International

The Russian merchant ship that sank in the Mediterranean was the target of a terrorist attack, according to its owner

Oboronlogistika, the company that owns the Russian merchant ship ‘Ursa Major’ that sank on 23rd June in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, believes that the ship sank as a result of a terrorist attack.

“Oboronlogistika believes that a pre-planned terrorist attack was committed against the Ursa Major vessel on December 23, 2024,” the company said in a statement reported by Russian agencies.

The press release states that “according to the testimony of the ship’s crew, on December 23, 2024 at 13:50 Moscow time (10:50 GMT) three consecutive explosions occurred on the starboard side in the stern area.”

Russia opens criminal case over shipwreck

In connection with the shipwreck, the Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case for violation of navigation rules.

Of the merchant ship’s 16 crew members, 14 were rescued and taken to the Spanish port of Cartagena.

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The sinking of the cargo ship, which was carrying two port cranes and components for the construction of icebreakers, according to Russian media, occurred after an explosion in the engine room, according to information provided by the Russian authorities.

The Ursa Major, measuring 142 metres in length and 23 metres in width, was operated by a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika, designated by the Russian government as the sole service provider for the Russian Ministry of Defence for the transport of cargo to Crimea, the Arctic and the Far East of the country.

International

Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.

The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.

In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.

He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”

The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.

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The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.

International

Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.

“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.

In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”

International

Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains

Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.

“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”

Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.