Myanmar Airstrikes, Russian Eruption, and California Poppy Superbloom

Myanmar Military Attack

At least 50 people, including civilians, were killed in central Myanmar early Tuesday after the nation's military junta launched an airstrike on an antigovernment ceremony outside the city of Mandalay, the nation's second-largest. Members of the People's Defense Force—the armed wing of the opposition, prodemocracy National Unity Government—were opening a local office in Pa Zi Gyi village when fighter jets attacked.

Myanmar—also known as Burma—has been fighting one of the world's longest-running civil wars, a conflict driven by the country's nearly 100 ethnic minorities (see background). Despite a brief period of multiparty democracy last decade, a coup in 2021 returned the southeastern Asian country to military rule, prompting lawmakers from jailed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party to form an alternative government, which today reportedly controls almost half of the country's territory. 

The junta has promised to hold elections in August of this year after extending a February 2021 state of emergency for the third time. 

Volcano Erupts in Russia

One of Russia's most active volcanoes erupted early Tuesday, sending clouds of ash and smoke more than 65,000 feet in the sky and covering about 41,700 square miles of nearby towns in dust—an area larger than the state of Kentucky.

The Shiveluch volcano in the country's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted just after midnight local time. Scientists described the eruption as the biggest in 60 years. Officials said the lava flows were unlikely to reach villages and mass evacuations weren't necessary. No casualties were reported. See footage of the eruption here.

The peninsula, home to around 300,000 people, extends into the Pacific Ocean and lies northeast of Japan. It sits on the Ring of Fire—an area defined by multiple tectonic plate boundaries responsible for 75% of the world's volcanoes and 90% of its earthquakes. The Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the world’s most concentrated areas of geothermal activity, with over 150 volcanoes, including 29 active ones (see 101).

New Wave of Iranian Poisonings

New cases of suspected poisonous-gas attacks on mainly girls’ schools in Iran emerged this week, following a wave of incidents in recent months. At least a dozen attacks were reported yesterday throughout the country. 

Thousands of students have reportedly been affected by similar incidents since the first cases were reported in November, with at least 26 schools being affected on a single day in March. Students have reported symptoms such as respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. See our previous write-up here and see a visual breakdown of the suspected poisonings here.  

The news comes weeks after Iran announced the arrest of more than 100 people in connection with the poisoning incidents. Iranian officials suggest the incidents may be a deliberate effort to prevent girls from receiving an education. However, the exact chemicals causing the symptoms remain unclear.

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