Page One Daily News - February 3, 2010

* U.S.

White House to Push Biofuels
As the president tries to garner GOP support for his climate-change bill, he is broadening his support of energy sources seen as less polluting

President Obama is expanding his repertoire of energy sources to include biofuels, as he seeks to attract GOP support for his legislation to reduce greenhouse gases. The president Wed. outlined a government plan for boosting development of biofuels with the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, which will release a report that describes the strategy, including ways to make the industry more eco-friendly. Obama and members of his cabinet plan to meet with a handful of state governors to discuss energy policy and clean coal technologies. Biofuels, made of organic matter such as wood, crops and animal waste, produce power but have critics of their own, who argue they aren't entirely green.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm

Obama Administration to Spend Millions on Cuba
The president officially loosened Cuba travel and money remittance policies in 2009, and now plans to spend millions on programs designed to bring about democratic change in Cuba

The Obama administration is proposing spending $20 million on programs designed to bring about democratic change in Cuba, but the funds are under attack from those who say its wasteful in hard economic times, besides being a demonstrable failure after Cuba recently celebrated the 52nd anniversary of its communist revolution. Sarah Stephens, executive director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas, issued a statement about the Foreign Aid budget request for 2011: “Unless it’s okay for the U.S. government to waste money on foreign aid programs that don’t work, the Obama administration should remove the $20 million in spending it has proposed on ‘regime change’ on Cuba.” The CDA’s report, “9 Ways for U.S. to Talk to Cuba and for Cuba to Talk to U.S.,” published in 2009, recommended ending counter-productive "regime change" programs and relying instead on policies of engagement to advance America’s interests and lead to normal relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm

* MIAMI

MTV Appoints New Director of Programming
MTV Networks Latin America announced the appointment of Carole Bardasano as Senior Director of Programming and Acquisitions for MTV and VH1 Latin America

Based in Miami, Bardasano will report into Fernando Gaston, Senior Vice President of Content MTV and VH1 Latin America. Bardasano will be responsible for developing and implementing programming strategies and identifying and acquiring content for the channels’ respective audiences. She will also supervise the brands’ local programming strategists based in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to ensure programming plans are maximized and resources are leveraged across the region. A 10-year veteran, Bardasano also served as Director of Programming at Warner Channel Television and as Executive producer at Telemundo Studios in Miami.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm

* MEXICO

Improved Economic Performance
The private sector anticipates 3.28% growth this year

According to a survey conducted by Banco de Mexico, private sector analysts expect a better outlook for the Mexican economy. Economists increased their forecast for the country's growth to 3.28%, the best recorded since Oct. last year, in addition 79% of experts believe that formal employment in Mexico will improve in the next half of the year. During Oct. 2008, when the crisis began, only 3% of those polled by Banxico believed the economy would perform better during the next half of the year.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

America Movil Reports Less
The telephone company reaches 201 million users in 18 countries in Latin America

America Movil's earnings in the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased 17% compared with the previous year, holding at 12,955 million pesos. This result is well below analysts’ forecasts, who estimated a net profit of 20,096 million pesos. However, the company that operates in 18 countries in America and the Caribbean, added 6.6 million new mobile subscribers in Dec. reaching a total of 201 million throughout the region.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm

* COLOMBIA

Papers on Reelection Referendum Filed
Before the Constitutional Court’s full bench, Judge Humberto Sierra Porto presented his opinion on the law that seeks to call a referendum for President Álvaro Uribe’s second reelection

Judge Humberto Sierra Porto presented to the High Court's Full Chamber, on Wed., his findings on the law that seeks to call a referendum for President Álvaro Uribe’s second reelection. With the delivery of this opinion, as of today, the last 30 working days which the law allows the Constitutional Court to determine this initiative’s constitutionality, or otherwise, begin to count down.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

Government Questions HRW Report
Defense Minister Gabriel Silva rejects the content of the Human Rights Watch (HRP) report, in which serious human rights violations by paramilitary groups are denounced

After learning of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, which states that paramilitary groups continue to commit atrocities in the country, Defense Minister Gabriel Silva Lujan rejected the content of the report stating that the group is flagrantly ignorant of the government's and security forces’ efforts. The official also said the report's findings have a political and ideological orientation that distorts reality and seeks to challenge the Democratic Security Policy’s reputation. The organization's report is entitled "Heirs of the Paramilitaries' Heirs: The New face of Violence in Colombia,” and asserts that paramilitary groups continue to commit violent actions, despite their demobilization.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

* VENEZUELA

Bank VP German Garcia Velutini Released
The vice president of Banco Venezolano de Credito was kidnapped a year ago

Banker and impresario Germain Garcia Velutini, kidnapped in Caracas last year by a commando group that intercepted his vehicle, was released this morning near the Plaza Venezuela, Globovision TV reported. Velutini Garcia arrived at his home by his own means and was later transferred to a clinic to check his status. Velutini Garcia held the position of vice president of Banco Venezolano de Credito at the time of the kidnapping. It is unknown whether a payment was made for his release. His family will make an announcement in the coming hours.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

Media Latifundio
Reporters Without Borders says the government controls too much television

In a statement, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) said Venezuela's government controls "too many" television frequencies and proposes limiting it to handling a single channel. The organization noted that the Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television has acknowledged that the government has issued 2,000 chain messages in the past eleven years, the same as the number of years President Hugo Chávez has been in power, which in its opinion constitutes "a media space for government posts.” According to figures presented by RWB, if one would add up all "the time that Hugo Chávez has spoken on these 2,000 networks, this would amount to nearly two uninterrupted months" of broadcasts, all without taking into account the program, "Alo Presidente", which the president hosts and which lasts five hours on average every Sun. The organization which defends freedom of expression considers this practice detrimental to pluralism and freedom of choice for viewers and citizens.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

* PERU

Pisco Climbs
Pisco pulls the rug out from under Chilean aguardiente in the U.S. market

Pisco has begun to displace Chilean aguardiente in the U.S. market, according to a study by the Veritrade foreign trade consultancy. Exports of pisco to the U.S. increased from 11,394 liters in 2004 to 28,601 in 2009, while the export of Chilean aguardiente dropped from 29,433 liters to 28,760 during the same period. The consultant said that last Nov., Peru reached 50% of the pisco market share, while Chilean aguardiente accounted for the other 50%. In regard to dollar value, the U.S., which imports pisco and aguardiente from Chile, already imports 65% of its liquor from Peru.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

Alternate Routes
There will be two alternate routes to get to Machu Picchu

Through a presidential decree, the central government gave the green light to the rehabilitation of two ground paths to the Machu Picchu citadel. The first route crosses the town of Santa Teresa and reaches the Railway Station Power Plant. State officials estimated that this accessway will be ready in 12 days. The second route is one that is often used by backpackers who do not want to go by train to the Inca citadel and has Cusco city as its starting point. The estimated repair time for the second route is two months.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

Stagnant Laws
Government observed the law of 30% refunds on excise taxes

The President observed the law authorizing the 30% refund of excise taxes (ISC) on diesel fuel used by the interprovincial transportation of cargo and passengers, as well as railroads. The government made this decision because, as Economy Minister Mercedes Araoz noted, including railways in the law amounts to a "technical failure," since the state already has a concession contract with railway companies. The government also observed the law which awards a special bonus to officers in the National Police and armed institutions, also seen as an important expense for the state.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

* ECUADOR

Crude Production and Exports Fall
Oil exports and production fell sharply in 2009

According to state-run Petroecuador, oil sales in the country fell 6.1% in 2009 to about 327,554 barrels a day, while production fell 3.7% to 486,067. Sales in 2008, including Petroecuador’s shipments and private companies operating in the territory, reached 349,018 barrels per day, and production during the same period is at 504,721 barrels per day. The company explained that these results are due to the lack of investment in this sector, the drop in international oil prices, and the global crisis.
Feb-03-2010 06:02pm

* CHILE

Looking to the E.U.
Trade between Chile and the European Union has grown 15.4% per year since 2003

Trade between Chile and the European Union (EU) has grown by an average of 15.4% since the bilateral political and economic partnership agreement went into effect seven years ago, the Chilean government said today. The agreement went into effect on Feb. 1, 2003, a year in which trade reached $8,415 million. For 2009, that figure reached $16,222 million. Chilean exports to the E.U. increased from $5,086 million in 2003 to $9,535 in 2009, with an annual average growth rate of 14.5%.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm

* BRASIL

The Real Revamped
Brazil presents the new face of its currency, commensurate with its ambition to become a major power

The Brazilian government today launched a new edition of the Real, the local currency, using modern banknotes which are more secure against counterfeiting, and of course with the idea in mind of it becoming an internationally important currency, according to Finance Minister Guido Mantega. The new notes, to replace those introduced during the 1994 economy, will come into use progressively through 2012 and will initially coexist with the old ones. The new Real maintains the face of the Republic on one side and images of Brazilian fauna on the other. In addition, bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Reales have varied sizes so they can be differentiated by the visually impaired.
Feb-03-2010 05:02pm