The Administrative Security Department (DAS) will create a special group to investigate the alleged participation of foreign governments in financing congressional and presidential campaigns in Colombia. Because of the seriousness of the issue, no names have been revealed yet.

DAS director, Felipe Muñoz, said the Foreign Relations Ministry will strongly protest against any nations interfering in national politics.

With a ceremony in Valparaiso followed by a luncheon in Viña del Mar, President-Elect of Chile, Sebastian Piñera, will be inaugurated today. Festivities and receptions were cancelled because “we are not up for celebrations”, said the President’s spokesperson, Ena von Bae.

Instead, a helicopter will transport the new President, along with members of his Cabinet, to Concepcion, the city most affected by the devastating earthquake that shook the country last week. Analysts say the recovery period could take up Piñera’s entire term in office.

The company reached net profits of 7.461 million pesos and total sales registered at 193.220 million pesos; it also managed to position itself in the Peruvian market. 23,5 per cent of its exports go to the United States and Venezuela continues to be the second destination with 4,1 per cent.

Imusa executives highlighted the fact that their products were positioned among products offered in large chain stores like  Walmart, Kmart-Sears, Sam’s Club, Target, Kroger, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Macy’s.

The South American Games are the perfect opportunity for Medellin to showcase its many attractions; among them Botero Park, Explora Park, the Botanical Gardens, the Palace and the Metro.

In an attempt to contribute to Medellin’s social development, Haceb Industries announced a significant donation to the South American Games that will benefit not just athletes, but also the community of the Pajarito sector, where the athletic villa is located.

A donation of 621 water heaters will provide hot water to all the apartments in the villa, a feature that will remain in the apartments for future residents. In addition, 29 washer/dryers will generate employment for 26 heads of household who will be providing laundry service to visitors.

“Haceb is taking on what we consider to be a social sponsorship offering comfortable spaces for the athletes during their stay”, said president of the Games, Alicia Vargas.

Haceb’s investment is estimated at 500 million pesos but according to company president, Dario Valencia Echeverri, it’s meant to be more than a monetary contribution. The goal is to carry out projects geared towards facilitating the development and social transformation of Medellin in light of events like this one which show the city’s positive side.

The South American Games’ Opening Ceremony is March 14th in Medellín’s Atanasio Girardot Stadium.

The mediation process between Colombia and Venezuela, which is being led by the Dominican Republic, is at a standstill. While a “protocol incident” in Bogotá led to the resignation of Dominican Ambassador, Angel Lockwood, the Dominican government acknowledged that establishing contact with Venezuelan authorities has been extremely difficult.

Although Presidents Chavez and Uribe had both agreed to Dominican President, Leonel Fernandez’, involvement in the process at the Rio Summit in Mexico, the National Assembly’s Commission for Foreign Policy in Venezuela backed the suggestion made by Foreign Relations Minister, Nicolas Maduro, to wait until Colombia’s government transition is complete.

Maduro was supposed to meet with President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez, but the Venezuelan Government cancelled the meeting citing scheduling conflicts.

According to information released by Councilman Federico Gutiérrez in yesterday’s City Council debate, there were 114 homicides committed in Medellin in February, 126 less than January’s 240.

For many of those present in the session, this reduction in crime is a direct result of to the truce between the criminal organizations of aka ‘Valenciano’ and aka ‘Sebastian’. However, and despite the decline, Gutierrez feels the real problem lies in the businesses of drug trafficking and extortion which rake in some 18.000 million pesos each month; for the councilman, the situation in Medellin must be faced comprehensively, with justice and the government as a united front against crime.

“We cannot believe that a truce is the solution to this problem”, he said.

Colombian President, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, argued yesterday that “Colombians cannot allow foreign governments to pressure us into electing a presidential candidate” according to those nations’ preferences. In statements to Radio Rumbo in Soacha, the Head of State said “Colombians need to elect the candidate they want, the policies they want, not the policies others try to impose on us from the outside”.

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey yesterday leaving behind 51 dead and 70 injured. In the past two months the regions of four different countries have been devastated by massive earthquakes; experts assure the disasters are unrelated.

Haiti’s January 12 quake left a death toll in the hundreds of thousands and a city practically wiped out; Chile’s came February 27 and the number of dead is at 452. Taiwan’s, the least damaging, had a magnitude of 6.4 and injured 60. In Turkey authorities say the most affected areas are rural towns in Elazig where the brick structures are weak.

A month ago, Camilo Villegas and his trainer came up with a game. For every consecutive putt, Gio Valiante would give the golfer a symbolic silver coin, sometimes gold. Camilo made a dozen consecutive putts. Then the game became that every time Camilo missed a putt, it would cost him US $100. By the third one he was already losing.

The lesson? “Villegas plays much better when he has nothing to lose”, his coach explained. Camilo’s victory in the Honda Classic proves how much his game has improved, mentally.

The 97.470 million pesos in losses registered by Fabricato-Tejicondor for 2009 can be explained by the strong currency revaluation suffered by the peso, which last year was 13 per cent. A 45 per cent decline in exports to Venezuela only added to the complexity of the times.

“Although national sales went up 2.3 per cent, our margin was reduced as a consequence of the increase in costs and the revaluation, which affected national prices”, said Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, president of the company.