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Alex Leff

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Colombia's massacre mystery

By Alex Leff | 12/16/11
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — During a five-day killing spree in 1997 in a remote Colombian village, nearly 50 unarmed civilians were hacked up and dumped into a river at the hands of outlawed paramilitary forces, right under the army's nose. Or did th
Global Post

Mexican cartels carve bloody swath through Central America

By Alex Leff | 01/04/11
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Powerful Mexican drug cartels are carving bloody trails through Central America, already weakened by past wars and present gang problems. Mexico’s closest southern neighbor, Guatemala — whose government institutions are st
Global Post

Costa Rica wary of plans to allow U.S. Naval ships to dock on its shores

By Alex Leff | 08/20/10
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — A U.S. warship capable of deploying more than 1,000 military personnel and dozens of helicopters is headed this way — right for Costa Rica’s peaceful Caribbean coast.
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Costa Rica: no longer a destination for stem cell tourists?

By Alex Leff | 06/24/10
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Doctors and patients claim it's a miracle cure, and one not yet available in the United States. They say it can be used to treat multiple sclerosis, strokes and diabetes.
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Leaving office, Oscar Arias reflects on his legacy

By Alex Leff | 05/10/10
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — During a United Nations meeting about nuclear arms proliferation last September, a 69-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate cleared his throat to deliver bold remarks to a room of world leaders with high-powered armies.
Global Post

One Costa Rican man's dream: Fly people to Mars, pick up space trash

By Alex Leff | 11/20/09
LIBERIA, Costa Rica — Franklin Chang Diaz has great aspirations for his rocket: a mail-carrier for outer space, a garbage truck for orbital debris and, the ultimate goal, a shuttle to Mars.
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Americans are flocking to Costa Rica for stem cell treatments

By Alex Leff | 10/12/09
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Dr. Orlando Morales is something of a celebrity at Costa Rica's University of Medical Science, sauntering through the halls in his white lab coat.
Global Post

Sandinista revolution marks 30th anniversary

By Alex Leff | 07/20/09
MANAGUA, Nicaragua—On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the day the Sandinistas swept into power, a silver-haired revolutionary contemplated what he perceived to be Nicaragua's greatest achievements, and mistakes, after the uprising.
Global Post

Why you won't see Costa Rican shrimp on U.S. menus

By Alex Leff | 05/19/09
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The U.S. State Department this month banned imports of Costa Rican shrimp because of this country's failure to enforce laws that prevent shrimpers from catching and drowning endangered sea turtles in their trawl nets.