Pope Francis said on Monday he was really afraid about the danger of nuclear war and that the world now stood at &quot;the very limit&quot;.

His comment, made as he flew off for a visit to Chile and Peru, came after Hawaii issued a false missile alert that provoked panic in the U.S. state and highlighted the risk of possible unintended nuclear war with North Korea.

Asked if he was worried about the possibility of nuclear war, Pope Francis said: &quot;I think we are at the very limit. I am really afraid of this. One accident is enough to precipitate things.&quot;

He did not mention Hawaii or North Korea.

Pope Francis has often flagged the danger of nuclear warfare and in November he appeared to harden the Catholic Church&rsquo;s teaching against nuclear weapons, saying countries should not stockpile them even for the purpose of deterrence.

As reporters boarded his plane bound for Chile, Vatican officials handed out a photograph taken in 1945 that shows a young Japanese boy carrying his dead brother on his shoulders following the U.S. nuclear attack on Nagasaki.

&quot;I was moved when I saw this. The only thing I could think of adding were the words &#39;the fruit of war&#39;,&quot; Francis said, referring to a caption put on the back of the image.

&quot;I wanted to have it reprinted and distributed because an image like this can be more moving than a thousand words. That is why I wanted to share it with you,&quot; he said.

His comment, made as he flew off for a visit to Chile and Peru, came after Hawaii issued a false missile alert that provoked panic in the U.S. state and highlighted the risk of possible unintended nuclear war with North Korea.

Pope Francis said on Monday he was really afraid about the danger of nuclear war and that the world now stood at "the very limit". His comment, made as he flew off for a visit to Chile and Peru, came after Hawaii issued a false missile alert that provoked panic in the U.S. state and highlighted the risk of possible unintended nuclear war with North Korea. Asked if he was worried about the possibility of nuclear war, Pope Francis said: "I think we are at the very limit. I am really afraid of this. One accident is enough to precipitate things." He did not mention Hawaii or North Korea. Pope Francis has often flagged the danger of nuclear warfare and in November he appeared to harden the Catholic Church’s teaching against nuclear weapons, saying countries should not stockpile them even for the purpose of deterrence. As reporters boarded his plane bound for Chile, Vatican officials handed out a photograph taken in 1945 that shows a young Japanese boy carrying his dead brother on his shoulders following the U.S. nuclear attack on Nagasaki. "I was moved when I saw this. The only thing I could think of adding were the words 'the fruit of war'," Francis said, referring to a caption put on the back of the image. "I wanted to have it reprinted and distributed because an image like this can be more moving than a thousand words. That is why I wanted to share it with you," he said.

Pope warns world is one step away from nuclear war

Peru&#39;s ailing former leader Alberto Fujimori on Tuesday asked the public for forgiveness, two days after receiving a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/violent-clashes-in-peru-after-fujimoris-release-27775" target="_blank">presidential pardon that sparked street protests</a>.

&quot;I am aware that the results of my government were well received on one side, but I admit that I have let down other compatriots, and I ask them to forgive me with all my heart,&quot; Fujimori said in a Facebook video filmed from his hospital bed.

The 79-year-old had been serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuses committed during his time in office from 1990 to 2000.

He was transferred from prison to a hospital on Saturday after suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, the latest in a string of hospitalizations.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ordered the pardon of Fujimori and seven other prisoners Sunday on humanitarian grounds, placing himself in the middle of a political crisis just days after he avoided impeachment.

On Monday Peruvian police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters marching against the pardon.

They called for the departure from office of Kuczynski, who later defended his decision in a televised message to the nation.

&quot;I am convinced that those of us who feel democratic should not allow Alberto Fujimori to die in prison, because justice is not revenge,&quot; Kuczynski said in his address Monday night.

&quot;It is about the health and chances of life of a former president of Peru who, having committed excesses and grave errors, was sentenced and has already completed 12 years&quot; in prison, he said.

Anti-riot police moved through the streets of Lima on Monday to prevent demonstrators from heading to the clinic where Fujimori is hospitalized, firing tear gas canisters and erecting barricades to disperse them.

&quot;Out, out PPK! Out, out PPK!&quot; demonstrators chanted in reference to the current president, who had promised during his electoral campaign the previous year that he would not free Fujimori.

&quot;Fujimori, murderer and thief. No to the pardon!&quot; read one of the signs held by the protesters, some of whom also carried a giant Peruvian flag. 
Relatives of victims of Fujimori`s brutal rule took part in the march.

&quot;We are here as relatives to reject this illegal pardon because it does not correspond to the gravity of the crimes,&quot; Gisella Ortiz, representative of a group of families of victims, told reporters.

Kuczynski had earlier said his decision to grant the pardon relied on a medical evaluation that Fujimori suffered a progressive and incurable illness and that conditions in prison &quot;represent a grave risk to his life.&quot;

But the move came after Fujimori&#39;s son Kenji drained votes away from a parliamentary bid Thursday to impeach Kuczynski on suspicion of corruption, sparking speculation the pardon was political.

&nbsp;

The 79-year-old had been serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuses committed during his time in office from 1990 to 2000.

Peru's ailing former leader Alberto Fujimori on Tuesday asked the public for forgiveness, two days after receiving a presidential pardon that sparked street protests. "I am aware that the results of my government were well received on one side, but I admit that I have let down other compatriots, and I ask them to forgive me with all my heart," Fujimori said in a Facebook video filmed from his hospital bed. The 79-year-old had been serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and human rights abuses committed during his time in office from 1990 to 2000. He was transferred from prison to a hospital on Saturday after suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, the latest in a string of hospitalizations. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ordered the pardon of Fujimori and seven other prisoners Sunday on humanitarian grounds, placing himself in the middle of a political crisis just days after he avoided impeachment. On Monday Peruvian police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters marching against the pardon. They called for the departure from office of Kuczynski, who later defended his decision in a televised message to the nation. "I am convinced that those of us who feel democratic should not allow Alberto Fujimori to die in prison, because justice is not revenge," Kuczynski said in his address Monday night. "It is about the health and chances of life of a former president of Peru who, having committed excesses and grave errors, was sentenced and has already completed 12 years" in prison, he said. Anti-riot police moved through the streets of Lima on Monday to prevent demonstrators from heading to the clinic where Fujimori is hospitalized, firing tear gas canisters and erecting barricades to disperse them. "Out, out PPK! Out, out PPK!" demonstrators chanted in reference to the current president, who had promised during his electoral campaign the previous year that he would not free Fujimori. "Fujimori, murderer and thief. No to the pardon!" read one of the signs held by the protesters, some of whom also carried a giant Peruvian flag. Relatives of victims of Fujimori`s brutal rule took part in the march. "We are here as relatives to reject this illegal pardon because it does not correspond to the gravity of the crimes," Gisella Ortiz, representative of a group of families of victims, told reporters. Kuczynski had earlier said his decision to grant the pardon relied on a medical evaluation that Fujimori suffered a progressive and incurable illness and that conditions in prison "represent a grave risk to his life." But the move came after Fujimori's son Kenji drained votes away from a parliamentary bid Thursday to impeach Kuczynski on suspicion of corruption, sparking speculation the pardon was political.

'Forgive me' ex-Peru leader Fujimori says after pardon protests

The police authorities in Peru had a tough time dealing with protesters, who were demonstrating against the official pardon of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori.

Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the decision and chanted &quot;No to the pardon!&quot;

The police clashed with the demonstrators with the help of tear-gas and water cannons.

Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years after he was convicted of corruption and human rights violation charges in 2009.

He was pardoned by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Christmas Eve due to the latter`s frail health.

Fujimori has heart-related ailments and is also diabetic.

A medical panel determined that Fujimori had a progressive, degenerative and incurable disease and the jail conditions presented a grave risk to his life and health.

He was rushed to the hospital on Sunday due to low blood pressure, shortly after his release from the prison.

The decision has triggered several outrageous protests across the country as the former president is seen as a deeply divisive figure and a corrupt dictator by the public in Peru.&nbsp;

Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years after he was convicted of corruption and human rights violation charges in 2009

The police authorities in Peru had a tough time dealing with protesters, who were demonstrating against the official pardon of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori. Thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the decision and chanted "No to the pardon!" The police clashed with the demonstrators with the help of tear-gas and water cannons. Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years after he was convicted of corruption and human rights violation charges in 2009. He was pardoned by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on Christmas Eve due to the latter`s frail health. Fujimori has heart-related ailments and is also diabetic. A medical panel determined that Fujimori had a progressive, degenerative and incurable disease and the jail conditions presented a grave risk to his life and health. He was rushed to the hospital on Sunday due to low blood pressure, shortly after his release from the prison. The decision has triggered several outrageous protests across the country as the former president is seen as a deeply divisive figure and a corrupt dictator by the public in Peru.

Violent clashes in Peru after Fujimori's release

Peru&#39;s jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and rights abuses, has been pardoned on humanitarian grounds, the presidency announced on Sunday.

&quot;The president of the republic... has decided to grant a humanitarian pardon to Mr Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition,&quot; it said in a statement.

Fujimori was transferred from his cell to a clinic Saturday suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat.

The 79-year-old had a &quot;sudden drop of pressure with marked arrhythmia,&quot; doctors said.

&quot;He is making adequate progress in the intensive care unit,&quot; said his physician Alejandro Aguinaga. &quot;He will remain hospitalized for as long as necessary, until he has stabilized.&quot;

Fujimori, in office from 1990 to 2000 and imprisoned since 2005, was admitted amid rumors that he could be pardoned this Christmas.

Speculation about a pardon arose after his lawmaker son Kenji broke ranks with the ex-president&#39;s daughter Keiko, who leads the Peruvian opposition and was pushing last week to impeach President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.&nbsp;

That allowed Kuczynski to survive a Congressional session on whether to impeach him. Analysts debated whether the president would pay off his political debt to Kenji Fujimori by pardoning his disgraced father.

Fujimori has been admitted to hospital on several previous occasions, the last time in September.&nbsp;

Despite his conviction for human rights abuses, Fujimori retains a level of popularity in Peru for having defeated the Marxist guerillas of The Shining Path and for stabilizing the economy after a period of crisis.&nbsp;

On Thursday Kuczynski survived a 14-hour session in Congress that failed by eight votes to institute impeachment proceedings.

Kuczynski had been accused of taking $5 million in bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and then lying to cover his tracks.

He insists the money was simply a legitimate consulting fee.

Keiko Fujimori lost to Kuczynski in last year&#39;s presidential election and is herself facing questioning linked to the sprawling Odebrecht graft investigation. 
&nbsp;

Peru's jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and rights abuses

Peru's jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and rights abuses, has been pardoned on humanitarian grounds, the presidency announced on Sunday. "The president of the republic... has decided to grant a humanitarian pardon to Mr Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition," it said in a statement. Fujimori was transferred from his cell to a clinic Saturday suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. The 79-year-old had a "sudden drop of pressure with marked arrhythmia," doctors said. "He is making adequate progress in the intensive care unit," said his physician Alejandro Aguinaga. "He will remain hospitalized for as long as necessary, until he has stabilized." Fujimori, in office from 1990 to 2000 and imprisoned since 2005, was admitted amid rumors that he could be pardoned this Christmas. Speculation about a pardon arose after his lawmaker son Kenji broke ranks with the ex-president's daughter Keiko, who leads the Peruvian opposition and was pushing last week to impeach President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. That allowed Kuczynski to survive a Congressional session on whether to impeach him. Analysts debated whether the president would pay off his political debt to Kenji Fujimori by pardoning his disgraced father. Fujimori has been admitted to hospital on several previous occasions, the last time in September. Despite his conviction for human rights abuses, Fujimori retains a level of popularity in Peru for having defeated the Marxist guerillas of The Shining Path and for stabilizing the economy after a period of crisis. On Thursday Kuczynski survived a 14-hour session in Congress that failed by eight votes to institute impeachment proceedings. Kuczynski had been accused of taking $5 million in bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and then lying to cover his tracks. He insists the money was simply a legitimate consulting fee. Keiko Fujimori lost to Kuczynski in last year's presidential election and is herself facing questioning linked to the sprawling Odebrecht graft investigation.

Peru's ailing ex-president Fujimori pardoned

Peru became the last side to clinch their place at next year&#39;s World Cup finals when goals in each half from Jefferson Farfan and Christian Ramos gave them a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the second leg of their inter-confederation playoff on Wednesday.

The teams played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wellington on Saturday and although both sides had chances in a tense match in Lima, Peru were more clinical in front of goal.

The Peruvians, who last went to the World Cup finals in 1982, celebrated with abandon when the final whistle went and were guaranteed a day to recover after the government promised a national holiday.

&quot;This is a dream come true and now it is time to celebrate,&quot; Christian Cueva, the gifted left winger who had a hand in creating both goals, told reporters as the players completed a boisterous lap of honour.

&quot;Now we have to keep working and prepare for the finals.&quot;

Peru got their noses in front on 27 minutes when Farfan hammered home a fierce rising shot from just inside the penalty area to complete a sweeping counter-attack.

The home side could have scored more but an early drive from Luis Advincula hit the woodwork and All Whites keeper Stefan Marinovic did well to stop a bending drive from Miguel Trauco and then get a hand to Farfan&#39;s shot from the rebound.

New Zealand brought on Chris Wood at halftime in search of a vital away goal and a series of long balls to the towering Burnley striker managed to put Peru on the back foot in the early stages of the second period.

However, the Kiwis could not make their temporary control of the contest count and Ramos doubled Peru&#39;s lead after 64 minutes when he seized on a loose ball from a corner kick and lashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

The result extended Peru&#39;s unbeaten run to 10 games, their longest such streak in 75 years.

&quot;Mission accomplished, thank you,&quot; Ricardo Gareca, Peru&#39;s Argentine coach said after the game. &quot;We have managed something very important for the country. I am very emotional.&quot;

The South Americans are 10th in the latest FIFA rankings and will go into the second group of seeds when the draw for next year&#39;s tournament takes place in Moscow on Dec. 1.

The teams played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wellington on Saturday and although both sides had chances in a tense match in Lima, Peru were more clinical in front of goal.

Peru became the last side to clinch their place at next year's World Cup finals when goals in each half from Jefferson Farfan and Christian Ramos gave them a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the second leg of their inter-confederation playoff on Wednesday. The teams played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wellington on Saturday and although both sides had chances in a tense match in Lima, Peru were more clinical in front of goal. The Peruvians, who last went to the World Cup finals in 1982, celebrated with abandon when the final whistle went and were guaranteed a day to recover after the government promised a national holiday. "This is a dream come true and now it is time to celebrate," Christian Cueva, the gifted left winger who had a hand in creating both goals, told reporters as the players completed a boisterous lap of honour. "Now we have to keep working and prepare for the finals." Peru got their noses in front on 27 minutes when Farfan hammered home a fierce rising shot from just inside the penalty area to complete a sweeping counter-attack. The home side could have scored more but an early drive from Luis Advincula hit the woodwork and All Whites keeper Stefan Marinovic did well to stop a bending drive from Miguel Trauco and then get a hand to Farfan's shot from the rebound. New Zealand brought on Chris Wood at halftime in search of a vital away goal and a series of long balls to the towering Burnley striker managed to put Peru on the back foot in the early stages of the second period. However, the Kiwis could not make their temporary control of the contest count and Ramos doubled Peru's lead after 64 minutes when he seized on a loose ball from a corner kick and lashed it into the roof of the net from close range. The result extended Peru's unbeaten run to 10 games, their longest such streak in 75 years. "Mission accomplished, thank you," Ricardo Gareca, Peru's Argentine coach said after the game. "We have managed something very important for the country. I am very emotional." The South Americans are 10th in the latest FIFA rankings and will go into the second group of seeds when the draw for next year's tournament takes place in Moscow on Dec. 1.

Football: Peru down New Zealand to complete World Cup lineup

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said he asked U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday to consider deporting the Andean country&#39;s fugitive ex-leader Alejandro Toledo, and thanked Israel for agreeing to deny him entry.

Kuczynski&#39;s government believes that Toledo, wanted in connection with a far-reaching graft probe, is in the United States but it said that efforts to capture him there have stalled on legal hurdles.

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Toledo said on Twitter that he did not flee Peru but was not given the right to a fair trial in a ongoing inquiry into bribes distributed by Brazilian builder Odebrecht.

Kuczynski did not describe Trump&#39;s response to his request in a statement or in a televised address he gave about the corruption probe that has ensnared Toledo, who governed Peru from 2001 to 2005 when Kuczynski was finance minister and prime minister.

The White House did not mention Toledo in a read-out of the conversation and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Late on Thursday, a Peruvian judge issued an international arrest warrant for Toledo after prosecutors accused him of taking $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht.

The downfall of Toledo, once a celebrated anti-graft and pro-democracy crusader in Peru, is part of the rapidly-growing fallout of the biggest region-wide corruption scandal to grip Latin America.

But the United States wants Peru to provide more evidence of probable cause before ordering Toledo&#39;s detention in the United States, Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio told Reuters.

The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment.

The dispute threatens to strain tensions between the United States and Peru, a traditional U.S. ally in South America and one of the world&#39;s biggest producers of cocaine.

Kuczynski said he also sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to thank him for agreeing to prevent Toledo from entering Israel, which unlike the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Peru.

Israel, where Toledo&#39;s wife has citizenship, said earlier on Sunday that Toledo would only be allowed into Israel when he &quot;settles his matters&quot; in Peru after Lima warned that he had booked a Saturday night flight from San Francisco to Tel Aviv.

Toledo did not board the flight.

Kuczynski, 78, spent years working on Wall Street and once held U.S. citizenship, but his ardent support for free-trade and defense of migrants cuts a stark contrast to Trump&#39;s politics.

Shortly after Kuczynski narrowly beat a right-wing populist in Peru&#39;s June run-off election last year, he joked that he would cut off ties with the United States if Trump won the U.S. election.

Kuczynski later congratulated Trump on his surprise victory but has also criticized the U.S. leader&#39;s proposal to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico to curb immigration.

Peru is one of several countries in Latin America that Trump has not mentioned much publicly as he focuses his foreign policy in the region on Mexico and Cuba.

Trump told Kuczynski he was concerned about developments in Venezuela, including the country&#39;s &quot;humanitarian situation,&quot; the White House said, echoing similar worries voiced by Kuczynski in the past.

(Reuters)

He also thanked Israel for agreeing to deny Alejandro Toledo entry

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said he asked U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday to consider deporting the Andean country's fugitive ex-leader Alejandro Toledo, and thanked Israel for agreeing to deny him entry. Kuczynski's government believes that Toledo, wanted in connection with a far-reaching graft probe, is in the United States but it said that efforts to capture him there have stalled on legal hurdles. Kuczynski's government believes that Toledo, wanted in connection with a far-reaching graft probe, is in the United States but it said that efforts to capture him there have stalled on legal hurdles × Toledo said on Twitter that he did not flee Peru but was not given the right to a fair trial in a ongoing inquiry into bribes distributed by Brazilian builder Odebrecht. Kuczynski did not describe Trump's response to his request in a statement or in a televised address he gave about the corruption probe that has ensnared Toledo, who governed Peru from 2001 to 2005 when Kuczynski was finance minister and prime minister. The White House did not mention Toledo in a read-out of the conversation and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Late on Thursday, a Peruvian judge issued an international arrest warrant for Toledo after prosecutors accused him of taking $20 million in bribes from Odebrecht. The downfall of Toledo, once a celebrated anti-graft and pro-democracy crusader in Peru, is part of the rapidly-growing fallout of the biggest region-wide corruption scandal to grip Latin America. But the United States wants Peru to provide more evidence of probable cause before ordering Toledo's detention in the United States, Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio told Reuters. The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment. The dispute threatens to strain tensions between the United States and Peru, a traditional U.S. ally in South America and one of the world's biggest producers of cocaine. Kuczynski said he also sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to thank him for agreeing to prevent Toledo from entering Israel, which unlike the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Peru. Israel, where Toledo's wife has citizenship, said earlier on Sunday that Toledo would only be allowed into Israel when he "settles his matters" in Peru after Lima warned that he had booked a Saturday night flight from San Francisco to Tel Aviv. Toledo did not board the flight. Kuczynski, 78, spent years working on Wall Street and once held U.S. citizenship, but his ardent support for free-trade and defense of migrants cuts a stark contrast to Trump's politics. Shortly after Kuczynski narrowly beat a right-wing populist in Peru's June run-off election last year, he joked that he would cut off ties with the United States if Trump won the U.S. election. Kuczynski later congratulated Trump on his surprise victory but has also criticized the U.S. leader's proposal to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico to curb immigration. Peru is one of several countries in Latin America that Trump has not mentioned much publicly as he focuses his foreign policy in the region on Mexico and Cuba. Trump told Kuczynski he was concerned about developments in Venezuela, including the country's "humanitarian situation," the White House said, echoing similar worries voiced by Kuczynski in the past. (Reuters)

Peru president asks Trump to consider deporting wanted ex-leader

A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered former president Alejandro Toledo to spend up to 18 months in jail while prosecutors prepare criminal charges against him for allegedly taking $20 million in bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA.

Toledo, who has denied taking any bribes related to a lucrative highway contract Odebrecht won in his 2001-2006 term, was in France last week.

His lawyer said Toledo would not flee but declined to say what country he was in.

Judge Richard Concepcion said Toledo should be sought for arrest in Peru and abroad.&nbsp;

The evidence uncovered so far in a far-reaching graft probe, including testimony from an Odebrecht executive and bank records, merits putting Toledo in &quot;preventive prison&quot; while charges of influence peddling and money laundering are prepared against him, Concepcion said.

If found guilty, Toledo could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, lead prosecutor Hamilton Castro said.

Odebrecht has been at the center of a growing graft scandal in Latin America since admitting to doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes from Peru to Panama.

The revelation, made in U.S. courts in December, threatens to implicate presidents and former presidents who once promoted the hydroelectric plants, highways and irrigation canals that Odebrecht has built in the past two decades.

Toledo &quot;laughed at Peruvian society, he laughed at the expectations Peruvian society had for...clean public work projects,&quot; Castro said in a public hearing.&nbsp;

Toledo`s attorney Heriberto Benitez said the evidence was not strong enough to jail Toledo without a trial, calling the move a hallmark of autocratic regimes.

Some $10 million in transfers from Odebrecht have been traced to offshore companies linked to Yosef Maiman, an Israeli businessman and longtime friend of Toledo tasked with receiving the bribes, Castro said.

Maiman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

Toledo was in France last week. Judge Richard Concepcion said he should be sought for arrest in Peru and abroad

A Peruvian judge on Thursday ordered former president Alejandro Toledo to spend up to 18 months in jail while prosecutors prepare criminal charges against him for allegedly taking $20 million in bribes from Brazilian builder Odebrecht SA. Toledo, who has denied taking any bribes related to a lucrative highway contract Odebrecht won in his 2001-2006 term, was in France last week. His lawyer said Toledo would not flee but declined to say what country he was in. Judge Richard Concepcion said Toledo should be sought for arrest in Peru and abroad. The evidence uncovered so far in a far-reaching graft probe, including testimony from an Odebrecht executive and bank records, merits putting Toledo in "preventive prison" while charges of influence peddling and money laundering are prepared against him, Concepcion said. If found guilty, Toledo could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, lead prosecutor Hamilton Castro said. Odebrecht has been at the center of a growing graft scandal in Latin America since admitting to doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes from Peru to Panama. The revelation, made in U.S. courts in December, threatens to implicate presidents and former presidents who once promoted the hydroelectric plants, highways and irrigation canals that Odebrecht has built in the past two decades. Toledo "laughed at Peruvian society, he laughed at the expectations Peruvian society had for...clean public work projects," Castro said in a public hearing. Toledo`s attorney Heriberto Benitez said the evidence was not strong enough to jail Toledo without a trial, calling the move a hallmark of autocratic regimes. Some $10 million in transfers from Odebrecht have been traced to offshore companies linked to Yosef Maiman, an Israeli businessman and longtime friend of Toledo tasked with receiving the bribes, Castro said. Maiman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reuters)

Peru: Judge orders 18 months of prison for ex-president Alejandro Toledo in corruption case

A German court will on Thursday hear a complaint by a Peruvian farmer who accuses energy giant RWE of contributing to the climate change that has caused glacial melting in the Andes, threatening his home and livelihood.

Saul Luciano Lliuya argues that RWE, as a major historic emitter of greenhouse gases, should share in the cost of protecting his hometown Huaraz from a nearby glacial lake that is at risk of overflowing from melting snow and ice.

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Luciano, who is also a mountain guide, filed the landmark lawsuit a year ago but Thursday&#39;s hearing at the regional court in Essen, where RWE is based, will mark the first time the two sides will come face to face.

Germanwatch, a pressure group advising Luciano, said the case was the first of its kind in Europe and could set a legal precedent.

&quot;The big contributors to climate change, such as RWE, must finally take responsibility for the consequences of their emissions,&quot; Luciano was quoted as saying in a statement on the Germanwatch website.

&quot;We in Peru have hardly contributed to climate change but have to live with the worst consequences.&quot;

But Germany&#39;s second-largest energy producer said it expected the judges to throw out the case.

&quot;We consider the complaint to be unfounded. There is no legal basis for the applicant&#39;s request,&quot; RWE spokesman Guido Steffen told AFP.

Luciano&#39;s German lawyer, Roda Verheyen, however claims that RWE is the &quot;top single-greatest CO2-emitter in Europe&quot; and says that according to a 2013 climate study it was responsible for 0.5 percent of the total emissions &quot;since the beginning of industrialisation&quot; -- making it at least partly responsible for Luciano&#39;s plight.

According to a court summary of the case, Luciano, who will be in Essen for the hearing, is asking RWE for 17,000 euros ($18,000) to help pay for flood defences for his community. He is also asking RWE to reimburse him for 6,300 euros he himself has spent on protective measures.

RWE has countered that the plaintiff has failed to demonstrate a clear link between CO2 emissions and the alleged flood danger, and that the act of emitting greenhouse gases was not against the law.

Court spokesman Johannes Hidding said judges could rule on the claim&#39;s admissibility as early as Thursday, or they could ask for more information and schedule further hearings before making a decision.

&#39;World belongs to all&#39; 
Luciano, a father of two, told AFP last year that he had spent his whole life watching climate change breaking the Andes glaciers apart.

&quot;Someone caused this,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#39;s not right to remain silent. The world belongs to all of us, not just the polluters.&quot;

His community in Peru&#39;s northern Ancash region believes that at the Palcacocha lake, there is a risk of massive flooding from ice chunks that could break off from surrounding glaciers and crash into the water, requiring a new drainage system and a reinforcement of the lake&#39;s dams.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a 2014 report that the lake is so swollen it has become a permanent threat.

RWE spokesman Steffen said the firm did not understand why it had been singled out for legal action.

&quot;We are making a huge contribution to the modernisation of coal-fired power plants in Germany&quot; to make them more efficient and reduce the output of CO2, he told AFP.

At the same time RWE was &quot;investing billions in renewable energy&quot;, he said, as part of Germany&#39;s switch from fossil fuels to clean energy such as wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power.

(AFP)

Saul Luciano accuses energy giant RWE of contributing to the climate change that has caused glacial melting in the Andes

A German court will on Thursday hear a complaint by a Peruvian farmer who accuses energy giant RWE of contributing to the climate change that has caused glacial melting in the Andes, threatening his home and livelihood. Saul Luciano Lliuya argues that RWE, as a major historic emitter of greenhouse gases, should share in the cost of protecting his hometown Huaraz from a nearby glacial lake that is at risk of overflowing from melting snow and ice. Germanwatch, a pressure group advising Luciano, said the case was the first of its kind in Europe and could set a legal precedent × Luciano, who is also a mountain guide, filed the landmark lawsuit a year ago but Thursday's hearing at the regional court in Essen, where RWE is based, will mark the first time the two sides will come face to face. Germanwatch, a pressure group advising Luciano, said the case was the first of its kind in Europe and could set a legal precedent. "The big contributors to climate change, such as RWE, must finally take responsibility for the consequences of their emissions," Luciano was quoted as saying in a statement on the Germanwatch website. "We in Peru have hardly contributed to climate change but have to live with the worst consequences." But Germany's second-largest energy producer said it expected the judges to throw out the case. "We consider the complaint to be unfounded. There is no legal basis for the applicant's request," RWE spokesman Guido Steffen told AFP. Luciano's German lawyer, Roda Verheyen, however claims that RWE is the "top single-greatest CO2-emitter in Europe" and says that according to a 2013 climate study it was responsible for 0.5 percent of the total emissions "since the beginning of industrialisation" -- making it at least partly responsible for Luciano's plight. According to a court summary of the case, Luciano, who will be in Essen for the hearing, is asking RWE for 17,000 euros ($18,000) to help pay for flood defences for his community. He is also asking RWE to reimburse him for 6,300 euros he himself has spent on protective measures. RWE has countered that the plaintiff has failed to demonstrate a clear link between CO2 emissions and the alleged flood danger, and that the act of emitting greenhouse gases was not against the law. Court spokesman Johannes Hidding said judges could rule on the claim's admissibility as early as Thursday, or they could ask for more information and schedule further hearings before making a decision. 'World belongs to all' Luciano, a father of two, told AFP last year that he had spent his whole life watching climate change breaking the Andes glaciers apart. "Someone caused this," he said. "It's not right to remain silent. The world belongs to all of us, not just the polluters." His community in Peru's northern Ancash region believes that at the Palcacocha lake, there is a risk of massive flooding from ice chunks that could break off from surrounding glaciers and crash into the water, requiring a new drainage system and a reinforcement of the lake's dams. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a 2014 report that the lake is so swollen it has become a permanent threat. RWE spokesman Steffen said the firm did not understand why it had been singled out for legal action. "We are making a huge contribution to the modernisation of coal-fired power plants in Germany" to make them more efficient and reduce the output of CO2, he told AFP. At the same time RWE was "investing billions in renewable energy", he said, as part of Germany's switch from fossil fuels to clean energy such as wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power. (AFP)

Peruvian farmer sues German energy giant over climate change

A 5.3 magnitude shallow earthquake killed at least four people and injured more than two dozen when it rocked a copper-producing region in Peru late on Sunday, authorities said. 
 
The quake was eight kilometres (5 miles) deep in the Caylloma province of the Andean region Arequipa and aftershocks continued to shake the region on Monday (August 15), the Geophysical Institute of Peru said. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake as having a 5.4 magnitude. 
 
The&nbsp;USGS&nbsp;categorises earthquakes as shallow&nbsp;(up to 70 kilometers or 43 miles), intermediate&nbsp;(70-300 kilometers or 43-186 miles) or deep&nbsp;(186-434 miles). 
 
The Caylloma province is home to Peru&#39;s Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world and a popular draw for trekkers. 
 
&quot;We are now working with heavy machinery to clean up the area and we expect it will be another four to six hours and hopefully we will then be able to reach the town of Yanque which has been the worst hit district with injured and possibly more dead. We are right now in the sector that was hit by the earthquake last night,&quot; mayor Romula Tinta of Yanque said. 
 
A 66-year-old US man was among four confirmed casualties, the National Civil Defense Institute said. 
 
Preliminary reports from affected areas indicated eight people may have been killed as dozens of homes collapsed in three towns, Arequipa governor Yamilia Osorio said on local broadcaster RPP. 
 
Phone lines and electrical service were down and roads were blocked by landslides, provincial Mayor Romulo Tinta said on RPP on Monday. 
 
Southern Copper Corp said its two copper mines and smelter in Arequipa were unaffected by the quake. Representatives of Freeport McMoRan Inc&#39;s Cerro Verde copper mine in Arequipa could not immediately be reached for comment. 
 
Vice president Martin Vizcarra travelled to Caylloma to oversee the distribution of humanitarian aide, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Twitter. 
 
The quake struck a day before the ninth anniversary of a 2007 earthquake in Peru that killed hundreds in the region of Ica. 
 
Many homes in Peru are built with precarious materials such as adobe that cannot withstand earthquakes.

The 5.3 magnitude earthquake rocked a copper-producing region in the Caylloma province

A 5.3 magnitude shallow earthquake killed at least four people and injured more than two dozen when it rocked a copper-producing region in Peru late on Sunday, authorities said. The quake was eight kilometres (5 miles) deep in the Caylloma province of the Andean region Arequipa and aftershocks continued to shake the region on Monday (August 15), the Geophysical Institute of Peru said. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake as having a 5.4 magnitude. The USGS categorises earthquakes as shallow (up to 70 kilometers or 43 miles), intermediate (70-300 kilometers or 43-186 miles) or deep (186-434 miles). The Caylloma province is home to Peru's Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world and a popular draw for trekkers. "We are now working with heavy machinery to clean up the area and we expect it will be another four to six hours and hopefully we will then be able to reach the town of Yanque which has been the worst hit district with injured and possibly more dead. We are right now in the sector that was hit by the earthquake last night," mayor Romula Tinta of Yanque said. A 66-year-old US man was among four confirmed casualties, the National Civil Defense Institute said. Preliminary reports from affected areas indicated eight people may have been killed as dozens of homes collapsed in three towns, Arequipa governor Yamilia Osorio said on local broadcaster RPP. Phone lines and electrical service were down and roads were blocked by landslides, provincial Mayor Romulo Tinta said on RPP on Monday. Southern Copper Corp said its two copper mines and smelter in Arequipa were unaffected by the quake. Representatives of Freeport McMoRan Inc's Cerro Verde copper mine in Arequipa could not immediately be reached for comment. Vice president Martin Vizcarra travelled to Caylloma to oversee the distribution of humanitarian aide, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said on Twitter. The quake struck a day before the ninth anniversary of a 2007 earthquake in Peru that killed hundreds in the region of Ica. Many homes in Peru are built with precarious materials such as adobe that cannot withstand earthquakes.

Earthquake in southern Peru kills 4

Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick as Brazil ramped up their Copa America campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over a hapless Haiti yesterday. 
 
Renato Augusto scored a brace and substitutes Lucas Lima and Gabriel also goaled for Brazil while James Marcelin put in Haiti&#39;s consolation goal. 
 
The scoreline, identical to Brazil&#39;s nightmare 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-final two years ago, took Brazil to the top of Group B with four points, ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador. 
 
Coutinho got Brazil off to a positive start in the Camping World stadium with a goal after 14 minutes when he skipped past a defender and hammered home from 20 metres out. 
 
He doubled Brazil&#39;s lead 15 minutes later thanks to Jonas, who was on hand to poke a loose ball across goal and leave the Liverpool player with the simplest of tap-ins. 
 
Renato Augusto made it three in 35 minutes when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right. 
 
Although the eight-times Copa America champions appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, they still created chances at will against 74th-ranked Haiti. 
 
Gabriel scored the fourth just 13 minutes after replacing Jonas at half-time and his Santos team mate Lucas Lima nodded home a Dani Alves cross eight minutes later. 
 
Haitian striker Marcelin delighted the Caribbean contingent in the Orlando crowd by hammering in a rebound but Renato Augusto restored Brazil&#39;s five-goal advantage when he seized on a loose pass and side-footed home from 20 metres. 
 
Coutinho completed his hat-trick in the final minute of injury time with a trademark 25-metre strike. 
 
Brazil, who were held 0-0 by Ecuador in their opener, next face Peru on Sunday. Haiti, who also lost their opener to Peru 1-0, will take on Ecuador.

The scoreline took Brazil to the top of Group B ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador

Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick as Brazil ramped up their Copa America campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over a hapless Haiti yesterday. Renato Augusto scored a brace and substitutes Lucas Lima and Gabriel also goaled for Brazil while James Marcelin put in Haiti's consolation goal. The scoreline, identical to Brazil's nightmare 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-final two years ago, took Brazil to the top of Group B with four points, ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador. Coutinho got Brazil off to a positive start in the Camping World stadium with a goal after 14 minutes when he skipped past a defender and hammered home from 20 metres out. He doubled Brazil's lead 15 minutes later thanks to Jonas, who was on hand to poke a loose ball across goal and leave the Liverpool player with the simplest of tap-ins. Renato Augusto made it three in 35 minutes when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right. Although the eight-times Copa America champions appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, they still created chances at will against 74th-ranked Haiti. Gabriel scored the fourth just 13 minutes after replacing Jonas at half-time and his Santos team mate Lucas Lima nodded home a Dani Alves cross eight minutes later. Haitian striker Marcelin delighted the Caribbean contingent in the Orlando crowd by hammering in a rebound but Renato Augusto restored Brazil's five-goal advantage when he seized on a loose pass and side-footed home from 20 metres. Coutinho completed his hat-trick in the final minute of injury time with a trademark 25-metre strike. Brazil, who were held 0-0 by Ecuador in their opener, next face Peru on Sunday. Haiti, who also lost their opener to Peru 1-0, will take on Ecuador.

Brazil hammer hapless Haiti 7-1 in Copa America massacre

Former Wall Street banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was inaugurated as Peru&#39;s new president yesterday, vowing to kick-start the economy and unite a country torn by a photo-finish election. 
 
The 77-year-old centre-right economist extended an olive branch to defeated rival Keiko Fujimori&#39;s party, which controls Congress, saying he would need their help to pass reforms. 
 
He promised to work for all Peruvians, outlining his vision for a &quot;social revolution&quot; in his inaugural address before Congress. 
 
&quot;I will seek equity, equality and fraternity among all Peruvians,&quot; said the man known simply as PPK. 
 
Peru needs &quot;not just economic, but human growth,&quot; he said, vowing to extend basic services such as schools, hospitals and drinking water to the one-third of Peruvians who lack them. 
 
The normally staid Kuczynski, who is known as a technocrat with a stellar resume, choked up as he took the oath of office, then donned his new red and white presidential sash over his pinstriped suit. 
 
Peru is one of Latin America&#39;s fastest growing economies, but growth slowed under outgoing leftist president Ollanta Humala, from 6.5 per cent in 2011 to 3.3 percent last year. 
 
Kuczynski vowed to stimulate the economy, revive the key mining sector, fight the poverty that affects 22 per cent of Peruvians, crack down on corruption, and strengthen the police and prisons to reduce crime. 
 
The Fujimori problem 
 
Foreign investors and markets have welcomed the new president as a reliable pair of hands. 
 
&quot;Kuczynski&#39;s government is likely to remain highly supportive of foreign investment, with minimalist state intervention,&quot; said Diego Moya-Ocampos of consultancy IHS Country Risk. 
 
He predicted Kuczynski would seek to expand Peru&#39;s domestic refining and smelting capacity, and pointed out that his first scheduled trip is to China - which he called a key player in the president&#39;s strategy to make Peru a &quot;metallurgical powerhouse.&quot; 
 
But a large bump is lurking in the road.&nbsp;Kuczynski&#39;s party, the centre-right Peruvians for Change, has just 18 seats in the 130-member Congress. 
 
The new legislature is dominated by allies of Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced and jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori.&nbsp;Her right-wing party, Popular Force, has 73 lawmakers in Congress. 
 
None of them applauded at any point during the inauguration, Kuczynski&#39;s camp complained.&nbsp;It could prove tough for the new president to advance his reform agenda. 
 
There may be lingering bad blood from the election. Fujimori took five days to concede as results trickled in from the remote reaches of the Peruvian Amazon. 
 
In the end she had little choice but to recognise defeat, by less than a quarter of a percentage point. 
 
The race opened old wounds dating back to the 1990s, when Fujimori&#39;s father was president. 
 
Now serving a 25-year prison sentence for massacres by an army death squad, Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) is fondly remembered by some Peruvians for his populist streak, his ruthless crackdown on the leftist rebel group Shining Path and his management of a strong economy. 
 
But his authoritarian legacy was also heavy baggage for his daughter. 
 
Her 78-year-old father&#39;s supporters are now pressuring Kuczynski to pardon him. 
 
The president-elect has said he is willing to sign a law granting house arrest to elderly and ailing prisoners such as Fujimori, but will not issue a pardon. 
 
&#39;El Gringo&#39; 
 
Kuczynski, the son of a Jewish doctor who fled Nazi Germany, has had a long career in business and finance. 
 
Educated at Oxford University and Princeton, he has an impressive resume including stints as economy minister and a World Bank economist. 
 
He stressed his age and experience during the campaign. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m old, but my noggin is still working,&quot; he said.&nbsp;But he sometimes struggles to connect with ordinary Peruvians. 
 
He speaks Spanish with an American accent, betraying his long years in the United States. Some Peruvians call him &quot;El Gringo.&quot; 
 
Seeking to lighten the burden of his outsider status, he donned a traditional multicolored woolly hat at campaign rallies, played the flute and trotted out his mascot, a man-sized guinea pig - a symbol of Peru. 
 
(AFP)

The Pedro Kuczynski choked as he took the oath of office. He vowed to kick-start the economy and bring about a social revolution

Former Wall Street banker Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was inaugurated as Peru's new president yesterday, vowing to kick-start the economy and unite a country torn by a photo-finish election. The 77-year-old centre-right economist extended an olive branch to defeated rival Keiko Fujimori's party, which controls Congress, saying he would need their help to pass reforms. He promised to work for all Peruvians, outlining his vision for a "social revolution" in his inaugural address before Congress. "I will seek equity, equality and fraternity among all Peruvians," said the man known simply as PPK. Peru needs "not just economic, but human growth," he said, vowing to extend basic services such as schools, hospitals and drinking water to the one-third of Peruvians who lack them. The normally staid Kuczynski, who is known as a technocrat with a stellar resume, choked up as he took the oath of office, then donned his new red and white presidential sash over his pinstriped suit. Peru is one of Latin America's fastest growing economies, but growth slowed under outgoing leftist president Ollanta Humala, from 6.5 per cent in 2011 to 3.3 percent last year. Kuczynski vowed to stimulate the economy, revive the key mining sector, fight the poverty that affects 22 per cent of Peruvians, crack down on corruption, and strengthen the police and prisons to reduce crime. The Fujimori problem Foreign investors and markets have welcomed the new president as a reliable pair of hands. "Kuczynski's government is likely to remain highly supportive of foreign investment, with minimalist state intervention," said Diego Moya-Ocampos of consultancy IHS Country Risk. He predicted Kuczynski would seek to expand Peru's domestic refining and smelting capacity, and pointed out that his first scheduled trip is to China - which he called a key player in the president's strategy to make Peru a "metallurgical powerhouse." But a large bump is lurking in the road. Kuczynski's party, the centre-right Peruvians for Change, has just 18 seats in the 130-member Congress. The new legislature is dominated by allies of Fujimori, the daughter of disgraced and jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori. Her right-wing party, Popular Force, has 73 lawmakers in Congress. None of them applauded at any point during the inauguration, Kuczynski's camp complained. It could prove tough for the new president to advance his reform agenda. There may be lingering bad blood from the election. Fujimori took five days to concede as results trickled in from the remote reaches of the Peruvian Amazon. In the end she had little choice but to recognise defeat, by less than a quarter of a percentage point. The race opened old wounds dating back to the 1990s, when Fujimori's father was president. Now serving a 25-year prison sentence for massacres by an army death squad, Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) is fondly remembered by some Peruvians for his populist streak, his ruthless crackdown on the leftist rebel group Shining Path and his management of a strong economy. But his authoritarian legacy was also heavy baggage for his daughter. Her 78-year-old father's supporters are now pressuring Kuczynski to pardon him. The president-elect has said he is willing to sign a law granting house arrest to elderly and ailing prisoners such as Fujimori, but will not issue a pardon. 'El Gringo' Kuczynski, the son of a Jewish doctor who fled Nazi Germany, has had a long career in business and finance. Educated at Oxford University and Princeton, he has an impressive resume including stints as economy minister and a World Bank economist. He stressed his age and experience during the campaign. "I'm old, but my noggin is still working," he said. But he sometimes struggles to connect with ordinary Peruvians. He speaks Spanish with an American accent, betraying his long years in the United States. Some Peruvians call him "El Gringo." Seeking to lighten the burden of his outsider status, he donned a traditional multicolored woolly hat at campaign rallies, played the flute and trotted out his mascot, a man-sized guinea pig - a symbol of Peru. (AFP)

Former Wall Street banker Kuczynski sworn in as Peruvian president

Centrist Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will appoint Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chief executive of a beer company, to be his prime minister when he takes office on July 28, a source said on Friday. 
 
Zavala, a 45-year-old trained economist, has headed Peru&#39;s biggest brewery, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus Y Johnston SAA, for the past three years. He was finance minister for a year starting in 2005 when Kuczynski served as prime minister under then-president Alejandro Toledo. 
 
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made, said Zavala had accepted Kuczynski&#39;s offer. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s mentioned but is not confirmed,&quot; Kuczynski told reporters in response, according to newspaper El Comercio. 
 
Kuczynski&#39;s office did not respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;Kuczynski has said he will announce his pick for prime minister on Sunday and other Cabinet positions on July 15.&nbsp;Zavala did not respond to a request for confirmation. 
 
Zavala, a widely respected business leader who has blogged about his desire to improve education and innovation, might help Kuczynski patch up rifts with the conservative party of his defeated run-off rival Keiko Fujimori, Popular Force, which will hold a majority of seats in the incoming Congress. 
 
&quot;I personally have a very high opinion of Zavala,&quot; said Luz Salgado, a Popular Force lawmaker. &quot;I think he is much more coherent&quot; than Kuczynski. 
 
Kuczynski, a 77-year-old former investment banker, came under fire on Friday for calling for a march on Congress to help him press opposition lawmakers to reopen a polymetallic smelter, part of his plans to add value to Peru&#39;s key mineral exports. 
 
Kuczynski and Zavala worked together closely in Toledo&#39;s Cabinet for three years when Zavala was deputy economy minister and Kuczynski finance minister. 
 
Backus, as the beer company is known, is a subsidiary of SABMiller, which is in the process of being acquired by Anheuser-Busch Inbev. 
 
(Reuters)

An official announcement has not yet been made, but a source said that Fernando Zavala had accepted Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's offer

Centrist Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will appoint Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chief executive of a beer company, to be his prime minister when he takes office on July 28, a source said on Friday. Zavala, a 45-year-old trained economist, has headed Peru's biggest brewery, Union de Cervecerias Peruanas Backus Y Johnston SAA, for the past three years. He was finance minister for a year starting in 2005 when Kuczynski served as prime minister under then-president Alejandro Toledo. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not yet been made, said Zavala had accepted Kuczynski's offer. "It's mentioned but is not confirmed," Kuczynski told reporters in response, according to newspaper El Comercio. Kuczynski's office did not respond to requests for comment. Kuczynski has said he will announce his pick for prime minister on Sunday and other Cabinet positions on July 15. Zavala did not respond to a request for confirmation. Zavala, a widely respected business leader who has blogged about his desire to improve education and innovation, might help Kuczynski patch up rifts with the conservative party of his defeated run-off rival Keiko Fujimori, Popular Force, which will hold a majority of seats in the incoming Congress. "I personally have a very high opinion of Zavala," said Luz Salgado, a Popular Force lawmaker. "I think he is much more coherent" than Kuczynski. Kuczynski, a 77-year-old former investment banker, came under fire on Friday for calling for a march on Congress to help him press opposition lawmakers to reopen a polymetallic smelter, part of his plans to add value to Peru's key mineral exports. Kuczynski and Zavala worked together closely in Toledo's Cabinet for three years when Zavala was deputy economy minister and Kuczynski finance minister. Backus, as the beer company is known, is a subsidiary of SABMiller, which is in the process of being acquired by Anheuser-Busch Inbev. (Reuters)

Peru president-elect to name beer company CEO as PM

Thousands of supporters of Peru&#39;s gay community marched through the streets of Lima in celebration of the annual pride parade on July 2 and demanded the courts recognise same-sex civil unions and gay marriage. 
 
Parade participants dressed up in colourful costumes and sang and danced as they made their way through the capital. 
 
This year&#39;s theme was &quot;Without sexual and gender diversity there is no democracy&quot;. 
 
Same-sex civil unions in Peru had been on the legislative agenda in 2014, but a bill legalising civil unions was shelved early last year. 
 
The Andean nation does not recognise same-sex civil unions nor gay marriage. 
 
The march was headed by vice-president elect Mercedes Araoz who said the incoming administration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski hopes to expand protections for same-sex couples. 
 
&quot;As you well know, (President-elect) Pedro Pablo Kuczynski&#39;s plan, Peruvians for Change, has always talked about complete respect for individual freedoms. Here, we are talking about a constitutional right which we support and which must be expounded upon in the law and that is what we want to do,&quot; she said. 
 
Participants also demanded the government do more to protect the rights of members of the LGBT community, who are subject to discrimination and hate crimes. 
 
According to TLGB/PROMSEX human rights group, there have been more than 1,000 cases of violence and hate crimes against members of the LGBT community since 2012, when they started keeping track, but many are either not reported out of fear or not pursued by authorities. 
 
The first Latin American country to allow same-sex civil unions was Argentina in 2002. In 2010, it became the first country in Latin America to legalise same-sex marriages in 2010 and, later that year, the first country in the region to allow gay couples to marry and adopt children. 
 
(Reuters)

Participants demanded the government recognise same-sex civil unions and gay marriage, and protect the LGBT community from discrimination

Thousands of supporters of Peru's gay community marched through the streets of Lima in celebration of the annual pride parade on July 2 and demanded the courts recognise same-sex civil unions and gay marriage. Parade participants dressed up in colourful costumes and sang and danced as they made their way through the capital. This year's theme was "Without sexual and gender diversity there is no democracy". Same-sex civil unions in Peru had been on the legislative agenda in 2014, but a bill legalising civil unions was shelved early last year. The Andean nation does not recognise same-sex civil unions nor gay marriage. The march was headed by vice-president elect Mercedes Araoz who said the incoming administration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski hopes to expand protections for same-sex couples. "As you well know, (President-elect) Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's plan, Peruvians for Change, has always talked about complete respect for individual freedoms. Here, we are talking about a constitutional right which we support and which must be expounded upon in the law and that is what we want to do," she said. Participants also demanded the government do more to protect the rights of members of the LGBT community, who are subject to discrimination and hate crimes. According to TLGB/PROMSEX human rights group, there have been more than 1,000 cases of violence and hate crimes against members of the LGBT community since 2012, when they started keeping track, but many are either not reported out of fear or not pursued by authorities. The first Latin American country to allow same-sex civil unions was Argentina in 2002. In 2010, it became the first country in Latin America to legalise same-sex marriages in 2010 and, later that year, the first country in the region to allow gay couples to marry and adopt children. (Reuters)

Peru celebrates gay pride

Colombia beat Peru 4-2 in a penalty shootout today to progress to the semi-finals of the Copa America after the two sides played to a dull scoreless draw in New Jersey. 
 
Both teams scored their first two kicks in the shootout but while substitutes Dayro Moreno and Sebastian Perez scored Colombia&#39;s third and fourth, Miguel Trauco and Christian Cueva missed for Peru. 
 
The result, which came after a dour 0-0 draw that was short on excitement for the 80,000 fans, takes Colombia through to a semi-final date against either Mexico or Chile in Chicago next Wednesday. 
 
&quot;It was a very intense game,&quot; said Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, who saved Trauco&#39;s kick with his legs. 
 
&quot;This team have played well, we have a great staff and now we need to enjoy the moment before thinking about what&#39;s next.&quot; 
 
&quot;You need to be calm at these moments. This stadium is filled with Colombians and they enjoyed it. So now we need to enjoy it.&quot; 
 
Neither side could dominate a game that had 30 fouls but Colombia came closest to scoring through James Rodriguez, who strode forward from midfield in the first half before hitting the post with a shot from 25 yards. 
 
Colombia also had an appeal for a penalty ignored after 53 minutes when Carlos Bacca was bundled over in the box by Renato Tapia. 
 
Peru almost broke the deadlock in the dying seconds but Ospina tipped over a powerful header from Christian Ramos. 
 
The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Saturday when Argentina face Venezuela in Foxborough and Chile take on Mexico in Santa Clara. 
 
The winner of the first game will face the United States in Houston on Tuesday. 
(Reuters)

Will play semis against either Mexico or Chile on Wednesday

Colombia beat Peru 4-2 in a penalty shootout today to progress to the semi-finals of the Copa America after the two sides played to a dull scoreless draw in New Jersey. Both teams scored their first two kicks in the shootout but while substitutes Dayro Moreno and Sebastian Perez scored Colombia's third and fourth, Miguel Trauco and Christian Cueva missed for Peru. The result, which came after a dour 0-0 draw that was short on excitement for the 80,000 fans, takes Colombia through to a semi-final date against either Mexico or Chile in Chicago next Wednesday. "It was a very intense game," said Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, who saved Trauco's kick with his legs. "This team have played well, we have a great staff and now we need to enjoy the moment before thinking about what's next." "You need to be calm at these moments. This stadium is filled with Colombians and they enjoyed it. So now we need to enjoy it." Neither side could dominate a game that had 30 fouls but Colombia came closest to scoring through James Rodriguez, who strode forward from midfield in the first half before hitting the post with a shot from 25 yards. Colombia also had an appeal for a penalty ignored after 53 minutes when Carlos Bacca was bundled over in the box by Renato Tapia. Peru almost broke the deadlock in the dying seconds but Ospina tipped over a powerful header from Christian Ramos. The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Saturday when Argentina face Venezuela in Foxborough and Chile take on Mexico in Santa Clara. The winner of the first game will face the United States in Houston on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Copa: Dull draw for 90 minutes, then Columbia beat Peru 4-2 on penalities

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