Genesis Fund Was A "Huge" Ponzi Scheme, Authorities Say
The arrest on Wednesday of three American fugitives hiding in Costa Rica was part of an operation that included the arrest of five others in Southern California on Friday, for a total of eight arrested in what authorities say was a "huge" Ponzi scheme.

Constitutional Court Backs Caldera Port Concession
Costa Rica's Constitutional Court  - Sala IV - has backed governmental authorities in offering Caldera port's modernization project under concession to foreign companies, according to an official from Costa Rica's concessions authority.

Parents Should Talk to Their Children About Sex, Study Shows
Do parents talk to their children about sex? Do they know what worries their children about sex? According to Laura Hall, of the Programa Persona Joven, "if the children don't have guidance from their parents, they think what they think is normal, such as teen pregnancy".

Gasoline Prices To Drop in Two Weeks
Sit down and take a deep breath - the price of gasoline is going down. Don't believe it? Then pinch yourself, because it is true.

Banana Growers Fear Losses
A decision by the U.S. banana firm Chiquita Brands place at risk the selling abroad of 8 percent of the Costa Rican banana production, some 8 million boxes.

National Parks Are Top Dollar-Earners
The national parks of Costa Rica generated more dollars than the joint exports of bananas, coffee, and pineapples in the year 2002, according to the Ministro de Hacienda (Minister of Finance) Federico Carrillo.


LATIN AMERICA

Twelve tons of cocaine seized in Colombia
Colombian authorities seized 12 tons of cocaine in the biggest drug bust in the country's history, local media reported Friday.

Top Chinese advisor holds talks with Cuban leader
Visiting Chinese top national advisor Jia Qinglin held talks with Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, president of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, in Havana on Friday.

Colombian presidential election scheduled for next May
The next presidential election of Colombia will take place on May 28, 2006, the country's electoral authorities announced Friday.

Mexican president condemns measures by US against illegal immigrants
Mexican President Vicente Fox on Friday condemned the intensification of anti-immigrant measures adopted by the United States, including the construction of a wall along the common border.

Guatemala Concerned over Fuel Price Increase
A fuel price raise, which led to the increase of transport fare in Guatemala, has created an environment of tension worsened by the lack of political consensus on the issue.


SPECIAL REPORTS

IMMIGRATION-US:
New Restrictions Draw Angry Response from Mexico
The Mexican government will send a ”formal and firm” protest over Washington's latest anti-immigrant initiative, President Vicente Fox announced Thursday, despite the fact that similar complaints in the past have largely fallen on deaf ears.