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Given the situation, the Ecuadorian Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, detailed that the cuts are due to “a cascade disconnection”.

Several territories of Ecuador suffered this Wednesday unprecedented power cuts that began from 15H15 (local time).

Given this energy situation, the Ecuadorian Minister of Public Works, Roberto Luque, detailed that the cuts are due to “a cascade disconnection”.

The immediate report we received from the National Electricity Operator (CENACE) is that there is a failure in the transmission line that caused a cascade disconnection, so there is no energy service nationwide. We are concentrating all our efforts on solving the problem as quickly as possible», underlined Luque in X.

Among the affected cities, the local press has reported to Quito (capital), Guayaquil, Cuenca, Latacunga, Playas, Daule and Samborondón.

In addition, local media indicated that users have reported the traffic lights of the main arteries of the country disconnected after the sudden cut.

In the same line, the Metropolitan Transit Agency (AMT) explained that, due to the lack of electricity, it caused the blackout of traffic lights of “1,027 intersections in the city”.

Meanwhile, the entity stressed that «580 agents work in traffic management throughout the city», and the situation with the signage gave way to a vehicular chaos.

In addition, the national disconnection also led to the suspension of the metro and tram service in Quito (capital).

Finally, local media have reported that after 16H00 (local time), citizens of Quito and cities like Ambato de Latacunga have reported the restoration of electricity service.

‘Despite external pressures, our countries are successfully developing in a sovereign, independent manner,’ Putin said.

On Wednesday, North Korea and Russia signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement,” which includes mutual military assistance in the event of an attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean President Kim Jong-Un signed the document after a two-hour closed-door meeting at the Kumsusan state residence.

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement will replace the diplomatic treaties signed between Moscow and Pyongyang in 1961, 2000, and 2001, according to Yuri Ushakov, the Russian presidential advisor on international policy.

“The agreement will not have any confrontational nature, it will not be directed against any country and will be aimed at ensuring stability in Northeast Asia,” he said, emphasizing that the new deal is necessary due to contemporary geopolitical changes.

Earlier, North Korean authorities held a grand ceremony to welcome Putin at the iconic Kim Il-Sung Square, which was decorated with balloons and flags of both countries waved by thousands of citizens.

The new agreement’s mutual defense clause also represents a response to the military rapprochement between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, three countries that are visibly upset with Putin’s visit to Pyongyang.

“Despite external pressures, our countries are successfully developing in a sovereign and independent manner,” Putin said after signing the new agreement, thanking North Korea for its “steadfast support” for “Russian policies, including those concerning Ukraine.”

For his part, Kim highlighted “the important mission” of Moscow “regarding the maintenance of global strategic stability and balance.” He also pointed out that the special military operation in Ukraine protects Russian sovereignty and security.

On Wednesday, once his stay in North Korea concludes, the Russian leader will travel to Vietnam for a two-day visit, during which the construction of new cooperative ties between the two nations is expected.

Leaders will deliver a statement on the results of the meetings at a press conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea on Wednesday for a two-day state visit at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Russian leader was received by Kim himself at Sunan International Airport adorned with Russian flags.

Also, portraits of the head of the Kremlin and welcome phrases in Russian such as “We warmly greet the president of the Russian Federation, Comrade Vladimir Putin” welcomed the leader of the Eurasian country.

According to the Russian presidential adviser, Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s program in Pyongyang will be very intense as «a very busy agenda is foreseen that includes negotiations in various formats, including expanded and informal talks among the leaders».

Putin last visited North Korea in 2000, when the nation was led by Kim Jong-il, father of the country’s current leader.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un attended the Russian Federation in September last year, where he held a meeting with Putin at the Vostochni cosmodrome in Amur province.

Also, the current North Korean leader visited the Eurasian nation in April 2019 to hold talks with the Russian president in the city of Vladivostok.

One of the world's greatest intellectuals and political activists, 95-year-old American Noam Chomsky, was discharged from hospital on Tuesday (18). The information comes from the Beneficência Portuguesa hospital in São Paulo, where the philosopher was hospitalized.

He had a massive stroke in June 2023, as reported by Mario Sergio Conti in the newspaper "Folha de S. Paulo". Chomsky is married to a Brazilian woman and, in recent years, adopted Brazil as his second home.

Known as the "father of modern linguistics", Chomsky has been the subject of seven biographies, interviewed numerous times in the media and appeared in more than 20 films and documentaries.

An ardent defender of freedom of expression, Chomsky is famous for his political commentary and geopolitical analysis. He has published and lectured extensively on US foreign policy, Middle East politics, democratic society and war. He is the author of more than 100 books, including "Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power" and "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media".