COSTA RICA: Opening-up Free Trade With China.

GLOBAL POST/
Costa Rica has entered the fifth round of negotiations for a free-trade agreement(FTA) with China. The treaty could be wrapped up in late February.
Costa Rica represents an important diplomatic move for China, strengthening its presence in Central America while providing Costa Rican consumers with Chinese-made goods and helping it diversify its exports. But fierce opposition is mounting.

Costa Rica Attracts Sex Workers.

MIAMI HERALD/
A slumping world economy is stimulating Costa Rica's sex-tourism business and the women employed by it. Unemployed women from other countries like the Dominican Republic, Colombia and even Russia are seeking work in Costa Rica, where prostitution is legal and has been regulated since 1984.
One native sex worker said ``Now there are like 90 percent more girls working here than before. And most of them are foreigners.''

Stem Cell Tourism Growing In Costa Rica.

GLOBAL POST/
Many foreigners are going to Costa Rica for stem cell treatment to treat problems like bone fractures to multiple sclerosis. However, U.S. scientists say Costa Rican scientists are offering false hope.

Costa Rica Finally Planning For Big Earthquakes.

GLOBALPOST.COM/
Scientists believe a magnitude 7.9 earthquake could occur under the Nicoya Peninsula. Seismologist Marino Protti thinks the quake could last up to 60 seconds,with a damage radius of about 25 miles and even a minor tsunami at Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
"This is going to be a large earthquake. It's going to produce damage. People have to be ready," Protti said.

Is Costa Rica Living-Up To Its Green Reputation?

COHA.

A somewhat long academic report.

Costa Rica claims to be taking the initiative on climate change, and reconciling development and environmental sustainability. Its government has unveiled an initiative to make “peace with nature."

Costa Rica Overhauls Immigration Laws.

SF EXAMINER.

"For the pensionado (pensioner/retiree) category, you used to have to prove just $600 a month in pension income, from either the U.S. government or a private source (like the brokerage house that administers your IRA account). When the new law goes into effect(October 1st), you'll need to prove $1000/month in retirement income."

Venezuela Abruptly Stops Two Oil Shipments To Costa Rica.

From the LAHT.

Experts are asking if this is a punishment by Hugo Chavez of Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias for his role in mediating the Honduras political stalemate.

Costa Rica Seizes 1.3 Tons of Cocaine.

From the LAHT.

The shipment was seized 31 miles west of San Jose.

This was the third coke seizure in Costa Rica so far in July... totaling 4.8 tons.

Costa Rica Gains Jobs... From USA.

From GlobalPost.com.

Indiana's loss of Firestone plant...is Turrialba's gain.

Costa Rica is World's Happiest Country.

From ColombiaReports.com
Costa Rica is the happiest nation; Colombia is sixth; the US...#114!

Drug Running Spreads to Costa Rica

Serious drug trafficing has reached Costa Rica...setting off alarms among the mostly unprepared officials.

In the past three years, police there have seized 80 tons of cocaine.


http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=338194&CategoryId=23558

Honduran Prez Zelaya Flees Coup...For Costa Rica

As some predicted...Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was deposed by a military coup...the first in Central America... since 1983.

Zelaya was relieved of duties as he continued on with an unofficial referendum that would permit his re-election.

He fled to Costa Rica after telling a reporter that..."They( the army) are creating a monster they will not be able to contain."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/world/americas/29honduras.html

UPDATE: OAS BACKS...ZELAYA.
http://americasmexico.blogspot.com/2009/06/oas-countries-back-zelaya-calls-for.html

Costa Rica Tourism...Plunges

Costa Rica's tourism industry is suffering from the global economic crisis...down 13% from 2008.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/costa-rica/090523/tourism-takes-dive-costa-rice