Politics

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 01:38 UTC

  Yerba mate price soars but consumers remain faithful to the traditional infusion

  

  Yerba mate, the classical infusion drink in much of southern South America and particularly in Uruguay is making headlines because of a 34% price increase in the last six months and with prospects of further hikes, according to local providers.

• Sunday, August 4th 2013 - 21:08 UTC

  Iran new president picks technocrat cabinet and calls for dialogue on equal footing

  

  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani picked a cabinet of experienced technocrats as he took the oath of office, saying he hoped confidence-building with foreign powers would help resolve the nuclear dispute and ease international sanctions.

• Sunday, August 4th 2013 - 21:04 UTC

  Berlusconi supports coalition despite his court setback and conviction for tax fraud

  

  Centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi has affirmed that Italy's shaky government, a coalition of his party with the centre left, must continue despite severe tensions after the Supreme Court confirmed his conviction for tax fraud.

• Sunday, August 4th 2013 - 20:58 UTC

  UK reiterates commitment to Gibraltar and calls on Spain for a political answer to differences

  

  The Foreign Office on Sunday reasserted ties with Gibraltar and its commitment with the British Overseas Territory sovereignty but at the same time called for a political answer to the current situation with Spain that is implementing disproportionate measures such as border delays.

• Sunday, August 4th 2013 - 19:58 UTC

  Venezuela not invited to Paraguay-president inauguration; Rousseff confirms attendance

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff officially confirmed her attendance to the inauguration ceremony of Paraguayan president-elect Horacio Cartes next 15 August, according to the Transmission Committee that is coordinating the event

• Saturday, August 3rd 2013 - 02:49 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez will chair Security Council debate on UN relations with regional organizations

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be chairing next Tuesday a meeting of the United Nations Security Council that will be addressing the relations of Latam and Caribbean regional and subregional organizations with UN in helping prevent conflicts and restore peace, was announced by the Argentine ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval.

• Saturday, August 3rd 2013 - 02:38 UTC

  Foreign Office summons Spanish ambassador over delays at Gibraltar border

  

  The Spanish Ambassador in London was summoned to the Foreign Office in relation to delays at the Gibraltar border this weekend.

• Saturday, August 3rd 2013 - 02:30 UTC

  Falklands: controversy with the private sector over oil and port policy

  

  A Falkland Islands government statement of policy principles on port location and oil infrastructure development passed at Executive Council last week has been met with opposing views from members of the private sector, reports the Penguin News.

• Saturday, August 3rd 2013 - 02:17 UTC

  Mexican government prepares sweeping reform for the energy sector

  

  Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has announced a sweeping energy reform, which is expected to include constitutional changes to lure private investment and boost output, will be presented to Congress next week

• Saturday, August 3rd 2013 - 02:08 UTC

  Brazil passes strict law on bribing extending liability to staff and companies involved

  

  Bribing a public official in Brazil could become a very onerous mistake for local and foreign businesses under a law enacted that for the first time makes companies liable for bribes paid by their employees.