Transit Police Out In Full Force During School Break
With the mid-year school break beginning today, the Policía de Tránsito will be kicking off their campaign to remind drivers to slow down and buckle up and fine those who refuse to heed the warnings.

No To Task Force
Costa Rica will not partake in a task force that the Central American nations plan to establish to fight terrorism and the juvenile gangs known as "maras".

Dallas Businessman Nominated for US Ambassador to  Costa Rica
Dallas developer Mark Langdale has been nominated by President Bush to serve as ambassador to Costa Rica.

Rising Beef Prices Has Butchers Stewing
The rising price of beef is out of control and threatens to bankrupt small butchers, charged the butcher's union yesterday, facing a possible hike of 10% on the price the meat.

Drugs Sold With the Morning Newspaper
A 34 year old woman was arrested yesterday by agents of the Sección de Estupefacientes del Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) following an investigation into complaints that the woman was not selling just newspapers on her corner at Avenida 2 and Calle 8, but including crack, marijuana and cocaine in her "combo especial".

Strong Quake Shakes Southern Zone
A strong earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the southern zone yesterday.

FIFA  World Championship
Honduras v Costa Rica for a place in Peru
Honduras and Costa Rica meet in Tegucigalpa this Sunday to decide who will take the last qualification place for the FIFA U-17 World Youth Championship Peru 2005.


LATIN AMERICA

Snowstorm leaves 1 dead, 4 missing in S. Argentina
Days of heavy snowstorm in south Argentina has killed one people and left four missing, police said Thursday.

Bolivia's interim president renews pledge to hold snap elections
Bolivia's interim president Eduardo Rodriguez has reaffirmed the pledge to call general elections as soon as possible, according to Argentine media.

Colombia and Venezuela Tweak Bilateral Relations
Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco is meeting in Bogotá Friday with Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez of Venezuela to evaluate the present and future state of affairs between the two nations.

Foreign Confidence in Brazilian Economy Accrues
Brazilian holdings overseas increased 14.6 percent in 2004, totaling $94.7 billion, according to the latest report from the Brazilian Central Bank, which attributes the expansion to the greater internationalization of the country´s economy.


SPECIAL REPORTS
CORRUPTION-BRAZIL:
Scandals Breed Growing Loss of Trust
”This spells the end for our last hope,” declared Dircilea da Silva Vieira, reflecting the sense of disillusionment that has spread through Brazil over recent weeks as the government of Luiz Inácio ”Lula” da Silva is hit by one corruption scandal after another.