This lucky dog find refuge from the heat and sun under the shade of a beach while its owners enjoyed their vacation on the beach of Manuel Antonio.

Vehicle Owners Face Fines & Impounding of Vehicle For Non Payment of Marchamo
Of the 681.000 vehicles registered by the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) - the state insurance company - to circulate the nation's roads, 86.000 still have to pay their 2007 "marchamo".

Limón Port Project Would Provide Increase in National Capacity
A us$300 million to us$500 million port project on Costa Rica's Atlantic coast would provide a 28-fold increase in national capacity, the Spanish daily Prensa Libre quoted port authority Japdeva president Walter Robinson as saying.

Huge Water Increase On the Way
With the new year comes a series of increases. Taxi and bus fares and utilities will top the list of increases for 2007, with the Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) - water and sewers - topping the list.

ICE to Re-Launch Garabito Thermo Project Bidding
Costa Rica's state power company, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) said it will re-launch bidding to build the Garabito thermo project, said an ICE project official.

Costa Rica Increases Banana Price
From 1 January the official free on board (FOB) price of Costa Rican bananas increased by us¢15  cents from $ 5.70 to $ 5.85 per 18.14 kg box.


Outgoing Nicaraguan President Charged
The government of outgoing president Enrique Bolaños, who tried to paint his administration as a pillar of anticorruption, is facing charges of irregularities and mismanagement in several ministers.

Chavez Holiday Cheer for Fidel
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent wishes for a prompt recovery to his Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro, whom he also gave presents for the 48th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution, local press highlighted Tuesday.

OAS: Colombia peace process to be tough in 2007
Due to recent stumbles, Colombia's peace process faces a tough year in 2007, head of the Organization of American States (OAS)'s mission in Colombia said on Tuesday.

Bolivia starts to require visas of U.S. visitors
he Bolivian government said on Monday that visitors from the United States should obtain visas for visiting Bolivia, said reports from La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.

Brazil's Lula starts 2nd term as president
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva started his second term Monday amid presidential ceremonies held in the federal capital of Brasilia.


CHALLENGES 2006-2007:
Cuba - on the Threshold of a Critical Year
After a year marked by great uncertainty as to the future, Cubans are awaiting 2007 with a sense that it will bring major changes to the lives of every one of the 11.2 million people who live under the government of Fidel Castro.