Labour Ministry To Promises To Look Out For Laid Off Verizon Employees
The Ministerio de Trabajo (Labour Ministry) is promising to ensure that the 150 employees laid off by Verizon last week will get paid their salary and their benefits.

Country Could be Without Pay Phones by Month's End
In a few weeks, 74% of the public telephones may stop working if the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) does not make arrangements to buy or lease them, according to the Consorcio Celsa SA-Telepsa ESP Sadimmsa, the company that owns the 15.000 public telephones installed in the country.

Buying Power Ebbs
Costa Rican workers get more money every time; however, they are able to buy less and less food with it.

Internet in Schools
Over 10% of public schools are already linked to the Internet.


LATIN AMERICA

Daniel Ortega Supports Independent Nicaraguan Powers
Sandinista Front leader, Daniel Ortega stated independence of powers are not negotiable in a dialogue with the Nicaraguan government.

Nicaraguan President Urged to Avert Crisis
Cardinal Miguel Obando Bravo has urged Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños to resume dialogue and be flexible to solve this country´s governability crisis.

1.3 tons of cocaine seized in June in Peru
Peruvian police seized 1,313.55 kilograms of cocaine in anti-drug operations in June, police officials said on Sunday.

Mexico's PRI wins victory in key state
Mexico's main opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) won elections in the country's biggest state on Sunday, exit polls showed.

SPECIAL REPORTS

ECONOMY-CUBA:
Cost of Living Continues to Climb
It has been years since Ana Gutiérrez and Carlos García tried to scrape by on just the salaries they earn in Cuban pesos as professionals working in state-run companies.