News Makers

Newspapers give Lula 'heartburn'

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told a magazine he does not like reading newspapers because it gives him "heartburn," but said he keeps abreast of things through briefings and video clips provided by aides.

In an interview with the January issue of Piaui, Lula admitted he read no newspapers, magazines, blogs or Web sites, not because he didn't have the time, but "because I have heartburn problems." He said he believes that much of the wrong or unsubstantiated information printed by the press was the result of "marketing decisions" rather than deliberate ill will.