LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's new president said Monday it was "worrisome" that China is not part of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership but his government would seek ratification for U.S. President Barack Obama's signature trade deal.

MANAGUA (Reuters) - An opposition contender for Nicaragua's November presidential election said on Monday he would end his candidacy, the latest sign that President Daniel Ortega's re-election is becoming a mere formality.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin qualifies as money, a federal judge ruled on Monday, in a decision linked to a criminal case over hacking attacks against JPMorgan Chase & Co and other companies.

WELLINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Super Rugby fixtures for 2017 (kickoff times GMT):

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. industrial conglomerate General Electric Co will invest $10 billion in Argentina over the next decade, Vice Chairman John Rice said on Monday, the latest foreign company to announce new plans since President Mauricio Macri took office.

(Reuters) - U.S. health officials on Monday urged pregnant women to consider putting off nonessential travel to Miami due to the Zika virus even as they lifted a travel warning for one neighborhood. Earlier in the day, Florida's governor declared the neighborhood of Wynwood Zika-free and invited visitors to return.

DENVER (Reuters) - Barrick Gold Inc's Veladero gold mine in Argentina, one of its five core mines, could resume operations in the next two weeks, Barrick President Kelvin Dushnisky said in an interview on Monday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several defendants charged in a wide-ranging corruption case involving soccer's global governing body FIFA are in talks with U.S. officials about possibly pleading guilty, a U.S. prosecutor said on Monday.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Paine strengthened off Mexico's Pacific coast on Monday, though the storm is forecast to weaken substantially before reaching land later this week, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.