California passes partisan redistricting plan to counter Texas maps
California lawmakers have fast-tracked a redistricting plan giving Democrats a potential five-seat gain in Congress, with Governor Gavin Newsom signin...
El Salvador’s ruling New Ideas party passed a bill on Thursday that reforms the country’s election system, allowing President Nayib Bukele to run for unlimited terms, extending each term from five to six years, and removing the need for run-off elections.
This change comes after the Supreme Court, packed with Bukele supporters, ruled in 2021 that his re-election was a human right despite constitutional bans.
The bill, which passed 57-3 ahead of Congress’s recess, also shortens the current presidential term to align upcoming elections in 2027, synchronizing presidential, legislative, and municipal votes, a move likely to benefit Bukele’s party across the board.
Lawmaker Ana Figueroa, who proposed the bill, framed it as empowering voters to decide how long to support elected officials.
"This is quite simple, El Salvador: only you will have the power to decide how long you wish to support the work of any public official, including your president," she said.
However, opposition lawmakers warned the changes threaten democracy by enabling one-party dominance.
"Today, democracy has died in El Salvador," said legislator Marcela Villatoro of the opposition Republican National Alliance (ARENA).
Bukele remains popular due to his tough anti-gang policies that have sharply reduced homicide rates, though human rights groups have criticized his methods for targeting innocents.
Cristosal, a human rights organization, recently left the country, condemning the reforms as a step toward authoritarianism.
Noah Bullock, Cristosal’s executive director, said, “They changed the political system to allow the president to perpetuate himself in power indefinitely and we continue to follow the well-traveled path of autocrats.”
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
California lawmakers have fast-tracked a redistricting plan giving Democrats a potential five-seat gain in Congress, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the measure on Thursday to counter Republican efforts in Texas.
The U.S. National Guard has been deployed across Washington, D.C. following President Trump’s declaration of a public safety emergency, as federal authorities continue efforts to reduce crime and secure the capital.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised troops who fought for Russia in Ukraine, calling them "heroic" during a ceremony honoring soldiers of the army's overseas operations.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that all 55 million visa holders are under continuous review, with potential revocations for security or legal violations.
Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to allow visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports, marking a major step in restoring relations after decades of restrictions.
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