Stories for August 13th 2005
Castro turns 79 and still going strong
Fidel Castro, the world's longest ruling head of state turns 79 Saturday, is celebrating a key political and legal victory over his enemies in exile after a U.S. appeals court ordered a new trial in the high-profile case of five alleged Cuban spies.
Oil industry drastically cuts investment in Bolivia
Investment in Bolivia by the mainly foreign-owned petroleum companies dropped 40% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2004, reported the oil and gas industry in La Paz.
Lula apologizes but is unconvincing
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva apologized Friday in a nationwide address for a bribery and campaign finance scandal while the head of a junior party in the ruling coalition said for the first time that the president was aware of misdeeds before they occurred.
Australia amends bill to tackle illegal fishing
To counter the alarming increase in the number of foreign vessels fishing illegally in Australia's northern waters, Parliament passed the Border Protection Legislation Amendment Bill on 10 August.
Uruguay after larger share in Atlantic tuna
Uruguay's National Directorate of Aquatic Resources (DINARA) is working on a strategic plan benefiting Uruguayan flagged vessels in the tuna and swordfish Atlantic fisheries over the next five years.
Mrs. Pinochet described as arrogant and vindictive
Lucia Hiriart, the wife of Augusto Pinochet who now has also been indicted on corruption charges has played a notorious public role gaining over the decades a reputation for arrogance, resoluteness and vindictiveness.
Venezuela-US recrimination and visa “war” escalates
The Venezuelan government withdrew the diplomatic immunity of United States anti drugs officials working in Venezuela and accused Washington of escalating the ongoing bilateral war of words with the purpose of forcing a break in diplomatic relations.
Criminal links of Pinochet son surface
Marco Antonio Pinochet, son of the former Chilean dictator Augusto, was described in court documents released in Santiago as a key player in the multi-million-dollar bank accounts fraud and a shady if not dangerous figure with criminal links.
Good prospects for commodities, mainly copper
The current surge in prices of the main commodities is one of the strongest in the post second world war period only comparable to the seventies when the oil embargo, said Patricia Mohr Scotiabank Group expert in commodities and industrial markets.
Lavagna forecasts 7% Argentine economic expansion
Argentina's Economy minister Roberto Lavagna said the country was on its fourth year of economic expansion and forecasted a 6,5 to 7% growth in 2005.
