Peru, once a stable country in Latin America, is facing a political crisis with ex-president Alberto Fujimori's dictatorship ending in 2000 and recent turmoil involving President Martín Vizcarra and the opposition. The crisis escalated with Vizcarra dissolving Congress, which retaliated by declaring the move illegal and appointing the vice president as the new leader. Despite past economic growth and peace after a civil war with the Shining Path, Peru's political landscape is now marked by instability.

Peru is facing its worst political crisis in decades as President Martín Vizcarra dissolved Congress, which is controlled by conservative forces accused of hindering anti-corruption efforts. Congress retaliated by suspending Vizcarra and swearing in Vice President Mercedes Aráoz as acting head of state, leading to a constitutional deadlock. The crisis stems from disputes over judicial appointments and the interpretation of constitutional provisions regarding the dissolution of Congress. While some Peruvians support Vizcarra's move as a purge of corrupt elites, others fear a return to despotic rule reminiscent of Alberto Fujimori's regime in 1992. The outcome of this power struggle may impact Peru's economic growth and the political landscape ahead of the 2021 presidential elections.

Former President Alan García of Peru died after shooting himself during his arrest amidst accusations of money laundering, influence peddling, and collusion related to the Odebrecht scandal. Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant, admitted to $800 million in payoffs for contracts in Latin America. García's political career included two terms as president, with his first term marked by hyperinflation and violence involving the Shining Path rebel group, and his second term characterized by economic growth. The scandal has also implicated other Peruvian leaders, including Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Alejandro Toledo, and Ollanta Humala.

Thousands of Peruvian fans gathered at the National Stadium in Lima, expressing their national pride and support for Paolo Guerrero, who helped Peru qualify for its first World Cup in 36 years but is likely to miss the tournament due to a doping suspension. The public's focus has shifted from political reconstruction to Guerrero's case, with emotional responses ranging from anger to despair. The Tribunal de Arbitraje Deportivo extended Guerrero's suspension to the following year, despite an initial reduction by FIFA.

Peru's first vice president and ambassador to Canada, Martín Vizcarra, is set to become the new president following Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's resignation amid a corruption scandal. Kuczynski resigned after recordings surfaced showing attempts to buy opposition lawmakers' support. Congress was debating whether to accept the resignation or proceed with impeachment. Vizcarra, a former governor, expressed his indignation with the situation but showed readiness to lead the country forward.

In anticipation of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic meeting in Peru, which President Obama is scheduled to attend, a series of protests have erupted across the country. Peruvian demonstrators are seizing the opportunity to leverage the international attention the meeting will attract to amplify their various causes. The presence of President Obama and other international figures at the gathering has heightened the profile of these demonstrations, as protestors aim to draw global awareness to their issues.

Americo González Caldua, a field helper in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range of northern Peru, has witnessed the dramatic retreat of the Andean glaciers over his lifetime. As temperatures rise, the ice recedes further each year, with scientists predicting many peaks will be glacier-free within 50 years. González's observations, alongside glaciologist Justiniano Alejo Cochachin, reveal the impact of climate change on the landscape, including uncovered fossils, poisoned rivers, and altered grazing patterns for livestock. González's son, Álvaro, plans to study climate science, influenced by his father's experiences.

Amadeo García García is the last person on Earth who speaks Taushiro, a language from the Amazon. The language's potential extinction is highlighted by Amadeo's life in Intuto, Peru, and his history as part of an uncontacted tribe. Despite efforts to preserve Taushiro, the language is likely to disappear with Amadeo, who has not had a conversation in his native tongue since his brother's death and whose children, now in Puerto Rico, did not have the chance to learn it.

Peruvian lawmakers have initiated proceedings to potentially remove President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski due to allegations of his involvement in a corruption scandal with Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company. Odebrecht admitted to paying $800 million in bribes for project contracts, and documents indicate that Kuczynski's company, Westfield Capital, received $782,000 in advisory fees during his tenure as economy minister and prime minister. A hearing is scheduled for the following Thursday, where Kuczynski is expected to defend himself.

Peru is intensifying efforts to combat illegal gold mining in the Tambopata National Reserve, deploying forest rangers and marines to dismantle mining settlements and equipment. Despite these efforts, experts fear the damage to one of the most biologically diverse places on earth may be irreversible. Illegal mining in Peru has escalated, causing severe environmental destruction and mercury pollution, which poses a health risk to local populations. The government's strategies, including fuel controls and raids, have had limited success, with corruption and organized crime fueling the illegal industry. The scale of illegal mining threatens to overshadow legal mining activities, with deforestation rates tripling post-2008 financial crisis. The situation is dire, with the reserve's rich biodiversity at risk and the local waterways heavily polluted, affecting both wildlife and human communities.

Adelma Tapia Ruiz, a Peruvian resident of Brussels, was killed in the Brussels Airport bombing while traveling with her twin daughters to New York. One daughter, Maureen, sustained shrapnel wounds, while the other, Alondra, was unharmed. Her husband, Christopher Delcambe, was also injured. The attack claimed at least 30 lives. Fernando Tapia Coral, Adelma's brother, confirmed her death and expressed his family's shock and grief. Adelma was remembered as an active woman and aspiring chef who had planned to open a Peruvian restaurant in Brussels.

Peruvian officials have accused Greenpeace of refusing to disclose the identities of activists who entered a protected area near the Nazca Lines and caused damage during a United Nations climate change summit in Lima. Congressman Alejandro Aguinaga criticized the group for disrespecting Peruvian laws and causing irreparable harm to national heritage. Culture Minister Diana Álvarez indicated that authorities are seeking to identify the activists for potential extradition, noting that they have likely left the country.

In Junín, Peru, the high demand for maca, a vegetable with purported health benefits, has led to theft and a surge in local wealth. Chinese buyers, attracted by maca's reputation as an aphrodisiac, have been purchasing the crop with cash, causing a gold rush effect. However, concerns have arisen over the illegal smuggling of maca and its seeds out of Peru, violating laws meant to protect local businesses and prevent the crop from being grown elsewhere. The National Commission Against Biopiracy's president, Andrés Valladolid, highlighted the unauthorized cultivation of maca abroad.

Archaeologists are increasingly incorporating drones into their toolkit to protect and study endangered archaeological sites, particularly in Peru. Luis Jaime Castillo Butters, Peru's vice minister of cultural heritage, has established a drone air force for mapping and monitoring purposes. Drones are also being used in New Mexico for thermal imaging of ancient settlements and in the Middle East to prevent looting. The technology represents a significant advancement in archaeological methods.

Jacob Ostreicher, a Brooklyn businessman who was jailed in Bolivia for 18 months on unproven money laundering charges, escaped house arrest and fled to the United States. Bolivian Justice Minister Cecilia Ayllón suggested Ostreicher had been testing the limits of his house arrest before his clandestine departure, likely through Peru. Ostreicher had been managing a rice-farming enterprise in Bolivia and was imprisoned in the notorious Palmasola prison, where he claimed to have been assaulted and extorted by inmates.

Chinalco, a Chinese government-owned company, has constructed a new town near Morococha, Peru, to relocate over 5,000 residents for a new open-pit copper mine. Despite moving nearly 700 families since September, several hundred residents are protesting the demolition of their century-old village. The new settlement, potentially named Nueva Morococha, is situated just six miles from the original town but represents a significant change for the inhabitants.

President Ollanta Humala of Peru has dismissed 30 of the 45 generals in the national police force as part of an anti-corruption drive, including its director, Gen. Raúl Becerra. The move, detailed in Peru's official newspaper El Peruano, is seen as a significant assertion of control over the country's institutions. The purge comes amid efforts to strengthen the police force to combat rising crime and drug trafficking, and follows opinion polls indicating the police as highly corrupt. Some dismissed generals are under corruption investigations, while others, like Gen. Horacio Huivin Grandez, feel unfairly treated. Vice President Omar Chehade supported the action, stating it was the result of a serious evaluation.

Peruvian electoral officials announced that Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori are set to compete in a presidential runoff election in June. Humala, a nationalist and former military officer, led the first round with 31.2 percent of the votes, while Fujimori, who seeks a pardon for her father, a former president imprisoned for human rights violations, followed with 23.2 percent. Both candidates have moved away from their previous images, with Humala adopting a more moderate stance and Fujimori focusing on her father's success against guerrillas rather than his scandals.

Lori Berenson, a New Yorker convicted in Peru for collaborating with the Marxist rebel group M.R.T.A., faces public scorn after being paroled following over 14 years in prison. Despite her attempts to reintegrate into society, including taking online classes and caring for her son, she is met with hostility and legal challenges. Her parole was briefly revoked due to a technicality but later reinstated. Berenson's past actions and her current situation reflect the lingering effects of Peru's violent history, and her future remains uncertain as the antiterrorism prosecutor appeals her parole.