San José, Costa Rica - Friday 23 July 2004

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Updated every day by 8:00AM Central Standard Time

Celebrations for the Annexation of Guanacaste are going on with the support of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo - Tourism Board - until 25 July. The celebrations include food, art, music and dance from the region. Guanacaste became part of Costa Rica 180 years ago. [Foto: Luis Morales] Click for larger image!

Elca President Arrested
Carlos Alberto Alavardo Moya, the up and coming banker who was president of Banco Elca, a private bank, was arrested yesterday by judicial officials and placed in the hands of the Ministerio Público.

More Troubles for Fischel
It appears that the calm after storm surrounding the Corporación Fischel and it's invovlement with irregularities at the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and it former managers, is nowhere in sight.

New Medical Exam Proposed for Drivers
The Colegio de Médicos Cirujanos - College of Medicine and Surgeons -  is contemplating a new medical form to be used for obtaining a driver's license.

Weaknesses in the Economy
A lower economic growth than in 2003, together with an inflation higher than expected, are part of the estimates that local and international experts make for Costa Rica by the end of 2004. 

News Miss at Airport
Striking air traffic controllers say that TACA and an American Airlines flight came close to colliding.

News Briefs
Costa Rican authorities report that a Nicaraguan army patrol entered from 200 - 300 meters of Costa Rican soil on Wednesday, chasing a Nicaraguan suspected of stealing cattle. The Nicaraguans, according to the Spanish daily newspaper La Nacion, entered Costa Rican territory and were seen leaving by local police officers.

Venezuelan president predicts victory in referendum Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez predicted Thursday that his opponents would fail in the recall referendum on whether he should step down. Judge orders probe into Pinochet's personal assets The Chilean judge, who investigates the secret bank accounts of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, ordered an extensive investigation into the personal assents of the retired general. Latin Americans join US-led military drills Military personnel from 16 Latin American countries are participating in the US-led anti-terrorist drills dubbed Commando Forces 2004 in San Salvador, El Salvador. Salvadorian troops to work in less risky areas in Iraq The third contingent of Salvadorian soldiers to be deployed in Iraq next August will work in Diwaniya, an area with better security conditions than in Nayaf. International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS ENVIRONMENT-CUBA: Learning to Live with Drought The comings and goings of tanker trucks and the urgent extension of water pipelines give away the fact that the drought -- which already has taken a heavy toll on the Cuban countryside -- has also settled in the island's cities. This acute shortage of water, leaving a landscape of dry, cracked ground and killing thousands of livestock, clashes with the image of lush Caribbean paradise that has characterised the island where for the past five centuries poets have memorialised the tropical climate and fertile soil.   THE TAKE:  YOUR TAKE "This Muñeca has had enough" You are the most beautiful flower in the garden,” a brave Tico told me as I sat on a cliff in Manuel Antonio watching the sunset with my mother. I bit my lips not to laugh and that created a smile. So he kept on. “I want to make you my wife here on this cliff. We get married and I take care of you forever,” he insisted. My mother’s face turned white like Casper. I asked him his name. “My name David and I make a good husband for you. You no pay for nothing. I take care of you. My beautiful flower. The best princess in all the world. You are a princess, preciosa.”

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