San José, Costa Rica - Thursday 19 August 2004

1.116 Unique Visitors Daily Average in July!  What's This? 

Updated every day by 8:00AM Central Standard Time

The Taiwan Friendship Bridge (Puente de la Amistad de Taiwán) above the Tempisque River (Río Tempisque) in Guanacaste province, was built financed and built by the Taiwanese. Costa Rica is one of a few countries who recognize Taiwan diplomatically. Click for larger image!

Taiwan Can be Coffee Gateway to China, says Costa Rican President
President Abel Pacheco said on Tuesday that Central American coffee could be sold in the vast market of China using Taiwan as a gateway.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Panama Looks To Align With South America On Free Trade Issues
Panama’s President-Elect Martin Torrijos has signalled a potential change in course for the country’s trade policy with the announcement that the leadership is interested in aligning itself with the South American free trade bloc, Mercosur.

Colombia offers to free 50 guerrillas for hostages
The Colombian government offered Wednesday in a statement to release 50 jailed guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) if the rebels free the kidnapped political and military officials.

Venezuelan govt agrees to new referendum audit
The Venezuelan government on Wednesday agreed to a new audit of the results of Sunday's recall referendum to clear up opposition charges that President Hugo Chavez won the vote by fraud.

Death toll of Salvadoran jail riot rises to 30
A riot taking place Wednesday at La Esperanza Jail, in Mariona, in the outskirts of El Salvador, left a toll of 30 dead and 28 injured, with six grenades exploding.

International News from the New York Times
 

SPECIAL REPORTS ENVIRONMENT-BRAZIL: A Plan to Privatize the Amazon? The debate has taken some unusual twists. There were rumours in the news media of a bill for ''privatizing'' the Brazilian Amazon, when the intention was just the opposite: to halt the illegal appropriation of public lands by private parties, a phenomenon that accelerates deforestation. Ultra-nationalist groups allege that the legislative bill in question -- still being drafted -- would hand over the Amazon to foreign capital. But government officials say the proposed legislation, which promises heated parliamentary debate, is intended to keep Brazilian territory out of foreign hands. It is a matter of ''consolidating national sovereignty over that territory,'' Joao Paulo Capobianco, secretary of forests and biodiversity for the Environment Ministry, told Tierramérica.

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