
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin praised outgoing fellow political veteran Silvio Berlusconi and defended his own decision to remain in power for years to come in front of an audience of foreign experts.

Argentina complained Friday that Prince William's six-week mission as a rescue pilot in the Falkland Islands, the object of a 1982 British-Argentine war, is a provocative act.

As authorities work to pacify Brazil's slums ahead of two global sporting events, police in Rio de Janeiro captured one of the city's most notorious drug traffickers.

President Cristina Fernández met on Thursday with the new president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA), Monsignor José María Arancedo. CFK decided to meet with the Santa Fe province archibishop after he was named as the new Episcopate leader on Tuesday for a three year term, replacing Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has dismissed claims of corruption against Brazilian football chief Ricardo Teixeira.Teixeira has faced bribery and fraud accusations in recent weeks, as he continues the task of preparing Brazil to host the World Cup in 2014.

While a sixth cabinet minister faces allegations of fraud, Brazil’s Solicitors Association has stated that corruption in the country has become “unbearable” and called on the Supreme Tribunal to rapidly implement the Clean Record bill.

President Cristina Fernández met on Thursday with newly appointed Argentine ambassador to the US Jorge Argüello at the Olivos presidential residency, and instructed him to improve bilateral ties “to their best possible levels.”

Prince William will be posted on a tour of duty to the Falkland Islands next year, the Royal Air Force said Thursday in a statement. The South Atlantic Islands are disputed by Argentina.

A close Senator and advisor to President Cristina Fernandez denied on Wednesday the Argentine leader is interested in staying in power beyond 2015 and said a constitutional amendment “is not viable”.

Jorge Argüello was appointed as the new Argentine Ambassador to the United States by President Cristina Fernández, according to a release from the Foreign Affairs ministry. Government sources in Buenos Aires said Argüello, who currently represents Argentina before the United Nations, will replace Alfredo Chiaradia in Washington DC.