"Aguaceros" Inundate San José
If driving in and around San José is difficult enough, driving in heavy rain complicates it even more.

Government's Plan to Save On The Consumption of Gasoline Ready
The government has indicated, though has not yet adopted, a contingency plan to save gasoline as the price of of a barrel of crude oil is hovering at the us$60 level.

Man Shoots His Wife Before Killing Self
In less than two weeks, a conflict between spouses has left two more dead, this time in Taras de San Nicolás de Cartago.

Hotel Room Shortage
During the high tourist season - running December through April - some 39,000 tourists were not able to secure a hotel room, according to the National Chamber of Tourism., which claims that there is a lodging shortage estimated at 1,500 rooms.

Sleep Inn Opens in San José
Sleep Inn Hotels, a member of the U.S. Choice Hotels chain, is to inaugurate its first franchise downtown San Jose on July 18.

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

Nicaraguan president ready to bring forward elections
Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos is ready to bring forward presidential elections if a referendum on constitutional reform is held first to decide the executive sector's power, a presidential spokesman said Friday.

Nicaraguan opposition pushes ahead with new constitution
Nicaragua's main opposition leader said Thursday that they would table a bill in Congress next month for a new constitution in a fresh bid to counter the government in months of political standoff.

Fight Drug Trafficking, a Priority for Cuba
Cuba favors international collaboration on the struggle against illegal drug trafficking, Interior Ministry Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Valdés stated at an international conference underway here on ways to fight that scourge.

Venezuelan President decrees Salary Rise for Military
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez announced Friday a 50 to 60 per cent salary increase for soldiers and officers to become effective as of July 1.



SPECIAL REPORTS

MEXICO:
Zapatistas Have a Surprise Up Their Sleeve, Say Observers
The Zapatista guerrillas in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas have pledged that they will not take up their weapons again.

But they have also announced their determination to ensure that the ”scoundrels” - a catch-all term to describe all politicians - ”will not get their own way,” but rather will ”be held accountable” and forced to pay.