COSTA RICA: President Oscar Arias Gives Exit Interview.

GLOBALPOST/     President Oscar Arias leaves office Saturday, succeeded by Laura Chinchilla. The 69-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate gave an exit interview about his successes and failures in office...championing free trade, failing to broker a deal in Honduras and ecological progress.

COSTA RICA: Landslide Victory For First Woman President Laura Chinchilla

BLOOMBERG/ Laura Chinchilla, 50,  former President Oscar Arias's protege, won Sunday's presidential election with 47%, almost doubling the votes for her two closest rivals. Chinchilla is a social conservative who opposes gay marriage and abortion.

Costa Rican Leader Has Swine Flu.

BBC.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has swine flu.

"Apart from the fever and a sore throat, I feel well and in good shape to carry out my work by telecommuting," said the 68-year-old.

Arias had been mediating Honduran crisis talks.

But the negotiations stopped two weeks ago.

Honduran Stand-off Shows Limit Of Chavez's Influence.

Analysis from Associated Press.

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.