
The media and the Armed Forces are among the institutions most trusted in Latin America, well ahead of the church, parliament and political parties, according to a regional opinion poll from FLACSO, Latinamerican Social Sciences Faculty.

Brazilian presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff has an 11 percentage point lead over former Sao Paulo Governor Jose Serra before the country’s October elections, according to an Ibope poll published by TV Globo network and O Estado do Sao Paulo newspaper.

Argentine president Cristina Kirchner has a better image but most interviews believe her husband Nestor Kirchner will finally be the incumbent presidential candidate in 2011, according to a public opinion poll undertaken by Poliarquía for Buenos Aires daily La Nación.

The Argentine foundation for the endowment of art and culture OSDE has opened an exhibition in Buenos Aires which recalls the Soviet invasion of Prague in 1968. The remarkable photographs were taken during one week in August of 1968, which capture the Soviet-led invasion of Prague.

The Argentina/UK relation must go beyond the Falklands/Malvinas conflict, said British ambassador Shan Morgan during a recent visit to Salta, one of Argentina’s most northern provinces famous for its landscape and agro-industry potential. She also praised Argentine labour and talent and was hopeful a trade agreement could soon be reached with the European Union.

The Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland lead the Maritime component in a Tri-Service week long exercise “Purple Strike” involving all of the military units based in the Falkland Islands. Exercises are conducted on a regular basis to ensure all units are prepared and capable of dealing with any eventuality, including the ability to defend the Falklands if required.

United States citizen Lori Berenson apologized to the Peruvian people for collaborating with a terrorist group and asked an appeals court to let her remain free on parole. She was sentenced to 20 year in prison and was released last May after serving 15 years, three fourths of the sentence.

The last two years have been quite volatile in financial markets. First, in the fall of 2008, it appeared that the entire global economic system was headed toward inevitable destruction as US financial institutions Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and Lehman Brothers all collapsed in September of ’08.

Argentina’s annual inflation rate in July rose to the highest level since May 2006, led by higher costs for leisure goods and clothing. Consumer prices increased 11.2% from a year earlier and 0.8% from June the national statistics institute Indec, said.

Argentine Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández said Sunday that either Néstor Kirchner or Cristina Fernández de Kirchner would be the candidates for the 2011 presidential elections from the ruling party.