Heredia 1 - Alajuela 2
Suspended San Ramonense vs. Puntarenas and Santa Cruz vs. Carmelita
Santos 2 - Cartago 2
Brujas F.C. 0 - Saprissa 1
Perez Zeledon 4 - Liberia 1

10th Round Sunday, October 23
Puntarenas hosts Brujas, Estadio Lito Pérez
Alajuelense hosts Saprissa, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Santa Cruz hosts San Ramon, Estadio Cacique Diriá
Santos hosts Heredia, Estadio Ebal Rodríguez Aguilar
Carmelita hosts Pérez Zeledón, Estadio Carlos Alvarado Villalobos
Cartago hosts Liberia, Estadio Fello Meza

GRUPO A
Alajuelense 9 games 20 points
Herediano 8 games 17 points
Puntarenas F. C. 8 games 13 points
Santacruceña 8 games 6 points
Liberia 9 games 6 points
Ramonense 8 games 1 point

GRUPO B

Saprissa 8 games 24 points
Brujas 9 4 games 15 points
Pérez Zeledón 9 games 14 points
Santos 9 games 12 points
Cartaginés 9 games 9 points
Carmelita 8 games 7 points

The 19 countries attending the Iberian-American Summit ended the 2 day meeting with a 31 point declaration, of which the most controversial was the plea for an end to the US blockade of Cuba.

The declaration also mentions: concern about terrorism, cooperation in the extradition of criminals, the Haitian elections, and literacy in Latin countries. Although Fidel Castro was not attending, the leaders at the summit asked the US to lift the financial and commercial embargo against Cuba.

“In particular, we ask the government of the United States to immediately cease the application of measures adopted in the last 2 years that have the objective of strengthening and deepening the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade policy against Cuba. ”

The US embassy in Madrid stated that they were “uncomfortable” with the declaration, but that relations with Spain were very friendly. Some countries wanted the word “blockade” to be exchanged for “embargo”.

Taiwan has deposited $15 million as agreed so work will begin tomorrow on the new highway for San Carlos, it runs between Sifón de San Ramón and Cuidad Quesada (aka San Carlos - near Arenal). The total cost of the project is $61 million and will be executed by RSEA Engineering Corporation. The initial $15 million is a donation by Taiwan, $12 million will be provided by CONAVI (National Roadway Council) and $35 million is in the form of a loan by the Taiwanese governement.

The route is 29.7 kilometers and the new highway will have two lanes that are 3,65 meters wide, plus shoulders of 1.8 meters. A third, 3.65 meter passing lane will be located in hilly sections. The project includes the construction of 9 bridges over the Barranca, Espino, Quebrada Yeguas, Quebrada Laguna, Tapezco, Quebrada Arena, Seco, La Vieja and Ron Ron rivers.

Authorities expect that this road will slash in half the travel time between the Naranjo crossing and Cuidad Quesada, which currently takes 90 minutes.

According to the Minister of Health, María del Rocío Sáenz, Costa Rica is preparing a contigency plan in the event of an outbreak of the deadly Asian bird flu. At least 20 institutions are involved in the planning, among them the Social Security Administration, the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Institute of Investigation & Teaching in Healt and Nutrition, the Ministry of Agriculture, professional organizations, laboratories y universities.

Minister Saenz noted that “for over 4 months personnel from the Health Ministry have been preparing, many have gone to Central America to study, also laboratory personnel have gone to Chile. In one or two weeks we will notify the country what the completed contigency plan consists of. ”