of music, motors, and noise (which reverberated in the marine environment). Starfish interpreted these actions as a threat and crawled downhill into deeper water, withdrawing from their traditional breeding ground. The herd of tourists, from the perspective of the sea star, was an invasive species.
What happened at this particular tourist beach in Panama is perhaps an allegory of modern ecological folly. Contrary to carefree looking brochures and cruise ship advertisements, there is no such thing as a vacation “escape.” To sit on that beach, to swim on that reef, is to be part of nature.
Note: Special thanks to students and staff at The School for Field Studies and the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation for their help. All images by ITEC.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-scott/sea-stars-disappear-from-_b_12788512.html
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Casa Decor's contact information is in their signature block. Go to any of their postings here on CL and you will have everything you need.
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Gas Up, Diesel down
Posted on September 28, 2016 in Panama
Post Views: 101GASOLINE prices will rise on Friday September 30 with 95 octane jumping 10 cents a gallon to $2.68.
A liter of 95 currently sells at $ 0.682 a liter, and will rise to $0.708.
Meanwhile, 91 octane will increase two cents a gallon to $2.53. A liter of 91 currently sells for $ 0.663, but from Friday it will be $0.668.
The price of diesel will fall one cent a gallon to $$2.15.
Per liter, low sulfur diesel is $ 0.571, and from September 30 will be $ 0.568.
The new prices will be in effect until Friday, October 14, says the Ministry of Energy.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/gas-up-diesel-down
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Martinelli extradition request includes arrest warrant
Posted on September 28, 2016 in Panama
Some of Martinelli's legal team opposing his exrtadition.Post Views: 180AS MOST victims and of illegal surveillance under the Ricardo Martinelli regime agree that the request to the US for his extradition represents progress they still complain of the snail like progress of the Supreme Court during the process.
The Martinelli defense team on the other hand calls the action illegal.
Rogelio Cruz, for Martinelli said that the actions taken by the Foreign Ministry has violated the right to defend his client, since several resources were not resolved before filing a US extradition request .
Mitchell Doens, former secretary general of the PRD and a wiretap victim, said “I think it is important that this man [Martinelli] face justice and pay for the crimes and abuses committed during his term.
“Hopefully the state can recover everything he stole from the Panamanian people, not to mention the damage he did to the fragile institutions of the country “said
Panamenista Deputy Jose Luis Varela said : “Everyone must submit to justice when required by this, so I hope that Martinelli will come back and face it with the guarantees of a fair and transparent trial.”
Balbina Herrera, former PRD presidential candidate, said that “the importance of this request for the extradition of Ricardo Martinelli is the request for provisional arrest. That is, basic for me, because it cannot be that he is laughing at us in Miami.”
The extradition request filed by the Embassy of Panama in Washington on Monday 26 at the US State Department, includes the provisional arrest warrant, ordered by the full Supreme Court on December 21 2015.
University of Panama professor Miguel Antonio Bernal, another victim of wiretapping said: “I have no expectation that the process will prosper.”
“If they really had wanted to prosecute Martinelli, first, they would not let him go, second, they would have canceled the passport, which is not yet done
“How will the US accept the extradition of a person who has not been charged, unless they alter their law, which I do not think it will? “he said.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-extradition-request-includes-arrest-warrant
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Highlighting added to point out the information cutoff date.
QuoteMinistry reports 370 zika cases in Panama
Aleida Samaniego C. 26 sep 2016 - 11:34h
A total of 370 cases of zika virus have been confirmed in the country since the outbreak was reported in December 2015 in the Comarca Guna Yala, according to a report of the Health Ministry.
Doctor Nestor Sosa, director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute, said that about 10 cases a week are confirmed.
Officials reiterates the call for the population to eliminate the breeding places of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the disease, as well as others such as dengue.
The number of zika cases has been increasing month to month. The disease is a concern because it has been tied to birth defects in children of mothers who are infected during pregnancy.
There have been 158 cases in the comarca, 128 in Panama City and 26 in West Panama.
QuoteAdvierten epidemia de microcefalia
AFP | 26 sep 2016 - 11:34h
En un estudio que aporta pruebas suplementarias de la existencia de un vínculo entre el zika y la microcefalia del feto, científicos brasileños y británicos recomiendan prepararse para una “epidemia global” de microcefalia en los países afectados por este virus. “Debemos prepararnos para una epidemia de microcefalias, que se extenderá a todos los países que conocen transmisiones autóctonas del virus y a los países a los que se pueda extender la transmisión”, escriben los científicos como conclusión del estudio, publicado el viernes en la revista médica británica The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Diversos estudios, basados sobre todo en series de casos o en trabajos realizados en laboratorio, han establecido científicamente que el virus puede originar microcefalias y otras anomalías cerebrales en el feto. Pero ningún científico había realizado todavía un estudio observacional retrospectivo, comparando un grupo de personas afectadas por la enfermedad a un grupo de control, es decir, personas no afectadas pero que presentan características similares. Comparando 32 recién nacidos afectados por microcefalias con 62 no afectados, los científicos brasileños descubrieron que cerca de la mitad de los primeros daban positivo en un test sobre infección por el virus, en la sangre o bien en el líquido cefalorraquídeo. Ningún resultado positivo se registró en los segundos. Esta “asociación notable” llevó a los científicos a la conclusión de que la epidemia de microcefalias “era el resultado de la infección congénita por el virus zika”. Aunque solo se trata de resultados preliminares y el estudio prevé incluir hasta 600 niños, los científicos no dudan en advertir desde ahora contra “la epidemia global” venidera de microcefalias vinculadas al zika. “Nuestros resultados sugieren que el virus zika se debería añadir oficialmente a la lista de infecciones congénitas, igual que la toxoplasmosis, sífilis, varicela, parvovirus B19, rubeola, citomegalovirus y herpes”, dijo la doctora Thalia Velho Barreto de Araujo, que dirigió el estudio.http://www.prensa.com/in_english/virus-zika-avanza-cautela_21_4584501510.html
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US asked to extradite ex-Panama president
Posted on September 27, 2016 in Panama
Post Views: 263THE LONG awaited request for the extradition of former Panama president. Ricardo Martinellli has been submitted to the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the request and the formal notification was sent Monday, September 26, to the United States Department of State by the Panama embassy in Washington.
The extradition request, which was made by the Supreme Court, included a request for the provisional arrest of the former president, who is believed to be living in Miami.
The documentation submitted in Washington also included responses to numerous attempts by a battery of Martinelli’s defense attorneys to block the extradition.
The request now has to be reviewed by U.S. officials.
Martinelli is facing charges in Panama of ordering illegal surveillance while in office.
He is also facing multiple corruption allegations.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/us-asked-extradite-ex-panama-president
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Congratulations to Chef Mario. Next time we are in the area, perhaps we will give it a try.
QuotePanama restaurant makes Latin America top 50
Posted on September 27, 2016 in Panama
Chef Mario Castrellon has spent seven years experimenting with local foodsPost Views: 299A PANAMA restaurant has been named one of the top 50 restaurants in Latin America.
It’s the first time that a Panamanian establishment has appeared on the annual list and the honor goes to Maito, in Coco del Mar.
Maito was ranked 36th on the list. compiled by the web site theworlds50best.com
The ranking is determined by the votes of over 250 experts from the region.
The countries included are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Mario Castrellon, owner and chef at Maito, told his team about the award on Monday, September 26.
Castrellon, 33, developed a taste for the kitchen during family barbecues. Reports La Prensa.
He studied in Barcelona and worked in La Posta in Panama before opening Maito.
“When I opened Maito, I wanted to achieve excellence, not to be better than my colleagues, but for personal satisfaction,” Castrellon said.
“The key: to improve little by little constantly changing the concept and the story that we want to show to the diner.
“When you go to a restaurant that does not have a compass, without a theme to express itself, you eat well and come back if everything is perfect. But our mission is to tell a story that defines the Panamanian cuisine.
“We have been slowly finding it. It is not only presenting traditional recipes and presenting them in the best way.
It is understanding where the local cuisine came from, and the influences on local gastronomy.”The number one restaurant in Latin America was “Central” in Peru. Three of the top ten were from Peru, with Mexico City also having three in the top 10. Two were from Brazil, while Chile and Argentina each had one on the list.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-restaurant-makes-latin-america-top-50
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Foreign Ministry receives statement from judge
It is required for the extradition of former President Ricardo Martinelli.
Juan Manuel Díaz 27 sep 2016 - 09:46h
The Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday that it has received an affidavit from Judge Jerome Mejía that is required for the extradition of former President Ricardo Martinelli.
The affidavit, which was written by Prosecutor Harry Díaz and reviewed by Mejia, is the last step that was missing for the Foreign Ministry to present the request to the United States, where Martinelli has been living in January 2015.
Sources from the ministry confirmed that they will review the document and then submit it to American officials.
In his statement, Diaz said that there is evidence linking Martinelli to illegal surveillance carried out by the National Security Council during his administration.
The ministry requested the affidavit on Aug. 4.
http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Cancilleria-recibe-affidavit-Corte_21_4585251431.html
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This is a "you gotta wonder" type article, imo.
QuoteJudge releases fishermen with cocaine cargo
Posted on September 26, 2016 in Panama
The fishing boat cargo
Post Views: 136FOUR COSTA-RICAN fishermen found with a half ton of cocaine hidden on board their vessel have been released from detention.
They had been accused of drug trafficking when they were arrested, Saturday, September 24.
Their vessel was stopped and searched and officials found a half-ton of cocaine on board but it was not enough to convince Chiriquí Judge Mitzila Mendez.
Mendez ordered their release saying there was insufficient evidence
Prosecutor Carlos González said he will appeal because he maintains there is sufficient evidence in the case.
He said the drugs were found in a hidden compartment on the built inside the tank where fish are kept
The sailors have been ordered to report to authorities weekly and have been told not to leave the country until the case is resolved.
González expressed concern that the men would flee the country
The boat was stopped near Punta Burica, along the border with Costa Rica.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/fishemen-found-half-ton-cocaine-released
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Panama faces OECD financial transparency test
Posted on September 26, 2016 in Panama
OECD HQ in Paris
Post Views: 41PANAMA CONTINUES to struggle to convince world organizations that it is making good on promises to make the financial sector more transparent.
On Tuesday, September 26 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will analyze its financial transparency and its capacity to exchange tax information.
The group will determine if Panama has followed through on making changes to its financial system to comply with international standards.
In October of last year, Panama passed the first phase of the review process.
The review is necessary so that Panama can be removed from a sanction list compiled by the OECD.
Panama was added to the list after the OECD detected a number of shortcomings in its financial system, such as the inability to provide accounting information about Panamanian entities that do not have local operations and the lack of effective responses to requests for tax information.
The country recently agreed to implement the common reporting standards that are being promoted by the OECD to lead to greater fiscal transparency, and the Cabinet Council has approved a draft law that addresses other shortcomings identified by the agency.
The review process is completely confidential.
The result of the examination will be made public November 4 at the plenary of the Global Forum of the OECD which will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/anama-faces-oecd-financial-transparency-test
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The last armed conflict in Latin America is finally ending
By Kelly Chen, Natalie Gallón and Rafael Romo, CNN
Updated 9:59 PM ET, Mon September 26, 2016
In Colombia, a decades-long fight comes to an end 03:08Story highlights
- Colombian rebel group signs deal to end over half a century of armed conflict
- Deal still needs to be ratified by electorate in an October referendum
(CNN) A conflict that lasted over five decades. An estimated 220,000 people killed. Five million displaced.
These staggering figures are now consigned to history as the Colombian government buries the hatchet with its longtime nemesis, the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebel group, better known by its Spanish acronym, FARC.
The pen used to sign the treaty is made from a bullet used in combat.In a symbolic gesture, the pens used to sign the historic peace deal, years in the making, have been made from recycled bullets once used in the conflict. An inscription on the side of the pens reads: "Bullets wrote our past. Education, our future."The two sides, joined by leaders from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Uruguay, Cuba and the United Nations, came together on Monday in the coastal colonial city of Cartagena to sign the accord."Today, Colombians are bidding farewell to decades of flames, and sending up a bright flare of hope that illuminates the entire world," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the signing ceremony.The rebels voted unanimously to approve a deal that was finalized in August to end the 52-year-old conflict, Latin America's longest-running.It still needs to be ratified by voters, who will consider the agreement in a single-issue referendum on October 2.The treaty, signed by President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño, better known as Timochenko, requires rebels to give up their weapons and participate in a transitional justice process toward reintegration.
Colombia leader praises 'good peace' in lieu of 'perfect' 02:41
New political era
If and when the deal is approved by the electorate, the FARC will cease to be a rebel group and instead enter into politics as a left-wing party.The treaty grants the FARC 10 political seats, but it remains to be seen whether the rebel group, founded on Marxist ideologies of class struggle, can effectively transition into a political platform.
The woman FARC held captive for 6 years 07:35
While the deal symbolizes a chance for future generations to come of age in peace, the deal also signals a new chapter for the region. The longest-running war in the Americas will finally be over, bringing an end to armed political conflict in Latin America.However, not all groups are bound by the peace deal. The second most powerful group following the FARC, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, has announced interest in the peace deal but refused to end its practice of kidnapping.
The head of the FARC guerrillas Timoleon Jimenez signs the historic peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.End of an era for armed conflict in Latin America
Latin America has slowly been freeing itself from the shadows of the Cold War as countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Bolivia and Chile -- with the help of the United States -- fought off rebel guerillas.US influence in Latin AmericaDuring the war against communism, the CIA supported governments and groups against leftist rebels.
It also participated in coups such as the 1973 coup against Chile's socialist President Salvador.
The CIA's effort to overthrow Fidel Castro's Cuban communist regime in 1961 culminated in the Bay of Pigs invasion. The CIA trained Cuban exiles to rid Fidel from power but in failure the agency was exposed and Castro remained.
One of the most controversial US involvements was the Iran-Contra Affair, where Nicaraguan rebels were backed by the US and funded by profits made from selling weapons to Iran.
The US has funded the Colombian government to the tune of billions of dollars in its fight against FARC and the drug war.
"Across the region, the Cold War is over," said Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Now, "Guerrilla war is no longer seen as a reasonable way to contest power."The FARC started in 1964 and, like its mentors in Cuba, was committed to redistributing the wealth, even if it meant by force.But half a century later, now funded by a sophisticated cocaine trafficking network and armed with child soldiers, the rallying cries to protect an agrarian society begin to sound antiquated and obsolete.According to Arnson, public approval for the FARC has never polled more than 5%.War-weary, but still untrusting
FARC on Colombia peace deal: Difficult without amnesty 01:14
For Jorge Bermudez, a retiree in Bogota, the peace deal is good in theory, but he remains wary."I don't think the agreement will become a reality because dealing with people who have killed so many children, that have maimed people and suddenly they are in government ... how will this country end up with such people?" he told CNN Español.Salud Hernandez, who has been a correspondent in Colombia for the daily newspaper El Mundo since 1999, has reasons to have ill faith in the FARC. Hernandez has covered this war extensively and was kidnapped herself this year by the ELN,in May."Even speaking with the guerrilla fighters, they can't hide that what they have done for the last 52 years is massacre, kidnappings and extortion," she said in an interview with CNN Español's Fernando Ramos while covering the final FARC conference last week."This is a group that didn't have the popular support practically and that has summoned the country to countless tragedies."A leading crusader against the peace deal is former President Alvaro Uribe Velez, whose father was killed by the FARC. He accused Santos of having "accepted all of the FARC's agenda.""To this terrorist group, they also give impunity, and political legitimacy to all its actors, including those responsible for massacres (and) the most severe offenses, and crimes against humanity," he said in a video posted to Twitter in August.Deal lives or dies on amnesty
Meanwhile, FARC leaders press that there is no peace without amnesty.Ivan Marquez, the group's chief negotiator, told CNN en Español, "Without this law, well, it is very difficult for the guerrillas to begin their movement into the peace zones or to the transitional points for normalization."As world leaders cheer the historic signing of a peace deal that ends the longest running war in the Americas, the rest of the peace process is now in the hands of Colombians.CNN's Radina Grigova and Natalie Gallón contributed to this report. Rafael Romo reported from Colombia; Kelly Chen wrote in Atlanta.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/26/americas/colombia-farc-peace-deal/index.html
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OPINION : Fighting rapacious developers
Posted on September 25, 2016 in Panama
Post Views: 150La Prensa , May 25
IN A COUNTRY where the legal security of citizens is disrespected and in which they are subject to the arbitrariness of certain authorities and to the vagaries of the real estate industry, it became necessary for civil society to organize to defend their interests.
From its birth the Citizen Urban Network has advanced 42 administrative and judicial proceedings seeking to end the defenselessness of the 35 communities that are part of the organization.
Unfortunately, government after government, has demonstrated the complicity and negligence of municipal and environmental authorities, and especially the Ministry of Housing and Land Management.
We have a situation where neighbors must be protected against some unscrupulous investors, using their political influence and economic power, who have made changes to zoning. and received expeditious authorizations that explains much of the urban chaos that in the capital.
Thanks to the, Citizen Urban Network, awakening society has a valuable tool in the fight for rights in land use planning.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/opinion-facing-real-estate-industry
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Volunteers lead beach clean up
Posted on September 25, 2016 in Panama, Panama
Post Views: 121THE 25TH ANNUAL NATIONAL Cleanup of Beaches, Rivers and Coastal Areas, brought out hundreds of volunteers across Panama on Sunday, September 25.
The activity started at 7 a.m. in different parts of Panama City and the interior.
The event is aimed at raising awareness about the need to better protect the environment.
September has also been marked as a month to raise awareness of the need to protect ocean resources.
The next planned activity is Friday September. 30 with an ocean forum organized by the Smithsonian Institute.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/panama-3/volunteers-lead-beach-clean
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President defends wife’s attention grabber
Posted on September 25, 2016 in Panama
President Varela in a Sunday clean-up photo opPost Views: 145PRESIDENT Juan Carlos Varela, has defended the Office of the First Lady, directed by his wife Lorena Castillo over a controversial publicity stunt to raise awareness of breast caancer.
The “very creative” project
The project involved covering a section of a mountain with a pink tarp, far from the sight of most of Panama’s citizens. in El Valle de Anton.
The publicity grab has been the focus of criticism and satire and provided a heyday for cartoonists and political commentators.
It came in a week where the government came under fire when a $2.7 million land brought donations to the Catholic Church o $23.9 million since Varela took office. Varela and his wife are Catholics, and have lobbied for the Pope’s Catholic Youth conference to be held in Panama.
on Sunday, September 25, Varela said that mountain covering was a positive and “very creative” advertising campaign.
Positive debate
He said that even the debate generated about it “is positive because it raised the consciousness” of the issue.“It is raising awareness of the thousands of women with breast cancer,” the president said.
The campaign involved draping the tarp over what could be considered the breast section of “The Sleeping Indian,” a section of mountains in El Valle de Antón that resembles someone lying down, face up.
He said that the scope of the campaign is national and international since the mountain is a symbol of the country.
“The concept was very creative,” he said in , justifying the cost of $300,000 and the fact that the direct contract was awarded without going through a competitive bidding process says La Prensa.
The project was paid for through a donation from the Embassy of Taiwan.
The tarp was removed after a week and a half due to concerns raised about its impact on the environment.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/president-defends-wifes-attention-grabber
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Ngäbe Buglé congress leaders want Varela meeting
Posted on September 25, 2016 in Panama
Demesio CasesPost Views: 74THE PRESIDENT of the Ngäbe Buglé General Congress went to the office of the Presidency on Friday September 23, calling for a meeting with President Juan Carlos Varela about the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project.
Demesio Cases was received by a senior official.
At a later press conference Varela said: “The government maintains its position of dialogue and defense of the legal security of the country.” Reports La Prensa.
The President said that although indigenous leaders have rejected a settlement on the issue, the two sides will continue discussions.
On Sept. 17 the Ngäbe Buglé General Congress decided not to endorse the agreement signed by authorities of the region and the government on August 22.
The agreement had been hailed as historic by the government, but has split the indigenous community
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ngabe-bugle-congress-leaders-want-varela-meeting
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Virzi and family face $25 million scam charge
Posted on September 25, 2016 in Panama
Post Views: 136A FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT and a group of relatives and business associates will be called on Tuesday, September 27 to court in Veraguas to set a hearing into a case of alleged falsification of documents involving over $25 million.
Alongside ex-VP Felipe “Pipo” Virzi will be Rodrigo Spiegel and Ofelia Mercedes Mendez for the alleged offenses of falsification of documents and fraud to the detriment Edy Corporation, SA
Rodrigo Spiegel is the husband of Elvira Virzi, daughter of Felipe Virzi.
Also charged is Maria de Los Angeles Pittí, accused of falsifying a public document of the Edy Corporation to change the existing board and naming his daughter Elvira Virzi, ex-treasurer of the defunct Universal Bank and his son-in-law Spiegel as directors, and granting general powers with the supposed aim to get a property valued at over $25 million, in the province of Chiriqui.
The action was done to the detriment of the majority shareholder, who was in total ignorance of the move and at no time authorized the change to the board, and the powers granted to the Virzi’s daughter and her husband,, says research.
In August, Judge, Edith Guizado authorized a two month’s extension for the prosecutor’s office to continue with the investigations into the alleged crime.
The investigation period expires October 4, which then proceeds to the indictment and the respective trial, according to Adversarial procedures
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/virzi-family-face-25-million-scam-charge
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According to this CNN article, many people may have a Yahoo! account and not even know of such. Use of Yahoo Sports, Ficklr or Tumblr, etc., create Yahoo! accounts for their users.
QuoteYou could have a Yahoo account without even knowing it
by Chris Isidore @CNNTech September 23, 2016: 4:16 PM ETThink you're not affected by the massive hack of 500 million Yahoo accounts? Think again.
Just because you don't have a Yahoo email account doesn't mean you're off the hook.
There are plenty of other types of accounts that put users at risk.
Play fantasy sports on Yahoo Sports?
Post pictures on Ficklr?
Blog on Tumblr?
Or maybe you just stopped using your Yahoo email years ago.
Related: Yahoo says 500 million accounts stolen
If so, you might be a hacking victim, according to a leading Internet security expert.
"There are lots of people, millions of people, who don't understand they have a Yahoo account," said Per Thorsheim, a global cybersecurity expert based in Norway.
The hack, disclosed by Yahoo on Thursday, was allegedly committed by a "state-sponsored actor" on behalf of a foreign government, according to the company. It said the breach occurred in 2014.
Much of the attention to the hack focused on current Yahoo email users. But Thorsheim said one of his big concerns is that many people don't realize they have other accounts that put their information -- including names, email addresses, telephone numbers and birthdays -- in jeopardy.
Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30) hasn't given out much information as to which accounts were hacked. And spokespeople didn't answer questions about whether specific services such as fantasy sports accounts were included in the hack.
Related: What to do if your Yahoo account was hacked
Thorsheim said the other issue is that there are probably millions of people who have forgotten about a Yahoo email account they used to have. What they don't realize is that it's still active and their information is still associated with it.
"The idea that 'I don't use that account any more, I don't have to worry about it.' - in most cases, unfortunately that's wrong," he said. "If you have an account that you don't use, you should delete it. But very few people do that. I'm guilty of not doing that myself."
http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/23/technology/yahoo-account-hack/index.html
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Sleeping Indian cancer stunt hit
Posted on September 24, 2016 in Panama
La India DormidaPost Views: 174A PUBLICITY stunt intended to raise awareness of breast cancer has created a storm of criticism on social media and in environmental circles.
The $300,000 project involved installing a 1,720 square meter pink colored vinyl cover of an area of forest on the mountain ridge, known as La India Dormida (the sleeping Indian) in El Valle De Anton.
The area covered was a “symbolic” breast of the sleeping Indian
The cover was in place for over a week when the criticism came raining down on the office of Panama’s First Lady Lorena Castillo.
Work to uninstall it began on Friday, September 23, and was expected to be finished on Sunday.
The awareness campaign included videos and tours to health clinics .A direct contract was awarded to Cerebro JCM Advertising agency. The funds were donated by China-Taiwan.
“Debate all you want if you like it or not but go and make your test.” Said former journalist Castillo de Varela, wife of President, Juan Carlos Varela.
Mario Urriola, director of the Tropical Wonders Serpentarium, located in the area where the publicity stunt took place said that a week and a half of life at most is what is estimated for animals covered by the gigantic mantle.
In his view, the problem is that the cover, creates a kind of sauna that affects the grass and plants .
However, the Office of the First Lady ensured that there is no impact on the area.
Acccording to the official technical report of the campaign, signed by Presidency Minister Alvaro Aleman, and Ana Maria De Leon, Office of the First Lady the promo involved the symbolic covering of the bosom of La India Dormida, producing two videos with messages about the importance of prevention of breast cancer, including testimonies; and the development of of talks on health awareness and prevention of cancer in health centers
With this money, says a La Prensa report, it would have been possible to buy a digital mammography machine in the Panamanian market for $178 540, ITBMS included.
The equipment used to detect breast cancer in women is lacking in a large percentage of public hospitals in the country.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/sleeping-indian-cancer-stunt-backfires
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The New York Times has done a follow-up article about the Yahoo! break-in. This is an "interactive article", which was a first for me. The article lets you click a few buttons and then see an approximation of the number of times and categories of personal information that have been exposed to the bad guys.
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Community – Assisted Living In Panama
Post Views: 100
While I have always lived life in the fast lane, there will be a time with traffic builds up and I will need to slow down a bit.
Several people are interested in creating a place that would offer housing and services for those of us who wish to remain here for the rest of their lives, in an environment that is SAFE and COMFORTABLE, when they are no longer able to live independently.
For more information on this new venture contact Penny Ripple at pennyripple@gmail.com
And while I am still in the fast lane I live by Christopher Walkin’s feeling about life.
“None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.”
Assisted Living vs. Living at Home: Costs Compared
Last updated: April 22, 2015
When shopping for an assisted living community for your loved one, sticker shock is a common condition.
A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors frequently hear the refrain “That’s so much more expensive than just living at home.” In some situations, assisted living does cost more than living at home, but in most cases, total assisted living costs are significantly less than in-home care costs.
Assisted Living Costs by State
Just like any market for real estate or goods and services, price depends heavilty on local supply and demand. In particularly remote areas, assisted living costs may be higher than average due to low availability of accommodations. On the other side of the coin, costs may be higher than average in densely populated areas due to the high costs of real estate and staff salaries.
The U.S. states with the most expensive median monthly assisted living costs are:
- Alaska – $6,000
- New Jersey – $5,994
- Delaware – $5,533
- Connecticut – $5,000
- Massachusetts – $4,950
The U.S. states with the least expensive median monthly assisted living costs are:
- Missouri – $2,288
- Alabama – $2,600
- Georgia – $2,703
- Kentucky – $2,720
- Michigan – $2,850
Other Factors in Assisted Living Costs
While location is an important factor in assisted living costs, there are several other considerations that can play a big role in the bottom line:
- Apartment Size: A 400-square-foot studio apartment will obviously cost less than a 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom in the same community.
- Level of Care Required: Not all assisted living residents require the same level of care. Those who need help with fewer aspects of daily life will often pay less than those who need extensive services.
- Additional Fees: Assisted living communities typically charge a non-refundable administrative fee upon move-in. This fee covers everything from getting the new resident enrolled in services to renovating his or her apartment, and typically ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.
Most Living Expenses Included
When comparing assisted living to home care, it’s important to remember how many expenses are included in the price. Assisted living fees replace typical expenses associated with living at home, including:
- Mortgage or rent: Current homeowners will additionally eliminate property tax and insurance expenses by moving to assisted living.
- Utilities: Assisted living fees generally cover all utilities outside of phone and cable, including garbage/water/sewer, heat and air-conditioning, and electricity.
- Maintenance: Not only will you not be on the hook for emergency repairs, you’ll no longer have to hire out yard work or housekeeping services. Many assisted living facilities even offer linen service and help with laundry.
- Meals: Food is a major-line item in most people’s budgets, accounting for up to a third of total monthly expenditures. Two or three hot meals per day are included in most assisted living plans.
- Household assistance or personal care: At $10-25+ per hour, hiring this type of help can add up quickly. At-home medical care can cost even more.
Assisted Living Boosts Quality of Life
“Not only is assisted living financially equal to living at home in many cases, it’s a dramatically different way of life,” says Pam Talon, A Place for Mom’s Market Development Coach for the U.S.Northeast region. “Quality of life is a key difference.”
Living in a vibrant, engaging community with numerous daily opportunities for social interaction and entertainment is a welcome change of pace for most seniors. In fact, many seniors living at home cut back on entertainment as a way to save money.
“With a senior living at home, the monthly budget usually has a blank space next to social and entertainment,” Talon says. Regular social activities not only help keep seniors fit and sharp, they often equal the difference between surviving and thriving.
Talon says sons and daughters need to take a hard look at their parents’ current lifestyle: “Do both people get to retire in this house? How did mom’s life change when Dad retired? Did it get better or did it get worse? We’re still dealing with an age group where moms didn’t get to retire, so we’re dealing with quality of life.”
Related Resources
*All costs calculated in U.S. dollars.
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Martinelli lawyers lose extradition ploy
Posted on September 23, 2016 in Panama
Options running out?Post Views: 170The well rewarded legal team of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, has lost yet another move to save their client from facing justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected a request to include a statement from their client in the extradition request that they will file with the U.S. government.
The Ministry said there “is no legal basis” to include the statement.
The decision was confirmed by Farah Urrutia, legal director of the Ministry, in response to statements made by Martinelli lawyer Sidney Sitton, who expressed concerns about the extradition of his client.
Urrutia stressed that the letter submitted by Sitton makes allegations that should be resolved in a court of law.
“The Supreme Court has been prolific in noting that the extradition is not being done on the merits of the case,” said Urrutia in a response to Sitton.
On Aug. 4, the Ministry requested Judge Jerome Mejía to provide an outline of the case against Martinelli, who faces charges of ordering illegal surveillance of political opponents and others during his term in office.
The court ordered the arrest of Martinelli in December 2015.
He fled Panama in January 2015 and was last seen in Miami where he owns a luxury apartment, and where he has received many high ranking players in the CD Party he founded.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-lawyers-lose-extradition-ploy
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Indigenous leaders seek meeting on Barro Blanco project
Aminta Bustamante, Angel López Guía 23 sep 2016 - 18:46h
Senior representatives of the Ngäbe Buglé General Congress have petitioned President Juan Carlos Varela for a meeting about the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project.
The information was confirmed by Varela at a press conference.
The president of the Congress, Demesio Cases, went to the Office of the Presidency today and was received by a senior official.
"The government maintains its position of dialogue and defense of the legal security of the country," said the president.
Varela said that although indigenous leaders have rejected a settlement on the issue, the two sides will continue discussions.
On Sept. 17 the Ngäbe Buglé General Congress decided not to endorse the agreement signed by authorities of the region and the government on Aug. 22.
http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Presidente-Congreso-General-Republica-Blanco_21_4582251739.html
Copa's Low Cost Wingo Airlines
in Outdoor Activities (Tourism, Recreation, Sightseeing, Nature Hikes, etc.)
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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/copa-holdings-expands-travel-options-with-launch-of-wingo-in-colombia-300347991.html