Peru’s judiciary began an oral trial on Tuesday against former President Pedro Castillo for rebellion, abuse of authority, and serious public disturbance. The prosecution is seeking a 34-year prison sentence for Castillo in an unprecedented case involving such charges against a former head of state.

The Public Ministry accused Castillo of attempting to dissolve the Parliament on December 7, 2022, in an effort to prevent a vote that aimed at his removal due to his “permanent moral incapacity.” Castillo’s plan failed, as Congress dismissed him, sending him to prison, while his vice president at the time, Dina Boluarte, assumed power. This led to three months of protests in the Andes, with 50 civilian deaths.

The former president arrived at the court half an hour late, escorted by a prison guard. He appeared without a lawyer, wearing a white shirt and no tie. The judges assigned him a public defender.

Before his removal, Castillo survived two earlier attempts to be removed from office. He served just 16 months in government, making five changes to his cabinet and over 60 shifts in secretaries, which led to internal paralysis. Castillo was Peru’s fifth president in six years.

Colombian star Shakira has canceled her second scheduled concert in Chile’s capital on Monday night due to ongoing stage issues, her local production company announced.

The 48-year-old artist had already postponed her Sunday show in Santiago for the same technical reasons.

“Tonight’s concert will not be possible. We are working around the clock to reschedule it as soon as possible,” said Fénix, the production company in charge of the stage setup, in a statement on social media.

Both concerts were set to take place at Estadio Nacional in Santiago. Thousands of fans only learned about Sunday’s cancellation a few hours before the venue was set to open.

“‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ is the biggest tour of my career, with a 62-ton stage, but the floor has not been properly stabilized to ensure the safety of my band, dancers, fans, and myself,” Shakira explained in a statement posted on X.

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CEL

The governments of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay announced on Tuesday their support for Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin to lead the Organization of American States (OAS) for the 2025-2030term, according to official Brazilian sources.

“Ramdin, with his vast diplomatic experience, is uniquely positioned to address the contemporary challenges of our countries, offering a fresh perspective that reflects the realities and aspirations of both the Caribbean and the Americas as a whole,” stated a joint official communiqué released by the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.