Obama administration seems soft on Nicaraguan aggression

The Washington Post - AQUARTER-CENTURY ago the United States went to extraordinary lengths to prevent consolidation of a leftist dictatorship in Nicaragua, funding an opposition army and even mining the country's harbors. Now the Central American state is veering back toward dictatorship under the same leader, Daniel Ortega, and it recently sent troops to seize disputed territory from neighboring Costa Rica. The reaction from Washington? An invitation to apply for foreign aid.  Read more

Pittsburgh nonprofit sends computers to Nicaragua

Costa Rica Maneuvers a "Provocation", Says Nicaragua

Contruction Workers are the New Chinese Faces in Costa Rica

Nicaragua protests Costa Rica ‘incursion’

Christmas clown brings joy to child cancer patients in Nicaragua

The One Nicaraguan Development That’s Doing Well

Calls emerge for international observers for 2011 election

Energy Publisher - The Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, Bishop Silvio Baez, said in a statement to local television channel 12 that “domestic and international observation is essential to legitimize the elections, otherwise the results will always be in doubt.”  Read more

Mayorga back in Nicaragua

Figth News - Upon his arrival in Managua, Nicaragua, former two-division world champion Ricardo Mayorga announced that he has signed a contract to challenge WBA super welterweight world champion Miguel Cotto, with the bout possibly landing in Las Vegas on March 12.  Read more

The Three Laws of Daniel Ortega

Americas Society - The Nicaraguan National Assembly passed on December 13 three laws dealing with national security and border issues, which critics worry will give President Daniel Ortega the power to create a domestic spy network and rule by force.  Read more

Italian firm to modernize Nicaragua hydropower plants

LEGNANO, Italy 12/20/10 (PennWell) --Italy-based turbine designer and manufacturer Franco Tosi Meccanica SpA has been awarded a EUR40 million (US$53 million) contract to rehabilitate Nicaragua's two 50-MW hydroelectric power stations – Santa Barbara and Centroamerica. Read more

'Survivor: Nicaragua' winner crowned

He survived! Jud 'Fabio' Birza is winner of hit TV show Survivor and wins $1 million

Nicaragua, China for Stronger Trade Ties

Chavez defends plan for Internet regulations

Survivor Nicaragua: Finale and Reunion Tonight On CBS

Raul Castro says Cubans must back economic reforms

BBC News - Cuban President Raul Castro has warned that the island's revolution is at stake if his proposed economic reforms are not adopted.  Read more

'Survivor Nicaragua' - Season finale polls, predictions and photos

NJ - Just one more day remaining before the big season finale on “Survivor Nicaragua,” and it’s still tough to predict who will end up winning the million-dollar prize.  Read more

Pope calls Christians the most persecuted

By Frances D'Emilio, Washington Post.  Benedict XVI points out that Christians are the most persecuted religious believers in the world.  Read more

Anti-FSLN opposition forms electoral alliance

Voice of Nicaragua - Political opponents of the government of Daniel Ortega announced today the formation of the Nicaraguan Unity Alliance for Hope (UNE), which promotes the candidacy of liberal Fabio Gadea for the 2011 presidential elections in Nicaragua. 

Gadea, a radial businessman, said to the press today that he will fight to win the 2011 presidential election to start the honest revolution in Nicaragua to eliminate poverty, unemployment and corruption in the judicial system.  "I want a different Nicaragua, with a reliable and effective justice system that it is not infected by the drug traffickers”, he said in apparent reference to Daniel Ortega, whom classified cables disclosed by Wikileaks have linked him to international drug trafficking.

Costa Rica reinforces surveillance along its border with Nicaragua

Voice of Nicaragua - The President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, announced this morning the application of greater surveillance and control measures in the southern border following the conflict with Nicaragua, which she accuses of the occupation of “Calero Island”.  Nicaragua authorities rejected all the claims of President Chinchilla and replied that, in fact,  Costa Ricans had been invading their territory. 

Nicaragua, Costa Rica accept regional mediation

Fox News - Nicaragua and Costa Rica on Thursday accepted an offer by Mexico and Guatemala to facilitate talks aimed at resolving a border dispute that heated up nearly two months ago.  Read more

Tonight - a Nicaraguan Feast at Eastern Standard

Boston Herald - There’s nothing like a little Central American food and drink, plus a bit of dancing, to warm you up on a freezing Boston evening. And it never hurts if you can get toasty while doing a bit of good.  Read more

Felician Students Travelled to Nicaragua on Humanitarian Mission

Felician College - Deeply rooted in a Felician/Franciscan tradition, one of Felician Colleges objectives is to guide its students through an educational path that integrates knowledge and values. I firmly believe that as members of a Franciscan institution, we must reach out to the poor, said George Abaunza, chair of Felicians Philosophy Department. We have so much and yet are often unhappy. The majority of the world has very little and yet they find joy in life.  Read more

Eureka woman one of five left on 'Survivor"

Argus Leader - Eureka resident Holly Hoffman survived the latest round of eliminations during Wednesday night's TV reality show "Survivor: Nicaragua," moving her into the final five of the original 20 contestants vying for the million-dollar top prize.  Read more

Costa Rican Judge Orders International Arrest Of Eden Pastora

Inside Costa Rica - Criminal court justice, Rodrigo Vallecillos, on Wednesday signed the international arrest warrant for Eden Pastor for causing environmental damage in Costa Rica.  Read more

EU awards Lorenzo Natali Prize to Nicaraguan journalist Yader Luna

Euro Alert - The article awarded with the Lorenzo Natali Grand Prize 2010, written by Yader Luna and published under the title “Palabra de Mujer” (Word of Woman) by the newspaper La Brújula Semanal, describes the everyday life of a group of women in the community of Bocana de Paiwas, located in central Nicaragua. The article portrays how these women, in their daily combat against violence, have founded a small radio station to denounce men who mistreat women. Read more

U.S. senator calls for freeze of Nicaraguan aid

Tico Times - Indiana Senator Richard Lugar asked Tuesday that the U.S. freeze Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funds intended for Nicaragua due to its military's occupation of the Isla Calero. The idea was posed by Lugar, a member of the Republican party, in a letter to MCC Executive Director Daniel W. Yohannes.  Read more

New funds available for Nicaraguan agri-tourism farms

Vianica - The rural and communitarian tourism projects developed nationwide by diverse peasant cooperatives will have seven million dollars available for loans, thanks to an agreement signed today, December 14, by the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR) and the Rural Cooperative for Credits and Savings (Caruna) in Managua.  Read more

Nicaragua approves polemic defense laws

Tico Times - In what appears to be a reaffirmation of Nicaragua's power-sharing “pacto” between President Daniel Ortega and former President Arnoldo Alemán, the two caudillos’ lawmakers and their minority party allies voted in unison yesterday to approve the polemic defense-law package that critics fear will be used to militarize the country next year and convert Ortega’s presidential chair into an autocratic throne.  Read more

Little Leaguers Pitch Some Goodwill to Paradise

Sierra Madre Patch - Baseball loving kids on the island of Little Corn, Nicaragua could be hitting twice as many homeruns after the Christmas holiday thanks to gear donated by residents and parents of little leaguers in Sierra Madre and Glendale.  Read more

Deputy FM: Iran-Venezuela ties threaten U.S., entire world

Haaretz.com - Reports of financial and military ties between Venezuela and Iran have raised U.S. concern, who is closely monitoring Iran's activities in Latin America.  Read more

Nicaragua to vote on bills tightening Daniel Ortega's grip on security, media

The Christian Science Monitor - A year-end blitz by President Daniel Ortega to reform Nicaragua’s national security and defense policies could be a dangerous step toward militarizing the country and subverting its troubled democracy to the boot of military authority, analysts warn.  Read more

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s Government Took Bribes From Drug Traffickers, Cable Says

The Wall Street Journal - U.S. diplomats accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s government of taking bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for freeing suspects, in cables released by Wikileaks.  Read more

Italy funds FAO project for four Central American countries

ROME, ITALY (BNO NEWS) — The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on Friday announced that Italy funded a regional agricultural project for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.  Read more

Photography and visual arts forum in Managua

Alliance starts pneumonia vaccine project for poor

(Reuters) - A new vaccine against the most deadly forms of pneumonia, one of the world's biggest killers of children, will be launched in Nicaragua from Sunday as part of an effort to prevent 700,000 deaths in poorer countries by 2015.  Read more

Nicaragua Welcomes Doctors Graduated in Cuba

Escambray - A group of 33 Nicaraguans who completed medical school in Cuba arrived in Managua on Thursday, and were welcomed and congratulated by Health Minister Sonia Castro.  Read more

Cuban Foreign Minister Arrives in Nicaragua

Inside Costa Rica - Foreign Minister of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez, arrived in this capital for a brief working visit, to meet with Nicaraguan authorities and deal with aspects of international and regional policy. Read more

World Bank Approves US$21 Million to Improve Health Care Services in Nicaragua

The FINANCIAL -- The World Bank approved a US$11 million grant and a US$10 million loan today to improve family and community health care in rural areas. Read more

Italian company to modernize Nicaraguan hydro plants

Power Gen Worldwide - Italian turbine designer and manufacturer Franco Tosi Meccanica SpA has been awarded a EUR40m ($53m) contract to rehabilitate Nicaragua’s two 50 MW hydroelectric power stations – Santa Barbara and Centroamerica.  Read more

AEI closes financing for second phase of Nicaraguan wind farm

Renewable Energy Magazine- AEI, Centrans Energy Services, Inc and Energia Eolica de Nicaragua S.A. have announced that their subsidiary, Consorcio Eólico Amayo (Fase II) S.A., has closed long-term, non-recourse project financing for its second phase wind project in Nicaragua. The $45 million facility is a 15-year term loan arranged by the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). AEI, Centrans Energy Services, Inc and Energia Eolica de Nicaragua S.A. have announced that their subsidiary, Consorcio Eólico Amayo (Fase II) S.A., has closed long-term, non-recourse project financing for its second phase wind project in Nicaragua. The $45 million facility is a 15-year term loan arranged by the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).  Read more

Nicaragua Should Confront its Demons

THE WIP - For a long time it has been one of Nicaragua most guarded secrets. But a new Amnesty International report, “Listen to their Voice and Act: Stop the Rape and Sexual Abuse of Girls in Nicaragua,” brings it to light. Rape of teenagers in Nicaragua is widespread, and nothing is being done to stop it.

It doesn’t help that Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, was accused by his own step-daughter that he had been sexually abused by her. In 1998, Zoilamerica Narvaez Murillo accused Ortega of having abused her since she was 11, a situation that started in 1979 and lasted for 19 years.  Read more

Nicaragua: Catholic bishop evaluates politicians' 'gifts' to voters

Spero News - Archbishop Leopoldo José Brenes Solórzano of Managua, Nicaragua, granted a telephone interview to local newspaper "La Prensa", which contains a reflection for Christmas, but in which he also appeals to President Daniel Ortega to respect the Constitution and not to stand as a candidate in the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 2011.  Read more

Ortega aims to militarize Nicaragua - Costa Rica border

Tico Times - A controversial defense-bill package submitted to the National Assembly by President Daniel Ortega this week represents a dangerous step towards consolidating a totalitarian government in Nicaragua, opposition analysts warn.  Read more

Nicaraguan opposition calls Ortega’s bills ‘confiscatory,’ ‘warmongering’

Tico Times - Nicaragua’s opposition party is warning that a series of three bills presented Tuesday to the National Assembly by President Daniel Ortega are “warmongering” and “possibly confiscatory.”  Read more

Nicaragua mission accomplished

Baldwin City Signal - A small group of Baldwin City and area residents helped build an addition to a church in Nicaragua, but it was the human relationships they built that made the recent trip memorable.  Read more

Nicaragua’s Ortega tries to expand powers for martial law

Tico Times - With two days left before the National Assembly breaks for year-end recess, President Daniel Ortega sent the legislature three national defense bills that would apparently give the executive branch greater control over the military and civilian population during times of “emergency.”  Read more