Costa Ricans Split On Free Trade Agreement
Adults in Costa Rica are divided over the benefits of an international commerce agreement, according to a poll by Universidad Nacional. 41 per cent of respondents support the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), while 38 per cent are opposed.

Bush to Welcome Central American Leaders
United States President George W. Bush will welcome and hold talks at the White House with the presidents of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua on May 12, the White House said in a statement on Monday.

Gasoline To Go Up Again This Week
The wave of rising gasoline prices continues.

Surgery to Reduce Weight Becoming Common
Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. In Costa Rica, it is estimated that six out of 10 women over the age of 40  and that three out of every 10 school children are  obese.

Cocaine Hidden in Gasoline Tanker Truck
Every day, it seems, drug traffickers find ingenious ways to hide their goods to fool authorities. However, sometimes the police are a little smarter that the traffickers, at least that was the case over the weekend at the norther border crossing at Peñas Blancas.

Abuse of Seniors is A Common Occurence
Darling Gora, a 64 year old American woman was brutally murdered in an Alajuela hotel over the weekend. She had several blows to her body which caused the death at the hands of her 34 year old son.

CONCACAF Champions Cup
Gomez, Saprissa's Globetrotting Silver Bullet
After a decade of wandering, Ronald Gomez has finally returned to Costa Rica and is making his mark for Saprissa in CONCACAF's top club competition.


LATIN AMERICA

OAS elects Chile's Insulza as new leader
The Organization of American States on Monday elected Chilean Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza as its new chief in a setback for the United States which failed to garner enough support for its favored candidates.

Brazilian president blames US for losses in exports
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday blamed the US economic policy for losses in Brazil's exports.

Venezuela congratulates new OAS leader
Venezuela on Monday sent congratulations to Chilean Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza, the newly elected leader of the Organization of American States (OAS), hoping he will promote the combat against inequality and poverty in Latin America.

LatAm Experts Debate Cooperative Development
The 17th Meeting of Directors of International Cooperation will include Tuesday debates among speakers from Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil and Honduras.


SPECIAL REPORTS

AMERICAS:
Fighting to Get Gender on the Agenda
Women from throughout the hemisphere are mobilising to make sure their voices are heard at this year's 4th Summit of the Americas in Argentina, but while some place emphasis on the negative impact of trade liberalisation, others are striving for the inclusion of a much broader range of issues on the agenda.