International

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 05:17 UTC

  Colombian president confirms peace talks with FARC; first round Oslo in October

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has confirmed his government is holding exploratory talks with the country's largest rebel group, the FARC. In an address on state TV, Mr Santos said he was fulfilling his “duty to seek peace”. Media reports say a deal on further talks was reached in Cuba with the help of Venezuela and Norway.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 04:58 UTC

  Rapidly eroding ice cap and thickness makes the Arctic even more vulnerable

  

  Arctic has lost more sea ice this year than at any time since satellite records began in 1979, Nasa says. Scientists involved in the calculations say it is part of a fundamental change. What is more, sea ice normally reaches its low point in September so it is thought likely that this year's melt will continue to grow.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 04:35 UTC

  The endless war: Saudi Arabia goes on the offensive against Iran

  

  Saudi Arabia has gone on the offensive against Iran to protect its interests. Their involvement in Syria is the first battle in what is going to be a long bloody conflict that will know no frontiers or limits.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 04:21 UTC

  FIFA new ethics committee will examine 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards

  

  The lead prosecutor of FIFA new ethics committee confirms he will examine the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar as well as the ISL scandal and corruption allegations involving Sepp Blatter.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 04:13 UTC

  Despite Fukushima accident, 30 countries considering nuclear energy says IAEA

  

  Almost 30 countries are considering or planning to introduce nuclear energy as interest remains strong despite last year's Fukushima accident, the United Nations' atomic agency said.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 03:42 UTC

  Colombia and FARC ready for peace talks with support from Cuba and Norway

  

  Colombia's government will soon begin talks that could lead to formal negotiations for peace with the country's biggest guerrilla group, known as the FARC, according to a Colombian intelligence source.

• Tuesday, August 28th 2012 - 03:32 UTC

  Mexico launches dispute at WTO against Argentina’ import licensing rules

  

  Following similar complaints against Argentina by the European Union, United States and Japan, Mexico has launched its first dispute against Argentina at the World Trade Organization, the WTO announced on Monday.

• Monday, August 27th 2012 - 06:13 UTC

  Apple sweeping legal victory over Samsung; over a billion dollars in damages

  

  Apple Inc. scored a sweeping legal victory over Samsung as a US jury found the Korean company had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarded the US company 1.051 billion dollars in damages.

• Monday, August 27th 2012 - 06:05 UTC

  Ecuador receives full support from OAS Ministers in dispute with UK over Assange case

  

  The Foreign Ministers of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved last Friday a resolution supporting the inviolability of diplomatic premises, in accordance with the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in the context of the situation created between Ecuador and the United Kingdom.

• Monday, August 27th 2012 - 04:01 UTC

  Merkel queen of the hill: strong support for stance on heavily indebted countries

  

  Support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has nudged higher, an opinion poll showed, but the weakness of two smaller parties highlights the trouble she may face building another centre-right coalition after Germany's 2013 election.