Ecuador voters reject proposal to host foreign military bases

Ecuador voters have rejected the proposal to allow foreign military bases in the country, according to the preliminary results of Sunday's referendum released by the Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE).

Following the release of the results, President Daniel Noboa said he respects the Ecuadorian people's will.

At the four-part referendum on Sunday, Ecuadorian voters were also asked whether they should cut public funding for political parties, reduce the number of lawmakers and set up a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution.

Over 800 observers were deployed to monitor the voting process and more than 100,000 military and police personnel were dispatched to ensure security.

President Noboa had repeatedly said that Ecuador is facing a severe violence crisis and requires foreign military involvement to combat drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and transnational organized crimes.

Ecuador voters reject proposal to host foreign military bases

Ecuador voters reject proposal to host foreign military bases

Ecuador voters reject proposal to host foreign military bases

Several explosions were heard in western and eastern areas of Tehran on Friday night as Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes on the Iranian capital.

Video footage captured by China Media Group (CMG) showed explosions near Iran's Defense Ministry.

"I'm CMG reporter Li Jiannan, and I'm currently in the northeastern part of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. As you can see in the direction I'm pointing, it's around 22:00 local time on the 13th, and explosions just occurred several hundred meters away from our reporting point, with thick smoke billowing from there," Li said from the scene.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later announced that its air force had launched a new wave of airstrikes on Tehran.

Iran's Semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the city's air defenses had been activated to counter hostile U.S. and Israeli targets.

Explosions rock Tehran as Israel launches new round of attacks