Politics

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 02:15 UTC

  Uruguay’s ruling coalition wants Vazquez to confirm his 2014 presidential candidacy

  

  Uruguayan Former president Tabare Vazquez is expected to announce in coming days that he will effectively be the ruling Broad Front candidate for next year’s presidential election when President Jose Mujica’s five year term comes to an end.

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 02:11 UTC

  Argentine economy conditioned by energy imports and subsidized fuels and power

  

  If the Argentine government does not manage to stabilize its energy balance, which is one of the main drains of US dollars, the ban on hard currency purchases, the barriers to imports and the growing obstacles to spend money overseas for Argentine travellers will continue and could worsen, according to Buenos Aires analysts.

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 02:03 UTC

  Falklands and the Mirages: playing with the Islanders worst memories

  

  The British press has picked on news from Spain and Argentina to state that the government of President Cristina Fernandez is about to sign an agreement to purchase refurbished Mirage F1 decommissioned by the Spanish Air Force, which could become potentially a major threat for the Falkland Islands and another reason for escalating the ever sensitive Argentina/UK relations.

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 02:00 UTC

  France drastically cuts defence; expects the Rafale can save it from further axing

  

  France is to cut more than 30,000 defence posts and reduce or delay orders for jet fighters and other equipment as the socialist government seeks to balance the need for stringent spending cuts with a bid to sustain the country’s role as a big military power.

• Monday, August 5th 2013 - 01:51 UTC

  Iran after closer relations with Latinamerica, says new president Rouhani

  

  New Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met in Tehran on Sunday with Cuban Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas and said his country wanted to expand its relations with Latin America, “especially with Cuba,” Iran's Isna news agency reported.<br />
  Cabrisas traveled to Iran for Rouhani's inauguration on Sunday.

• 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