Police Bust Ring That Shipped Drugs to Spain
The Policía de Control de Drogas (PCD) in Costa Rica are unrelenting on the drug trade following the increased drug trafficking activity in the past year, as Costa Rica has been converted into an important bridge between the drugs in Colombia and the market to the north.

Costa Rican Sportsbook Tied to Money Laundering
Nearly four dozen people, including a New York state trooper, were arrested Tuesday in Syracuse, New York, for their roles in a us$20 million sports gambling ring that took bets from across the United States and laundered the money through a clearinghouse in Costa Rica.

High Cost of Gasoline Cause for Less Traffic Volume and Congestion
It appears that the high cost of gasoline has led people to drive less, leaving the roads with fewer cars and less congestion.

Pacheco to Return DR Gift But Can Keep Gift Given to Him By George W. Bush
It's definite. President Abel Pacheco has to give back the lifetime membership to the most luxurious resort - Capa Cana - in the Dominican Republic, given to him by the Hazoury on May 14 while he was visiting that nation.

Stealing Electrical Almost Cost Man His Life
Stealing electrical and telephone wires has become a lucrative business for a group of enterprising thieves.

International NGOs Call on Brazil, Ecuador and Costa Rica to Ratify Global
Today, an international coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is launching a campaign to call on the governments of Brazil, Ecuador and Costa Rica to ratify the global tobacco treaty.

Norway Beats Costa Rica 1-0 in Soccer
Frode Johnsen scored on a header with 12 minutes remaining to give Norway a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in an exhibition game on Tuesday night.


LATIN AMERICA

Nicaragua Sees Big Boost in Tourism
To the south, Costa Rica is known for its eco-tourism. Farther north, Guatemala beckons with Mayan treasures and indigenous cultures.

Mexico state jail head gunned down
Unknown perpetrators Tuesday shot dead the director of a state jail in Mexico, prosecutors said.

Protesting Indians block roads linking Bolivia with Peru, Chile
Roads linking Bolivia and neighboring Peru and Chile were blocked Tuesday by Aymara Indians who demand the nationalization of Bolivia's lucrative oil and gas industry and the rewriting of its constitution.

Bolivian president says not to resign despite massive protests
Bolivian President Carlos Mesa said Tuesday that he would not resign until his tenure ends in 2007, while thousands of protesters demanded his step-down and clashed with the police, reports from La Paz said.

Venezuelans Rally for Posada Carriles´ Extradition
Thousands of Venezuelans are taking part Wednesday in a rally in front of the National Assembly to extradite Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to this Latin American nation.

Experts in Cuba to Preserve Hemingway´s Documents
Specialists from the United States and Cuba expressed the desire to preserve Nobel Prize of Literature (1954) laureate Ernest Hemingway´s documents in both countries.


SPECIAL REPORTS

MEDIA-LATIN AMERICA:
New Regional Network of the South is Born
Telesur, a regional public TV network envisioned as a Latin American version of the Arab world's Al Jazeera broadcasting group, was officially launched Tuesday at a ceremony in the Venezuelan capital.