Today's Stories: Taiwan Can be Coffee Gateway to China, says Costa Rican President Pacheco Refuses Invitation by Korea Two Women Arrested at Airport With Drugs World Cup Soccer: Honduras Trounces Costa Rica 5-2 in Qualifier Olympic Soccer: Costa Rica Eliminates Portugal

Seen any good potholes lately? Costa Rican roads are full of potholes and now a Tico website is being dedicated solely to that passion. The new site www.huecos.com allows visitors to vent their frustrations with just a click. The site includes information and fotos about the latest potholes and testimony of those who survived some of the worst potholes Costa Rican roads have to offer. Fotos of potholes are divided into sectors and levels. Click here for the latest potholes. The site is in Spanish.

Pacheco, who was visiting Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, for the inauguration of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna, made the remarks while meeting with Premier Yu Shyi-kun of Taiwan.

Pacheco told Yu that all Central American and Caribbean countries are eager to sell their coffee in China, the world's most populous nation.

The Costa Rican president said that coffee exports to the Chinese mainland could be a lucrative business that could help rev up the sluggish economies in the region.

To crack the mainland market, Pacheco said, Taiwan would be the best gateway, because from Taiwan, businessmen could get the latest in-depth information about the mainland.

Pacheco extended an invitation via Yu to all interested Taiwanese businessmen to visit Costa Rica for the coffee harvest festival that will be held every November.

Meanwhile, Pacheco promised Yu that Costa Rica would continue to support Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations and would speak up for Taiwan during the annual U.N. assembly to be held in New York in September.

Pacheco said that despite China's military threat, Taiwan would be playing an important role in the international community.

He added that in the face of growing military intimidation from Beijing, Taiwan must acquire sufficient military preparedness including enough weaponry systems for self-defense.

Yu attended Dominican Republic President Fernandez's inauguration on Monday on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian.

Taiwan has been a financial contributor to Costa Rica's economy for some years.

The latest project completed by Taiwan in Costa Rica includes the building of the bridge over the Tempisque River  officially called "Puente de La Amistad de Taiwan".

Taiwan also announced that it would finance and build a stretch of road in San Carlos. Both projects are in the Northwest area of Costa Rica. And last June, a group of Taiwanese experts visited Costa Rica with the view to building a convention centre in Central Valley, the $15 million dollar cost would be financed by Taiwan.
 

Pacheco Refuses Invitation by Korea
President Abel Pacheco, while in the Dominican Republic for the inauguration of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna, refused an invitation by the Korean delegation, saying that the Costa Rican public does not like him travelling too much.

President Pacheco returned to Costa Rica after spending several days in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.

Pacheco told the Spanish daily La Nación, that a visit to South Korea would be very beneficial, taking advantage of Korean investment of opportunities that could be obtained for Costa Rica, however "if the people don't like it, I won't go against their will."

Notwithstanding Pacheco's comments, the president is scheduled to take at least four trips in the near future.

The first would be to El Salvador for a meeting of the Central American presidents that is scheduled of the 27th of August. Following that trip, on the September 1, Pacheco will travel to Panama to inaugurate the incoming president .

On on September 17, Pacheco will travel to the United States. In Miami, Pacheco will be received by local businessmen. In New York, he will participate at a general meeting of the United Nations. And then in Washington will attend the ceremony to install former Costa Rican president Miguel Ángel Rodríguez as Secretary General of the Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA).

A fourth trip, though not confirmed, will be in November to Brazil, to attend a summit of the presidents of the Grupo de Río, that according to the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry, is a very important meeting as preamble to the IberoAmerican summit that will be held in San José in December.
 

Two Women Arrested at Airport With Drugs
Two Costa Rican women, identified by the last names only - Cordero and Muñoz - were detained at the Juan Santamaria international airport in San José yesterday, carrying 129 'óvulos' in their bodies, filled with cocaine.

According to information released by the Policía de Control de Drogas (PCD), Cordero was found to be carrying three 'óvulos'in her vagina and 99 in her stomacj, while Muñoz, had swalled 16 that were found in her stomach and another 11 found in other parts of her body.

The two women were arrested during a routine inspection by agents of the drug enforcement police.

The arrest of a Peruvian woman carrying false documents made Muñoz nervous, that alerted police who decided to take a closer look at the woman, who then gave up her travelling companion.

According to police information, each 'óvulo' contained about 10 grams of cocaine. If found guilty, the two women each face 15 years in prison.

Yesterday's arrest brings the total for the year to 31 of persons detained with drugs at the airport.
 

World Cup Soccer: Honduras Trounces Costa Rica 5-2 in Qualifier
Honduras came from behind to stun host Costa Rica 5-2 in a World Cup qualifier in Alajuela, on Wednesday.

Honduras struck three times in the second half after the teams shared four goals before the break.

Hoping to qualify for their second successive World Cup, Costa Rica went ahead through Andy Herron IN the 21st minute only for Italian-based David Suazo to reply a minute later with his fourth goal in three qualifiers.

Julio de Leon put Honduras ahead in the 35th minute before Herron levelled almost immediately.

The match turned in Honduras's favor after midfielder Amado Guevara put them ahead with a 67th minute penalty.

Ivan Guerrero and Saul Martinez added two more GOALS for the visitors in the last five minutes as they got off to a flying start in CONCACAF zone second stage Group B, which also includes Canada and Guatemala.
 

Olympic Soccer: Costa Rica Eliminates Portugal
Costa Rica scored its first four goals of the 2004 Olympic soccer tournament to knock star-studded Portugal out of the competition and set up a meeting with favourite Argentina.

Without a goal in their first two games and expected to go home early, the Costa Ricans beat Portugal 4-2 at Iraklion, Crete, after twice falling behind. The result meant they went through to the last eight along with group winner Iraq, which surprisingly lost 2-1 to Morocco after taking the lead.

The Moroccans were unlucky to go out too. They wound up level on four points with Costa Rica and also on goal difference. But Costa Rica's fourth goal against the Portuguese proved vital as they scored more goals overall - four to Morocco's three.

Wednesday's results mean that Argentina, the gold medal favourite, faces Costa Rica.  The game will be played on Saturday with the semifinals scheduled for next Tuesday. The final is in the Olympic Stadium on Aug. 28.