
Federal public workers across Brazil are currently involved in what is one of the largest industrial disputes in the country's history, presenting a major challenge for President Dilma Rousseff.

Brazil's Supreme Court has approved the resumption of work on the controversial 13 billion dollars Belo Monte dam in the Amazon, which was stopped earlier this month after protests from indigenous groups.

Brazil appears to have the best long-term prospects among rising economic powers, thanks to its stable policy framework, ample natural resources and good relationship with its neighbours, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Tuesday in a ringing endorsement of an economy that has struggled lately.

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez is totally in agreement with a constitutional review opening the way for a third consecutive re-election, claimed the main opposition party president who anticipated political forces will rally to try and stop the initiative.

The Chilean Executive announced this week the new Intendente (governor) of the extreme south region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. His name is Mauricio Peña y Lillo Correa and replaces Arturo Storaker who resigned to the post last 9 August.

The 24-year-old daughter of Cuban Vice President Marino Murillo, sometimes mentioned as a possible successor to ruler Raul Castro, defected earlier this month and is now living in Tampa, Florida, according to Miami’s El Nuevo Heraldo.

The Argentine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Alicia Castro said on Tuesday that the UK’s arrogant approach to the Julian Assange’s case “was similar” to its approach to Argentina and particularly, the sovereignty dispute over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

”President Barack Obama warned residents of the Gulf Coast Tuesday that there could be significant flooding from Tropical Storm Isaac and encouraged people to evacuate if instructed by authorities to do so.

Spain’s recession worsened in the second quarter as the government’s austerity push to reduce the Euro area’s third-biggest budget deficit and a slump in consumer spending offset growth in exports.

The European Commission remains “on hold” waiting for the evolution of events in Mercosur with the incorporation of Venezuela as full member and the suspension of Paraguay, before addressing a new round of association and trade negotiations.