'Quack Doc' Extradited
A quack plastic surgeon, suspected of performing a deadly cosmetic procedure on a New York investment banker - then concealing her corpse in a concrete coffin under his home - was finally extradited back to New York from Costa Rica yesterday.

Journalist's Killers Formally Charged
More than a year after her assassination, six people were formally charged yesterday with the murder of Ivannia Mora in December of 2003.

Tax on Gasoline Appealed Before Constitutional Court
Jorge Romero, Director del Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) made an unusual request before the Constitutional Court (Sala V) by filing a "recurso amparo" - an appeal - with respect to the tax on gasoline imposed two weeks ago that saw gasoline prices jump at the pump by ¢3 colones.

Zoellick Says CAFTA Presents Historic Opportunity
The proposed free-trade agreement between the United States, and the nations of Central America “is the opportunity of a generation” to help spur economic growth and strengthen democratic reforms throughout the region, says U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick.

New Traffic Light System Proposed For San José
San José with a centralized traffic light system? That could soon be a reality if a plan by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) moves ahead to modernize the traffic lights in San José in an attempt to better move traffic, especially at peak times.


LATIN AMERICA

Nicaraguan Graveyard A Testament
Judaism has never taken center stage in Nicaragua's tumultuous history, but the tiny part of this city's historic cemetery that was set aside for Jews is prominently placed.

Protests resume in Bolivia
Thousands of demonstrators on Monday resumed a series of street protests in Bolivia to demand the nationalization of the country's lucrative oil and gas industry, local press said.

Peru, Chile normalize relations
Peru and Chile have overcome their differences and normalized relations, Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said here Monday.

Thousands of Dominicans evacuated due to heavy rains
Some 2,000 families remain evacuated Monday in central, northwest and northeast Dominican Republic due to the overflowing of rivers and streams after three weeks of intense rains.

Colombians Demand US Extradite Posada Carriles to Venezuela
Members of the Colombian Caribbean House of Solidarity with Cuba have demanded the United States government extradite Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, to be tried for his crimes against humanity.


SPECIAL REPORTS

ENVIRONMENT-MEXICO:
Yet More Casualties in War on Indigenous Activists
The ”war” waged on indigenous environmental activists by loggers in Mexico has claimed the lives of two more victims, including a nine-year-old boy, while local and international non-governmental organisations report continued arbitrary arrests of campesinos struggling to protect the forests.