South America

BRASILIA, Sept 14 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva swore in three new ministers Wednesday in the first reform of his cabinet to broaden the government’s allied base.

The new cabinet members, Andre Fufuca (Progressives Party) and Silvio Costa Filho (Republicans Party), assumed the posts of Minister of Sports and Minister of Ports and Airports, respectively.

LIMA, Sept 14 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 10 people were killed and nine others injured after a minivan and a dump truck collided head-on on Tuesday night in southern Peru’s Arequipa region, media reported Wednesday.

The accident took place at the entrance of a tunnel at about 9:10 p.m. local time (1410 GMT) and two minors were among the dead, the reports said.

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to help the victims and clear the road.

Local police have started a preliminary investigation to determine the causes of the accident.

CHINCHINA (Colombia), Sept 14 (NNN-KBC) — Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has appealed to Colombia to partner with Kenya to boost coffee trade in Kenya.

Speaking while attending a Meeting with the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation in Chinchina, Colombia, the DP said that Kenya is on its way to reclaim its glory in the Coffee trade through overseeing reforms in the sector.

QUITO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso on Monday presented the country's army with 20 Turkish-made Cobra II armored vehicles to help fight organized crime.

"Today I am pleased to deliver these 20 Turkish-made Cobra II vehicles," Lasso said during the handover ceremony in the capital Quito, adding that 15 more units will arrive in October.

"This fleet will serve to defend our sovereignty and our security," he said.

Sept 11 (Reuters) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rowed back on Monday from saying Brazil would ignore a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, while saying he would review Brazil's membership in the International Criminal Court.

On Saturday, while in India for a Group of 20 nations meeting, Lula told a local interviewer that there was "no way" Putin would be arrested if he attended next year's summit, which is due to be held in Rio de Janeiro.

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile on Monday was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, which ushered in a brutal military dictatorship that lasted almost 17 years.

The commemoration began with a ceremony at the La Moneda presidential palace, which was bombed by warplanes at the start of the coup.

LIMA, Sept 11 (NNN-ANDINA) — The United Kingdom (on Nov 9, 2022) was the last country to allow visa-free entry of Peruvians into its territory. 

It is worth knowing that there are other countries like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and more, where Peruvian nationals can travel using only their passport and/or ID card.

SANTIAGO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The presidents of Chile and Mexico called for the strengthening of democracy in Latin America during a joint address on Sunday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a 1973 coup in Chile, hours after a peaceful march culminated in violent clashes with police.

Monday will mark half a century since the overthrow of President Salvador Allende by the regime of General Augusto Pinochet, which ushered in 17 years of brutal military rule that saw some 40,000 people imprisoned, disappeared, tortured or killed.

SANTIAGO, Sept 9 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font and his four living predecessors signed a so-called “commitment for democracy” document as the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état that brought General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte to power between 1973 and 1990 looms over.

The present and past heads of state Eduardo Frei (1994-2000), Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006), Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010/2014-2018), and Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014/2018-2022) sought to “defend democracy from authoritarian threats,” it was explained at La Moneda.

CARACAS, Sept 9 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Venezuela’s National Assembly gave the green light for President Nicolás Maduro to leave the country on an international tour of “friendly” nations, it was reported in Caracas.

The Legislative Branch unanimously approved a request for the head of state to be absent for more than five days on a State visit to the People’s Republic of China and other friendly countries “in representation of the highest interests of the nation,” according to Congress Speaker Jorge Rodríguez.