Urban Landscape: An exhibit of photo collages called “Port au Prince, Urban Landscape” by Italian-Haitian photographer Roberto Stephenson is on display at TEOR/éTica gallery, on the east side of San José. For information, call 233-4881 or 221-6971 or e-mail fiorellaresenterra@teoretica.org.

An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale rocked the town of San Vito at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday and was felt around the Southern Zone, according to a statement from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) based at National University (UNA) in Heredia, north of San José.

Costa Rica and Panama will hold their first binational meeting in David, Panama, at the end of this month, and Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and Panamanian Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis plan to attend.

Virgen del Mar Festivities
Concerts, food sales, rides, contests, through Sunday, Puntarenas, Paseo de los Turístas.

Chorotega Cultural Festival
Including dances, theater, music, food sales, through Sunday, San Vicente de Nicoya, Guanacaste.

Belly Dance Show “Selene Luna Nueva”
5 p.m. and 8 p.m., National Auditorium, Children's Museum, San José , end of Calle 4. Info: 258-4929

“Crónica de una Muerte Anunciada”
Based on the book by Gabriel García Márquez, today through Sept. 2; Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays , 5 p.m.; Dionisio Theater, Café Britt, Barva, Heredia. Info: 277-1559.

Lua Cheia
Brazilian music concert by Milena Méndez, 8:30 p.m., Cuartel de la Boca del Monte. Reservations: 221-0327.

Expo Cheese Fair
Featuring cultural presentation, 9 a.m.; mass, 10 a.m.; tasting of the biggest cheese of Turrialba; milking contest, 1 p.m.; concert by Calle 8, (salsa, merengue); cultural shows, 5 p.m., Santa Cruz , Turrialba. Info: 537-3789.

By Blake Schmidt
Tico Times Staff | bschmidt@ticotimes.net

The Executive Branch yesterday signed an emergency decree declaring a state of emergency in parts of the Caribbean and Northern Zone that have been devastated by floods during the past week.

Although no one died in the disaster, some 1,300 homes, 2,000 kilometers of roads and critical water infrastructure have been harmed by floodwaters, causing an estimated $10 million in damages, according to preliminary estimates of the National Emergency Commission (CNE).

“The damage is seriously alarming,” National Liberation Party (PLN) legislator from the region Jorge Méndez told The Tico Times.

“If the roads aren't repaired, it's going to threaten Costa Rican agricultural products and even exports, like banana, pineapple and ornamental plants,” which are growing in the region and exported from the Caribbean port of Limón.

See today's print or electronic edition of The Tico Times for more on this story.

By Peter Krupa
Tico Times Staff | pkrupa@ticotimes.net

The Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) yesterday officially announced the terms of the Oct. 7 referendum on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA); 40% of registered voters need to turn out for it to be binding.

According to unofficial numbers, of the country's 2.051 million registered voters, that means 1.06 million would have to vote.

The Tribunal was choosing between 30% and 40% for the minimum percentage required. In deciding on 40%, the Tribunal deferred to a controversial recommendation submitted by the Legislative Assembly's Department of Technical Services in March (TT, March 23).

An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale rocked the town of San Vito at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday and was felt around the Southern Zone, according to a statement from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) based at National University (UNA) in Heredia, north of San José.

The quake originated 26 kilometers below the earth's surface.

Costa Rica and Panama will hold their first binational meeting in David, Panama, at the end of this month, and Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno and Panamanian Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis plan to attend.

Stagno said the meeting will allow for an examination of “the rich and intense agenda” between the countries, which “share the history of being two neighboring countries without militaries along one of the most peaceful borders in the region.”

The meeting is planned for July 26-27, and at the end of the encounter the ministers will sign an official act on agreements reached, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Topics they plan to discuss include political affairs, cooperation, environment, tourism, border relations, infrastructure, customs, security, indigenous populations and investment.

Costa Rica is also part of a binational commission with its northern neighbor, Nicaragua, and the last meeting of this commission was held in San José in October 2006.