International
Burma’s military junta extends ceasefire until April 30 due to the earthquake
The military junta of Burma (Myanmar) announced on Tuesday an extension of the ceasefire that expired today and that will now last until April 30, with the aim of “accelerating” the transit of humanitarian aid in the country after the earthquake of March 28.
In a statement, the military government, which holds power after the February 2021 coup, explained that this decision also seeks to accelerate the country’s rehabilitation efforts, in view of the collapse of thousands of infrastructures due to the earthquake, which left more than 3,700 dead in the center-north of the country.
It is about “attaining a lasting peace and maintaining stability,” added the junta, accused by the opposition and by the United Nations (UN) of having violated the truce announced on April 2 on numerous occasions.
The board then announced that it would stop the attacks days after its opponents called for this truce, including the pro-democratic Government of National Unity (NUG), which declares itself the legitimate Burmese authority.
Precisely, this group denounced on Monday that the military carried out bombings on April 18 that caused 12 deaths in Mandalay, the second most populous city in the country and among the most affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake.
This complaint came a week after the UN counted 120 attacks perpetrated by the military after the earthquake, most of them after the ceasefire and in areas declared an emergency due to the devastation.
The military regime said today, in an article published by the newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar, that “armed terrorists” – as he describes the groups it faces, including ethnic and pro-democratic guerrillas – “have been launching attacks” and that they will respond to these “threats.”
“Therefore, residents of areas where terrorists have taken control must prioritize their safety and protect themselves,” reads the letter.
China, which has mediated between the junta and the guerrillas, confirmed on Monday that it sent a ceasefire monitoring team to the Burmese city of Lashio, at the joint request of the generals and the group the Democratic Alliance of Burma (MNDAA), after an agreement reached by both parties in the Chinese city of Kunming.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he was willing to extend the ceasefire after holding talks in Bangkok with the head of the board, Min Aung Hlaing, and representatives of the NUG, as a condition for the arrival of more humanitarians.
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.
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.
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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