
Argentina’s Central bank new authorities rejected orthodox recipes as a way to fight rising consumer prices anticipating they will focus on helping companies boost output as private economic analysts forecast inflation ranging between 20 and 30% this year after having reached 15% in 2009.

The Greek Prime Minister has admitted there is a fear of contagion as his nation battles its debt crisis. George Papandreou also insisted his country was not looking for a banking-style bailout and denied that his people were reckless.

Argentina’s Economy Minister Amado Boudou and Central Bank Governor Mercedes Marcó del Pont announced the appointing of the Council of Exchange, Financial, Economical and Monetary Politics.

As the “Ocean Guardian” oil rig was this morning due to arrive at Desire Petroleum’s prospecting site 100 miles off the Falkland Islands, Argentina’s latest efforts to disrupt exploration were treated to a cool response by the United Kingdom and Falklands elected authorities, reports this Friday edition of the Penguin News.

“The Great Transformation” project takes off this weekend when the Brazilian ruling party of President Lula da Silva will be nominating his hand-picked candidate for the October presidential election, none else than cabinet chief Dilma Rousseff, 62.

The US government confirmed that one of its top diplomats for Latin America will participate this week in Havana in a new round of talks on immigration issues with Cuba.

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.