The America's Intelligence Wire articles from January 2004

The America's Intelligence Wire archives from January 2004

Latin America: PERU SCORES ECONOMIC GAINS, BUT POVERTY LINGERS.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Macroeconomic factors that come to bear on private sector consumption have been favorable in Peru for the past two years, but the majority of the consumer base is marginalized from formal channels of...

Latin America: MEXICO POISED FOR BROAD-BASED RECOVERY.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Mexican retail sales showed surprisingly healthy growth through the second half of 2003 and overall growth for the year came out to be about 3 percent. Roughly the same level of growth should hold through the...

Latin America: CHILEAN HOUSEHOLD SPENDING TO RISE.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) A gradual improvement in consumer confidence coupled with increasing availability of consumer credit during the second half of 2003 has set the stage for increased household expenditure during the first half of...

Latin America: ARGENTINE COMMERCIAL GROWTH IN DOUBT.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) The upward momentum in Argentine private sector spending that followed the precipitous decline of 2002 and early 2003 appears to be subsiding. The persistent shortage of foreign investment capital and credit...

Latin America: COLOMBIA SUFFERS A SETBACK.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Until October of 2003, it appeared that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had the political clout to make fundamental reforms that could put the nations economy back on track. However, the defeat of his reform...

Latin America: BOLIVIA CAUGHT IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) During October of 2003, a deadly uprising removed President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada from power and underscored Bolivias inability to emerge from the political quagmire that has developed in recent years ...

Latin America: VENEZUELANS GET BACK TO BASICS.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Venezuelan household consumption dropped by about 12 percent in 2003 from the already depressed level recorded in 2002. Modest gains are likely as 2004 progresses, but these will simply reflect the statistical...

Latin America: BRAZILIANS FACE TIGHT HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Brazils accumulated trade surplus for 2003 was about US$2.4 billion, which is impressive since the government did not resort to devaluation strategies employed by previous administrations. Devaluations in...

Latin America: INFLATION BATTERS DOMINICAN HOUSEHOLDS.
January 1, 2004... (From Market: Latin America) Dominican households and industries were floored during 2003 by a double blow from an abrupt currency devaluation followed by a wave of inflation Private sector consumption dropped off sharply in 2003 as...

Saving for A Rich Retirement, CNNfn.
January 1, 2004... (From CNNfn News) Byline: Ali Velshi ALI VELSHI, CNNfn ANCHOR, YOUR MONEY Hello, and welcome to a special edition of YOUR MONEY, the show that helps you make it, manage it, and spend it. I`m Ali Velshi. Every weeknight we take your...

Working After Age 65, CNNfn.
January 1, 2004... (From CNNfn News) Byline: Ali Velshi ALI VELSHI, CNNfn ANCHOR, YOUR MONEY: All right. Whether you`re planning on working longer in life, or returning to the workforce after retirement, where do you begin the job search? In a...

Advice On Managing A Cash Windfall, CNNfn.
January 1, 2004... (From CNNfn News) Byline: Ali Velshi ALI VELSHI, CNNfn ANCHOR, YOUR MONEY: It may seem like the answer to all your problems, a sudden windfall of cash. But for many people who come into money unexpectedly, the real trouble is just...

Evaluating Social Security, CNNfn.
January 1, 2004... (From CNNfn News) Byline: Ali Velshi ALI VELSHI, CNNfn ANCHOR, YOUR MONEY:: Social Security, it`s a government program that was set up to protect older Americans from poverty. But given inflation and other economic factors, how safe is...

Car bomb explodes during Baghdad restaurant New Year's party, killing five Iraqis.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Ali Velshi A car bomb ripped through an elegant restaurant crowded with diners at a New Year's Eve party featuring belly dancers, live music and fine wine. The blast killed five Iraqis and wounded 35...

Princess Anne's Terrier Bites Royal Maid.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A dog belonging to Princess Anne attacked a royal maid five days after it fatally mauled one of Queen Elizabeth II's beloved corgis, Buckingham Palace said. Florence the bull terrier bit the maid's leg at the royal...

Bomb kills nine New Year revelers, injures 46 in Indonesia's Aceh province.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A bomb at a crowded night market killed nine New Year's Eve revelers and injured 46 in Indonesia's restive Aceh province, a doctor and other witnesses said on Thursday. The victims' bodies were blown apart when the...

Davis, Brown lead Hornets over Celtics 96-94.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Baron Davis scored 29 points and had 10 assists while P.J. Brown scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading New Orleans past the Boston Celtics 96-94 on Wednesday and snapping the Hornets' four-game road losing...

Powell outlines goals for 2004.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Secretary of State Colin Powell says the Bush administration will continue to focus on building democratic societies in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2004, but is "resolved as well to turn the president's goal of a free and...

Takashi Ishihara, former Nissan president, dies at 91.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Takashi Ishihara, a former president of Nissan Motor Co. who helped turn the Japanese carmaker into a global player, has died of heart failure, his family said Thursday. He was 91. Ishihara died Wednesday morning at a...

Two dozen Indian fishermen arrested in Pakistan for illegal entry.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Pakistani coast guards arrested 24 Indian fishermen and seized their six boats for allegedly entering and fishing in Pakistani waters illegally, police said Thursday. The Maritime Security Agency apprehended the men...

Informal talks held with Norwegian ambassador to resume Sri Lankan peace negotiations.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The Sri Lankan government is holding informal talks with a Norwegian envoy to get the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels back on track, an official said Thursday. An end to a political tug-of-war between Prime...

Report: Japan to hand over suspected corporate spy to U.S.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Japan is expected to agree to a U.S. request to hand over a Japanese citizen suspected of industrial espionage within the next few months, a news report said Thursday. Takashi Okamoto, 43, a former researcher at the...

Informal talks held with Norwegian ambassador to resume Sri Lankan peace negotiations.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The Sri Lankan government is holding informal talks with a Norwegian envoy to get the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels back on track, an official said Thursday. An end to a political tug-of-war between Prime...

Bomb kills 10 New Year revelers, injures 45 in Indonesia's Aceh province.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A powerful bomb during a concert at a crowded night market killed 10 New Year's Eve revelers, including three children, and injured 45 in Indonesia's restive Aceh province, a doctor and other witnesses said Thursday. ...

First Pakistan-India airline flight in nearly two years takes off.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The first commercial flight between India and Pakistan in two years left the eastern city of Lahore on Thursday, carrying 42 passengers and the hopes for improved relations between the two uneasy neighbors. Pakistan...

Three U.S. soldiers wounded, several insurgents killed in Afghanistan.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Three U.S. soldiers were wounded in a battle that killed several insurgents in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Thursday. The clash began Wednesday afternoon when a small group of...

Angelina Jolie fudning program to buy cows for Cambodian farmers.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is funding a program to donate cows to poverty-stricken Cambodian farmers, an associate said Thursday. The plan is part of Jolie's nature conservation project in the country. Under the...

U.S. Military Workers Drown Off Japan.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Two American civilian employees of the U.S. military drowned while swimming in rough seas off Japan's southernmost island on Thursday, police said. The two were identified as Robert Ashbaugh, 41, and Kenneth Williams,...

Canucks edge Blackhawks in overtime.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) When it comes to scoring on the power play, it's difficult to find a better tandem than Todd Bertuzzi and Markus Naslund. Bertuzzi scored a power-play goal off a rebound of Naslund's shot at 4:33 of overtime to lift...

American man charged with murdering policeman.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An American man appeared in court Thursday charged with last week's fatal shooting of a policeman. David Francis Bieber, who is also known as Nathan Wayne Coleman, appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court in northern...

Backing The Immigrant Work Ethic.
January 1, 2004... (From Technews.com) Byline: Shannon Henry H enry D. Barratt Jr. wants to tap into what he sees as the source of the best new ideas in business: the immigrant community. While searching for new technology companies in which to...

Visions of '04 Start at the Digital Kiosk.
January 1, 2004... (From Technews.com) Byline: Leslie Walker While many people kick off the new year counting calories, technology writers feel compelled to spend the first day of every year guessing what will happen in the remaining days. We pretend we...

India wants South Asian neighbors to step up cooperation in combating terrorism.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Leslie Walker India called upon its South Asian neighbors Thursday to emulate the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan, which launched a successful military offensive last month to root out Indian insurgents...

Economics Minister Deiss takes over as Swiss President.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Leslie Walker The new president of Switzerland formally took up his duties Thursday, three weeks after the woman slated for the post was dumped from the Swiss cabinet. Joseph Deiss, 57, who heads the...

First Pakistan-India airline flight in nearly two years takes off.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Leslie Walker The first commercial flight between India and Pakistan in two years arrived in the Indian capital Thursday, amid rising hopes of peace between the South Asian nuclear rivals. The Pakistan...

Eight British tourists killed in South African road accident.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Leslie Walker A minibus full of British tourists crashed into a pedestrian, killing eight of the visitors and the pedestrian, police said Thursday. The accident happened Wednesday afternoon on the road...

First Pakistan-India airline flight in nearly two years takes off.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Leslie Walker The first commercial flight between India and Pakistan in two years arrived in the Indian capital Thursday, amid rising hopes of peace between the South Asian nuclear rivals. The...

Grant Thornton Italy chief resigns, partner suspended after detention in Parmalat probe.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The head of auditing firm Grant Thornton's Italy unit has resigned and his partner has been suspended indefinitely following their detentions in the Parmalat scandal on fraud accusations, the company said. Lorenzo...

Baltimore Homicide Rate Increases.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) The city's homicide rate increased last year for the first time since 1998 as authorities said killings became more targeted, often in connection with the drug trade. As of Wednesday, the city had reported 271 killings...

Pakistan and India exchange annual lists of nuclear installations.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Nuclear rivals Pakistan and India on Thursday exchanged their annual lists of their nuclear facilities, part of an agreement prohibiting attacks on the installations, an Indian spokesman said. The two countries, which...

Eight British tourists, one South African killed in road accident.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A minibus full of tourists crashed into a pedestrian, killing eight British visitors and the pedestrian, police said Thursday. The accident happened Wednesday afternoon on the road between Harrismith and...

Kyrgyzstan extends death penalty moratorium.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has extended a moratorium on the death penalty in this Central Asian nation for another year, officials said Thursday. Akayev introduced a two-year moratorium on the death penalty in...

China has assured India it won't support Indian insurgents, Indian official says.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) China has assured India it will not give refuge to Indian insurgents on the run after a crackdown by the Bhutanese army, an Indian official said Thursday. "The Chinese side has taken note of the concern of the...

FA Cup schedule.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Schedule of Saturday and Sunday third-round FA Cup matches: Saturday Wimbledon vs. Stoke Cardiff City vs. Sheffield United Mansfield vs. Burnley Crewe vs. Telford Barnsley vs. Scunthorpe ...

Eight British tourists, one South African killed in road accident.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A minibus full of British and Canadian tourists crashed into a pedestrian, killing eight visitors and the pedestrian, police said Thursday. The accident happened Wednesday afternoon on the road between Harrismith...

One killed several injured during New Year's Eve festivities.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) While roughly a million Germans peacefully rang in the new year around Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, fireworks claimed the life of one man and injured several others during festivities around the country early Thursday,...

One soldier, three suspected militants killed in Kashmir, police say.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) One Indian military officer and two suspected Islamic militants were killed in fighting in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Thursday, but the Indian and Pakistani armies continued observing a five-week-old cease-fire,...

Gral lifts Iwata to Emperor's Cup win.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Brazilian striker Rodrigo Gral netted the winner Thursday as Jubilo Iwata defeated Cerezo Osaka 1-0 to win the Emperor's Cup. Gral slotted home in the 71st minute to give Iwata its first Emperor's Cup since the...

Farmer who shot burglar says he would do it again.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An English farmer who fatally shot a 16-year-old burglar in a case that drew heavy national attention said Thursday he would do it again if faced with similar circumstances. "People are highly jeopardized in this...

Rambus ends higher again; chip index up 76% for '03.
January 1, 2004... (From CBS Marketwatch (Stories)) SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Rambus shares led the chip sector for a second straight day Wednesday, as a handful of issues stood out in an otherwise lackluster final trading session that ended a banner year for...

Oman announces 2004 budget with US$1.3 billion deficit forecast.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Oman on Thursday announced its 2004 budget with a deficit forecast of 500 million rials (US$1.3 billion), 25 percent up from 2003, a Finance Ministry official said. The forecast was based on an estimated oil price of...

Scant Evidence in Michigan Riot Case.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Prosecutors will likely bring no charges in last June's riots because those who took part could not be identified, authorities said. "At this point, I do not anticipate any more arrests," Berrien County Prosecutor...

Four children, elderly woman die in village blaze.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) A fire on New Year's Eve claimed the lives of four siblings and their grandmother in a village in central Serbia, police said Thursday. The blaze erupted an hour before midnight Wednesday in a family home in...

Plane loses set of wheels, wing hits runway on landing; one person injured.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A mid-sized jet carrying 168 passengers and crew lost a set of wheels as it landed in southwestern Japan on Thursday, causing the plane to skid to a halt with one of its wing's dragging. Two passengers were briefly...

Former Czech president welcomes entry into European Union.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Former Czech President Vaclav Havel used a televised New Year's celebration toast to welcome his country's entry in the European Union. Havel, who has energetically supported the Czech Republic's EU membership, which...

New Year's Eve car bomb toll rises to eight dead at Baghdad restaurant.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A car bomb that destroyed a Baghdad restaurant crowded with New Year's Eve revelers killed eight people, said U.S. officers at the scene Thursday, where men cleared rubble, a crane lifted burned out cars and injured men...

French drivers urged to stay off the roads during snowfall.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) A New Year's snowfall slowed trains and left roads slick in much of France, including Paris, where snow is rare. With about two-thirds of the country blanketed in snow, road safety officials asked people to avoid...

Hagerstown missionary killed during attempted robbery in Kenya.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An American missionary on an annual visit to Kenya was killed during an attempted robbery at the house in which he was staying, a police official said Thursday. Paul Arnold Ritcheri, 62, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was...

Two women evacuated from Queen Mary 2 on medical grounds.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Two women were evacuated from the Queen Mary 2, the world's largest cruise ship, on medical grounds Thursday, the British coast guard agency said. The women were removed by life boat as the US$800 million luxury liner...

Zimbabwe wins tour opener against Australia A.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Zimbabwe warmed up for the forthcoming triangular series against Australia and India with an eight-run one-day cricket win over Australia A on Thursday at the WACA. Chasing 241 runs for victory, the Australia A side...

Two crew missing after explosion rocks oil tanker.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) An explosion rocked an oil tanker as it was offloading its cargo at a Sardinian port Thursday, and two crew members were missing, police said. Authorities, however, weren't sure if the crew members had been on board...

Four victims of Catalina Island plane crash identified as French citizens.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) The five people killed when a twin-engine plane crashed into a Santa Catalina Island mountain on Christmas Eve included four French citizens, authorities said Thursday. Francine Gaume, 44, of Archon, France, and...

New Year's Celebrations in Iraq.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Alphonso Van Marsh CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: They can't drink champagne, dance with their spouses or squeeze into Times Square. So, how did U.S. troops in Iraq celebrate the new year? For...

Mistreatment Denied in Michael Jackson Case.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Miguel Marquez CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A new twist to the twist Michael Jackson threw at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department. Remember those allegations of police mishandling? Well,...

Eight British Tourists Killed in South Africa Bus Crash.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Some sad news just in to CNN now. Police in South Africa say there has been a deadly bus crash north of the city of Durbin. That's along the coast, several hours...

Morning After in Times Square.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Maria Hinojosa SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Organizers estimate that one million people were in New York's Times Square last night to count down to 2004. The event went off without any major...

Turn of Fortunes: The Dollar's Value.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Maggie Lake CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: But once a bastion of strength, the greenback has lost value against almost all other major currencies. CNN's Maggie Lake looks at what ails the dollar and...

International Wrap: Eye on the World.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Eli Flournoy, David Clinch CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about something a little happier, a lot happier, in fact. London is kicking off the New Year with what it claims is the biggest...

Search for Survivors Ends in Iran Earthquake.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Kasra Naji CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's head live to Iran now. The focus there is shifting from rescuing survivors to caring for the homeless. To the city of Bam now and a live update from...

Prize Catch in Iraq.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Alphonso Van Marsh CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to Iraq now. An Army colonel serving in Iraq is known for running toward gunfire when attacked, keeping an Arabian falcon as a pet, and speaking...

Interview With The Amazing Kreskin.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Anderson Cooper CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, you just knew it was coming, predictions for the new year. We've got 'em. CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke with The Amazing Kreskin. (BEGIN...

Preventing Hangovers.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Jeanne Moos CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's the morning after for a lot of us. Got your head in your hands? Well, hold out one of those hands and take this pill from our resident hangover...

Blast Kills At Least Seven in Baghdad Restaurant.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Satinder Bindra SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Turning to Iraq now, there is practically nothing left of a once popular Baghdad restaurant, where Westerners and Iraqis had gathered last night for...

A Good Year for Kickers.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Carol Costello, Anderson Cooper CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: 2003 was a good year for kickers. Kickers are what we in the news biz call those stories that usually run at the end of a newscast; you know, the...

Interview With James Surowiecki, James Stewart.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Andy Serwer SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: For a look back at the big stories of 2003, we are offering the last word in business to James Surowiecki, he is from the "New Yorker"; James Stewart of...

Interview With Thelma Adams, Owen Gleiberman, Christy Lemire.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we've been taking a look back at 2003 with our series of last word reports. Here once again is Bill Hemmer with the year in movies. (BEGIN...

Report: India seeks permanent cease-fire with Pakistan along frontier.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer India said Thursday it wants an indefinite cease-fire with Pakistan in disputed Kashmir and other volatile areas to be made "permanent," Press Trust of India news agency reported....

Grandmother sets fire that kills four grandchildren, then commits suicide.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer A grandmother set a fire that killed her four grandchildren and then committed suicide on New Year's Eve in central Serbia, police said Thursday. The woman, a Serb refugee...

Vandals burn more than 300 cars in France.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer Vandals set fire to more than 300 cars throughout France as some New Year's revelry turned violent, police said Thursday. Car-burning is a New Year's tradition in some...

Dabizas prepares move to Leicester.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer Defender Nikos Dabizas is hoping to beef up Leicester's defense in a deal that will see him end his six-year career at Newcastle. The 30-year Greek was expected to sign a...

Vandals burn more than 300 cars in France.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer Vandals set fire to more than 300 cars throughout France as some New Year's revelry turned violent, police said Thursday. Burning empty parked cars is a New Year's...

Vandals burn more than 300 cars in France.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Online) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Bill Hemmer Vandals set fire to more than 300 cars throughout France as some New Year's revelry turned violent, police said Thursday. Burning empty parked cars is a New Year's tradition in...

Interview With Mark Kimmitt, Dan Senor.
January 1, 2004... (From CNN News) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Barbara Starr SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq, though, it was a deadly to a violent year. A car bomb ripped through a popular Baghdad restaurant where Westerners and Iraqis were...

Brazil judge orders US citizens fingerprinted.
January 1, 2004... (From AP Worldstream) Byline: Soledad O'Brien, Barbara Starr Federal police said Thursday they are not ready to begin fingerprinting all U.S. citizens entering Brazil in line with a judge's sudden order to launch the program, which...