
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.

By John Fowler - In the first of a planned series of extended articles written exclusively for the Penguin News web site, Deputy Editor John Fowler examines the causes of the frustration felt by many Falkland Islanders in the face of the recent plethora of statements issuing from the Argentine propaganda machine

Mercosur expectations must be lowered and made to prosper in energy integration, infrastructure and trade, said a Uruguayan leading economist adding that without sounding dramatic “we must follow our interests”.

A top Uruguayan official said the country has the support of Brazil regarding the controversy triggered when President Nicholas Sarkozy as host and ‘rapporteur’ of the recent G20 summit named Uruguay in the list of the world’s most notorious fiscal havens.

The Unasur Defence Council is scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday in Peru to address an action plan for 2012, which once approved will help estimate and compare in a more compatible way military expenditure.

Brazilian police made two key arrests Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro's biggest favela (slum) as they ready to take control of the area from drug traffickers, in anticipation of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

Stock markets in Asia opened sharply lower on Thursday after Italy's record-high cost of borrowing renewed fears over the Euro-zone crisis. Japan's Nikkei index fell 2.3%, Australia's ASX was down 2.8% while South Korea's Kospi opened 2.6% lower.

British members of parliament visiting Falklands say UK will keep diplomatic channels with Argentine open, but will pursue other options for communications and trade

Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly members Mike Summers and Roger Edwards are visiting St. Kitts and Nevis in then Caribbean this week to attend Commonwealth Games Federation meetings and hold talks with government ministers.