News Summary for January 30th

President Felipe Calderón is in Span where King Juan Carlos gave a special dinner in Calderon´s honor. King Juan Carlos thanked and recognized Mexico’s work in anti-terrorism and said the work was firm and generous. Before Madrid, Pres. Calderon was in England where he met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who recognized Calderon’s work in fighting organized crime, as well as his economic program open to investment. Blair also mentioned Calderon’s social work. Before Calderon’s visit to Spain, the National Leader of the PAN, Manuel Espino, criticized the antiterrorism politics of the Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, which prompted Calderon’s office to release a clarification regarding the matter.
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Alberto Cárdenas Jiménez, the Secretary of Agriculture, assured that the price hike of a kilo of tortillas was not due to a shortage of maize, rather it was due to price speculation. Likewise, Cardenas Jimenez said that there will be sufficient maize throughout the year with the Sinaloa harvest due in May. Ricardo Monreal, the PRD senator, presented the Attorney General´s office with a formal complaint against maize speculators who brought on the tortilla price hike
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José Maria Zubiría, director of the SAT (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria, Mexico´s Internal Revenue Service) said that tax evasion remains high. He explained that 27 cents of each taxable peso is not paid, which means a loss of VAT tax of 96 billion pesos a year.
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The PAN is willing to support the PRI in its efforts regarding energy reform, if and when their proposal does not imply the privatization of PEMEX or of the CFE (Federal Electricity Commission).
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Six members of the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) who were videotaped receiving a bribe during the Tijuana Operative, were put under the disposition of the Military Justice Office, which will resolve their legal status in the next few hours.
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In San Diego, California, Héctor "El Güero" Palma, the brothers
Ismael Gilberto Higuera Guerrero and Jesús Márquez declared themselves innocent of charges of conspiracy, drug trafficking and money laundering. The federal judge Barbara Major, programmed another hearing for Feb 1.