
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte Monday declared a 30-day state of emergency in Lima and Callao following Sunday's murder of popular cumbia singer Paul Flores by hitmen. The measure, effective from March 18, suspends constitutional rights such as assembly, home inviolability, free transit, and personal freedom, with the Armed Forces supporting the National Police to combat crime.

Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo Terrones (2021-2022) has begun a hunger strike to protest his ongoing trial for an alleged coup attempt in December 2022. Castillo, who has been imprisoned since the incident, argues that he is being unfairly prosecuted for rebellion, abuse of authority, and disturbing public tranquility, despite lacking military support. He is demanding a new court to oversee his case, as he believes the current one is biased. He also wants the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) to protect his rights. The prosecution is seeking a 34-year prison sentence in addition to monetary reparations.

Peru's Third Criminal Court Monday annulled Keiko Fujimori's trial for the irregular financing of her 2011 and 2016 electoral campaigns, citing a previous sentence from the Constitutional Court (TC). As per this split ruling, the case moves back to the indictment phase for Fujimori and the other more than 30 defendants.

Peruvian media have reported on the alleged interest of the United States in funding the southern port of Corío, in Arequipa, to match the Chancay Megaport opened in northern Lima last month and built with China's support. However, there are still administrative and technical challenges to overcome before Corío can consolidate itself as a direct competitor in international trade.

Just one day after the opening of the China-financed megaport in Chancay just a few miles north of Lima, Peru signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Hong Kong to further deepen its commitment to Pacific Ocean trade. The understanding was achieved in the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit in the South American country's capital.

Presidents Dina Boluarte Zegarra of Peru and Gabriel Boric Font of Chile held a meeting Friday in Lima in the context of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting to celebrate the 202nd anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and discuss the support to vulnerable populations, SMEs, as well as bilateral trade and other common challenges.

Presidents Dina Boluarte of Peru and Xi Jinping of China inaugurated Thursday the mega-port of Chancay, some 40 miles north of Lima. The structure, built with financing from the Asian country, is expected to revolutionize South America's Pacific Ocean trade. The opening took place within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo was sentenced Monday to over 20 years in jail for his involvement in the Odebrecht corruption scandal in which he was found to have received US$ 35 million in bribes for the construction by the Brazilian company of a road linking the two countries. The 78-year-old Toledo was deemed guilty of money laundering as well and disenfranchised for three years.

A China-sponsored mega-port north of Lima is expected to revolutionize trade between Asia and South America. It would also jeopardize the future of seashore facilities in northern Chile which might lose some of their traffic share once the Chancay Megaport is opened. Works are 93% completed and are due to be finished in November.

Peruvian archaeologists found the fossilized remains of three Ice Age mastodons, which shed new light on these animals' presence in the region, with further specimes hoped to be unearthed shortly as the excavations that began in 2019 in the Chambara Valley, 300 kilometers east of Lima, are scheduled to continue. The behemoths found there are believed to be between 11,000 and 12,000 years old.