Justice gives Bolsonaro 48 hours to inform on vaccination passports status

A judge of the Federal Supreme Court, Brazil's highest court, ruled on Monday that the government of president Jair Bolsonaro must state within 48 hours why it is not requiring travelers a COVID vaccination certificate upon entering the country.

Justice Luis Roberto Barroso ruled at the request of the opposition Red party, amid negotiations within the government on how to act from now on at airports, ports and land borders in the face of the Omicron variant.

The request supports the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), which recommended the government to make the vaccine mandatory for anyone wishing to enter the country.

Brazil has more than 64 percent of its population fully vaccinated, despite Bolsonaro himself saying he doesn't plan to get jabbed against COVID.

Uruguay: Frente Amplio party opposes releasing repressors from jail

Uruguay's opposition Frente Amplio gave its support to a march against a bill by which former military officers imprisoned for human rights violations could be put under house arrest when they reach the age of 65.

The leftist coalition backed the rally summoned by the association of Mothers and Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared during the 1973-1985 dictatorship, which had already demonstrated against president Luis Lacalle Pou's plan.

Peru: the government will go to Court if impeachment against Castillo goes forward

The Peruvian Government announced that it will resort to the Constitutional Court if the Congress admits a motion of vacancy against President Pedro Castillo.

His government considers the move to be a "coup d'état" in disguise.

Congress votes on Tuesday whether to admit the motion for "permanent moral incapacity", after he has been involved in successive controversies since taking office on July 28.

In order for the measure to prosper, 40 percent of lawmakers must vote in favor at Peru's one-chamber opposition-controlled Congress, which has been at odds with the Castillo administration since his inauguration back in July.

For this reason, Minister of Justice Aníbal Torres said that, if Congress goes ahead, "immediately" the Government will file an action of competence before the Constitutional Court.

U.S. announces official boycott of China Winter Olympics

The United States announced that it will not send any official representatives to the Beijing Winter Olympics in response to what it described as human rights violations in China. The Chinese government in turn said it will respond to this with "firm countermeasures."

Jen Psaki, President Joe Biden's spokeswoman, said however that American athletes will be allowed to compete in next February's games, and they will have the full support of the U.S. government.

In a statement, Psaki said the decision was made because of human rights violations committed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including genocide against the Muslim minority in the western province of Xinjiang.

"The Biden administration will not send any official or diplomatic representatives to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics or the Paralympic Games," the spokeswoman said.