News Summary: Elections in Peru, International Security, and Social Current Affairs
In Peru, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) continues processing and counting the votes from the second round of elections. The agency explained that the speed of the official count varies depending on the geographical distance of the polling stations and transportation facilities. For its part, the Public Ministry reported that during this process, more than 18,000 preventive actions were carried out, resulting in 72 people detained and 116 incidents recorded nationwide.
Related to the election day, the Peruvian National Police (PNP) issued a statement regarding the detention of prosecutors in Ucayali. The measure was taken for alleged usurpation of functions after the discovery of 17 voting ballots. In the judicial field, the Presidential Pardons Commission declared inadmissible, for the sixth time, the request for a humanitarian pardon for former President Pedro Castillo, who continues to serve his sentence at the Barbadillo prison.
On the international stage, the United States House of Representatives approved a major bill allocating $70 billion for immigration control. This budget will fund the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for three years. This decision aims to strengthen security policies at U.S. borders.
Also on foreign security issues, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning to the Cuban government. During a visit to the Guantánamo naval base, the official warned that the island's purchase of weapons could trigger a confrontation that the Cuban regime would not be able to withstand. This statement underscores the current tensions between the two countries regarding defense matters.
In the regions of Peru, residents of Ayacucho are facing a difficult situation due to the blockage of a main highway. Inhabitants are urgently asking the Regional Government for help to clear a road connecting several towns, which has been obstructed by rocks for 20 days. Citizens are requesting heavy machinery to reopen the route and normalize transportation in the affected area.
In the religious and social sphere, Pope Leo XIV shared a tender moment during his visit to Barcelona. The pontiff met Renzo, a six-year-old Peruvian boy, with whom he talked about soccer and answered questions at the Church of San Agustín. This encounter moved those in attendance and stood out for the Pope's closeness to children during his European tour.
On the other hand, an administrative controversy arose regarding the 2026 World Cup. Referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was excluded from the tournament preparations after being declared inadmissible by immigration authorities at the Miami airport. According to reports, the decision was due to background checks during security screenings on U.S. soil.
Finally, in local soccer, the club Sporting Cristal generated great enthusiasm among its fans by officially presenting Hernán Barcos as its new reinforcement. The Argentine striker, who will play in the Liga 1 Clausura Tournament, has already been assigned the jersey number he will wear for the "celeste" team. This signing is seen as a key move for the club's aspirations in the second half of the year.