Small Plane Slams Mountain Kills Three
The small plane on a routine flight from San José's Tobías Bolaños airport to the Parrita area (near Quepos) that would normally take 25-35 minutes, ended in a traggedy that claimed three lines: two crew members and one passenger.

Smoking Kills 9 Ticos Daily
Tuesday May 31 is "el Día Mundial del No Fumado" (no smoking day) and the Instituto sobre Alcoholismo y Farmacodependencia (Alcohol and Drug Dependency Institute) has launched a campaign to make Ticos aware of the negative effects of smoking.

Tourism Helps Pay Oil bill
Costa Rica is faring just like any employee who gets a pay raise but has to use the extra money to pay for fuel, as a result of the constant hikes in the price of oil in the international market.

Confidence in the Administration Ebbs
The confidence of citizens on the Administration led by President Abel Pacheco has reached its lowest level in the last two years.

Copa Boost for Costa Rica
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has invited a Costa Rican team to participate the forthcoming Copa Sudamericana - the second most important club tournament on the continent.

Viagra May Cause Blindness
Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, may have to place warnings on boxes of Viagra to say that its best-selling impotence drug causes blindness in some people.

1.888 Years in Jail For the Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter
Abelardo Artavia Murillo, stood in front of the judges in a Siquirres, Limón court, as he heard the judges dictate his sentence for 208 counts of sexual abuse against his step daughter while she was between the ages of 8 and 12.


LATIN AMERICA

Cuba to continue fighting terrorism, US hostility: Castro
Cuban President Fidel Castro said his country will continue fighting terrorism and the hostile policies of the United States.

Mexican University President Criticizes Attempts to Hush Scientists
Mexico´s National Autonomous University (UNAM) President Juan Ramon de la Fuente slammed efforts to hush up local scientists and denied the sector would be developed that way.

CARICOM and OAS Observers Laud Suriname Elections
Observers from the Caribbean Community and the Organization of American States (OAS) lauded elections in Suriname for their peaceful and organized development.

Venezuelan Cyclist Rujano Keeps his Place in Italian Tour
Venezuelan cyclist Jose Rujano kept the third place of the general classification of the Italian Tour Friday, after the dispute of the 18th stage, an individual counter clock between the cities of Chieri and Turin, over 34 kilometres (21.12 miles).

President Kirchner Charges against Conservative Alliance
Argentinean President Nestor Kirchner charged an alliance between two fronts in the opposition with sending the domestic economy to the gutter in the 90s.



SPECIAL REPORTS

ARGENTINA:
Promising Signs in Ongoing Struggle for Safe, Legal Abortion
Twenty-year-old Romina Tejerina is scheduled to stand trial in June in Argentina, and could very likely be sentenced to life in prison for stabbing to death her newborn daughter.