International
The Peruvian Public Ministry denounces the former attorney general for an alleged corruption case
The Peruvian Public Ministry filed a complaint this Tuesday against the former prosecutor of the Nation (general) Patricia Benavides for an alleged corruption case by allegedly offering a congressman the dismissal of a process opened against her in exchange for the parliamentarian voting in favor of filing an investigation that affected the prosecutor.
The constitutional complaint was presented to Congress, the process that marks Peruvian legislation in cases in which an investigation is opened against a high authority of the State, for the crimes of specific active bribery and specific passive bribery.
“Patricia Benavides, in her capacity as prosecutor of the Nation, would have arranged – through her advisors – with Congressman José María Balcázar an exchange of favors of an illicit nature, for the dismissal of the criminal process she faced (…) in exchange for the parliamentarian (…) voting in favor of filing the constitutional complaints filed against the former prosecutor,” reads a statement from the Public Ministry.
The complaint also includes Balcázar as allegedly responsible for the crimes of specific active bribery and specific passive bribery.
At first, recalls the statement of the Public Ministry, Balcázar asked for the filing of his investigation and, later, the appointment of his daughter-in-law as deputy prosecutor.
In May 2024, the National Board of Justice of Peru (JNJ), the highest body of the judiciary, decided to dismiss Benavides, for interfering in an investigation opened to his sister and judge, Enma Benavides, by dismissing the prosecutor who led the investigations.
The case refers to Benavides’ alleged interference in the investigation opened by prosecutor Bersabeth Revilla against his sister Enma Benavides, denounced for releasing alleged drug traffickers in exchange for gifts.
Also for the preparation of a controversial low productivity report prepared by the Supreme Prosecutor Azucena Solari, which served for the removal of Revilla.
In parallel, Benavides has an investigation against him for leading an alleged criminal organization of influence peddling in the Public Ministry for which he had a second request for suspension from office for 36 months.
The case began in November 2023, when a specialized group of the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office made arrests and raids of homes and offices of advisors and former advisors in Benavides, as part of the investigation of an alleged criminal organization “encysted in the senior management of the Public Ministry.”
That organization allegedly sought to influence “illicitly in decisions of congressmen” for the dismissal of the holders of the JNJ, the appointment of the current ombudsman, Josúe Gutiérrez, and the disqualification of the former Prosecutor of the Nation Zoraida Ávalos.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
International
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
International
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.
“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”
Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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