**Summary:** U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has begun clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz to secure the vital maritime trade route. This operation coincides with ongoing peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan.

**Key points:**
- President Donald Trump stated that U.S. Navy vessels began the clearing process to support international trade, criticizing other nations for failing to secure the waterway.
- The U.S. claims that 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels have been destroyed by American forces during the conflict.
- Peace talks are currently underway in Islamabad, involving U.S. Vice President JD Vance, following threats of military action to reopen the strait.

**Why it matters:** The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint for hydrocarbon trade, and its security is central to the ongoing military and diplomatic conflict between the United States and Iran.

subrayado.com.uy - Donald Trump dice que Estados Unidos comienza "proceso de desbloqueo" de Ormuz

elfinanciero.com.mx - Trump dice que comenzó a limpiar de minas el estrecho de Ormuz: ‘Es un favor a países de todo el mundo’

Donald Trump announces U.S. mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz

**Summary:** Russia and Ukraine have initiated a temporary ceasefire to observe the Orthodox Easter holiday, with combat operations scheduled to pause from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening.

**Key points:**
- The agreement includes a prisoner exchange involving 175 individuals from each side.
- This marks the fourth ceasefire between the two nations since the conflict began in February 2022.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously called for the truce, expressing hope it could lead to a broader peace process.

**Why it matters:** The ceasefire represents a rare diplomatic pause in a long-standing conflict, providing a brief window for humanitarian relief and prisoner exchanges.

Star - Rusya ile Ukrayna arasında Paskalya ateşkesi başladı

Infobae - Entra en vigor la tregua pascual declarada por Rusia y Ucrania

Le Monde - EN DIRECT, guerre en Ukraine : la trêve pascale entre Moscou et Kiev a officiellement débuté

Russia and Ukraine Begin Orthodox Easter Truce

**Summary:** Moldovan officials have issued safety guidelines for religious services during the Easter holiday and reported increased traffic congestion and numerous traffic violations across the country.

**Key points:**
- The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) advised citizens to avoid excessive candle use, keep evacuation routes clear, and supervise children to prevent fire risks.
- Police reported over 100 cases of speeding and 11 instances of driving under the influence of alcohol in the first half of the day.
- Three drivers were identified operating vehicles under the influence of narcotic substances.

**Why it matters:** These measures aim to ensure public safety and order during one of the most significant religious events in Moldova, which typically sees high travel volumes and large gatherings.

zdg.md - Cetățenii sunt îndemnați să respecte măsurile de siguranță la slujbele religioase din Noaptea Învierii

moldova1.md - Aglomerație pe drumurile din țară și zeci de încălcări: poliția face apel la responsabilitate

Moldovan authorities issue safety and traffic warnings ahead of Easter celebrations

**Summary:** The NASA Orion spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California, concluding the ten-day Artemis II lunar mission with four astronauts aboard.

**Key points:**
- Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen returned to Earth after orbiting the Moon.
- The mission served as a critical test for the spacecraft's heat shield during atmospheric re-entry.
- Artemis II is part of a broader NASA program aimed at establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon by 2028.
- The capsule reached speeds of approximately 40,000 kilometers per hour during its descent through the atmosphere.

**Why it matters:** The successful return of the Artemis II crew marks a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and develop long-term lunar infrastructure.

reforma.com - Ameriza Artemis II en Ocano Pacfico

inquirer.net - Artemis II's Pacific splashdown to cap NASA's lunar comeback

diariocorreo.pe - Artemis II: Exitoso amerizaje en el Pacífico de cápsula que orbitó la Luna

diariocorreo.pe - Artemis II: Cápsula tripulada de Orión se separa del módulo para iniciar su caída libre en el Pacífico

ansa.it - La capsula Orion è ammarata, missione compiuta per Artemis II

NASA's Artemis II Mission Completes Successful Splashdown in Pacific Ocean

**Summary:** Recent reports highlight a growing crisis in educational institutions across Chile and Mexico, characterized by increased school violence and the proliferation of fraudulent academic certifications.

**Key points:**
- In Chile, the death of an inspector at the Instituto Silva Lezaeta in Calama has triggered national debates regarding bullying and the loss of teacher authority.
- Coahuila, Mexico, reported 30 cases of apocryphal high school certificates in early 2026, nearly matching the total number of such incidents recorded throughout 2025.
- Experts emphasize the urgent need for enhanced mental health support for students and stricter regulatory oversight of educational establishments.
- Public discourse in the region increasingly links the deterioration of institutional standards to broader social and behavioral challenges.

**Why it matters:** The erosion of safety and academic integrity in schools threatens the role of education as a primary vehicle for social mobility and equality.

vanguardia.com.mx - Escuelas ‘patito’: ¿por qué siguen fuera de control?

latercera.com - ¿Cómo enfrentar la escalada de violencia en los colegios?

Escalation of Violence and Institutional Irregularities in Latin American Educational Systems

**Summary:** The Malian government has formally announced its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, marking a significant shift in its diplomatic stance. Concurrently, Mali has withdrawn its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

**Key points:**
- Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulaye Diop confirmed the policy change during a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in Bamako.
- The decision follows a recent United Nations Security Council resolution that identified the Moroccan autonomy proposal as a credible solution for the territory.
- The move occurs amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between Mali and Algeria, a long-standing supporter of the Polisario Front independence movement.

**Why it matters:** This diplomatic realignment reflects a broader trend of African nations shifting support toward Morocco's sovereignty claims over Western Sahara, further isolating the Polisario Front.

jeuneafrique.com - Le Mali appuie le plan d’autonomie marocain pour le Sahara occidental

google.com - Mali resets Africa’s compass on the Western Sahara

Mali Withdraws Recognition of Sahrawi Republic and Backs Moroccan Autonomy Plan

**Summary:** Panic occurred in Juba on Friday after gunshots were heard near the Customs Freedom Hall, where the trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused was taking place.

**Key points:**
- The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, confirmed an investigation into the incident is underway.
- Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), stated the gunfire was an isolated dispute between soldiers near the Garang Mausoleum.
- Authorities have cautioned civil society members against speaking on behalf of the military regarding the event.

**Why it matters:** The incident occurred during a high-profile trial involving a key figure in South Sudan's fragile peace process, raising immediate security concerns in the capital.

sudanspost.com - BREAKING | Gunshots fired during Machar trial as SSPDF urges calm

eyeradio.org - SSPDF response to Customs Roundabout shooting: investigation underway

Gunfire reported near Juba trial of South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar

**Summary:** Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded a rare second set of twins born to a mountain gorilla named Nyiramurema. Additionally, aerial surveys indicate a significant return of elephant herds to the park.

**Key points:**
- The birth of twins to a single mountain gorilla mother twice is considered biologically exceptional for the species.
- The return of hundreds of forest and savanna elephants to the park's interior is attributed to improved security conditions.
- Conservationists emphasize that these wildlife gains result from long-term ranger efforts and community engagement despite ongoing regional conflict.

**Why it matters:** These wildlife milestones provide critical data on the recovery of endangered species in a region historically impacted by poaching and armed conflict.

Quarte Bot