Brazilian sanitary authorities confirmed the existence of a dengue epidemic in several counties of five states. They are Matto Grosso bordering with Bolivia; Matto Grosso do Sul next to Bolivia and Paraguay; Acre neighbouring with Peru and Bolivia; Roraima to the north next to Venezuela and Guyana and the state of Goias in the heart of Brazil.
Uruguay’s president-elect Jose Mujica, once instated next March first, will be visiting several countries of the region while his administration will attempt closer political links with neighbouring countries to facilitate trade, said Luis Almagro, the future Foreign Affairs minister.
The Falkland Islands reaffirmed its right to develop a hydrocarbons industry and anticipated that in spite of disruptive measures from Argentina the oil drilling round will commence as planned early next week, “weather permitting”.
The Argentine government is looking into the British oil companies involved in the Falkland Islands exploratory drilling operation checking on their possible links to interests in Argentina (and if so the infringement of legislation of Argentine legislation), according to reports in the Buenos Aires press.
Argentines expect consumer prices to rise 31.1% over the next 12 months, led by higher forecasts from the lower income category, according to the average estimate in a poll from Torcuato Di Tella University.
Argentina will be pressing next Monday for support from Latinamerica and the Caribbean, and on Wednesday at United Nations, in its dispute over the oil drilling round about to being in the Falkland Islands.
Uruguay’s opposition main leader and former president Luis Alberto Lacalle (1990/1995) praised the pragmatism of president elect and former guerrilla leader Jose Pepe Mujica who will be taking office next March first.
A consumer group had called on Argentines, world leaders in beef consumption, to boycott the meat for a week in an effort to lower prices, according to news reports from Buenos Aires.