San José, Costa Rica - Friday 30 July 2004

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Costa Rican police officer Yoseth Guerrero leaves a bouquet of flowers for the victims of Chile's Embassy who were killed by the guard in a hostage taking at the embassy in San Jose. (AP Photo/Kent Gilbert) Click for larger image!

Police Raid Result Two Arrests for "Proxenetismo"
In a police raid Wednesday night, that included 45 police officers and proscutorers from the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica and the Unidad de Lucha contra la Explotación Sexual Comercial, resulted in the arrest of the owner of the business and a female employee.

Final Goodbyes
The final goodbyes for the three slain Chilean diplomats, Rocío Sariego, Cristhian Juseff y Roberto Nieto, at mass for family and friends at the Don Bosco church, before the bodies are flown to Chile.

One Day Strike A Bust
The planned one day walk out didn't have the results that organizers had anticipated.

Mother's Day Coming; Buyers Beware
Mother's day is just around the corner and the buying frenzy begins in the coming days converting the season into a retailer's market.

Romeria Begins Today
The  annual pilgrimage begins today, with thousands of devotees making their way to Cartago to visit "la Negrita", the Virgen de los Ángeles.

Argentina, Paraguay to strengthen bilateral ties Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa Thursday discussed bilateral relations and issues of "common interest" with Paraguayan Vice President Luis Alberto Castiglioni and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Leila Rachid. Chilean president questions Pinochet's accounts Chilean President Ricardo Lagos reiterated Thursday his suspicion about the secret bank accounts of former dictator Augusto Pinochet in the Washington-based Riggs Bank. Colombia's warlords address its Congress Three right-wing warlords flew out of their rural safe haven for an unprecedented address Wednesday at Colombia's Congress, trying to convince a skeptical nation of their commitment to peace despite persistent killings.    International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS LATIN AMERICA: Bricks and Cement Can Be Friendlier to the Environment A type of Brazilian cement made using the waste from steel mills has an environmental impact that is 77 percent less than that of four other conventional types of cement used in this South American country. This was just one of the environmentally friendly construction developments that Vanderley John, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo's Polytechnic School shared with Tierramérica during the recent meeting of the Latin American Conference on Sustainable Building (CLACS'04), which he organised in Rio de Janeiro, Jul. 18-21. COSTA RICA TRAVEL Ten Ways To Take "Cost" of Costa Rica Go during the green, or rainy, season (May through November), when hotel and rental car rates are cheaper. A car rental can go for $55 a day, fro example, during the the high season, $35 a day in the "green" season. And you can often save  30 percent or more on hotels and tours. THE TAKE:  YOUR TAKE "This Muñeca has had enough" You are the most beautiful flower in the garden,” a brave Tico told me as I sat on a cliff in Manuel Antonio watching the sunset with my mother. I bit my lips not to laugh and that created a smile. So he kept on. “I want to make you my wife here on this cliff. We get married and I take care of you forever,” he insisted. My mother’s face turned white like Casper. I asked him his name. “My name David and I make a good husband for you. You no pay for nothing. I take care of you. My beautiful flower. The best princess in all the world. You are a princess, preciosa.”

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