Washington, April 3 (Prensa Latina) The purge at the Pentagon continues; US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced the resignation of the Army Chief of Staff, General Randy George, and the retirement will be effective immediately.

“The War Department thanks General George for his decades of service to our nation. We wish him all the best in his retirement,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, in a statement referring to George.

Several sources agree that Hegseth wants the position filled by someone who will implement President Donald Trump’s vision and his own vision for the military.

Lieutenant General Christopher LaNeve, second in command, will assume the role of acting Chief of Staff.

Two other officers were also dismissed: General David Hodne, who headed the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, who leads the Chaplain Corps.

George served as senior military aide to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin between 2021 and 2022 during the Joe Biden administration, following decades of service.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff typically serves a four-year term. George was nominated by Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, meaning he would remain in office until 2027.

Since joining the Department of Defense, Hegseth has dismissed more than a dozen senior military officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown; Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti; and Vice Chairman of the Air Force Staff General James Slife.

He also fired the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.

Lima, April 1 (Prensa Latina) Tension persists in the southern Andean city of Juliaca, Peru, after the population forced neoliberal presidential candidate Rafael López-Aliaga to flee today, following riots that left three injured.

Relatives of those killed in the 2022-2023 social protests and social organizations mobilized to repudiate the arrival of the far-right candidate who called them terrorists during those days, say the people of Juliaca.

The march surrounded the venue where Lopez-Aliaga was going to meet for a proselytizing event, and his followers tried to prevent it by force, which sparked a brawl that left three injured, one of them Diego Quispe, who lives with more than 100 pellets in his body that were shot by the police during the protests and today was hit in the head by a stone.

The conflict involved peasant communities who came to Juliaca to comply with the warning issued a few weeks ago to Lopez-Aliaga by the Council of Original Authorities, Quechua and Aymara, that he should not return to Puno, the region to which Juliaca belongs.

One of the leaders of the mobilization, Claudio García, recalled that in 2023, when thousands of residents of Puno traveled to Lima to protest against President Dina Boluarte, López-Aliaga was mayor of the capital and closed accommodations and squares for the protesters, which is why Puno does not want him.

Quito, April 2 (Prensa Latina) Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa today decreed another state of emergency due to serious internal unrest in nine provinces and four cantons of the country, on the eve of the Easter holiday.

The measure is in effect for 60 days for the territories of Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha (where the country’s capital is located), Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Sucumbíos.

It will also be applied in the cantons of La Maná (Cotopaxi), Las Naves and Echeandía (Bolívar) and La Troncal (Cañar).

The decision involves suspending the rights to inviolability of home and correspondence in the aforementioned districts, although it does not include a curfew, according to Executive Decree 353.

The document authorizes law enforcement to conduct raids and intercept communications when there are indications of the presence of armed groups, organized crime, weapons, explosives, or other elements that may constitute crimes or threaten security.

Furthermore, the president orders the coordinated use of the Armed Forces and the National Police with the aim of maintaining public order, protecting the population, and preventing criminal activities that affect citizens’ rights and freedoms.

The decree cites a confidential report from the National Intelligence Center that points out how violence is not evenly distributed nationwide, but is concentrated in certain regions, such as the provinces and cantons mentioned.

It also warns that the situation creates a national scenario of structural and persistent armed violence, which exceeds the capabilities of the State under an ordinary regime.

Some of the provinces included in the new state of emergency decree have been under that criterion for more than a year.

Ecuador recorded the highest number of violent deaths in its history in 2025, with more than nine thousand, according to official data, although the Government claims that at the beginning of 2026 they have been reduced by up to 30 percent.

In 2024, Noboa declared the existence of an internal armed conflict, a category under which he allowed the military to join in internal security actions.

The United Nations Committee against Enforced Disappearances warned about the increasing militarization of public security in Ecuador and the repeated use of states of emergency, and urged the country to limit these measures and guarantee respect for rights.

Lima, April 1 (Prensa Latina) A poll released today found that if US President Donald Trump were to endorse a candidate for the presidency of Peru, 64 percent would take little or nothing into account what the White House occupant says.

The results show that only 30 percent responded that they would take into account some or much of what Trump says or take into account the opinions of the President of the United States.

The Institute of Peruvian Studies and the Bartolomé de las Casas Institute (IBC), both of recognized prestige, subjected the issue to a survey, taking into account that the extravagant character has intervened in the elections of several countries.

The interference and support of the US leader for the presidential candidates has been accompanied by offers of greater cooperation or funding and even threats in the opposite direction.

In Peru, the far-right candidate Rafael López-Aliaga, who boasts of being a friend of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the neoliberal Keiko Fujimori could both seek Trump’s support. Both support the policies of the White House occupant.

Trump intervened in the 2022 Brazilian election campaign in favor of the far-right extremist Jair Bolsonaro, who was defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and in Argentina, in favor of his imitator Javier Milei.

Last February he openly sponsored the right-wing candidate in Honduras, Nasry Asfura, who won the presidency, and the neoliberal businessman Daniel Noboa in Ecuador.

Lima, April 2 (Prensa Latina) A new private poll indicated today that the gaps between the top five candidates for the presidency of Peru are narrowing, the dispersion persists and 47 percent have not yet definitively decided how to vote.

Ten days before the elections, the survey by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP) indicates that the neoliberal Keiko Fujimori remains in first place, with only 10 percent, followed by the candidate of similar position Rafael López Aliaga, with 8.7.

In third place is the right-wing comedian Carlos Álvarez, with 6.9, in a statistical tie with the left-wing Roberto Sánchez (6.7) and the center-left Alfonso López-Chau (6.4), followed by the center-left Jorge Nieto (85.4) and the veteran former mayor of Lima, Ricardo Belmont (5.2). Further behind, with varying percentages, are the other 28 presidential candidates registered to compete in the general elections on April 18.

The IEP survey indicates that 47 percent of the electorate has decided on their vote (27 percent) and 22 percent have already decided but could change it.

Given the fragmentation of the electorate, the hidden vote, and the habit of many Peruvian voters to decide at the last minute who to vote for, analyst Juan de la Puente commented that after the debates between the presidential candidates concluded yesterday, “none are dead and none are sure” of making it to the second round.

What does seem very possible is that López-Aliaga will be left out of the runoff election to be held in June between the two candidates who reach the top positions, due to his sustained decline in the polls.

The far-right politician, an ally of Voice of Spain and an emulator of the Argentine Javier Milei, was rejected by the population of the city of Abancay, capital of the southern Andean region of Apurímac, and the same thing happened to him in recent days in Talavera, in the same region, and in Juliaca, in the also southern Andean region of Puno.

Quito, April 2 (Prensa Latina) An Ecuadorian court today revoked a preventive detention order against the mayor of Guayaquil, Aquiles Álvarez, although the politician, considered one of the main opposition figures, is subject to two other measures of deprivation of liberty.

The court deemed the evidence presented by the prosecution insufficient to support the crimes investigated as part of the so-called Goleada case.

In Thursday’s hearing, the judges ordered alternative measures, such as periodic appearances before the court and a ban on leaving the country, for Álvarez, his two brothers, and two other defendants.

The court concluded that the evidence initially presented did not allow for the establishment of the crime of organized crime for the purpose of money laundering and tax fraud, charges for which the process was opened.

The ruling indicates that the hypothesis put forward by the Prosecutor’s Office could correspond to a possible crime of money laundering linked to activities such as the illegal storage of fuels, and not to an organized crime structure as initially formulated.

Despite the revocation, Álvarez will not be able to go free, since he faces two other preventive detention orders in different cases, including the so-called Triple A case, for which he has remained confined since March in a maximum security prison in the province of Santa Elena.

In contrast, his brothers Antonio and Xavier Álvarez, along with the other defendants, regained their freedom after the judicial decision and will have to continue their defense under the new precautionary measures.

Shortly after the decision, the Prosecutor’s Office raided the offices of the Municipality of Guayaquil, the most populated city in the country, due to an investigation into the alleged crime of forgery.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Police entered several offices, including the one Álvarez used before he was arrested on February 10.

Following the intervention, dozens of citizens and collaborators gathered in the Plaza de la Administración, and some, like councilwoman Emily Vera, referred to the possible political intention of the raid just hours after the ruling in the Goleada case.

For her part, the prefect of Pichincha, Paola Pabón, of the Citizen Revolution, the party that sponsored the mayor of Guayaquil, demanded his freedom and also that of former vice president Jorge Glas.

“Dissenting voices cannot be persecuted and silenced under this government,” Pabón emphasized.

In addition to the Goleada case, Álvarez faces the so-called Triple A case, in which he is accused, along with 21 other people and companies, of alleged illegal marketing and distribution of hydrocarbons.

The third preventive detention order was issued for a case investigating the alleged manipulation of the electronic ankle monitor that had been imposed on him.

Brasilia, April 3 (Prensa Latina) The president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Edson Fachin, rejected the report prepared by a legislative group from the United States that questions judicial decisions of that Brazilian court, local media reported today.

In an official statement, cited by several news outlets, the magistrate responded to a document prepared by the Judicial Committee of the House of Representatives, which accuses Minister Alexandre de Moraes of promoting alleged acts of censorship, even with effects outside of Brazilian territory.

The report from the US group, dominated by Republican lawmakers aligned with President Donald Trump, argues that the Supreme Federal Court’s decisions affected the freedom of expression of citizens and companies in the United States by ordering the removal of content from digital platforms with global reach.

He also argues that Brazilian judges are promoting an “international censorship regime” by demanding that technology companies remove profiles and posts, including those disseminated from US territory.

According to O Globo, the report also refers to the electoral scenario in Brazil, mentioning the contest between Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Fachin stated that the document from the US congressmen presents “distorted characterizations” of the scope of the STF’s decisions and the functioning of the national legal system.

Furthermore, he announced that the court will send clarifications through diplomatic channels to establish an objective understanding of the facts.

The president of the STF stressed that freedom of expression has occupied a central position in Brazil since the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, which guarantees the free expression of thought, freedom of the press and access to information.

According to the magistrate, the Court acts in strict adherence to these principles and in defense of the independence between the powers of the State, preserving the authority of its decisions and the institutional balance.

However, Fachin pointed out that freedom of expression is not an absolute right and may be subject to exceptional limitations when it is necessary to protect other fundamental rights or prevent the commission of crimes provided for by law.

In that regard, he explained that judicial decisions that determine the removal of content on digital platforms are part of investigations into the illicit use of social networks, including actions against the Democratic Rule of Law.

According to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, the committee that prepared the report is chaired by Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, who on January 8 met with presidential pre-candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his brother Eduardo.

The latter was accused of promoting the adoption of tariffs and sanctions against Brazil and its authorities in the United States.

Beijing, April 3 (Prensa Latina) Cuba is promoting international alliances today to develop its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, with an emphasis on the Global South, said Deputy Minister of Communications Ailyn Febles, during her visit to China.

In statements to Prensa Latina, Febles pointed out that the National Strategy for the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, approved in 2024, constitutes a key component of the country’s Digital Transformation Policy, and in this sense, one of the main axes is the search for international cooperation to promote technological solutions.

According to the deputy minister, the Cuban delegation held meetings with counterparts from the Asian giant, including the China Data Administration, which focuses on information governance.

He explained that the Chinese economic development plan recognizes data as a factor of production, similar to land and labor.

He emphasized that both parties identified opportunities for cooperation, particularly in the exchange of experiences, and added that they visited companies in the sector with the purpose of exploring technology transfer and professional training.

The official highlighted that Cuba has high-level specialists in artificial intelligence and internationally recognized projects.

However, he warned that several of these initiatives face limitations to their widespread adoption due to insufficient processing and storage capacity.

Febles pointed out that the goal is to develop accessible applications focused on the needs of the Global South, including those aimed at people who cannot read.

“The aim is to incorporate indigenous languages ​​and the different accents of various countries into language models, in projects that ultimately contribute to closing the existing digital divide in our region, particularly in terms of access to and affordability of artificial intelligence tools,” he added.

He noted that China is a leader in data governance and is focused on developing standards and regulations that facilitate the creation of AI solutions for the Global South.

“This would allow us to reduce both the existing gap and the biases inherent in models developed and trained by major powers,” he noted.

He indicated that specialists from the University of Havana are developing a unique language model trained with Cuban cultural and educational content.

The deputy minister reported that during the last edition of the Havana International Fair, some 100 artificial intelligence solutions created in Cuba were identified, more than 30 of them aimed at the health sector.

He added that a Cuban-identified voice synthesizer is being developed for use in AI applications.

He also noted that work is underway to incorporate these technologies into the CubaEduca platform to support teachers.

The deputy minister recently mentioned in an article she authored that the context of the economic blockade imposed by the United States on the island has catalyzed national creativity to build an autonomous technological ecosystem.

He also pointed out that the universal value of the Cuban AI strategy lies today in its reaffirmation that technology must be at the service of humanity.

Mexico City, April 3 (Prensa Latina) The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Foreign Ministry, Enrique Ochoa, considered that the UN Committee against Enforced Disappearances (CED) is exceeding its mandate in a report on Mexico.

“The CED is exceeding its mandate by presenting a report lacking legal rigor, unduly expanding the scope of the definition of enforced disappearance,” the official stated in a message on his social media account.

Ochoa emphasized that this is one of the few nations in the world that has ratified all nine universal and all nine regional human rights conventions. “We have an exemplary track record of cooperation with the international system,” she highlighted, adding that her country is one of the 78 that ratified the Convention on Enforced Disappearance and one of the 30 that accept the jurisdiction of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) for individual communications.

He described the Mexican government’s cooperation with the Committee as “exemplary and immense” and noted that it was the first nation to accept an on-site visit from the organization in 2021 and has responded to all of its requests for information.

“Mexico does not deny the challenges it faces in this area,” the official said, adding that the administration led by President Claudia Sheinbaum has implemented public policies and legislative changes considered examples for other states.

He added that Mexico maintains close technical cooperation with various countries, as well as with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Population Fund to address this scourge.

“We remain open to cooperation and are not closed to collaborating in addressing this painful issue. Mexico will continue to cooperate with the international system, within a framework of dialogue, prioritizing objective and rigorous analysis,” he emphasized.

Yesterday the Government rejected the aforementioned report from the Committee, calling the document biased and stressing that it omits progress against this scourge since 2018.

To combat this crime, the Executive promoted the approval in July of last year of substantial modifications to the law, as well as “tools and obligations that the CED did not duly consider.”

Among these, the following stand out: the National Alert for the Search of Missing Persons, the obligation to open an investigation file upon the first report, the National Database of Investigation Files, the Single Identity Platform, and the strengthening of the National Bank of Forensic Data.

Quito, April 2 (Prensa Latina) The hearing to analyze the habeas corpus request of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas did not take place today after a controversy between the judge and the legal team of the detainee.

The proceedings, scheduled at the Criminal Judicial Unit of the La Libertad canton, in the province of Santa Elena, were suspended because Glas’s lawyer did not appear, which also led to the imposition of a fine and the refusal to allow his intervention.

However, the former president’s defense argued that the lawyer was present remotely, but was not allowed to participate in the hearing.

“Today, the defense in the habeas corpus case in favor of Jorge Glas was prevented. The petitioner’s lawyer was connected. The judge claimed he was not present. He suspended the hearing, imposed a fine, and denied his intervention,” lawyer Sonia Vera, part of the team, stated on social media.

The habeas corpus petition seeks to ensure that the Ecuadorian State guarantees adequate detention conditions for Glas, including access to sufficient food and specialized medical care, both physical and mental.

The requests also include the implementation of treatments for chronic conditions suffered by the former vice president, as well as the continuous provision of medications.

The defense has warned of a deterioration in Glas’s health, significant weight loss in recent months, difficulties in accessing comprehensive medical evaluations within the prison, and even a risk of death.

The suspended hearing must be reconvened on a date yet to be determined.

The former vice president already filed a habeas corpus petition in December 2025 in which he denounced alleged mistreatment and harm to his health, but the petition was denied.

Glas has been held in the Encuentro Prison in Santa Elena since November 10, after being transferred from the La Roca maximum security prison in Guayaquil.

His defense reported that he completed the sentences imposed in the Odebrecht and Bribes cases on October 2, 2025, however, he remains detained for the process called Reconstruction of Manabí, whose written sentence of first instance was notified six months later and that violated due process guarantees.

The former vice president, considered one of the symbols of judicial persecution or “lawfare” in Ecuador, was in the Mexican embassy in Quito from December 2023 until April 5, 2024.

That day, police officers violently and without authorization entered the diplomatic mission and arrested him despite his having been granted asylum by the then-government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Vera emphasized in a video posted on social media that Glas’s situation is part of a prolonged political persecution characterized by the arbitrary use of the penal system.

According to the jurist, he is the only Ecuadorian citizen who has 10 pronouncements from international organizations in his favor, which coincide in pointing out the vulnerability of his fundamental rights.