
Brazil raised on Wednesday its Selic benchmark interest rate to 9% from 8.5% in a further attempt to rein in inflation. The central bank's monetary policy committee, the Copom, voted unanimously for a third straight half percentage point rate rise.

The sovereignty issue should be left aside and talks should concentrate on the business opportunities offered by the oil industry in the Falkland Islands, said lawmaker Dick Sawle during an interview with AP in Brazil where he is on a week long visit of business and political contacts.

Brazil's economy is going through a mini crisis stemming from global markets turbulence made worse by confusing messages from the US Federal Reserve, complained Finance Minister Guido Mantega.

Falkland Islands lawmaker Dick Sawle is expected on Tuesday in Brasília, capital of Brazil where he will explain the Islanders’ decision to remain a British Overseas Territory and give an idea of life in the South Atlantic archipelago, its economy and social achievements as a prosperous, democratic community.

Brazilian foreign minister Antonio Patriota has stepped down and will be replaced by the current representative before United Nations Ambassador Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, it was confirmed Monday evening by the spokesperson from President Dilma Rousseff’s office.

Bolivian Senator Roger Pinto, who had taken refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in La Paz, left the country in an official Brazilian vehicle escorted by soldiers, Brazilian Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Ricardo Ferraço said on Sunday.

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff had a long standing wish and it was finally made true with the help of an accomplice and high ranking official from her administration: a ride in motorbike to see Brasilia first hand without being recognized.

Brazil's current account deficit more than doubled in July from a year ago, according to the latest Central bank data. The gap reached 9.08 billion dollars in July, while a year ago the deficit was 3.75bn dollars.

Falkland Islands lawmaker Dick Sawle is expected next week in Brazil where he will be meeting representatives from the business community, students’ organizations and share lunch with a group of members of Congress, announced British ambassador in Brasilia Alex Ellis.

Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has not yet discussed raising gasoline and diesel prices to support state-run oil producer Petrobras, said her spokesperson in response to local media reports on Thursday.