THE HAGUE, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - The UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday gave Honduras territorial rights to four islands disputed with Nicaragua, but set a new border between the neighbors in the Caribbean Sea.

The ruling, which representatives from both sides deemed 'good for both countries,' gives Nicaragua sovereignty over some 52,000 square miles (130,000 square kilometers) of territorial waters it was also claiming.

NEW YORK, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - The United Nations on Friday urged the international community to chip in 39.2 million dollars to help Nicaragua recover from Hurricane Felix, which struck earlier this month.

John Holmes, UN under secretary for humanitarian matters and emergency coordination, said he hoped donors would be generous to help those affected by the storm, many of whom live in remote places.

He said because the economic impact is serious, immediate assistance will be crucial to recovery efforts.

THE HAGUE, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - The UN's highest court said Thursday that it would hand down a judgement on a border dispute between Honduras and Nicaragua on October 8.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) was asked by the Central American nations to settle the disputed demarcation of the border between the two in the Caribbean Sea.

Both have asked the court to rule they have sovereignty over the islands and cays within the area in dispute at the mouth od the Coco river.

MANAGUA, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) - The death toll from Hurricane Felix neared 100, according to updated figures released by authorities in Nicaragua and Honduras on Thursday after the storm battered the two countries this week.

The previous toll of 71 was raised after the discovery of 28 additional bodies of native Miskitos in the sea off the Caribbean coast.

WASHINGTON, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) - The US military has sent a team to Nicaragua to assess conditions in the wake of deadly Hurricane Felix and plan for humanitarian assistance, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The USS Wasp, a helicopter carrier, is on standby in waters near Nicaragua in case it is needed, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

A high speed vessel has also been dispatched to the US Navy base at Guantanamo, Cuba to pick up emergency relief supplies -- food, blankets, sheeting and hygiene kits -- that could be used, he said.

MANAGUA, Aug 27, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has began a visit to Nicaragua as he faced criticism at home over financial pledges he has made during his Central American tour.

Chen was met at Manugua's international airport Sunday by President Daniel Ortega and his wife as well as cabinet officials at the start of his three-day visit designed to bolster ties to Nicaragua and shore up diplomatic support for Taiwan, local media reported.

MANAGUA, July 22, 2007 (AFP) - President Daniel Ortega has accused the US Embassy of meeting secretly with opposition groups, manipulating the media and paying people to demonstrate, all to subvert his leftist Sandinista government.

'We have information ... of meetings at the behest of US Embassy officials. Obviously they are held in secret, in private, to provide guidance to these groups calling themselves the people`s representatives,' the Cold War foe of the United States said in a speech late Saturday.