No related posts. From the print editionAt 54, Heredia native Jeannette Roostai ran her first marathon. She liked it so much that she decided she would run some more, and now at 69, she has completed 100 marathons. “It’s like an addiction, or maybe a passion,” she said. “Marathoning holds me both physically and mentally.”She’s run across the desert in Africa, the ice in Antarctica and the stones of the Great Wall of China. As a marathoner, she has logged thousands of miles across all seven continents. Although Roostai was born in Heredia, she moved to the U.S. in the 1970s. The Tico Times caught up with her on a recent friends-and-family visit to Costa Rica, and she was happy to discuss her 100 marathons.Roostai tends to narrate her stories as if 26.2-mile races are no big deal. As if it was just something she started, and as if it’s completely nature that she would eventually finish 100 races totaling 2,620 race miles, not to mention thousands more miles in training. But she does admit it was slightly crazy.It all started when one of her daughters wanted to run a marathon. Roostai was 54 years old and a stay-at-home mom. “I had never run before,” she said. “I went to a catholic school and was taught by nuns. There I learned to sew and draw for fun, and never run.”But Roostai began to run anyway. She trained with her daughter and they completed their first race in 1996. Then they did a few more marathons together but eventually her daughter quit racing. For the next 15 years, Roostai never stopped. Her mornings began before the sun was up so she could log at least 20 miles a week, plus long runs on the weekends. She stopped eating meat because it made her feel “cleaner” when running. Veggie burgers and hot chocolate are her favorite pre-race food.The world opened to her by travelling to races. She ran marathons in all 50 states, Spain, Brazil, Kenya, China, Sydney and Antarctica. Roostai has only one complaint about how marathon racing has changed over the years. “Now all the registration is online,” she said. “I just can’t figure computers out.”Her words of wisdom to other runners? “Drink water, dehydration is terrible,” she said. “And keep enthusiastic however you can. I love the training, the start and the applause at the finish line, but it’s not for everyone.”What will she do now? “Now I will rest,” she said. “I just want to keep up with my grandchildren.” Facebook Comments read more

Three smugglers transporting a half ton of cocaine were arrested near the Nicaragua border on Monday night, according to the Public Security Ministry.One Costa Rican and two Nicaraguans were arrested in La Cruz, a city just south of the border at Peñas Blancas. A report from Allan Obando, head of border police in the Northern Zone, said the arrest occurred at 11 p.m. The packets of cocaine were found hidden inside a Toyota Tacoma. Suspects were a 24-year-old Costa Rican and two Nicaraguans aged 27 and 38. The latter two tried to flee from police during the operation. Drug Control Police also were present at the bust. Anti-narcotics agents tallied 23 bags of cocaine totaling 500 kilograms. They also confiscated a pistol, ammunition, $960 and ₡116,000 ($232).The ministry said it has increased border presence in the area in recent weeks. Visitors crossing the border now face more frequent checkpoints while traveling through Costa Rica.The suspects could face charges of international drug trafficking, which has a maximum sentence of up to 20 years. Facebook Comments No related posts. read more

Related posts:Johnny Araya is down and out, but not his party, says analyst Costa Rica’s runoff campaign season ended Sunday with Solís pressing supporters to get out and vote Live Costa Rica presidential election results Non-career politician Luis Guillermo Solís wins Costa Rica presidential runoff in a landslide After abruptly halting his presidential runoff campaign on Wednesday, National Liberation Party candidate Johnny Araya announced in a farewell speech that he planned to express his appreciation to supporters by traveling across the country.Araya said he would visit several communities to thank campaign leaders, who he did not wish to expose to “an exhausting [runoff] process.”Shortly after the speech, Araya posted on his Facebook profile that, “We will tour the country to thank and embrace each of you who has supported us.” On Thursday, La Nación posted an interview with Araya in which he said he would head to the northwestern province of Guanacaste to rest for four days before launching the tour, along with his campaign staff.The trip will begin Monday and includes mostly coastal cantons where the ruling party did well in a first-round vote on Feb. 2.Araya did not say how much the trip would cost, considering one of the reasons he cited for quitting the race was to avoid spending more campaign funds on what was likely a losing battle.On Tuesday night, the University of Costa Rica’s Semanario Universidad published a poll showing Citizen Action Party candidate Luis Guillermo Solís ahead by 44 percent among potential voters.Araya also said he would close campaign headquarters on March 15 and move to an office to support the PLN’s 18 incoming lawmakers, who on Wednesday asked him to remain as party “leader.”  In an interview with The Tico Times this week, however, political analyst Constantino Urcuyo called the gesture by lawmakers “a mere courtesy that will last at most a couple of months.”Recommended: Johnny’s historical concession speechThe candidate’s decision to drop out of the race – despite Costa Rica’s Constitution requiring he stay on the ballot for the runoff election – has sparked impassioned reactions from both PLN supporters and Araya’s detractors.The PLN’s top lawmaker, Fabio Molina, on Wednesday evening said he disagreed with Araya’s decision, as did other members of a potential Araya Cabinet, saying “it did not reflect the true democratic spirit.”Others party supporters said they would still vote for Araya on April 6.Solís said he did not yet consider Araya’s announcement a win, and he called on PAC supporters to make sure and vote in the runoff to legitimize his victory.Araya did not personally telephone Solís to congratulate him, or inform him that he was dropping out of the race.In next month’s runoff, the candidate with the most votes will be declared president, irrespective of the number of voters,  Supreme Elections Tribunal President Luis Antonio Sobrado said. Facebook Comments read more

Just over a week since taking office, President Luis Guillermo Solís made history Friday morning when he became the first Costa Rican leader to raise the rainbow flag of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement on even mast with the Costa Rican red-white-and-blue tricolor on the lawn of the Casa Presidencial. Vice President Ana Helena Chacón hoisted the flag in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, May 17.“This is the house of all Costa Ricans. When we say all Costa Ricans we mean all, without exclusion, without violence, without harassment in absolute respect for the rights of each one,” Solís told a crowd of LGBT leaders and advocates during his brief comments on the lawn.“We’re fighting against discrimination in defense of the human rights of all Costa Ricans,” the president said, adding that discrimination based on sexual orientation was against the letter and spirit of the Costa Rican Constitution and human rights declarations the government has signed. Ana Helena Chacón, one of Costa Rica’s vice presidents, raises the diversity flag for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Lindsay Fendt/The Tico TimesMarco Castillo, president of the Diversity Movement, a Costa Rican LGBT advocacy organization, said the gesture was a sign of hope of things to come as a bill for civil unions makes its way through the Legislative Assembly and the Costa Rican Social Security System debates extending insurance benefits to same-sex couples.“We [have seen] a sign of hope today but we hope it becomes reality,” said Castillo.Vice President Ana Helena Chacón said that recognizing property and inheritance rights, and extending insurance benefits, and hospital visitation rights would be priorities for the Solís administration, which took office May 8.Despite the government’s vocal support for equal rights for LGBT Ticos, the Solís administration stops short of endorsing gay marriage or civil unions.“We’re not getting involved in the question of matrimony because we believe this is a subject that has more to do with questions of religion, where we don’t think we should be involved,” Ombudswoman Ofelia Taitelbaum told The Tico Times.“We want to grant them rights,” she added. “What I can say is that the civil rights of this group be respected.”There was a small handful of protesters outside the Casa Presidencial in Zapote, including one man holding a sign ripping on Solís’ campaign slogan: “Don’t mess with Costa Rica and even less with God.”Solís walked outside the gates of the office and greeted the demonstrators. Julio Goyenaga, 60, stands outside of Casa Presidencial to protest as the president and gay rights activists hang the diversity flag for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. His sign has President Luis Guillermo Solís’s campaign slogan “Don’t mess with Costa Rica” followed by “and less with god.” Lindsay Fendt/The Tico Times“It looks very bad for Costa Rica. For me it’s a total embarrassment. There should be more people here demonstrating,” said Julio Goyenaga, 60, who held a placard referencing Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”“I don’t have words for what’s going on here. If this is just the start of this government, what’s coming?” he asked.“I have to do the job as president for all Costa Ricans. If I lose sympathy or popularity in the process, then it’s what the job demands,” Solís said when asked how the act might affect his polling numbers.“I’m not in a beauty contest,” he said.According to a 2013 report from the United Nations Development Program in Costa Rica, only 3 percent of respondents said they felt they had been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, less than age (26 percent), religion (16 percent) or sex (14 percent). Thirty-four percent of Costa Ricans said they had a close family member who was gay or lesbian.A 2012 survey from the daily La Nación said that 55 percent of respondents believe same-sex couples should be extended the same rights as heterosexual couples.Recommended: Dismantling Costa Rica’s lesbian and gay closet Facebook Comments Related posts:Argentine baby’s 3 parents ‘very proud’ of legal first Costa Rica grants first gay common-law marriage in Central America Casa Presidencial presents gay common-law marriage bill Guate pride read more

Alik, the 8-month-oldfemale ocelot that veterinarians believe was beaten with a metal pipe, is successfully recovering from surgery to repair her broken jaw.Last week a group of six veterinarians and specialists performed the surgery to reconstruct her broken jaw using titanium plates and screws in a procedure that lasted some two and half hours.Alik is recovering well from the surgery, biologist Rodolfo Vargas Leitón, who works with the Refugio Herpetológico, told The Tico Times. The wildlife refuge took in Alik after police spotted her in a cage, in poor condition, on a family’s property in San Juan de Mata, southwest of San José.The family had apparently beaten and caged the animal, a threatened species, after finding her inside their henhouse.“The jaw has held in a good position and she has already started to eat,” Vargas said. “Currently we are only feeding her prepared meals and ground beef, but her overall health condition is very good.”Refuge staff said they would have to wait at least eight weeks for the broken bones to fully heal before trying to feed Alik solid food.The ocelot will have to remain at least four months at the refuge to ensure full recovery. Experts will monitor her to assess whether the titanium parts are causing any discomfort.Still, Vargas said the animal’s evolution has been very positive, and the shelter’s team believes that, pending evaluations, Alik could be released into the wild again and live a normal life.But not without a lot of work. Wildlife experts will have to train her so she can be confident hunting again and get reaccustomed to living on her own.Donations helped pay for the titanium components to fix Alik’s jaw. The animal shelter is still fundraising to pay for the animal’s daily maintenance and recovery.The Refugio Herpetológico currently houses 70 species of rescued animals, many of which are unable to return to their natural habitats due to agressions from humans.To help Alik and other animals at the shelter you can donate through the shelter’s bank account (921387056) at BAC San José or through the PayPal account listed on the shelter’s website.Watch a video of Alik’s first meal following her surgery: Related posts:Costa Rica wildlife refuge seeks funds to pay surgery for ocelot with broken jaw PHOTOS: March Against Animal Abuse Animal abuse reports on the rise Grecia, the toucan with the prosthetic beak, now receiving visitors Facebook Comments read more

CULIACÁN, Mexico –The Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán story couldn’t seem any more unbelievable, with its multiple prison breaks, endless sewers and tunnels, outlandish sums of money, and feverish manhunts. And then Sean Penn entered the story.While Guzmán was the world’s most-wanted fugitive, dodging Mexican military operations and DEA surveillance, he was secretly meeting with the Hollywood movie star in an undisclosed Mexican hideout, and has now provided what appears to be the first public interview of his drug-running career, published in Rolling Stone on Saturday.Among the revelations in the article, Guzmán, who was captured on Friday morning in his home state of Sinaloa, bragged to Penn about his prowess in the drug trade.“I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world,” Guzmán said. “I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats.”The Associated Press reported that a Mexican law enforcement official said the Penn meeting helped authorities finally locate Guzmán.Penn provides a lengthy account of how he met the elusive criminal. He tried to protect his communications using burner phones and encryption and anonymous email addresses. The meeting was brokered by the Mexican actress Kate del Castillo and took place at an undisclosed location in the Mexican mountains. This combination of file photos shows, from left to right, U.S. actor Sean Penn, drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo. AFPPenn reportedly spent seven hours with Guzmán and then did follow-up interviews by phone and video, including one on the Rolling Stone website of Guzmán in a paisley blue shirt speaking in front of a chain-link fence.Guzmán, who in the past has denied participation in the drug trade, portraying himself as a peasant farmer, spoke unapologetically and serenely, about his lucrative trade.Where he grew up, in the mountains of Sinaloa state, “the only way to have money to buy food, to survive, is to grow poppy, marijuana,” and he began at a young age. “It’s a reality that drugs destroy. Unfortunately, as I said, where I grew up there was no other way and there still isn’t a way to survive, no way to work in our economy to be able to make a living.”Despite the deadly wars his Sinaloa cartel has fought with other gangs and authorities, Guzmán described himself as not a violent person.“Look, all I do is defend myself, nothing more,” he said. “But do I start trouble? Never.” A photo released by the Mexican website Plaza de Armas of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, captured in a hotel in the city of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico, on Jan. 8, 2016. AFP/Plaza de Armas/HOThe interview with Penn may have helped authorities finally recapture Guzmán, who was arrested on Friday after a military raid on a house in the coastal city of Los Mochis. Guzmán fled in a sewer and carjacked a getaway vehicle but was later stopped on the highway.Mexico’s attorney general Arely Gómez González said on Friday night that authorities zeroed in on Guzmán after movie producers and actresses made contact with Guzman.© 2016, The Washington Post Facebook Comments Related posts:Mexico wants to question Sean Penn over meeting with ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán Sinaloa drug cartel lives on despite ‘CEO’ El Chapo’s capture Did Delta Force help capture El Chapo? US role yet to be detailed ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán and actress Kate del Castillo talked of ‘dream’ meeting in texts read more

Reader John Honeyman shared this image of a howler monkey in Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula. Thanks, John!Would you like to submit a photo to our #TTPicOfTheDay series – the view from your home or favorite Costa Rican spot, or any other image you care to share? Please send horizontal photos at least 1100 pixels wide to kstanley@ticotimes.net. We’d love to see the sights with you. Related posts:When you shop in Costa Rica, take a friend Slow and steady Sunday Baby turtles on a mission Welcome ashore Facebook Comments read more

Facebook Comments PHOTOS: Costa Rica clinches World Cup 2018 berth Related posts:All together, boys The key to Mondays: un buen cafecito To the streets we go, bearing lanterns A holiday filled with color and dance From left to right, the Spanish Men’s National Team’s goalkeepers, Pepe Reina and David de Gea, midfielder Sergio Busquets, Spain’s coach Julen Lopetegui, defender Sergio Ramos, and midfielder Isco pose wearing their new jerseys at the “Ciudad del Futbol” in Las Rozas, near Madrid on Nov. 8, 2017.The team will take on Costa Rica’s National Team on Saturday in a World Cup 2018 friendly.Would you like to submit a photo to our #TTPicOfTheDay series – the view from your home or favorite Costa Rican spot, or any other image you care to share? Please send horizontal photos at least 1100 pixels wide to kstanley@ticotimes.net. We’d love to see the sights with you. read more

Top Stories Four benefits of having a wireless security system Patients with chronic pain give advice The paintings by Yevgenia Maltseva were inspired by religious icons and the three Pussy Riot members who were jailed for a raucous performance inside a Moscow cathedral to protest Vladimir Putin’s rule and his close relationship with the church hierarchy.Their imprisonment has highlighted Putin’s crackdown on dissent since returning to the presidency in May.(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement MOSCOW (AP) – A protest by about 15 Russian Orthodox Christian activists has disrupted the opening of a Moscow art exhibit inspired by the jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot.The activists, some dressed in Cossack uniforms, tried to block the entrance to the Gelman Gallery. Riot police dispersed the protesters, detaining nine of them, but then blocked off the area, making it difficult for those who wanted to attend Thursday’s opening to get inside. Comments   Share   Sponsored Stories Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix How men can have a healthy 2019 read more

Top Stories Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) – A Canadian judge deciding if former Guantanamo Bay inmate Omar Khadr should be transferred from a federal prison said Monday his ruling will come down to whether he believes he is serving time as a youth or an adult.Justice John Rooke said Monday that the U.S. military did not clarify that when it handed 27-year-old Khadr an eight-year sentence for killing an American special forces soldier in Afghanistan when Khadr was 15. Comments   Share   “This is an individual who, as you know, pleaded guilty to very serious crimes including murder and it is very important that we continue to vigorously defend against any attempts, in court, to lessen his punishment for these heinous acts,” Harper said.Monday’s appearance was the first time Khadr has been seen in public in more than a decade.Khadr flashed a broad smile as he was led into the courtroom, sporting a white polo shirt and full beard. He shook hands with his lawyers and waved at some of the dozens of supporters in the courtroom.Born in Toronto, Khadr spent a decade in the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba before he received the eight-year sentence.In September 2012, he was transferred to Canada to serve the remainder of his sentence. He was first incarcerated largely in isolation at the maximum security Millhaven Institution in eastern Ontario before moving to Edmonton in May.(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Sponsored Stories 4 must play golf courses in Arizona Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober The Toronto-born Khadr pleaded guilty before a U.S. military commission in 2010 to killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan and was eligible to return to Canada from Guantanamo Bay in 2011 under terms of a plea deal.Khadr was 15 when he was captured in 2002 in Afghanistan, and has spent a decade at Guantanamo, the U.S. naval base in Cuba. He received an eight-year sentence in 2010. He was convicted of throwing a grenade that killed Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer during a 2002 firefight.He is now an inmate at the maximum-security Edmonton Institution. His lawyer, Dennis Edney, argued that he should be treated as a young offender and moved to a provincial jail.Edney told the court that an eight-year sentence for the murder and four other crimes only makes sense as a youth sentence.But Canada’s federal government argued that Khadr was given eight years as a youth for murder and the sentences on the four remaining offences were to be served concurrently as an adult.After several hours of complex legal discussion, the judge said the case requires detailed written reasons. Rooke gave no date when he would be ready and gave no hint at which way he was leaning.Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper waded into the debate during a Monday news conference in Ottawa. Early signs of cataracts in your parents and how to help 4 sleep positions for men and what they mean read more

FILE – In this Wednesday, April 15, 2015 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as he speaks at the opening ceremony of the Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. Netanyahu has managed to cobble together a government dominated by nationalist and religious allies, setting the stage for conflict with the Palestinians and much of the world and leaving Israel angrily divided. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) A third would be to coax the sides into another round of peace talks that would almost certainly be futile in every way except for one — buying time and putting off the outbreak of violence.Or the United States could let the sides stew and see what comes.THE PALESTINIANS WON’T WAITIf the United States steps aside, the ball moves into the Palestinians’ court.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opposes violence and has come out against any notion of another armed uprising. But he is 80 years old, has developed an authoritarian streak, and growing increasingly unpopular even in the West Bank.Under the current arrangement, his Palestinian Authority continues security cooperation with the Israeli army. Israel continues to add settlers, many of them located deep in the territory in a way that appears designed to break up the area into easily controlled pieces.Palestinian anger over the situation is so fierce that an uprising could potentially break out at any moment, though some Israeli experts consider it unlikely. Others expect Abbas to eventually hand Israel the keys and saddle it with a full — and more costly — occupation. And if Abbas is replaced, all bets are off. New Year’s resolution: don’t spend another year in a kitchen you don’t like But the main question is what the world — especially the Americans — and the Palestinians will do. The government’s term lasts more than four years, and the status quo with the Palestinians is extremely unlikely to survive that period.Here’s a look at where things might go:WATCH WASHINGTONRight now, the Obama administration needs to play nice with Israel as it pursues a nuclear deal with Iran, which is expected to be finalized next month. Israel has criticized the emerging deal and could work with its allies in Congress to hinder President Barack Obama’s efforts.In his first public reaction to the formation of the Israeli government, Obama congratulated Netanyahu, noted the close ties between the two allies and said he was looking forward to working with Israel on the Iranian nuclear issue.But later this summer, the fundamental antipathy between Obama and Netanyahu could resurface. Obama’s statement stressed “the importance of pursuing a two-state solution” with the Palestinians.That could lead to many things: Obama could propose a peace plan in a bid to force Netanyahu’s hand.A less dramatic but perhaps more effective stick would be to support — or at least not veto — a European-sponsored resolution at the U.N. Security Council, perhaps recognizing a Palestinian state on the Palestinians’ terms. France is already working on such a measure. Indeed, a key coalition partner — the Jewish Home party — favors increased settlement building in the West Bank, annexation of part of the territory and a version of perpetual military domination over the rest. Jewish Home will control ministries that can influence settlements, overhaul the relatively liberal judiciary and ramp up nationalism in Israeli classrooms.Israelis didn’t necessarily vote for this. Indeed, the Palestinian issue was largely left off the table during the election, mostly because the moderate opposition calculated that voters, disillusioned by years of failed peace efforts, were not interested and cannot easily be swayed.In the fragmented system of proportional representation, small parties have long enjoyed outsize influence. In this case, the Jewish Home provided Netanyahu with the necessary cushion to secure a narrow parliamentary majority, giving it tremendous leverage in coalition talks.The internal Israeli discourse is already boiling over with anger over domestic fissures unrelated to the Palestinian issue.Many Israelis, even some Netanyahu voters, are outraged over his concessions to the ultra-Orthodox community, rolling back recent reforms aimed at enforcing the military draft on religious males and coaxing them into the workforce instead of a lifetime of studying religious texts at public expense. Israeli Arabs, with a fifth of the citizens, seem to be gearing up to demand a bigger say and shake off their underprivileged status. European-descended Jews are livid at Middle Eastern ones for voting en masse for Netanyahu, while the latter feel condescended to. Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement Check your body, save your life ___Dan Perry is AP’s Middle East editor leading text coverage in the region. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/perry_danJosef Federman is the Associated Press bureau chief in Jerusalem. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joseffedermanAn AP News AnalysisCopyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies JERUSALEM (AP) — Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to cobble together a government dominated by nationalist and religious allies, setting the stage for conflict with the Palestinians and much of the world and leaving Israel angrily divided.The coalition concluded this week has little desire for another round of peace talks with the Palestinians — or even going through the motions in order to pacify things, as has been done in the past. Milstead says best way to stop wrong-way incidents is driving sober Sponsored Stories Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Comments   Share   They face an uphill climb: Many of Netanyahu’s supporters simply despise the left for cultural reasons — in many cases because they are somewhat traditional Jews whose families hail from the Arab world who feel slighted by the European-descended and secular elites who dominate the moderate camp.Even so, Netanyahu’s Likud party only won 30 of 120 seats. The “victory” amounted to an ability to draw support away from other nationalist parties. The addition of all the nationalist and religious allies to a coalition would have only brought Netanyahu to 57 seats, short of a majority in the 120-seat parliament.So to rule he depends on a centrist party called Kulanu, which claims to be aligned with neither bloc and could bring the government down at any moment.It is conceivable the opposition Zionist Union may join the coalition eventually. From the left wing opposition’s view, the argument for such a move tends to focus on limiting the damage the right wing can inflict. It would also give party leader Isaac Herzog some needed relevance: his party has a history of replacing leaders who languish in opposition.But new elections within a year or two are also more than possible, especially if convulsions follow with the Palestinians or in Israel’s brittle relations with the world. Top Stories 3 international destinations to visit in 2019 For now, the Palestinians have swiftly condemned the new government. From Ramallah, Palestinian figure Saeb Erekat said it exposes “a new form of racist, discriminatory Israel.” The rival Hamas Islamic militant group, which rules Gaza, termed it “radical and dangerous” and called on Arabs to isolate it.THE PALESTINIANS’ NUCLEAR OPTIONFor a century, the political discourse has been dominated by talk of partitioning the country between Jewish and Arab states. In that sense, an Israeli pullout from the West Bank, with its millions of Arabs, would strengthen Israel demographically as a Jewish state. There are increasing voices among the Palestinians saying that they should stop playing along with a current policy that in the end does Israel a favor — and instead demand annexation and full rights in Israel.Israelis will oppose this: An entity formed by Israel, the West Bank and Gaza would today be half-Arab and eventually almost certainly have an Arab majority. But due to Israeli settlement efforts that have made partition difficult, many in the world might back such a Palestinian demand.A VICTORY THAT IS NOT ALL IT SEEMSThe Zionist left in Israel is these days primarily animated by its fear of such a “one-state solution” — and its leaders are growing increasingly exasperated by their inability to convince enough Israelis of the folly of supporting the right. read more

Sponsored Stories The rise in the number of lions in Niassa contrasts with declines in lion populations elsewhere in Africa. Lions are designated as vulnerable on an international “red list” of species facing threats. Poachers have killed several tens of thousands of elephants annually in recent years to meet rising demand for ivory, particularly in China.A link between the Niassa lion increase and elephant poaching “is hard to prove as there are so many variables, but we are happy with saying it is related,” Begg wrote. “How could it not have benefited the lions, hyenas and vultures?”Surveys put the number of lions in Niassa at between 950 and nearly 1,200 in 2012, while there were between about 580 and 810 in 2005, according to Begg. Another count will be conducted this year.In May, conservationists said the number of elephants in Mozambique had dropped nearly 50 percent to about 10,300 in the last five years because of poaching. Many of those elephants were killed in the Niassa park.Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The lion population has increased in a major wildlife park in Mozambique partly because heavy poaching of elephants has provided the carnivores with a bounty of carcasses to eat as well as vulnerable elephant calves to hunt, a conservationist said Thursday.The surge in lion numbers in the Niassa National Reserve is “in part due to elephant carcasses,” though other factors have contributed to the increase, conservationist Colleen Begg of the Niassa Carnivore Project said in an email to The Associated Press. Those factors include the recovery of other species that serve as lion prey as well as education campaigns that seek to persuade villagers living in the vast park in northern Mozambique not to kill lions. Men’s health affects baby’s health too Mesa family survives lightning strike to home Top Stories 3 international destinations to visit in 2019 Here’s how to repair and patch damaged drywall Ex-FBI agent details raid on Phoenix body donation facility Comments   Share   New Valley school lets students pick career-path academies How Arizona is preparing the leader of the next generation read more

Etihad Airways took delivery of its first Airbus A330-300 on Monday, the first of five which are to be delivered during the next two years.The aircraft comprises of the carrier’s new first, business and economy cabin product and will shortly be deployed between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow.Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said the delivery of the aircraft was a “great moment” for the airline as it was the first time customers would be able to experience the new product in all three cabins.“Our first class suite has been a huge success since its launch earlier in the year and we are sure the new business and economy cabin product will be just as popular with our customers.”The A330-300 carries 12 passengers in first class, 40 passengers in business class and 151 passengers in economy class.In first class, each passenger has their own individual suite with a sliding door and seats that extend to a fully-flat bed. <a href=”http://www.etbtravelnews.global/click/25ba2/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://adsvr.travelads.biz/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=10&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a5c63036″ border=”0″ alt=””></a> Source = e-Travel Blackboard: J.L read more

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: W.X <a href=”http://www.etbtravelnews.global/click/27d85/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://adsvr.travelads.biz/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=10&amp;cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&amp;n=a5c63036″ border=”0″ alt=””></a> The 2010 World Travel Awards have extended its nominations deadline, but with the date coming up soon, the organisers have put out a final call for anyone still wanting to submit a suggestion.With a new close of nomination date on the 14th of February, organisers of the 2010 World Travel Awards are encouraging those interested in suggesting a company to do it quickly.“We have been overwhelmed by both the quality and the quantity of this year’s nominations,” said Graham Cooke, World Travel Awards President and Founder.We can’t wait for the 2010 World Travel Awards Grand Tour to get underway in May when we will begin finding out which travel brands have been voted the very best in the world.”The World Travel Awards 2010 nominations for all 998 categories will be announced on the 10th March. read more

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: C.C Air New Zealand (Air NZ) has released its passenger traffic statistic for August, showing solid growth across short and long haul passenger numbers compared to the same period last year.The airline carried 978,000 passengers during the month of August, a 5.9 per cent increase on the same period last year. Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) were up seven per cent and capacity (ASKs) up five per cent. Short Haul passenger numbers were up six per cent on August 2009, with demand in the domestic market increasing by 5.8 per cent. Tasman/Pacific demand was 9.5 per cent higher after capacity was increased by 6.5 per cent.Long Haul passenger numbers were 5.7 per cent higher than August 2009. The airline’s North America/UK routes showed increased demand of 1.1 per cent on last August and a capacity increase of 0.7 per cent. The increased demand of 14.2 per cent on Asia/Japan/UK routes reflected recovery after capacity was reduced last year due to the swine flu epidemic.During August, 84.3 per cent of Air NZ’s domestic flights departed within 10 minutes of scheduled departure time, reflecting poor weather conditions.The airline is currently drafting a response to the ACCC’s concerns over their proposed trans-Tasman alliance with Virgin Blue. read more

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: C.F Skalleagues are delighted at the prospect of Kerry, Ireland hosting the 73rd SKAL World Congress in October 2012. Geraldine Rosney, Chairperson of the World Congress Committee from the SKAL Kerry Club has promised that Skalleagues from across the world will receive a warm Irish welcome if Kerry was fortunate enough to win the 2012 bid. In a novel twist, the Irish SKAL delegation has announced that if their bid is successful the host town Killarney will be renamed Skallarney for the duration of the event. “It is now over thirty years since Ireland last has the pleasure of hosting a World Congress in Dublin in 1982,”Geraldine said. “Many will remember that occasion as being one of the outstanding Congresses in the annals of the SKAL movement. “Everyone in Ireland feels that it’s time for Ireland once more to offer the hand of welcome and friendship to Skalleagues from around the world.” In an e-Travel Blackboard exclusive, Geraldine said that Ireland’s long history with SKAL was the perfect foundation to build a successful World Congress for 2012. “We have had three Irish world presidents, one being the first ever female world president, Mary Bennet (2003-4). “28-year old Jason Clifford is also currently serving the SKAL Kerry Club as the youngest ever president of any SKAL club in the world.” Seoul, Korea is also in the running to host the SKAL World Congress in 2012. The winning bid will be revealed at the SKAL World Congress in Sydney on Saturday. read more

Liz and Alison from Aviareps with Monaco representatives in Sydney Known by many as the playground of Europe’s rich and famous, Monaco is positioning itself as a unique destination for Australian travellers offering a diverse range of experiences including a Royal wedding. The Monaco Government Tourist &Convention Authority visited Sydney earlier this week to  outline developments in the sovereign state situated between France and Italy advising Australia’s increase in visitation since opening it’s representative office in 2010. Reporting an increase of 36 per cent in overnight stays from the region, the statistics do not account for the thousands of day-trippers that travel from neighbouring regions such as Nice, with a total amounting to some 5 million.Only a 6 minute helicopter ride, or 30 minute drive from Nice Airport, Monaco is quickly becoming a destination in it’s own right due to it’s culture and events, spa facilities, gastronomy, lavish hotels and as an enticing wedding or romantic destination, according to visiting Communications Manager, Jean-Francois Gourdon. “Often voted most romantic city in the world by the French, Monaco lends itself beautifully for an auspicious occasion such as this, we host many weddings in Monaco large and small,” Mr Gourdon said. According to representatives in Australia, Monaco represents a “huge potential” for market growth from both overnight visitation and its increasing cruise passenger market. Source = e-Travel Blackboard: D.M read more

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: D.M New Caledonia has launched a new global brand, logo and website today to strengthen its presence as a unified country which also coincides with Aircalin’s latest promotional offer for Australian travellers. The website, live today, will also feature web-TV with 64 diverse videos ranging from 1 minute to 3.5 minutes in either low or high definition.  The new venture is also expected to benefit travel agents when selling the destination to would-be-customers. “New Caledonia used to be divided into 3 providences, but now we speak with one voice,” President of the Southern Province GIE, Sonia Lagarde in Sydney earlier this week said. Finding the perfect logo to represent the country was, according to Ms Lagarde, a matter of fate after photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand discovered a heart shaped island amidst mangroves in the South. “The ‘Pacific heart’ is now what people think of when they think of New Caledonia,” she said.The new logo will be launched with the tagline “Nouvelle Caledonie, Pacific Heart” which will also be translated for its biggest direct markets in Asia and Europe. Aircalin in conjunction with major wholesalers have launched a special short-term promotion for Australian travellers with airfares slashed by up to 40 per cent. Introducing an additional service taking the total to 9 ex Sydney and 3 ex Brisbane each week, the carrier said promotion of the airline was in large promotion of the destination. Often regarded as an expensive destination, Aircalin’s Australian Sales Manager, Brett Walsh said comparatively travellers will be pleased to discover it is an affordable, value-for-money destination.For more information www.visitnewcaledonia.com read more

Sydney 2013 $10.8 bil $12.7 bil Bangkok is the number one city for travel,according to new research. Rank Bangkok 3 2 $14.3 bil $13.5 bil Source = e-Travel Blackboard: P.T. Tokyo Shanghai 4 Seoul Kuala Lumpur 5 $8.1 bil 8 6 1 $6.3 bil Hong Kong $7.8 bil Taipei 7 New research has revealed Bangkok to be the number one city for travel, with the Asia/Pacific (APAC) region dominating destination rankings this year.The Thai capital took pole position, followed by London, Paris, Singapore and New York in MasterCard’s third annual Global Destination Cities Index 2013. The study was based on the highest international visitor numbers so far this year, with APAC accounting for almost one third of all 132 cities ranked.The Greater China region claimed half of the top ten spots in this year’s Cities Index. For the first time Melbourne and Sydney are among the top ten destinations in the APAC region for overnight spending by international visitors.Sydney’s predicted spend for 2013 totals US$10.4 billion, while Melbourne is expected to garner approximately US$5.9 billion from tourists this year.“The inclusion of both Sydney and Melbourne in the Index shows that Australia holds a strong appeal for international visitors, which is great for our economy and tourism more broadly,” MasterCard Australia country manager Andrew Cartwright said.“This increase (in APAC) is further enhanced by the rise and acceptance of electronic payments in Asia, which is enabling more people to participate in the global economy than ever before.” $6.9 bil 9 $5.9 bil $10.4 bil 10 Singapore Melbourne Destination City read more

Collette Cares about AustraliaDan Sullivan, Jr., Collette’s CEO and President will visit in September to meet with his Australian based team and to look at the company’s growth strategy here after their successful launch onto the local market in February this year.One of Dan’s great passions is the work done by the global tour operator’s philanthropic arm, Collette Cares.Supporting the communities in which we live, work and travel to everyday is engrained in Collette’s culture. Our goal has always been to fund specific needs to improve communities in need, as well as those we visit, and our recently launched Global Flagship Project will allow for opportunities to make a deeper impact in areas that need it most,” Dan said.Collette is dedicated to supporting select non-profit organisations and projects across the globe. There is a growing list of community-based activities funded by Collette Cares which began in 1997. Since then, more than US $7million has been given to its local and worldwide community and 20,000 children have received enhanced education; balanced nutrition and clean water through employee-led initiatives.Every Collete employee receives 4 hours of paid volunteer leave each month and last year 900 volunteers in their global offices gave more than 4,000 hours of service.So their clients can also get first-hand experience of how the funding directly impacts lives, numerous visits to Collette Cares projects around the world are incorporated into Collette’s global tours.During a previous visit to Australia, Dan travelled to Alice Springs to visit Collette Care’s Australia project, Drum Atweme, an indigenous drumming group made up of disadvantaged young people from town camps around Alice Springs which Collette has supported for many years.Established in 2004, Drum Atweme has about 30 core performers, with another 100 students participating in drumming lessons each week. ‘Atweme’ means to ‘hit the drum’. Almost all public events in Alice Springs and many conferences held in Alice Springs include a performance by this popular group.The focus of this project is to create a positive influence and healthy atmosphere through the use of traditional music. It enables young people to be part of a publicly popular activity and has strong benefits in enabling them to realise that they can achieve community recognition for their abilities and talents.Earlier this year, Collette also provided support to the victims of the devastation in Nepal. Through a matching gift program with employees, travellers and travel partners, a combined $50,000 donation was made to disaster relief efforts to aid in the rebuilding of Nepal and the long-term sustainability of this iconic destination.Collette is one of the world’s major and most prestigious multi award-winning travel companies with offices in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Although Collette only opened its first office here in February, they have been taking their clients to Australia for decades. Learn more about Collette hereSource = Collette read more