South America

LIMA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Peruvian ex-President Pedro Castillo's pre-trial detention in prison was extended to 18 months on Thursday, amid a deepening diplomatic spat with left-leaning countries opposed to his removal and as deadly protests extended into a second week.

At least 15 people have been killed in the protests, according to statements from authorities.

A judicial panel within the Supreme Court ordered the extended period of pre-trial detention for Castillo as prosecutors continued an investigation into criminal charges against him.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was not invited to a summit of Western Hemisphere leaders in June. But by October, he traveled to Egypt for a conference where he joked with French President Emmanuel Macron and shook hands with John Kerry, the U.S. government’s climate envoy.

The encounters, with a towering Maduro graciously smiling throughout, were carefully captured on video, posted on social media and broadcast on Venezuela’s state television.

LIMA, Dec 13 (Reuters) - As Peru careers from one political crisis to another, the country has exploded in protest, with at least seven dead in the last week and the smoke of fires and tear gas hanging over city streets. A way out seems distant.

The spark of the current unrest was the ouster and arrest of leftist leader Pedro Castillo after he tried to dissolve Congress illegally. It followed a months-long standoff where lawmakers impeached him three times, the final time removing him from office.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The streets of Argentina turned into a party Tuesday as the national team beat Croatia by a comfortable 3-0 and earned this soccer-crazed South American country a spot in the World Cup final.

Fans poured onto the streets of the capital of Buenos Aires as soon as the match ended, with people waving Argentina flags out of their cars while others jumped and sang in joy amid a sea of wearing the national team’s jersey.

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 12 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Aerolineas Argentinas company confirmed the departure of another flight for Qatar taking fans of the Argentine soccer team to support it in the semifinal match against Croatia.    

The AR1146 will leave from Ezeiza International Airport at 14:55, local time, and will arrive in Doha on Monday at 17:05.

Moreover, it announced that other flights are scheduled (Dec.12 and 16) in case the Argentine team manages to advance to the cup final, slated for Dec.18.

The flights last about 20 hours and stop over in Rome, Italy .

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru’s newest president, Dina Boluarte, gave in to protesters’ demands early Monday announcing in a nationally televised address that she will send Congress a proposal to move up elections.

Boluarte’s decision came after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets around Peru for another day on Sunday to demand that she resign and schedule elections to replace her and Congress. The protests turned deadly, with at least two reported deaths in a remote community in the Andes, according to officials.

BRASILIA, Dec 11 (NNN-TELESUR) — President-elect Lula da Silva thanked President Xi Jinping for his interest in strengthening relations between Brazil and China.

“Today I received with satisfaction a letter from President Xi Jinping, reinforcing his congratulations on the election result, the friendship and global strategic partnership between our countries, and the long-term vision of relations between Brazil and China,” Lula said.

BRASILIA, Dec 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday named former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, viewed unfavorably by many in the business community, as his finance minister.

Lula da Silva, who narrowly defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in October elections, unveiled ministers in the key posts of foreign affairs, justice, defense, and chief of staff.

BRASILIA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke his silence on Friday for the first time since his election defeat on Oct. 30 and spoke to supporters calling for a military coup to stop leftist President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva taking office.

Bolsonaro said he had kept silent for almost 40 days, adding, "it hurts my soul."

"Who decides where I go are you. Who decides which way the armed forces go are you," Bolsonaro told his supporters at the gates of the presidential residence.

LIMA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Peru's new President Dina Boluarte on Friday acknowledged the possibility of holding the next elections earlier than scheduled.

"If the situation warrants it," the government will be in talks with the political and democratic forces of Congress on bringing forward elections, Boluarte told local media.