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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Falkland Islands sent on Wednesday a support message to Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the people of Gibraltar which is under strong pressure and threats from Spain over border crossings while from London it was reported that PM David Cameron called Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy to raise concerns about the escalation of the situation.
President Cristina Fernandez, CFK, used the opportunity of Argentina at the rotating chair of the United Nations Security Council to demand an end to the veto power of its five permanent members (United States, Russia, China, Britain and France), and criticize the UK refusal to engage in Falkland Islands sovereignty discussions.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Monday compared Hugo Chavez to Christ and said that the late president, just like Jesus, came to protect those who had nothing, in a tribute to the fallen leader on the fifth month anniversary of his death.