Laura Fernandez sworn in as Costa Rica’s new president

Costa Rica's new president, Laura Fernandez, has vowed to fight rising crime in the country and maintain close ties with the United States. Fernandez has appointed her second vice president as ambassador to Washington and plans to maintain close ties with the US. She has also vowed sweeping reforms to Costa Rica's judiciary and security laws, as well as a crackdown on crime. Costa Rica has seen a surge in crime in recent years due to its role as a transit route for smuggling drugs to the US.