San José, Costa Rica -    Wednesday 20 October 2004

1.396 Daily Average Visits in September!

Central American Economy Ministers,  gather for a one-day meeting to discuss range of issues in Comalpa, some 28 miles south of San Salvador, El Salvador, Tuesday, Oct 19. [Foto/ AP-Luis Romero)] Click for larger image! Our foto gallery of Miguel Angel Rodríguez's arrival at the Juan Santamaria airport The La Nación foto gallery  for a closer look of the man himself as he steps off the airplane and taken into custody

insidenicaragua A new weekly feature published on Sundays, featuring a summary  of current news and events in Nicaragua.

Rodríguez Continues To Deny Any Wrongdoing
Miguel Angel Rodríguez continues to maintain his innonence and denies any wrongdoing in receing funds from government of Taiwan, the French telecommunications firm Alcatel and Abengoa, the firm that won the contract to bury all overhead cables in downtown San José.

Rodríguez Is Not Without Friends
Rodríguez is not without support in his fight against the accusations of corruption.

Taiwan Explains Aid to Costa Rica
Repeating suggestions that China's meddling might be behind stories about alleged political donations by Taiwan to its Central American allies, the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday sent a note to its Costa Rican counterpart explaining the purpose of funds it had supposedly given the country's former leader.

FISCHEL-CAJA
Eliseo Vargas "Will Tell All"
Eliseo Vargas, former president of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and who is currently in preventive detention in a Cartago jail, is said to have made a deal with the Fiscalía (prosecutor's office), for information surrounding the Fischel-Caja scandal for all charges and accusations be dropped against his daughter.

Foreigner Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Minors
A 26 year old man, identified only by his last name, Gavlas, an American, was detained in his apartment in Zapote yesterday for the sexual abuse of minors.

United Nations to Vote for Banning Human Cloning
The United Nations will vote later this week on a proposal for a committee that would draft a treaty banning all forms of human cloning.

Making a Home in Paradise - A New Book About a Couple Who Retired to Costa Rica
Ready to retire, but to where? Moving to a warmer state and living in a senior community is what many adults do when they retire. But that was not at all what Martin P. Rice had in mind.

"Me They Threaten"
President Abel Pacheco shrugs off the recent death threats made against him. Pacheco told reporters that  "when I was young I used to arm myself when these things occurred. Now, why arm myself?"

Panama, US differ at free trade talks
Panama and the United States maintained their differences on vital issues Tuesday during the second day of the negotiations for a free trade agreement.

Former Mexican FMs oppose expansion of UN Security Council
Three former foreign ministers of Mexico said the government should oppose the expansion of permanent membership in the UN Security Council, arguing it is an important part of Mexico's foreign policy.

Colombia to demobilize 4,000 paramilitary fighters
The Colombian government said Tuesday that it will demobilize over 4,000 fighters of the far-right United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) by the end of this year.

Top official, businessmen shot dead in Guatemala
Three individuals, including an analyst of the Executive Secretariat of the Guatemala Presidency, were shot dead Tuesday while a mayor was seriously injured, according to reports reaching here.  

International News from the New York Times
 

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RELIGION Bishops Talk About Cockroaches, Lesbians and Democracy The Catholic Church will always be hierarchical, will continue to keep women out of the priesthood, and will never accept marriage between homosexuals, said bishops from around the world meeting in Mexico. Some observers say these stances and others emanating from the Vatican alienate followers and are driving the Roman Catholic religion towards crisis. "Christ decided that the Church would be hierarchical and not democratic, and although society is moving towards gender equality, the Church will hold to its precepts," said Venezuelan Bishop Luis Márquez. That position, along with others on questions like homosexuality and the best way to draw new followers into the fold, were discussed by the bishops in the 48th International Eucharistic Congress, held Oct. 10-17 in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara.

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