Bolsonaro challenges Brazil election he lost to Lula

BRASILIA: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro challenged the election he lost last month to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, arguing that votes from some machines should be "invalidated" in a complaint that election authorities met with initial skepticism.

Bolsonaro's claim seems unlikely to get far, as Lula's victory has been ratified by the TSE electoral authority and acknowledged by Brazil's leading politicians and international allies. Still, it could fuel a small but committed protest movement that has so far refused to accept the result.

Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice who currently leads the TSE, said in a ruling seen by Reuters that Bolsonaro's right-wing electoral coalition, which filed the complaint, must present its full audit for both rounds of last month's vote within 24 hours, or he would reject it.

U.S. looking to facilitate return of Venezuelan migrants

The United States is in talks with Mexico and other countries to facilitate the return of Venezuelans to their homeland, a senior U.S. official said in a call with reporters.

"We're in discussion with Mexico and other countries to see what can be done in that sense," said Blas Nunez-Neto, the acting assistant secretary for border and immigration policy.

Nunez-Neto declined to provide details when asked which other countries were in discussion with the United States.

The discussions likely involve deporting Venezuelans to a third country and flying them back to Venezuela from there, though Nunez-Neto did not specify. Return flights of Venezuelans from Mexico began last month, Mexican officials told Reuters.

Peru's Castillo threatens action if 'popular will' ignored

LIMA - Peruvian President Pedro Castillo said he is willing to engage in a dialogue with his opposition, but would act if his mandate chosen by voters is not respected.

"I have to tell you all, if we're not respectful of the popular will, we will take some measures with the people," Castillo said at an event alongside leaders of social groups aligned with the leftist president.

Castillo, who wants to replace Peru's market-friendly constitution and has for months clashed with a Congress controlled by right-wing parties, did not offer more details about what measures he would take.

Pacific Alliance to meet in Peru after Castillo travel nixed

MEXICO CITY/LIMA - A meeting of Latin American nations, known as the Pacific Alliance, scheduled for this week in Mexico will take place in Lima after the Peruvian president was unable to secure authorization to travel to Mexico, according to two sources in Peru's foreign ministry.

The meeting will likely be held Dec. 7 and 8, though the dates have yet to be confirmed, the sources said.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador floated the idea of shifting the meeting location to Lima earlier in a regular news conference.

"We're exploring the possibility of having a meeting in Peru or taking a decision after consulting members," said Lopez Obrador.

The Mexican leader said his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, and Chile's Gabriel Boric would still travel to Mexico to discuss arrangements for the postponed Alliance meeting.

Brazil's incoming government to revoke biodiesel mandate

BRASILIA - Brazil's incoming government will look to revoke a decision to keep the mandatory blend of biodiesel in diesel at 10% until March 31, 2023, according to a member of the transition team for President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Senator Carlos Favaro said the Lula administration would "reaffirm" its commitment with the biodiesel industry by keeping the blending mandate at a higher level than the current one, known as B10.

On Monday, President Jair Bolsonaro's government decided to keep the biodiesel mandate at 10% for the first three months of 2023 before increasing it to 15% from April 1.