Daily headlines: March 02, 2007

* A car bomb exploded on Thursday in the southern Colombian city of Neiva (image), injuring eight people.

* The world’s biggest copper producer- which is owned by the Chilean government- posted a 14% jump in its fourth quarter profits due to rising demand from China.

* March 1^st was the first day of the implementation of CAFTA for the Dominican Republic.

* Norway agreed to receive a Cuban doctor who was expelled from Bolivia after supposedly criticizing president Evo Morales.

* The Venezuelan press reported that state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela will pay off billions of dollars of debt with crude oil rather than raise cash.

* Honduras named its first ambassador to Cuba since 1962.

* Quick follow-up: A Guatemalan policeman voluntarily handed himself in to the authorities after being accused of killing four police officers while they sat in jail.

Links- SignOnSanDiego.com, Bloomberg, Voice of America, Guardian UK, Prensa Latina, The Latin Americanist

Image- El Tiempo