San José, Costa Rica - Wednesday 28 July 2004

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Costa Rican police officers take cover behind parked cars while maintaining a security perimeter around the Chilean Embassy compound in San José, during a hostage situation Tuesday.  A Costa Rican police officer who was stationed as a guard at the embassy took 10 hostages inside the Chilean Embassy, killing three of them before killing himself. Click for larger image!

Hostage Drama Ends in Tragedy
Yesterday afternoon, a disgruntled Costa Rican police officer assigned to Chile's embassy took 10 people hostage inside the building and then apparently killing three embassy workers and himself before police stormed the premises.


Schools Can Again Inspect Backpacks
The Ministry of Education (MEP) has re-ordered the inspection f backpacks by students, following the green light by the Sala IV Constitutional Court.
 

24 Hour General Strike Tomorrow
All is set for tomorrow's protest by the Coordinadora Unitaria Sindical y Magisterial (Cusima) that groups 70% of all unions in Costa Rica.
 

WTO Making Progress in Some Areas, Costa Rica's Saborio Says
World Trade Organization negotiators are making headway on hammering out a trade agreement that will serve as the main text of a global accord, Costa Rica's WTO ambassador said in an interview.  


 

Poll shows Chavez to win recall referendum in Venezuela Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would win the recall referendum scheduled for Aug. 15, said local polling firm Varianzas. Venezuelan vice president denies possessing stolen arms Venezuelan Vice President Jose Rangel denied Tuesday that he possessed arms stolen from military facilities of the country's central Carabobo state. Colombia rebels free kidnapped bishop Colombian rebels have freed a Roman Catholic bishop they kidnapped over the weekend, the church said Tuesday. Colombian paramilitary leaders to address Congress on peace Leaders of Colombia's far-right paramilitaries, blamed for massacres and drug trafficking, will appear at Congress Wednesday to speak about peace talks with the government Wednesday, the government confirmed on Tuesday.   International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS CUBA-US: War of the Airwaves The long history of broadcasting clashes between Cuba and the United States has entered a new chapter with the White House granting fresh funds to Radio and TV Martí, stations created by the U.S. government to broadcast anti-Castro programming from U.S. territory. As part of a package of measures put into effect on Jun. 30 by the administration of George W. Bush, 18 million dollars were earmarked to help transmissions from the two stations overcome jamming by Havana. COSTA RICA TRAVEL Ten Ways To Take "Cost" of Costa Rica Go during the green, or rainy, season (May through November), when hotel and rental car rates are cheaper. A car rental can go for $55 a day, fro example, during the the high season, $35 a day in the "green" season. And you can often save  30 percent or more on hotels and tours. 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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