Costa Rica Tops Nicaragua in Number of Deaths by Firearms
An report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), of which Costa Rica is a member state, reveals that Costa Rica surpasses neighbouring Nicaragua in the number of deaths by firearms.

Texas Residents Die in Fishing Boat Mishap
Funeral services are pending for two former Brenham, Texas, residents who drowned in a boating accident off he coast of Costa Rica.

Tamarindo, a Place for Easy Drugs and Prostitution
A report in today's edition of the Spanish language daily, Al Día, says that Playa Tamarindo is the beauty of the beach is not the only reason attracting the great number of tourists - foreigners - but, a well organized "mafia" that provides drugs and prostitution.

Cruel Twist in Missing Australian
Two weeks ago, on missing Melbourne student Brendan Dobbins' 25th birthday, his distraught parents believed the mystery surrounding his disappearance in Costa Rica was about to be solved.


LATIN AMERICA

Venezuela deprecates US concern about arms purchase
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez deprecated the US concern about Venezuela's purchase of Russian arms and expressed his worry about the US arms race and the military presence in Colombia, local press said on Saturday.

Venezuela requests extradition of Cuban terror suspect
The Venezuelan Congress called on the United States to arrest and extradite a Cuban-born militant accused of blowing up a Cuban civilian jet plane, local press said Saturday.

Peru sets to rescue hostages held by Indians
A team of government negotiators went to Peru's northern Amazon jungle on Saturday in a bid to free two journalists who were abducted by local Indians, said the government.