Stories for August 7th 2013

Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:53 UTC
Hague and Garcia-Margallo committed to diplomatic solution to Spain/Gibraltar border dispute

British Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke on Wednesday to his Spanish peer Jose Garcia Margallo with the commitment of finding a diplomatic solution to the dispute at the Spain/Gibraltar border.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:49 UTC
Brazil’s Dilma celebrates decline in food prices reflected in ‘contained’ inflation

The first decline in food prices in two years provided temporary assistance to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s efforts to tame inflation. Prices as measured by the benchmark IPCA index rose 0.03% in July and more encouraging with prospects for prices to remain unchanged.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:45 UTC
Brazil farmers ask until when will ideology prevail over economics and trade in Mercosur

“Until when will we allow ideology to prevail over economics, markets, competitiveness grounding the great vessel of Brazilian trade in the port of little regional pretensions”, asks Katia Abreu in a column published in Folha de Sao Paulo openly criticizing the administration of Dilma Rousseff for its Mercosur policy and the results of the recent Montevideo summit.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:42 UTC
AI top level mission to Brazil to discuss indigenous peoples’ rights and police violence

Indigenous peoples’ rights and police violence are the focus of a High Level Mission (HLM) by Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty in Brazil where he is scheduled to meet with top politicians and officials to discuss an array of human rights abuses and violations which need to be addressed.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:36 UTC
China warns of Japanese ‘remilitarization’ following the incorporation of a ‘quasi-aircraft carrier’

Media in China are warning against Japan's “remilitarisation” after the country unveiled its biggest warship since World War II on Tuesday. The huge Japanese flat-top destroyer, Izumo, has a flight deck nearly 250m long and can reportedly carry more than nine helicopters.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 17:13 UTC
World’s largest dairy producer faces scare over contaminated products with botulism bacteria

New Zealand's government has stepped up efforts to contain the fallout from a scare over contaminated products made by dairy giant Fonterra. Officials have been sent to Fonterra facilities in New Zealand and Australia to oversee the flow of information.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 16:46 UTC
US government lawsuits against Bank of America related to mortgage-backed securities fraud

US government filed two lawsuits against Bank of America relating to fraud on 850 million dollars of mortgage-backed securities. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission filed parallel suits in North Carolina.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 16:27 UTC
HMS Richmond leaves for seven months Atlantic Patrol Tasking

Portsmouth-based frigate HMS Richmond has sailed for a routine seven months Atlantic Patrol Tasking which includes the South Atlantic. According to the official release she left Portsmouth on Monday 5 August and will maintain the continuous Royal Navy presence in the Atlantic and provide an ongoing protection and reassurance to British regions within the region.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 16:03 UTC
The 2002 lost chance for the Gibraltar-Spain conflict according to former UK Europe minister Peter Hain

Former UK Europe Minister Peter Hain has said that the failure to recognise Spain’s historic claim over the Rock is the root of the issues Gibraltar has with its neighbours. Hain made his comments during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Wednesday, August 7th 2013 - 14:17 UTC
Mujica says Mercosur members must have more negotiating space with third parties

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said that Mercosur should give its members more space to negotiate with third parties and supported linking to the Alliance of the Pacific, which nevertheless he argued is “part of a geopolitical involving China” and not accepted by Brazil.