
Brazilian public notary Claudia do Nascimento Domingues set off a firestorm by granting Brazil's first civil union to a trio, an act so unprecedented that there isn't a word for it in Portuguese.

The Brazilian economy expanded 0.4% in the second quarter of the year over the previous three months, and 0.5% over the same period a year ago, according to the latest release from the country’s official Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.

Mitt Romney has pledged to restore the promise of America, as he accepted the Republican presidential nomination at the party's convention in Florida. The former Massachusetts governor accused President Barack Obama of failing to deliver on his soaring promises of hope and change. Mr Romney will challenge the Democratic president in November's election.

Argentina has no interest whatsoever in fisheries conservation, Chair of the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA) Cheryl Roberts stated this week, and Director of Natural Resources John Barton believes an Argentine action aimed at undermining the Falklands fishery is likely to have a negative impact on their own fishery.

The Falkland Islands Executive Council has officially approved that a referendum be held on the question of the political status of the Falkland Islands and announced that the Electoral Commission has agreed to assist with developing the form of the question and the wording and give a bespoke advisory service including providing guidance.

“We’re a free country with dignity and national pride; we are nobody’s employee or subordinate” challenged Argentine president Cristina Fernandez after it was revealed that the US, Spain and Germany at the Inter American Development bank (IDB) had voted against granting the country a loan.

Argentine credit card purchases abroad will be charged with an additional 15% income tax advance, AFIP tax agency reported on Thursday. The extra amount will be deductible from the income tax and the personal assets tax.

Foreign minister Alfredo Moreno ratified Chilean support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands during a meeting with a delegation from Andean countries belonging to the “Solidarity Group with Malvinas”.

Iran has no interest in nuclear weapons but will keep pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told heads of state from developing countries in Tehran.

China has signed a deal to buy 50 planes worth 3.5bn dollars from Europe's Airbus. The agreement is part of a slew of trade deals signed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the start of a two-day visit to China.