Vice Minister Urges Approval of New Immigration Law
According to Miguel Ángel Quesada Niño, Vice Ministro de Gobernación and Presidente del Consejo de Migración, the "Ley de Migración y Extranjería" which is now before the Legislative Assembly is stalled due to social and structural circumstances.

Shoeshiners Say They Will Stay
The "shoeshiners" of Central Park are not giving in to the Municipality of San José's order to stop them from applying their trade in the park.

Church Leaders to Meet With President Pacheco Over the TLC
The Catholic church is now getting in the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)  controversy that has prompted marches and protests.

Large Abstention Forecast
If the national elections were held now, 32 of each 100 registered voters would abstain, a Unimer survey for the Spanish language daily La Nación found.

Huge Industrial Park
Taiwan is planning the establishment of an industrial park which will cover 300 hectares (over 741 acres) and would be dedicated to high technology firms.

BUSINESS
Webway Solutions, LLC Partners with Marbella Travel & Tours
Webway Solutions, a performance-based Internet marketing and content management solutions provider well-known for it's "pay-for-performance" services, today announced that they are partnering with Marbella Travel & Tours, also known as Costa Rica's premier travel tour operator.


LATIN AMERICA

Venezuela threatens to reconsider ties with US
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that his government would reconsider its diplomatic ties with the United States if the US government does not extradite Luis Posada Carriles, who was a Venezuelan citizen accused of terrorism by Cuba.

Fierce fighting between Colombian army, rebels kill 31
Fierce fighting between the Colombian government army and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) over the weekend killed at least 31 people in three regions, said the army.

Brazil Cracks Down on Corruption as Never Before
Brazilian Justice Minister Marcio Thomaz Bastos has stressed Sunday that Brazil has never fought corruption with such force and efficacy as nowadays, although strong crack downs can give the erroneous idea that this evil has increased.

Flooding Rivers Cause Haste Evacuation in DR
The National Emergency Commission in Dominican Republic has reported Sunday that recent heavy rains have caused rivers and streams to flood areas, damaging homes, commerce and the evacuation of thousands of people.

Mexico Welcomed Nearly Six Million Visitors in 2005 First Quarter
The inflow of foreign tourists to Mexico climbed 12.3 percent in the first three months of this year compared to the first quarter a year ago when the local travel industry came in for 5.7 million sunbathers.

SPECIAL REPORTS

LATIN AMERICA:
Indigenous Leaders Say World Bank Should Take Its Own Advice
The World Bank should follow its own advice and modify its policies and prescriptions for Latin America, indigenous leaders told IPS.