Average Rating for Pacheco
Support for President Abel Pacheco fell this month in Costa Rica, according to a poll by Demoscopia published in Al Día. 49% respondents rate the president’s performance as average, while 22% consider it good.

Rodriguez May Head Back to Jail
First he in jail. Then he is out. Then back in jail again. And then back out again. And, now he may be going back, if the Ministerio Público gets it wish, as former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez' house arrest order expires today (June 14).

Wide Band Internet Now Active
As of yesterday, all Costa Ricans can now access the internet over a wide band known as Red de Internet Avanzada.

Cash Withdrawls Can Cost
Getting your money from an automated teller machine (ATM) or from a bank teller at your local branch may actually cost you.

Looking to Get a Cellular Telephone?
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) - the local telephone company - announced that it has lines available to those customers who have made an earlier request.

123 Traffic Deaths To Date, Down From Last Year
According to statistics released by the Dirección de Tránsito, 123 persons have lost their lives in traffic accidents so far this year. The number represents a decrease of 32 deaths for the same period last year.


LATIN AMERICA

Nicaraguan defense minister resigns
Nicaragua's Defense Minister Jose Adan Guerra has presented a letter of resignation, which will become effective on Wednesday, Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños said Monday.

Strong earthquake kills 8 in Chile
Eight people were killed in the strong earthquake that jolted Tarapaca of Chile on Monday morning and no Chinese nor overseas Chinese was reported in casualty, according to local authorities.

Venezuela accuses US of destabilizing world
The United States is "the most destabilizing force in the world" and its policy toward Caracas "has been a failure," Venezuelan Communication and Information Minister Andres Izarra said Monday.

Nicaraguan Debt Cancellation by G8 Does Not Solve all Problems
Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños said cancellation of the foreign debt by the Group of the Eight (G8) is good news, but does not solve the country´s serious indebtedness and social problems.

Millions of Central American Children Suffer Child Labour
The International Labour Organization (ILO) assured that 2.5 million children in the Dominican Republic and Central America are forced to work, because of the poverty in which they live.


SPECIAL REPORTS

ENVIRONMENT:
Greenpeace's Glory Days 'Are Not Over'
When German-born Gerd Leipold took over as executive director of the international environmental watchdog Greenpeace in 2001, there were some raised eyebrows.