3 CHEERS

...for President Lula Da Silva of Brazil who continues to show a balanced independence as leader of his emerging power-house of a country. With huge oil reserves recently confirmed to add to its vast natural reources Brazil is well placed to give an international voice to South America that it has lacked. Da Silva, a former shoe-shine boy and trade union leader will have to step down as president at the end of this year after serving for two terms. Some observers are tipping him for Secretary-General of the United Nations.