• Uruguay’s Congress votes to allow same-sex marriage

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    People look on as Uruguay's Congress discussed a bill to allow same-sex marriages on April 10, 2013, making it the second country in predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America to do so. Seventy-one of 92 lawmakers in the lower house of Congress voted in favor of the proposal, one week after the Senate passed it by a wide majority. Leftist President Jose Mujica, a former guerrilla fighter, is expected to sign the bill into law.

    Reuters reports:

    "I agree that family is the basis of society but I also believe that love is the basis of family. And love is neither homosexual nor heterosexual," said opposition lawmaker Fernando Amado of the center-right Colorado Party.

    Uruguay is the 12th country to pass a law of this kind, according to Human Rights Watch. In Latin America, Argentina also has approved gay marriage and it is allowed in Mexico City and some parts of Brazil.

  • Andres Stapff / Reuters

    Gaucho and horse a study in concentration

    A gaucho rides an unbroken horse during the annual celebration of Criolla Week in Montevideo, Uruguay, on March 25, 2013.

    Throughout Easter Week gauchos, the Latin American equivalent of the North American cowboy, from all over Uruguay and neighboring Argentina and Brazil visit Montevideo to compete for the award of best rider.

  • Heavy winds topple pedestrians, trees, in Montevideo, Uruguay

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    People help each other to cross the street during a heavy wind storm in Montevideo, on Sept. 19.

    Miguel Rojo / AFP - Getty Images

    A woman tries to cross a street in Montevideo as strong winds batter the Uruguayan coast on Sept. 19.

    Mario Goldman / AFP - Getty Images

    A rope was stretched between the presidential Executive Tower and the former presidential palace in Montevideo, Uruguay to help people cross the street on Sept. 19, as heavy winds battered the coastal town.

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    A woman falls to the ground during a heavy wind storm in Montevideo, Uruguay on Sept. 19.

    According to local media reports, a storm that blew through the coastal town of Montevideo, Uruguay had winds reaching speeds of over 112 mph this afternoon.

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    A man walks along a street during a storm as a fallen tree is seen in the background during a heavy wind storm in Montevideo, Uruguay on Sept 19.

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  • Gauchos go for a wild ride at Uruguay festival

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    A gaucho rides an untamed horse during the Patria Gaucha Festival in Tacuarembo, Uruguay, on March 8, 2012.

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    A gaucho is thrown off an untamed horse.

    Andres Stapff / Reuters

    People carry a gaucho out of the field after he was thrown off by an untamed horse.

    The Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha is held each year in the Uruguayan town of Tacuarembo to celebrate the preservation of the country's rural traditions.

  • Juan Mabromata / AFP - Getty Images

    Uruguayan players raise the trophy at the end of the 2011 Copa America soccer tournament final against Paraguay held at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 24. Uruguay won 3-0.

    Uruguay routs Paraguay to win Copa America

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    Uruguay's soccer team followed up its success in reaching the semifinal of last year's World Cup with a record-breaking 15th victory in the Copa America. Read more at NBC Sports.