International

Bolivia declares disaster in 90 municipalities as heavy rains continue

The number of municipalities declared in a state of disaster due to intense rains in Bolivia has risen to 90, Vice Minister of Civil Defense Juan Carlos Calvimontes reported on Monday.

“It is no longer 81 municipalities in disaster; now, the number has increased to 90, with an additional 19 municipalitiesunder municipal emergency status,” Calvimontes stated in a press conference. He also noted that the number of affected families has climbed to 368,707.

According to Bolivian authorities, the most affected regions are La Paz (west), Santa Cruz (east), and Cochabamba (center), where heavy rainfall has caused flooding, landslides, and severe infrastructure damage.

“Of the 50 recorded fatalities, 18 are from Cochabamba, the second hardest-hit department after La Paz,” the Vice Minister said.

In Santa Cruz, seven municipalities have been declared disaster zones, particularly in productive areas and the Norte Integrado region. Authorities plan to conduct an aerial assessment to determine intervention measures.

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In La Paz, 44 municipalities have been declared disaster areas, with significant urban infrastructure damage, especially in Bajo Llojeta and the southern part of the city.

With 29 municipalities at imminent risk of flooding, the Vice Minister warned of the potential for further river overflows.

To mitigate the impact, the government has deployed heavy machinery to dredge rivers and distribute construction materials to reinforce containment walls.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service has issued a red alert due to the progressive and sudden rise in river levels across seven of the country’s nine departments. The warning will remain in effect until April 5.

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International

Maduro urges UN to intervene for venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador

Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in for a third term in January following his controversial re-election, urged United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to intervene on behalf of Venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador after being deported from the United States.

During a broadcast on the state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Maduro claimed these Venezuelans were “kidnapped”, forcibly disappeared, and held in “concentration camps.”

He also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for failing to release the list of migrants deported on March 16, who were allegedly accused of belonging to the transnational gang Tren de Aragua, which originated in a Venezuelan prison.

“Reports say there are 238 Venezuelans kidnapped in prisons, in concentration camps, in El Salvador. A week after they were taken and thrown into these camps, neither the U.S. government nor Nayib Bukele have published the list of those they have kidnapped in El Salvador,” Maduro stated, calling it a “forced disappearance.”

International

Canada updates U.S. travel advisory amid immigration policy changes

In a coordinated action with several European allies, Canada has updated its travel advisory for citizens visiting the United States, citing changes in immigration policies and law enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland have issued similar warnings, highlighting stricter border screenings, tighter visa restrictions, and new federal guidelines that particularly affect transgender and non-binary travelers.

These advisories reflect growing diplomatic concerns over how the recent U.S. policy shifts are impacting foreign visitors, especially tourists and long-term travelers. Additionally, this marks a rare instance in which multiple NATO allies publicly warn their citizens about travel to the United States.

International

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to meet with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on friday

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will meet with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum next Friday.

According to statements made to Fox News, the Trump administration official will travel this week to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico.

On Wednesday, Noem is scheduled to meet with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, with whom she will tour the mega-prison built to detain gang members in the country.

On Thursday, she will visit Colombia, where she will hold talks with President Gustavo Petro and top law enforcement officials.

On Friday, Noem will be in Mexico, where she is expected to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente.