Latin America

• Monday, August 26th 2013 - 02:30 UTC

  First gay couple, Sergio and Rodolfo officially married in Uruguay

  

  The first gay couple to register to marry in Uruguay when a new equal marriage law took effect on 5 August, have married as gay rights activists celebrate in the country. Sergio Miranda and Rodrigo Borda married in Montevideo last Thursday accompanied by 30 friends and family, US Ambassador Julissa Reynoso and around a hundred members of the media.

• Monday, August 26th 2013 - 02:10 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez will not bid for presidency in 2015, ‘under no circumstances’

  

  The head of a powerful union supportive of the Argentine government said that during the recent ‘social dialogue round’ held in Rio Gallegos with business and labour leaders President Cristina Fernandez affirmed with no margin of doubt that she will not be bidding for the presidency in 2015.

• Monday, August 26th 2013 - 02:00 UTC

  Colombia and FARC resume peace negotiations; 13 soldiers killed by the guerrilla

  

  Colombia’s government announced that peace talks with the country’s largest guerrilla organization FARC were resuming despite the insurgents killed 13 soldiers Saturday in an ambush. The chief government negotiator said both sides would be back at the table on Monday morning in Havana where the negotiations are taking place.

• Friday, August 23rd 2013 - 23:18 UTC

  Falklands’ lawmaker begins round of contacts in Brazil’s main cities

  

  Falkland Islands lawmaker Dick Sawle is expected next week in Brazil where he will be meeting representatives from the business community, students’ organizations and share lunch with a group of members of Congress, announced British ambassador in Brasilia Alex Ellis.

• Friday, August 23rd 2013 - 23:15 UTC

  “Uniquely recalcitrant debtor” Argentina loses bonds’ appeal: next step US Supreme Court

  

  Argentina lost on Friday its appeal of a ruling that would force it to pay in full holders of 1.3 billion dollars in defaulted debt when it makes a payment to investors who took discounted restructured bonds, opening the prospect for a US Supreme Court appeal, which if it happens will push the litigation into 2014.

• Friday, August 23rd 2013 - 23:12 UTC

  Falklands’ oil companies banned 20 years from operating in Argentina by Cristina Fernandez

  

  Four London AIM listed oil companies carrying out exploration work in Falkland Islands waters have been barred from operating in Argentina. The measure affects Borders & Southern Petroleum, Desire Petroleum, Argos Resources and Falkland Oil and Gas.

• Friday, August 23rd 2013 - 03:47 UTC

  Uruguay closer to ALBA than to the Pacific Alliance says foreign minister

  

  Uruguay is closer to joining the Bolivarian alliance for the Americas, (ALBA) than the Pacific Alliance said Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro to a packed audience with government officials, local businesspeople and diplomats. He also argued that the ‘tail wind’ that has been so favourable for Latinamerica ‘was over two years ago”.

• Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 23:45 UTC

  Falklands’ lawmakers thank Cristina Fernandez for helping get the Islanders' message to the world

  

  Falkland Islands lawmakers at their final assembly on Thursday thanked Argentine President Cristina Fernandez for her, undoubtedly unintended assistance in getting the Falklands story publicized world-wide and in repeated headlines, reported the latest edition of the Penguin News in its front page.

• Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 23:43 UTC

  China will build and finance two dams in Patagonia equivalent to 10% of Argentine power demand

  

  Argentina's government this week awarded a 4 billion dollars contract for the construction of two hydroelectric dams to a consortium led by China Gezhouba (Group) Co. and which includes Argentine firms Electroingenieria SA and Hidrocuyo SA.

• Thursday, August 22nd 2013 - 23:40 UTC

  Brazil fuel prices remain unchanged for now…despite growing losses of Petrobras

  

  Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has not yet discussed raising gasoline and diesel prices to support state-run oil producer Petrobras, said her spokesperson in response to local media reports on Thursday.