Costa Rica to Declare State of Economic Emergency
The Costa Rican government is expected to declare a state of economic emergency due to soaring oil prices, Environment and Energy Deputy Minister Allan Flores said.

Rabbi Elohim May Be An Impostor
Channel 7's (Teletica) news team - Telenoticias - has uncovered a fraud of biblical proportions, a Rabbi that is not a Rabbi. In fact, the Rabbi Elohim, is not not only a Rabbi, not only not Jewish, but is in fact a woman and of Nicaraguan origin.

Constitutional Court Stays Priest Deportation Order
The Constitutional Court, known as Sala IV, has asked that the director de Migración , Marco Badilla and Ministro de Seguridad, Rogelio Ramos, give explanations why they cancelled the tourist status for American priest Alfred Prado last week.

Arias Goes on National Television to Pitch His Accomplishments
Former president, Nobel Peace Prize winner and presidential candidate for the 2006 election, Óscar Arias Sánchez, made it known on national television last night his vision for Peace in Central America.

Unwanted International Calls Out Can Now Be Blocked
Tired of paying for international calls you didn't make? Well, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) has a solution.

Costa Rica's Circuito Nacional de Surf Event This Weekend
Antonio Pilurzu, head of the Federacion de Tico Surf, announced today the seventh date of the 2004-05 Circuito Nacional de Surf would take place Saturday and Sunday April 16th and 17th from 7am-5pm each day in Playa Hermosa on the beach directly in front of Hotel/Bar/Restaurant Backyard.



LATIN AMERICA

Mexican FM seeks support from Caribbean friends for OAS bid
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez vowed on Tuesday to win support from "three Caribbean friends" and "important countries" of other sub-regions for his bid to win the post of the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS).

13 dead in Argentine prison violence
At least 13 prisoners died in a crowded Argentine jail overnight after a fight between two gangs escalated into a full-scale riot, local press said on Tuesday.

11 killed in Colombia floods
At least 11 people were killed and three others missing after torrential rains lashed Colombia over the past two days, local media said on Tuesday.

Venezuela Receives International Solidarity
Venezuelans and people from around the world began meeting in eight of that country´s states to express their support to the national transformation process despite the US efforts against it.


SPECIAL REPORTS

BRAZIL:
Lula Promotes Closer South-South Ties on Fourth African Tour
Promoting South-South cooperation in general, and forging closer ties with Africa, are clearly top priorities for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is currently on his fourth official African tour since taking office in January 2003.