Costa Rica named happiest, greenest country on Earth

October 11th, 2009 LONDON - A 24-year-old British graduate has come up with the world's greenest superyacht that can hit speeds up to 10 knots without carbon emissions. Alastair Callender designed the 190ft Soliloquy for his final-year project at Coventry University.

October 7th, 2009 TEGUCIGALPA - An international delegation arrived in Honduras Wednesday for talks to resolve the political crisis in the Central American country in the wake of a June coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Hopes were high for the talks led by the Organisation of American States.

September 22nd, 2009 TEGUCIGALPA - Honduras interim President Roberto Micheletti has decided to set up a commission to begin discussion on ending the political standoff in the country after Manuel Zelaya was ousted from presidency in a military coup in June. Micheletti said the team will include representatives of the civil society and foreign diplomats.

August 18th, 2009 BRASILIA - Brazil and Mexico have called for the restoration of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya who was forced into exile in Costa Rica by the country's military. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon Monday demanded Zelaya's immediate return to power for restoration of democracy in Honduras.

July 27th, 2009 TEGUCIGALPA - The Honduran government Sunday extended a curfew at the Honduran-Nicaraguan border in view of the volatile situation there. Thousands of supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya were waiting in El Paraiso, close to the Nicaraguan border, for the curfew to end, which was extended by 12 hours, so they can meet their leader at the border.

July 27th, 2009 WELLINGTON - Good relationships with family and friends and job satisfaction are what make people happiest, finds a new survey. The annual UMR Research happiness survey involving almost 15,000 New Zealanders over the age of 18 showed that even socialising, having a sport, hobby, or interest in the arts can help people stay happy.

July 17th, 2009 MOSCOW - Former Cuban president Fidel Castro has called on the US to withdraw its troops from Honduras to ease the situation after the recent coup in the Central American state. The Honduran military ousted President Manuel Zelaya from office and flew him to Costa Rica June 28, the day polls were due to open for a non-binding referendum on extending the president's non-renewable four-year term of office.

July 15th, 2009 GUATEMALA CITY - Ousted Honduran President Mel Zelaya has urged the people of his country to revolt against the "interim" government that took power after the June 28 military coup in Tegucigalpa. "Insurrection is a right of the people that is deposited in Article 3 of the constitution of Honduras, and the Hondurans should make their constitutional rights count," Zelaya said in a press conference Tuesday after talks with Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom.

July 13th, 2009 World Court sets rules for San Juan River trafficTHE HAGUE, Netherlands — The United Nations' highest court set travel rules Monday for the Nicaraguan river that borders Costa Rica, affirming freedom for Costa Rican boats while upholding Nicaragua's right to regulate traffic. The decision by the International Court of Justice was applauded by both countries, which must now consult on how to carry out the lengthy ruling that left room for both sides to claim victory.

June 29th, 2009 TEGUCIGALPA - Honduran troops staged a coup against President Manuel Zelaya Sunday morning and evicted him to Costa Rica. Honduras' unicameral National Congress later Sunday agreed to remove Zelaya from office and designated Congress Speaker Roberto Micheletti as his successor.

June 28th, 2009 MEXICO CITY - Honduran President Manuel Zelaya accused his military of abducting him and spiriting him to Costa Rica in his first televised interview after a coup Sunday morning. "There is no justification for this coup," said Zelaya in an interview with a Venezuelan broadcaster that was also carried by CNN.

May 2nd, 2009 NEW YORK - After ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges he was left without a job, but now Bunny Ranch pimp Dennis Hof has come forward to offer him one.

April 27th, 2009 Developments on swine flu worldwideKey developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and government officials: —Deaths: Global total of 63 — 58 in Mexico; three in U.S.; one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.

April 24th, 2009 LONDON - If you are in Costa Rica and looking for a 'high-flying' holiday experience, then check into a luxurious new hotel suite in the country that is built inside a converted vintage Boeing airliner. Earlier destined for scrap, the fuselage of a 1965 Boeing 727 has now been converted into a two-bedroom suite.

April 17th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Rumours are abuzz that the mystery girl spotted hanging out with Mel Gibson on the beach in Costa Rica is actually opera singer Oksana Grigorieva, the former partner of James Bond actor Timothy Dalton. According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, she had been waiting for Gibson to finalise his divorce from wife Robyn so they could be together.