Stories for April 12th 2005

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Lula da Silva becomes “more papist than the Pope”

Majority and moderate groupings in Brazil's ruling Workers Party, PT, agreed on a radical platform turn that will give priority to “balanced budgets” and “sustainable economic growth” instead of the original “rupture with the current neo-liberal economic model” with which Lula da Silva, a former firebrand union leader, was elected president in 2002.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Move on to quash e-control law.

A group of deputies will today present a bill to quash a law set to go into effect on July 31 forcing telecommunication carriers to log every activity, including Internet chats, website visits, e-mails and phone calls, made in Argentina.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Breaking News.

Headlines:

Major drought causes heavy losses in south Brazil.

Argentina: Harvest will reach 80 million tons.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Falklands' closure of Illex season is official

Falkland Islands Fisheries Department announced Tuesday the early closure of the Illex season for conservation reasons beginning Wednesday April 13, at 08:00 hours.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

US support embattled Ecuadorian president

United States chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard B. Myers said Monday in Quito that Washington considers Ecuador to be an “important ally” in the fight against drug trafficking in the region.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Inflation fears become real in Argentina

Argentine Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna admitted that inflation in 2005 could reach 11%, above the targeted band of 8 to 10,5%.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Brazil: low inflation but local currency too strong

Inflation in Brazil during March reached 0,61%, slightly higher than in February (0,59%) accumulating 1,79% in the first quarter and 7,4% in the last twelve months reports the Brazilian Statistics and Geography Institute, IBGE.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

US record trade deficit in February: 61 billion

United States trade deficit reached 61 billion US dollars last February, the highest ever according to the latest release from the Department of Commerce. Market analysts were forecasting 59 billion following January's 58,3 billion US dollars.

Tuesday, April 12th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Argentina: gas “rational use” program begins Friday

Argentina will begin next Friday a natural gas “rational use” program forcing 4,1 million clients to save between 5 and 10% of normal consumption and therefore avoiding higher bills.