CAFTA Today In Force in Honduras & Nicaragua While Costa Rica Continues To Dawdle
The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) now has been ratified by all signatories countries - Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic - except Costa Rica.

Arias Officially Named Winner of Presidential Elections
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) granted Oscar Arias Sánchez official credentials as winner of the February 5 presidential elections.

Experts Investigating Mysterious Monkey Deaths
Biologists and veterinarians are baffled by the death of more than 3,000 monkeys of various species at a remote national park in southwestern Costa Rica.

Labour Ministry Wants to Suspend Foreign Domestic Worker Permits
A recommendation by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) to the Dirección Nacional de Migración y Extranjería (immigration service) last March 23 would effectively suspend all work permits for foreign maids or "domesticas" as they are called in Spanish.

Costa Rica Coach Laments Lack of Warm-up Time
With just over two months to go before Costa Rica play the opening game of the 2006 World Cup against hosts Germany, national team coach Alexandre Gimaraes wishes he had more time to prepare with his players.

General Cañas Highway Closed Tonight For Bridge Construction
The Consejo Nacional de Vialidad and Productos de Concreto announced the closure of the General Cañas highway - the main route to and from the airport and San José - in front of the Real Cariari mall beginning at 8pm tonight (April 1) until 6am Sunday morning.