Politics of Peru

LIMA, Peru - Peruvian leader Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has pardoned former strongman Alberto Fujimori, convicted of grave human rights abuses, on dubious health grounds in an act that has provoked harsh criticism and protests.

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 said on Dec. 24.

Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has refused to resign, rejecting the opposition's ultimatum to step down or face impeachment over bribery accusations by the Brazilian company Odebrecht. "I will not give up my honor, my values ​​or my duties as a president," Kuczynski said in a televised speech backed by his ministers.

LIMA, Peru - Joining several other countries in the region, Peru has become the latest Latin American nation to approve the use of medicinal marijuana for treating serious illnesses.

Further clashes between police and teachers in Peru on the third month of ongoing mass protests.

A large group of protesters went out on the street for the 71th day in a row. Tensions escalated near the National Congress of Peru in downtown Lima on Thursday. Police used tear gas to disperse people and prevent them from making barricades

Peru's imprisoned ex-president Alberto Fujimori backed his son on July 19 for "building bridges" with the government of centrist President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and issued a rare rebuke to the opposition party led by his daughter that now controls Congress.

Former Peru President Ollanta Humala and his wife received a precautionary detention measure for 18 months.

A Peruvian judge issued an arrest warrant to Humala and his wife Nadine Heredia for money laundering and settling criminal organization.

Humala and Heredia will be in jail for 18 months. They both dismissed all charges.

LIMA, Peru - Keiko Fujimori, former congresswoman and 2016 presidential candidate of her right-wing Popular Force (FP) she still leads, is the subject of a preliminary investigation opened by the Attorney General into claims that she and party colleagues laundered some $15 million.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an discussed climate change in a video-conference call on Nov. 6, according to the world body.

The call focused on how to achieve a successful outcome at next month's climate change conference in Paris, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.