San José, Costa Rica - Saturday 17 July 2004

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Costa Rican Andres Cortez, 5, poses as BLAM BLE during the 3rd International Clown Conference at the Ministry of Culture in San Jose,  Friday, (AP Photo/Kent Gilbert) Click for larger image!

Two More Priests Charged With Abuse
The 23 year old young man who was abused by fugitive priest Enrique Vásquez, has also filed formal charges against two other priests.

Costa Rica's Plans Disjointed
Central American political forces say it's time for a new attempt at integration by giving new life to the institutions that were created for that end.

Pennsylvania Student Killed in Costa Rica
A Moravian College, Pennsylvania, student was killed Sunday night in a fall at a resort beach in Costa Rica, where he was studying Spanish for the summer.

Woman Arrested in for Prostitution of Minors
A 47 year old woman, identified only by her last name Campos, was arrested for "proxenetismo" in a raid on Thursday night in her private club, where police found more than 10 minors present.

Costs for industrial sector increase
The industrial sector was challenged along the last year by a 14.32 percent increase in raw materials and other production costs.

The Dominican Republic joins FTA
The Dominican Republic decided to join the Central American nations in their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

COPA AMERICA
Costa Rica vs. Colombia
Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda has warned his side not to underestimate their Copa America quarter-final opponents Costa Rica. 

News Briefs
Next week, Transport Minister, Javier Chaves, is expected to sign a decree that will force taxi drivers to wear blue pants and white shirt - an informal uniform - and proper signage to identify them. The plan is to eliminate confusion by consumers of authorized taxis and "informal" taxi operators. Taxi drivers will need to conform to the new regulations to maintain their taxi plates current. 

Street clashes in Argentine capital leave 30 people injured Demonstrators took to the streets Friday to express their anger at a possible decree banning peddlers and demonstrators from streets and the ensuing clashes outside the congress building left 30 injured, including three policemen.  Mexican police arrest man on FBI's list of most wanted Mexican police have arrested and deported a man on the FBI's list of 10 most wanted criminals, the US embassy said Friday.  Chile to provide electoral advice to Iraq The Iraqi authorities accepted on Friday the support for electoral issues offered by Chile four months ago during a conference of donors for Iraq, Chilean Vice Foreign Minister Cristian Barros said.  El Salvador to extend peacekeeping mission in Iraq El Salvador will extend its peacekeeping mission in Iraq for one year, and a new dispatch of 380 troops will leave for Iraq in August to replace the servicemen currently in the Gulf country, said reports reaching here from San Salvador, capital of El Salvador. Peruvian justice minister resigns in protest of new law Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo confirmed on Friday that Justice Minister Baldo Kresalja had resigned due to disagreement over the recently passed radio and television law. International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS CUBA-US: Alliance Against Cancer Cuba's Centre for Molecular Immunology (CIM) and a U.S. biotech company will work together to complete the clinical development of three experimental cancer drugs, the Cuban research institute announced Thursday. CIMAB S.A., which markets the drugs produced by CIM, said in a communique that the agreement will bring funding for the research, manufacturing and commercialisation of ''cancer vaccines'', which use the body's immune system to combat tumours, being developed in Cuba.   TRAVEL New destination in Costa Rica attracts eco-tourists worldwide Turning in the direction of the rustling leaves, we saw the troop of howler monkeys pause to stare at us before leaping away single file onto the branches of some ceiba and tamarind trees. Now it was our turn. Clipped into a climbing harness and hooked to a cable strung through a Costa Rican forest, first my 22-year-old daughter, Alissa, and then I hesitantly inched off a 20-foot-high platform to zip through the treetops. THE TAKE: DOUBLE TAKE In an attempt to surpass an already extraordinary 97% literacy rate, the Costa Rican government now requires cattle to attend school. [Photo by Stephen Bauer]

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