Calderón: Five More Months of House Arrest
Last week, former president Miguel Angel Rodríguez was under pressure by the Fiscalía to return him to prison as his house arrest order was expiring. The Fiscalía had made a request to the court to send Rodríguez back to jail, though a judge decided however to extend his house arrest for another four months, a decision he is now appealing.

BICSA Building to be New RECOPE Home
The modern BICSA (Banco International de Costa Rica S.A.) building could soon be the new home of the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE) once all the details have been worked out.

Want to get away from Costa Rica for a bit? Cartagena de Indias is waiting for you.
The Caribbean vacation spot located on the Colombian coast is now offering Costa Ricans a direct flight, airport transfers, lodging and breakfast for only ¢120.000 colones (us$250).

Long Lines At Immigration After Closing
The lines at immigration yesterday were longer than usual.

Chiquita in Public private Partnership
Chiquita Brands International has announced a new public private partner ship with the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ - Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) the Nogal Nature and Community Project – in Costa Rica.

No to Regional Passport
The directors of the immigration services from Central America met in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and were highly critical of the fact that Costa Rica does not accept the use of a regional passport.

LATIN AMERICA

Poll Shows FSLN Would Win Nicaraguan Elections
A poll by M and R Associates in Nicaragua reveals that the National Sandinista Liberation Front (FSLN) would win general elections if they were held this month.

Political Tension Builds Up in Nicaragua
Political tension is building up in Nicaragua as the National Assembly (Parliament) considers the ousting of President Enrique Bolaños and Interior Minister Julio Vega for refusing to attend a tripartite dialogue with the opposition.

Posada Carriles Denied Trial Transfer to Miami
Proceedings against the allegedly illegal entry into the US of Luis Posada Carriles will continue in El Paso, Texas, according to the decision of an immigration judge.

Brazilian president appoints new head of cabinet
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva appointed Energy and Mining Minister Dilma Rousseff as minister chief of staff on Monday.

Former Cuban Astronaut Says Russia Wants Collabs
The president of the Cuba-Russia Friendship Parliamentary Group Arnaldo Tamayo emphasized Tuesday in this capital prospects to foster ties between Russian and Cuban parliaments and peoples.


SPECIAL REPORTS

CUBA:
Food Aid for Victims of Worst Drought Since 1901
The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an emergency food aid operation for 773,000 people affected by the ongoing drought in Cuba, WFP representative Rosa Inés Antolín told IPS.