South America

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pressure was mounting on Peru’s interim president to resign Sunday after a night of protests in which two people were killed and the country’s political turmoil deepened.

At least eight of Manuel Merino’s Cabinet members had resigned by early Sunday and the president of Congress scheduled an emergency session to discuss the leader’s resignation.

SAO PAULO, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) on Wednesday authorized the resumption of clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac, developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical producer Sinovac Biotech.

The move comes after Anvisa suspended phase three of the trials on Monday due to a "serious adverse event," believed to be the death of a volunteer.

According to the Civil Police, the death occured by suicide and was unrelated to the vaccine.

LA PAZ, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government of President Luis Arce resumed diplomatic relations with Iran and Venezuela, Bolivia's Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

Both Iran and Venezuela have immediately appointed their ambassadors to Bolivia, a year after Bolivia's opposition-backed interim government, led by Jeanine Anez, broke off relations with them.

The Ambassadors of Iran, Morteza Tafreshi, and Venezuela, Alexander Yanez, presented their credentials to Arce on Wednesday morning.

BOGOTA, Nov 11 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – An explosion at a coal mine in the Colombian city of Topaga, in the central department of Boyaca, which was caused by the accumulation of gases, left two people dead and another two injured, local authorities said.

“Two of the workers were found without vital signs and with severe burns,” Topaga’s mayor Alvaro Barrera said.

Members of the National Mining Agency, Boyaca Police and Civil Defence arrived at the scene after the explosion was reported to begin rescue efforts, he said.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Several Pentagon officials resigned on Tuesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Among them are acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Anderson, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Joseph Kernan and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense Jen Stewart, according to a statement.

Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist "remains in his position and continues to execute his responsibilities," the statement said.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s health regulator has halted clinical trials of the potential coronavirus vaccine CoronaVac, citing an “adverse, serious event.”

The decision posted on Anvisa’s website Monday night elicited immediate surprise from parties involved in producing the vaccine.

LA PAZ, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Luis Arce, winner of the Oct. 18 general elections in Bolivia, took office on Sunday as the new president of the South American country for the next five years.

"I stand before you with great excitement, but also a deep sense of responsibility for the promises made during the political campaign and my commitment to fulfill each one of them," Arce, 57, said in his first speech as head of state.

"We are going to govern for everyone in peace and unity," added Arce, whose victory brought Bolivia's Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) back to power.

LIMA, Nov 7 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Four South American countries joined forces this week in a bid to combat illegal fishing by huge Chinese fleets off their coasts.

Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru threatened measures “to prevent, discourage and jointly confront” illegal fishing near their exclusive economic zones in the Pacific.

The joint statement made no specific mention of China but environmental groups Greenpeace and Oceana have repeatedly warned of the growing presence of massive Chinese fishing fleets in the area.

MEDELLIN, Colombia (AP) — Two Venezuelan businessmen once convicted in the U.S. as unregistered agents of the late Hugo Chavez have scored a major victory in a Miami courtroom in a bitter fight for control of the South American country’s largest private airline.

While Avior Airlines has largely been grounded by U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic, the investors hope to recover at least some of its assets, including a regional airline in neighboring Colombia.

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Demands to stop the vote count. Baseless accusations of fraud. Claims that the opposition is trying to “steal” the election.

Across the world, many were scratching their heads Friday – especially in countries that have long been advised by Washington on how to run elections -- wondering if those assertions could truly be coming from the president of the United States, the nation considered one of the world’s most emblematic democracies.