News (Noticias) Tagged ‘latin america’

BuscaPe.com Group ( www.buscape.com ), which is owner of the largest Comparison Shopping Network in Latin America, and Microsoft MSN (Nasdaq: MFST) announce a partnership in Mexico that will benefit more than 12 million users who visit the Prodigy/MSN site. Starting now, they will be able to research and compare prices for products and services at more than 400 stores, as well as access a database of nearly two million products.

According to Romero Rodrigues, CEO and Founder of BuscaPe.com Inc. ( www.buscape.com ), the agreement should ensure 50% growth in Mexico. “We will offer a safe, fast way to make an intelligent purchase through the Internet, while the ability to compare prices will provide the user the assurance of making a good purchase,” he points out.

Data from comScore Media Metrix (March 2008), a global leader in Internet audience monitoring, rank BuscaPe the second largest portal among Latin American e-commerce sites, while the MSN site in Mexico has a more than 94% market penetration and 12 million unique users. “The partnership will bring both partners more exposure, and guarantee greater brand strength in the Mexican market, one of today’s main markets in the Americas,” said Jaime Kalb, commercial director for Prodigy MSN Mexico.

Access to the comparison system is available through the main Mexican MSN site: ( prodigy.msn.com/ ) or directly via: ( prodigymsn.buscape.com.mx/ ).

About BuscaPe
Creator of the Comparison Shopping service at www.buscape.com.br in June 1999, BuscaPe.com Group ( www.buscape.com ) is made up of media properties focused on the purchase decision process in Latin American e- commerce. With more than 30 million visits each month and available in 28 countries, BuscaPe is an absolute leader in purchase decisions in Latin America.

Its main properties are:

BuscaPe ( www.buscape.com.br ): A leader in price comparison with a presence in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia, BuscaPe compares prices of more than 7,000,000 products sold by 60,000 companies. It is also responsible for shopping at more than 100 portals, including Microsoft MSN, Yahoo, Abril, Globo and Terra.

Bondfaro ( www.bondfaro.com.br ): A leader in product research and information, Bondfaro helps consumers decide which product is the right one to buy. With its main focus on products, the site offers videos and advice by its own specialists, as well as users themselves.

e-bit ( www.ebit.com.br ): e-bit won a name for itself in the development of e-commerce in Brazil as the most respected source of information on e-commerce with more than 6 million respondents of on line shopping experience compiled since 2000 in more than 1,800 affiliated online stores. Starting in 2008, its activities are undergoing expansion in the following Latin American countries: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

QueBarato! ( www.quebarato.com.br ): An absolute leader in free classifieds, the recently launched QueBarato is available in 28 countries, all Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking, allowing people to advertise their products, services, vehicles and real estate quickly, efficiently and free of charge.

BuscaPe Viagens ( www.buscapeviagens.com.br ): The only one to offer price comparisons of airline tickets in the Brazilian domestic market for more than 700 domestic and international carriers, as well as on-line and off-line travel agencies from all over the country. With a simple, intuitive interface, BuscaPe Viagens is accessible to Internet users of all types — all this so it can offer the best airfare options in the market.

Corta Contas ( www.cortacontas.com.br ): Website for research and comparison of financial products and services.

Wiki2Buy ( www.wiki2buy.com ): A collaborative buyer’s guide in wiki format containing information about products, services and stores.

Pagamento Digital ( www.pagamentodigital.com.br ): The safest online payment management platform on the Internet. A simple, fast, low-cost method, it is designed especially for online merchants and buyers to buy the best the Internet has to offer with the security they need.

FControl ( www.fcontrol.com.br ): Has been providing fraud risk management solutions for remote transactions since 2003. With services ranging from analysis of remote transactions and consulting and operational oversight of fraud management processes, to complete outsourcing of internal fraud risk management teams, FControl has distinguished itself for its precision in differentiating between legitimate and fraudulent transactions in companies throughout Brazil.

Compra Comigo ( www.compracomigo.com.br ): Orkut’s most popular buy and sell application. A practical, effective way for friends to do business. Available to Orkut, and soon to other social networks, it allows buying, selling and exchanges among friends. “

Terra, Latin America’s largest Internet company, announces an unprecedented agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to broadcast the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which will take place from August 8th through 24th. With this alliance, Terra will become the only portal with exclusive rights to broadcast the games by Internet and cellular phone in Latin America. It is the first time that a sporting event of the magnitude of the Olympics will be broadcast completely live via Internet and cellular phone in the region.

Terra’s special site, Beijing 2008, will allow its users to enjoy the biggest sporting event around the world over 13 simulcast video channels, live and on demand. Terra’s exclusive broadcast will use multibit-rate technology that adapts the quality of the videos to broadband and the speed of the user’s connection.

There will be a total of more than 300 hours of all the broadcast events at the Olympics, enabling users to decide whether they prefer to watch soccer games, volleyball, gymnastics, etc. over the Internet or via cellular phone. The 24-hour coverage will include all games and highlights, real time photos, videos, glimpses behind-the-scenes and announcements of results through the portal as well as cellular phones. Users will also have access to blogs of the athletes, journalists and commentators live straight from Beijing. Information will be updated minute-by-minute, with play-by-play announcing of all sports events and games.

Terra has a team of 200 professionals who will be working on the coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games for Latin America. Of this total, 30 will be providing live, real time coverage directly from China. In addition, Terra will have a TV Studio in Beijing with satellite links to S�o Paulo, Brazil, where Terra’s TV Headquarters for Latin America are located.

“Terra is the leader in its market, and we are very enthusiastic about working together to bring sports lovers unprecedented access to coverage of the Olympic Games via Internet and cellular phone in Latin America,” said Richard Carri�n, a member of the IOC’s Executive Council. “The digital media coverage of the Olympic Games all over the world is expected to become the best edition of the games in history.”

Extensive Coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games for the United States
In addition to broadcast rights for the Olympic Games for Latin America, Terra will be offering users in both Latin America and the United States unprecedented programming. User participation will play a very important role since the site will be entirely set up to include user-generated content.

Sports lovers in the United States will be able to enjoy the content of the Olympics at www.terra.com/olympics08 , a site which includes the “Fan Zone,” a space where they will have a chance to send messages of support to their favorite athletes and teams. Users can also get up-to-the-minute results for all games in real time and keep track of the medals won by their country. “Each day we will be providing our users in the United States special segments featuring calendars, schedules of events, news, photo galleries, Video on Demand and much more,” added Angel Sep�lveda, Executive Director of Programming for Terra Networks USA.

As part of this special coverage, users will have access to data on Olympic records, medal rankings by country and information on the Latin and foreign athletes who will be competing in this edition of the Olympics. Users will be able to access the times and records for all sports and athletes by country, and for those who prefer to experience this event in real life, Terra will make available a guide of the various host locations, with information on each city, its climate, culture, entertainment, tickets for all the games, sporting events, dining out, and history, among other things.

The Atomo Project: a new concept in Internet portals
Terra’s special homepage, Beijing 2008, is the first phase of the Atomo Project, an innovative undertaking based on a new, 3rd-generation Internet portal concept, offering new Web 3.0 functionalities and interactive tools, and making it possible to meet and stay ahead of the demands of new users.

This new platform, developed on the basis of user experience on the web, offers new interactive multimedia tools, interfaces and ways to navigate, as well as strengthening the exchange of content produced by users and by Terra.
“

Seccion Amarilla, the largest Spanish directory publisher within Latin America and key markets in the United States, is announcing the launch of their first online promotion. This new promotion has been created as part of the company’s national campaign which began earlier this summer in an effort to increase brand awareness and establish product loyalty within the U.S. Hispanic market.

This Scratch and Win promotion invites the user to uncover a hidden code and subsequently use that code to win prizes. It is a fast and easy game which allows the consumer to establish an emotional link with the Seccion Amarilla website. This fun activity also complements the more serious side of the website, a search engine used to solve commonplace problems.

The promotion begins on August 1, 2008 and will last 12 weeks. All legal U.S. residents who visit the seccionamarilla.com portal are eligible to play and have the chance of winning one of 230 prizes.

Three couples will win a trip to watch the Mexican National Soccer Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Trip includes airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation to and from the stadium and tickets with preferred seating. Other prizes include: gas gift cards, lunch gift cards and electronic gift cards.

“I encourage everyone to test their luck,” states Juan Reffreger, CEO of Seccion Amarilla USA L.L.C. “Come make yourself at home on our website and see all that Seccion Amarilla can do for you.”

About Sección Amarilla
Sección Amarilla is the leading Hispanic directory today, and has been Mexico’s yellow pages company for over 114 years. Sección Amarilla prints over 90 directories that correspond to 90 different cities in more than 30 states reaching over 15 million of Hispanics. And now it leads the way to reaching these communities online. “

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in conjunction with the University of New Mexico graduated high school students from a summer youth leadership development program that is funded by the Department of Energy.

The students participated in training July 20th - August 1, 2008 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The purpose of this program, which began last year is to develop young Latino student leaders and prepare them for college. The Department of Energy granted $154,833 to continue the successful program for the next three years.

The theme this year’s program was “Can Latinos Afford to go Green?” Students were given the opportunity to learn leadership skills by educating themselves on environmental issues that impact the whole community. The program provided leadership training, tutorials, guidance, counseling and cultural/social enrichment activities.

“LULAC thanks the Department of Energy for making this national leadership program possible,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. We congratulate all thirty-five students who graduated from this program. We are excited about the leadership academy and we were impressed by the students’ presentations that we are going to start a campaign focused on saving the environment.”

Keynote speakers were Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity from the U.S. Department of Energy along with the LULAC National President Rosa Rosales, National Youth President Jessica Martinez and Dr. Eliseo Torres, Vice President for Student Affairs, UNM. Student speakers from the UNM included Ruben Gonzales, Karissa Vasquez, Steven Astorga and Xochitl Romero.

“The DOE/LULAC/UNM partnership represents one of the ways that DOE works in the communities where it has a presence,” said Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Director, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity from the U.S. Department of Energy. “This particular partnership focuses on developing DOE’s future diverse workforce.”

“The University of New Mexico is one of the leading Hispanic institutions in the country and we are honored to hold the leadership conference in New Mexico where we will continue to see students from all over the country benefiting from this important program that develops future leaders,” said New Mexico State Director Pablo Martinez.

Other guests included the staff of Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), LULAC National Educational Service Centers (LNESC) Albuquerque Director John A. Moya, LULAC State Director of New Mexico Pablo Martinez, LULAC National Youth President Jessica Martinez and LULAC Program Manager and Policy Analyst Elizabeth Garcia.

“The partnership provides students an opportunity to continue their leadership skills and give back to the community,” said National Youth President Jessica Martinez. “Last year the focus was on immigration and this year the students made their presentations on the environment.”

LULAC wants to thank the support of the local councils, LNESC centers and parents for sponsoring the students’ attendance at the program.

2008 graduates:

Malleri Acevedo, Windsor, CT
Kimberly Alvarez, Dallas, TX
Tracy Aparicio, Dallas, TX
Irene Araiza, Milwaukee, WI
Steven Astorga, Houston, TX
Margarita Barrón, Laredo, TX
Ashi Colina, Maywood, IL
Edgar Coronado, Sierra Vista, CT
Camila Cremata, Apollo Beach, FL
Omar Cruz, San Antonio, TX
Jason Delarosa, White Plains, NY
Desiree Frias, Bronx, NY
Jorge García, Albuquerque, NM
Eleno Garza, Corpus Christi, TX
Anali González, Albuquerque, NM
Jazmine González, Mundelein, NM
Ruben Gonzales, Gladstone, MO
Jhordan Granger, Albuquerque, NM
Christian López, Stockton, CA
Vicente Mares, San Antonio, TX
Salina McKinney-López, Crystal Lake, IL
Alexis Nuñez, Albuquerque, NM
Karyna Ramírez, Albuquerque, NM
Kimberly Romero, Albuquerque, NM
Xochitl Romero, Cicero, IL
Angelica Salinas, San Antonio, TX
Jennifer Schrock, Carlsbad, NM
Mikayla Soto, Carlsbad, NM
Solomón Soto, Carlsbad, NM
Mercedes Stone, Odessa-Gardendale, TX
Jessica Tena, Albuquerque, NM
Lizbeth Tenorio, Milwaukee, NM
Ruben Terán, Sierra Vista, AZ
David Uranga, Odessa-Gardendale, TX
Karissa Vásquez, Albuquerque, NM

In its first year, 26 high school Latino high school sophomores and juniors from across the country with scholastic potential participated in the week-long training. This year, the number of students increased and next year will accommodate more students to attend.

The League of United Latin American Citizens advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.”

Ana de la Reguera and Juan Manuel Bernal Appear in
Miami Beach on Monday, August 18
New York City on Tuesday, August 19
Los Angeles on Thursday, August 21

Series from Mexico debuts Wednesday, September 10 at 9PM on HBO Latino

The Mexican drama series “Capadocia”, starring Ana de la Reguera, comes to the U.S. on HBO Latino on Wednesday, September 10 at 9PM ET. HBO Latino, HBO’s dedicated Spanish-language channel, rolls out the series’ U.S. debut with a national red carpet tour in Miami, NYC and LA, with additional screenings in Houston and Chicago. “Capadocia” will air in Spanish every Wednesday through December 3 and on HBO On Demand with English subtitles.

Produced in January 2007 by HBO Latin America, “Capadocia” is set in a fictional women’s prison in Mexico City. Corruption runs rampant as prison rights attorney Teresa Lagos (Dolores Heredia) fights for a humane rehabilitation program, while corporate shill Federico Marquez (Juan Manuel Bernal) schemes to privatize the prison and use the women as cheap manual labor.

The series features Ana de la Reguera (Nacho Libre, Paraiso Travel), Alejandro Camacho (Zurdo), Juan Manuel Bernal (El callejon de los milagros), Dolores Heredia (Santitos, Al final del dia), Cecilia Suarez (Spanglish) and was directed by Javier Patron (Fuera del cielo), Carlos Carrera (El crimen del Padre Amaro) and Pedro Pablo Ybarra. The series was produced by Luis F. Peraza, Epigmenio Ibarra and Veronica Velasco and executive produced by Andres Tagliavini, with an original script by Leticia Lopez, Carmen Madrid, Guillermo Rios, Laura Sosa, and Silvia Pasternac.

“HBO has built a reputation for offering ground-breaking original programming on our main channel. It is in that tradition that we are proud to bring a powerful and high-quality series like ‘Capadocia’ to our Spanish-speaking audience in the U.S. on HBO Latino,” said Lucinda Martinez-Desir, VP, Market Development, HBO.

National Red Carpet Tour
HBO Latino teamed up with People en Espanol, the top-selling Hispanic magazine in the U.S., to bring the first episode of “Capadocia” to consumers nationwide. Ana de la Reguera, Juan Manuel Bernal and other celebrities headline the screening events in Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Through Monday, August 11, moviegoers ages 18 and over may sign up for two free screening passes at www.peopleenespanol.com/alcine .

The “Capadocia” Red Carpet Tour kicks off simultaneously in Miami Beach on Monday, August 18 at 6:30 PM ET at The Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road, and in Houston at 6:30 PM Central the Landmark River Oaks Theater, 2009 West Gray.

On Tuesday, August 19 at 6:30 PM EST, the cast travels to the New York screening at the DGA Theater at 110 W. 57th St. They land in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 21 for the final celebrity screening at the ArcLight Theater at 6360 W. Sunset Blvd at 6:30 PM Pacific, while Chicago audiences gather at the Landmark Century Theatre at 6:30 PM Central at 2828 N. Clark St.

About HBO Latino
HBO Latino is a dedicated Spanish-language premium channel that delivers compelling and relevant programming to the U.S. Latino market. Exclusive to the channel are the regular U.S. premieres of Spanish-language series, films, and documentaries acquired from North America, Latin America and Spain, as well as top music videos and original short-form programming. Additionally, HBO Latino offers the best Hollywood movies and HBO original programming from the network’s main channel in Spanish. Visit www.hbolatino.com for more information and scheduling. “

Shawn Marshall joins as President of GlobalHue Africanic
- Jacqueline B. Reynolds is Executive Vice President - Multi-Connect
Marketing
- Jeanne Vaughn, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President/Director of Planning -
GlobalHue Latino
- Nation's largest multicultural agency continues to experience
exponential growth throughout the country; 90 new hires have joined
GlobalHue since January

Despite high gas prices and the never-ending mortgage crises, GlobalHue has retained its stature as the No. 1 multicultural marketing communications agency in the country. Still experiencing unprecedented growth in a “down” economy, GlobalHue announced today the addition of three senior staff members to its leadership team. Shawn Marshall joins as President of GlobalHue Africanic; Jacqueline B. Reynolds joins as Executive Vice President - Multi-Connect Marketing; and Jeanne Vaughn is hired as Senior Vice President/Director of Planning for GlobalHue Latino.

“Some of the most respected and creative minds in our industry call Shawn, Jacqueline and Jeanne innovators and fearless, creative thinkers,” said Don Coleman, Chairman of GlobalHue. “We are very excited for them to join our teams. All bring an added depth and breadth of experience - Shawn in the areas of integrated marketing and business development, Jacqueline in public relations and Jeanne in strategic planning - that will strengthen and complement our already extremely strong senior staff.”

GlobalHue continues to experience exponential growth. Since January, the agency added 90 new hires to its offices throughout the U.S.

Marshall has more than 17 years of experience in the United States and Latin America in the areas of consumer marketing, trade marketing, mobile marketing, sales, business development and finance. Prior to joining GlobalHue he was Vice President-Multicultural Marketing and Sales for Vibes Media, a pioneer and leader in Mobile Marketing. He also held senior marketing positions at Bally Total Fitness, Eastman Kodak, the Radio Advertising Bureau and The Walt Disney Company.

In his new position as President of GlobalHue Africanic, Marshall will lead all aspects of the agency’s African-American focused business unit while strategically positioning the agency and its products and services for growth and innovation. He also will be responsible for developing and implementing GlobalHue Africanic plans that are seamlessly integrated with other GlobalHue business units.

Reynolds has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, media relations and consumer strategies affairs programs. Prior to joining Multi-Connect Marketing, she was Vice President, Marketing at SiTV, the first and only Hispanic television network in English. Reynolds, who is fluent in Spanish, also spent 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company. Prior to that, she was a Vice President at Casanova Pendrill Inc., the third largest Hispanic advertising firm in the U.S.

In her new role at Multi-Connect Marketing, Reynolds is responsible for working with executive management to develop and disseminate the company’s key messages, and oversee all facets of GlobalHue’s corporate communications efforts, which include media, internal employee communications and messaging, as well as corporate branding and reputation management.

Vaughn, who was based in Mexico for nearly 17 years, was hired by international agency TERAN|TBWA to introduce planning and implement strategic marketing. While there, her leadership resulted in several EFFIE, Cannes Lions, and Circulo Creativo awards. In addition, TERAN|TBWA was the first to win the “Agency of the Year” award for three consecutive years. She holds a doctorate in Latin American Literature from the University of California.

In Vaughn’s new position as Senior Vice President/Director of Planning for GlobalHue Latino, she will direct cross-functional strategy for all GlobalHue Latino clients. She also will design and implement strategic planning workshops and training programs aimed at helping clients solve their branding, marketing and strategic issues.

“Jeanne is an exemplary leader and has a terrific background in advertising and branding to the Hispanic market,” said Laura Marella, Vice Chairman of GlobalHue Latino. “Her expertise, innovation and skill stand out within our industry and I am thrilled to have Jeanne on my team.”

Allen Pugh, Vice Chairman of GlobalHue added, “By adding these three talented leaders to our group and growing our current team of outstanding professionals, GlobalHue will not only be the No. 1 Multicultural Agency, but also one of the top Marketing agencies in the U.S. Together, we will execute the GlobalHue vision while we provide world-class service to our clients and help grow their business.”

About GlobalHue

GlobalHue is the nation’s largest minority-owned, full-service marketing communications agency dedicated to multicultural consumers. Named “Best in Class” by Adweek Magazine in 2007, the GlobalHue umbrella has four full-service communications agencies: GlobalHue Latino; GlobalHue Africanic; GlobalHue Asian; and GlobalHue Next. All provide market expertise to clients who want to reach African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, urban and youth consumers. The agencies have offices in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Orlando, Irvine, Calif., and Los Angeles.

Together, the agencies have more than 300 employees that handle advertising, media planning and buying, events and promotions, and public relations for many clients. In 2007, GlobalHue’s capitalized billings were $720 million.

Multi-Connect Marketing is the business unit that handles all PR, Events, Promotions, Grassroots, Entertainment, Content Development and Sports Marketing.

GlobalHue boasts several blue-chip clients, including Verizon, Chrysler LLC, Chrysler Financial, Wal-Mart, Bermuda Department of Tourism, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Navy, Abbott Laboratories and Subway.

For more information, visit www.globalhue.com .

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Yahoo! Telemundo today announced its Top 10 Searches for the month ending July 31 (http://yahootelemundo.com/lomasbuscado), which include the Top 10 in overall searches, image searches, as well as the most searched for Men for the month of July, as established by the millions of Yahoo! Telemundo users.

Top Trends in Search for July include:

Top 10 Overall Searches

1. Without Breasts There Is No Paradise (Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso)

2. Miss Universe 2008

3. Animals

4. Monica Bellucci

5. Love and Sex

6. Aracely Arambula

7. Galilea Montijo

8. Marijuana risks

9. Ingrid Betancourt

10. Organic Foods

Sin Senos No Hay Paraíso (literally, Without Breasts There Is No Paradise), is a Spanish-language telenovela that debuted on Telemundo on July 16. A hit in Colombia, the telenovela tells the story of an attractive young prostitute who seeks massive breast implants to attract a rich cocaine smuggler. The show was one of the network’s most-watched premieres ever and, not surprisingly, nabbed this month’s number one spot on the Top 10 Overall Searches. Also topping the list was a group of beautiful women, including Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, Italian actress Monica Bellucci, and Aracely Arambula, who just announced she is pregnant with boyfriend Luis Miguel’s second child. Rounding out the list was former FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) captive Ingrid Betancourt, whose recent rescue after six-and-a-half years of captivity created a worldwide media frenzy.

Top 10 Image Searches

1. Tattoos

2. Adriana Lima

3. Sceneries

4. Gemma Atkinson

5. Eva Longoria

6. Galilea Montijo

7. Barbara Mori

8. Vanessa Guzman

9. Isabel Madow

10. Naruto

Top 10 Image Searches (cont.)

The number one most searched for image on Yahoo! Telemundo in July was Tattoos – tattoos have experienced a resurgence in popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in North America, South America and Europe. A survey published by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have a tattoo.

Victoria’s Secret Supermodel Adriana Lima, an ever-popular name on the Top Searches lists, is still making headlines after it was announced that she and basketball star boyfriend, Marko Jaric of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will be tying the knot. Following in Lima’s footsteps – four more models were among the most searched for images in July: British lingerie model (and reality TV star) Gemma Atkinson; Uruguayan-Mexican actress/model Barbara Mori, star of the hit telenovela remake, Rubi; as well as model Isabel Madow, known for her appearances on the Mexican edition of Big Brother VIP. Mexican actress and model Vanessa Guzman (a former Miss Mexico) also peaked users’ interest as she recently went public with information that she and boyfriend Uberto Bondoni, an actor from Uruguay, were blackmailed for a sex tape that was allegedly taken from their home in Mexico.

Top 10 Men Searches

1. Thomas Beatie

2. Chespirito

3. Lil wayne

4. Don Omar

5. Luis Miguel

6. Vicente Fernandez

7. Juanes

8. Cristiano Ronaldo

9. Tito El Bambino

10. Ricardo Arjona

Ironically, the most searched for man this month is really a woman. Thomas Beatie, the world’s first person to conceive a child after a gender-reassignment operation, gave birth this past month to a healthy baby girl. Mexican television icon Roberto Gómez Bolaños, known to the world as Chespirito, also topped the list. Bolaños, best known for his roles as “El Chavo del Ocho” and “El Chapulín Colorado,” has been touring Latin America to present his play “11 y 12.”

In the number four slot, Puerto Rican Reggaeton star Don Omar has been cleared of all drug and weapons charges in relation to an incident dating back to 2004.The 30-year-old has been on trial in a court in Carolina, Puerto Rico for the last two weeks, after he was arrested in September 2004 by drug enforcement officers, who claim to have found him and two pals smoking marijuana. The agents also allegedly found a gun and $1,200 in cash in his possession. Portuguese footballer and heartthrob Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Manchester United, has also generated interest amidst speculation about a move to Real Madrid. Last but not least, Guatemalan singer-songwriter, Ricardo Arjona, also generated buzz as he officially launched “Fundación Adentro,” an initiative to teach music to poor children in his native Guatemala.

Every month the Yahoo! Telemundo Top 10 Searches showcases the diverse interests and concerns of U.S. Hispanics around the net, from gorgeous celebrity sightings and salacious political news to funny jokes and the latest consumer obsessions.  The monthly list includes a recap of the Top 10 Overall Searches, Top 10 Image Searches and Top 10 Searches in a revolving category, which changes monthly.  To come up with the Yahoo! Top Searches list, Yahoo! scans anonymous query logs from Yahoo! Search across a variety of categories to see what themes and trends bubble up to the surface. Individual searches are never used to develop these lists.  For more information on Yahoo! Telemundo’s Top 10 Searches, visit www.yahootelemundo.com/lomasbuscado.

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About Yahoo! Telemundo:
Yahoo! Telemundo (http://www.yahootelemundo.com), is a commercial venture between Yahoo! Inc. and Telemundo Communications Group, Inc., and is a leading online media and services community for Hispanic consumers in the U.S. This comprehensive and engaging online community for U.S. Hispanics brings together Yahoo!’s leading technology, Internet tools and services with the online assets and original television content of Telemundo, connecting the U.S. Hispanic community to their passions, their communities and the world’s knowledge.

On the day of the opening ceremonies of the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, President Felipe Calderon announced his plans to lift a Mexican Ministry of Economy requirement that pharmaceutical companies operating in Mexico must have a manufacturing plant in that country in order to use or sell generic versions of their lifesaving AIDS and other drugs in Mexico. This regulation has been an onerous and archaic requirement that has all but crippled the availability of far less expensive generic versions of drugs throughout the country. Calderon’s new policy is to take effect immediately.

“President Calderon’s repeal of the requirement that drug companies have manufacturing plants in Mexico in order for any company to import, use or sell generic copies of drugs is tremendous news for Mexicans in desperate need of access to lifesaving medications for HIV/AIDS and other diseases,” said Dra. Patricia Campos, Latin America Bureau Chief for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation AHF and a member of the ‘Coalicion de Activistas por el Accesso Universal en VIH/SIDA’. “I believe President Calderon’s actions earlier today came in no small measure thanks to the ongoing advocacy efforts of a growing group of dedicated activists in Mexico who have been pushing the government and industry on this issue. We salute President Calderon for his forward-thinking action which should dramatically improve and save the lives of countless Mexicans. It was the right thing for President Calderon to do with or without the pressure from activists; he did it, and we thank him for overturning this outdated requirement.”

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation AHF is the nation’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 79,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org

Contacts

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Mexico
Dra. Patricia Campos López
Chief Latin American Bureau
MX direct 01152 33 35 85 31 17
U.S. mobile 1213-361-2524
MX mobile 01152 33 34 82 92 07