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HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s Senate gave overwhelming approval Wednesday to a set of constitutional amendments that would eliminate direct presidential elections, postpone the next scheduled vote, and extend the term of the nation’s 83-year-old president.

The measure passed with 75 senators voting in favor and only four opposed. Some lawmakers from the divided opposition crossed the aisle to support the bill alongside members of the ruling party. The president’s signature is now the only remaining step before the amendments become law.

Under the proposed changes, the presidential election currently set for 2028 would be pushed back to 2030, giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa an additional two years in office. The bill also fundamentally changes how Zimbabwe’s president is chosen — scrapping the direct popular vote in favor of selection by members of parliament. Additionally, the terms of both the president and parliament members would be extended from five years to seven.

The amendments have drawn sharp criticism from human rights lawyers, activists, and some opposition figures, who argue that lengthening presidential terms requires a public referendum rather than a simple parliamentary vote. Supporters of Mnangagwa counter that parliament has the authority to make these changes, pointing out that the constitutional two-term limit would still be preserved, even if each term becomes longer.

The political climate in Zimbabwe has grown increasingly tense since the amendments were introduced. Critics of the legislation have reportedly faced arrest and detention, while others have described harassment and intimidation. Courts in the southern African nation have not yet ruled on multiple legal challenges filed against the proposed changes.

Mnangagwa has held power since 2017, when the military facilitated the removal of his longtime mentor and former Zimbabwean ruler Robert Mugabe, who passed away in 2019. Though Mnangagwa had previously indicated he would leave office when his second term ended in 2028, his ruling ZANU-PF party has been a driving force behind the amendments. Parliament has even held late-night sessions to advance the legislation. The lower house passed the bill by a wide margin just last week.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Federal police in Brazil took a Spanish citizen into custody Wednesday at São Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport, marking the most recent in a growing string of high-profile racism-related arrests involving foreign visitors to the country.

Brazil has confronted a long history tied to slavery and has established some of the most stringent anti-racism legislation in Latin America. Those protections were written into the country’s 1988 constitution. Under Brazilian law, insulting someone based on their race can result in a prison sentence of two to five years, along with financial penalties.

According to police, the crew aboard a LATAM airlines flight that had arrived from the northeastern city of São Luís contacted authorities after the Spanish woman allegedly hurled racially offensive comments at the workers responsible for unloading the plane’s baggage. Officers took her into custody as she stepped off the aircraft. LATAM issued a statement saying there was no excuse for the aggression aimed at its staff and that the airline stands firmly against racism and discrimination in all forms.

This incident follows several similar cases in recent months. In January, Argentine national Agostina Páez was arrested in Rio after video spread widely on social media showing her making monkey gestures toward a waiter at a nightclub. Though initially prohibited from leaving Brazil, Páez was ultimately allowed to return to Argentina in April, where photographs captured her meeting with Sen. Patricia Bullrich, a close ally of Argentine President Javier Milei. Both were seen celebrating her homecoming. Legal proceedings in her case are still underway.

In May, another Argentine national, Eduardo Ignacio Murias, was arrested in Minas Gerais. Authorities allege he took unauthorized photos and video of a young child and then shared those images alongside racist messages written in Spanish. News outlet G1 reported on June 17 that a court formally indicted Murias, who continues to be held in pretrial detention.

Also in May, a Chilean citizen was arrested for making racial and homophobic slurs against flight crew members during a trip between Guarulhos and Frankfurt. That individual also reportedly attempted to open the aircraft door mid-flight and, when crew members intervened, directed racial and homophobic insults at them, according to a May 15 police statement.

Brazil’s ties to slavery run deep — the country imported more Africans into forced labor than any other nation and was the final country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery, doing so in 1888. At the same time, Brazil has a long tradition of anti-racism advocacy driven by movements pushing for racial equality.

Irapuã Santana, a lawyer who specializes in anti-racism cases and a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think-tank and university, noted the significance of that history. “Social movements played a very important role in ensuring that the Black population was recognized in the 1988 constitution,” which explicitly bans racism, he said.

In January 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed legislation that classified racial insults as equivalent to the crime of racism itself, giving courts stronger tools to address such cases.

Santana added that racism cases in Brazil are drawing increasing public attention as more people learn about the country’s legal protections and recognize that the justice system can and does respond to such offenses.

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police took two people into custody Wednesday, alleging they sold seditious publications and accepted money from foreign political organizations, invoking powers granted under a recently enacted national security law.

An official government statement released early Thursday declined to name the individuals who were arrested. However, local media outlets — among them the Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao — cited unnamed sources claiming that one of the two was Leticia Wong, the owner of Hunter Bookstore.

Wong, a former district councilor known for her pro-democracy stance, has continued to speak out publicly at a time when many prominent activists have been imprisoned following a sweeping crackdown that came in the wake of large-scale anti-government demonstrations in 2019. Should her involvement be confirmed, many observers would likely view the arrest as another move to suppress dissenting voices in the city.

The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the identities of those taken into custody. Police did not answer emailed questions, and Wong was unreachable by phone.

The two arrests happened exactly one week before Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its transition from British colonial rule back to China. Critics argue that Beijing’s pledge to preserve the city’s Western-style civil liberties following the 1997 handover is becoming increasingly hollow.

According to Thursday’s official statement, the pair arrested operate a shop in the Sham Shui Po district — the same area where Wong’s bookstore is located. They face suspicion of sedition under the 2024 national security law, as well as charges related to handling assets believed to be proceeds of an indictable offense under a separate piece of legislation.

A pro-Beijing newspaper reported last year that an independent book fair held at Wong’s bookstore carried overtones of what it called “soft resistance.” That report drew attention to the store’s intention to sell a biography of jailed pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai.

Authorities said their investigation found the pair allegedly displayed seditious items and offered for sale publications containing seditious content — including materials said to incite hatred toward the city’s government, its courts, and law enforcement. The statement also alleged the two received money transfers funded by foreign political organizations, though it did not name the specific publications or groups involved.

Wong had previously spoken about feeling pressure on her business. In an interview with the AP last year, she said her records documented 92 instances between July 2022 and June 2025 in which government authorities took action against her shop — including inspections, visible patrols outside the premises, and written warnings about alleged violations. She also described how an anonymous letter sent to an organization that had planned an event at her shop led that group to cancel the booking.

This past March, police arrested the owner and employees of a separate bookstore, reportedly also on suspicion of selling seditious materials, including the Lai biography. Those booksellers were subsequently released on bail.

The Hong Kong government maintains that both security laws are essential to maintaining stability in the city, and insists that freedom of expression remains fully protected.

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s senate gave overwhelming approval Wednesday to a bill that would lengthen presidential terms from five years to seven, paving the way for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to hold onto power until 2030.

The vote was not particularly close — 75 senators backed the measure while just four opposed it, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for passage.

Beyond extending the length of presidential terms, the legislation also includes a significant change to how Zimbabwe’s president is chosen. Rather than being elected directly by voters, the president would instead be selected by parliament under the new framework. The bill will officially become law once Mnangagwa puts his signature on it.

Signs that Mnangagwa, who is 83 years old, was looking to remain in office past the end of his second term in 2028 began surfacing roughly two years ago. Supporters at rallies held by the ruling ZANU-PF party began chanting that he needed additional time to finish what he had started.

The ruling party formally committed to amending the constitution to extend presidential terms last year, and the proposal received cabinet approval in February.

Mnangagwa’s path to the presidency came through a 2017 military coup that removed longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who had governed Zimbabwe since the country gained independence in 1980.

Opponents of the bill argue it is simply a mechanism for Mnangagwa to cling to power beyond what voters originally agreed to. Supporters, however, contend the changes will improve government accountability and bring greater political stability to the country.

BOGOTA, Colombia — The emergence of Abelardo de la Espriella, a businessman and attorney set to become Colombia’s next president, is sparking debate over whether a broader political shift taking shape across Latin America could fundamentally alter the fate of the Amazon rainforest.

Colombia’s outcome arrives as Peru appears to be on the verge of electing Keiko Fujimori following a tight vote. At the same time, Brazil is gearing up for a presidential contest that could push the country rightward if Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, manages to unseat President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Taken together, these elections raise the prospect that the nations controlling the largest portions of the Amazon could shift toward policies that put greater weight on economic expansion, resource extraction, and cracking down on organized crime in remote territories.

“There’s an interesting alignment, particularly across the Andes region and the broader Amazon basin,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy director for Latin America at the International Crisis Group, pointing to a growing view among some governments that economic development and environmental conservation can happen side by side.

In Colombia, de la Espriella — who received an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump — defeated lawmaker Iván Cepeda, who had the backing of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, by a margin of one percentage point, or roughly 251,000 votes. Cepeda acknowledged his defeat on Wednesday.

The Amazon rainforest stretches across much of northern South America and plays a vital role in slowing climate change by soaking up large quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas responsible for warming the planet. Scientists have long cautioned that ongoing deforestation could push portions of the Amazon past a point of no return, beyond which vast areas might lose the ability to recover as rainforest.

Approximately 40% of Colombia’s land area falls within the Amazon basin. Under outgoing President Petro, the country became one of the world’s most vocal champions of rainforest preservation and a shift away from fossil fuel dependence.

On the campaign trail, de la Espriella — known by the nickname “The Tiger” — promised to reinvigorate Colombia’s oil industry, expressed support for fracking, which involves extracting oil and gas from underground rock formations, and argued that the nation should draw more heavily on its natural resources to fuel economic growth. Environmental advocates warn that ramping up oil and gas output could undermine emissions reduction goals and place added strain on ecologically sensitive regions.

De la Espriella stands in stark contrast to Petro, who blocked new fossil fuel exploration agreements and worked to establish Colombia as a global leader on climate policy.

Peru, which holds the second-largest share of the Amazon rainforest behind Brazil, appears close to electing Fujimori. Much like de la Espriella, Fujimori has indicated support for growing the mining sector and other industries as engines of economic development, while environmental organizations have voiced concern about what that could mean for forests and Indigenous communities.

Brazil, which contains roughly 60% of the Amazon, faces a presidential race with potentially sweeping consequences for forest protection. The contest comes after the country saw deforestation rates climb sharply under Bolsonaro, only to fall again under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as environmental enforcement was stepped up.

Brazil’s track record demonstrates that government priorities can produce a tangible impact on the Amazon, according to Cristiane Mazzetti, zero deforestation lead at Greenpeace Brazil.

“The elected administration sets budgetary priorities, fills government positions and shapes regulations to either facilitate or hinder predatory exploitation and environmental crimes,” she said. “The result of this is measurable, as evidenced by the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.”

Trump’s backing of de la Espriella comes as the U.S. president has rolled back domestic climate policies, pushed for expanded oil and gas production, and pulled the United States out of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the global accord designed to limit rising temperatures.

Sergio Guzmán, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, said environmental priorities may increasingly find themselves competing with demands for investment, energy production, and economic growth.

“Many of the concerns from environmentalists on emissions and fracking are going to take a second place to some of the economic concerns about energy self-sufficiency, investment and foreign direct investment in oil, gas and mining,” Guzmán said.

Illegal gold mining has emerged as one of the most destructive forces in parts of the Amazon, polluting rivers with mercury, stripping away forests, and funneling billions of dollars to criminal organizations.

Dickinson noted that many governments have adopted harder stances toward illegal mining, which has become a central issue in environmental policy across the region.

“It’s very hard to disagree with the idea of going after illegal mining, one of the most detrimental industries for the Amazon basin,” she said, adding that governments have typically concentrated on confiscating equipment or clearing miners from specific sites rather than dismantling the criminal and financial networks that drive the operations.

“What we really haven’t reached is an ability to tackle the intellectual authors of these operations,” Dickinson said.

Julio Cusurichi, a well-known Indigenous leader from Peru’s Amazon region, said Indigenous communities would press on with their organizing efforts and push for a stronger voice in decisions that affect their lands.

“Our biodiversity, our territories, our knowledge and our wisdom can contribute greatly to addressing climate change,” he said. “In our territories, we have shown that we can provide governance not only for our peoples, but for the planet.”

Throughout the Amazon, Indigenous territories frequently overlap with areas targeted for mining, oil development, and infrastructure construction. Indigenous organizations have long argued that governments routinely fail to properly consult communities before greenlighting projects.

Dickinson said friction over Indigenous autonomy and extractive projects has become increasingly visible in countries including Peru and Ecuador.

Analysts say some of the clearest early signals of how de la Espriella’s administration will approach environmental issues will come from how it manages Indigenous consultation procedures, environmental permitting, and decisions on new oil, gas, and mining projects in ecologically fragile areas.

Guzmán said de la Espriella’s plans to intensify military pressure on criminal organizations and potentially restart aerial spraying of coca crops — the plant from which cocaine is derived — could also carry consequences for Amazon communities.

Aerial fumigation has been a long-running source of controversy in Colombia. Advocates see it as a necessary tool against drug trafficking, while critics argue it can harm surrounding vegetation, affect water supplies, and push coca growers to clear new stretches of forest as they move further into remote Amazon territory.

Some analysts urge caution against assuming environmental safeguards will automatically erode under the new government.

Colombia’s courts, legislature, Indigenous organizations, and environmental agencies all retain significant influence, while advances in satellite technology are making it harder to conceal deforestation and environmental damage, analysts noted.

In the Colombian Amazon city of Leticia, Indigenous Ticuna resident Arnaldo Rufino said many in the community worry that policies encouraging greater resource extraction could ultimately come at the forest’s expense.

He said political leaders should be focused on safeguarding biodiversity and the Amazon rather than pursuing projects that risk heightening environmental pressures.

“It means cutting down the trees that allow humanity to breathe,” Rufino said.

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Senate has approved legislation that would permit individual states to form their own police forces, setting the stage for a sweeping overhaul of how law enforcement operates in the conflict-stricken country.

The proposed change to the nation’s constitution would shift policing authority away from the federal government, which currently holds exclusive control over the country’s police. The federal force has been stretched thin by a growing security crisis, and the new state-level forces would work alongside it rather than replace it.

Security experts say a shortage of police presence in large rural areas has allowed militant and criminal organizations to operate with little resistance. According to the United Nations, these groups — including jihadist factions — have been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people across the country.

If enacted, the law would give each of Nigeria’s 36 states the authority to build a police force that meets a minimum national standard. The federal police would continue to handle counterterrorism operations, border security, organized crime, and other matters of national concern.

The bill has drawn support from both sides of the political aisle and is backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It has been discussed and debated on multiple occasions in the past and is widely seen as a potential remedy to the country’s worsening security situation.

Under President Tinubu’s administration, insecurity has continued to grow, with militant activity now spreading into the country’s southern regions. At least 80 schoolchildren remain in captivity after being kidnapped by armed groups operating in both the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM Intelligence — a risk advisory firm based in Lagos — pointed to the recent wave of mass kidnappings as a driving force behind the push for reform. “In the light of recent mass kidnappings, the calls for a decentralized police have increased due to the sluggish nature of the government’s response to the events, which has been, in part, caused by the structural deficiencies of a centralized policing framework in Nigeria,” Effiong said.

While state governors are officially recognized as the top security authorities within their states, they currently have no direct operational control over police forces. That dynamic has fueled both support for and opposition to the proposed reform.

Opponents of the legislation warn that giving governors command over state police forces could open the door to abuse, with officials potentially using law enforcement to pursue personal or political goals and suppress dissent.

Before the bill can become law, it must receive approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s state legislatures, as it involves an amendment to the country’s constitution.

PARIS (AP) — In an effort to dodge the brutal heat wave sweeping across much of Western Europe, Dior pushed its men’s Paris Fashion Week presentation to 9 a.m. Wednesday. Despite the early hour, the scorching temperatures still made their presence felt.

Attendees made their way to the Musée Nissim de Camondo as the city baked in extreme heat. Staff greeted guests at the entrance with cold towels, strawberries, and parasols in an attempt to offer some relief.

Inside the historic mansion, where Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson was presenting his newest Dior men’s collection, temperatures climbed rapidly. Some guests appeared to be struggling with the heat, and water was in short supply.

Despite the uncomfortable conditions, the front row was packed with well-known faces. Among those attending were LaKeith Stanfield, Little Simz, James Marsden, Drew Starkey, Mike Faist, 070 Shake, Alexander Ludwig, and Sam Nivola.

Anderson’s collection centered on the idea of formality coming undone — tuxedos worn loosely, denim torn and raw, sequins catching the light, and disco-ball boots striding through a venue steeped in old-world elegance.

Dior described the atmosphere behind the collection as “a soiree turning into a house party.” Anderson himself put it this way: “something quite formal becoming undone.”

The central concept was clear: the Dior man wasn’t just arriving at the party — he had been there all night and stayed until dawn.

Anderson opened with tailored looks, though he made them lighter and less rigid. Pinstripes and houndstooth patterns were printed onto silk chiffon rather than woven into heavier fabric, resulting in pieces that felt formal yet see-through.

The collection pushed Dior’s signature style into edgier territory. Sequined trousers were styled to resemble jeans, ripped denim was finished with delicate silver chains, tuxedos came in relaxed cuts, and pink denim shorts appeared beneath formal coats.

Accessories included crystal sunglasses, disco-ball boots, and patchworked Japanese denim shirts.

The standout pieces succeeded by keeping Dior’s identity recognizable while disrupting it. A scarf motif was drawn from a 1979 Dior haute couture piece, and silver embroidery was borrowed from an 18th-century gentleman’s coat.

Boots were intentionally styled to look worn and disheveled, decorated with tiny ladybird details.

The collection wasn’t a break from Dior’s history — it was a way of putting that history in motion.

The choice of venue added deeper meaning to the show. The Musée Nissim de Camondo, currently closed for restoration, was built around Moïse de Camondo’s collection of 18th-century decorative arts — the same era that captivated Christian Dior himself.

Anderson presented a collection about loosened formality inside a building also caught between its past and its future. Dior’s own show notes framed that “in-between” state as intentional, pointing to beauty found in imperfection.

The mansion also carries a painful history. Camondo’s son perished in World War I, and later generations of the family were deported and killed during the Holocaust. Today the building serves as both a museum and a memorial to that loss.

Set against that somber backdrop, the collection’s playful energy gave the clothing a certain tension. Anderson took elements already embedded in Dior’s identity — the tuxedo, the Bar silhouette, couture embroidery, 18th-century ornamentation — and recast them in a younger, more chaotic register.

The result stood as one of Anderson’s most focused and fully realized outings at Dior to date.

KUWAIT CITY — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a firm pledge Wednesday that Washington will take no action to compromise the safety of its Gulf region allies as it navigates its relationship with Iran.

Speaking to reporters in Kuwait City before heading to Bahrain, Rubio emphasized the purpose of his regional visit. “We’re going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf,” he said. “That’s why I’ve taken these trips now, and it’s the reason why I’m here.”

“We’re not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” Rubio added.

The nation’s top diplomat is currently visiting three Gulf countries in an effort to ease concerns among allies who believe a proposed Iran peace agreement is not tough enough on a regional power that attacked them during the war. Rubio had earlier met with the United Arab Emirates leader before sitting down with Kuwaiti officials, then departing for Bahrain.

The agreement between the U.S. and Iran, reached last week, marks the first deal signed by leaders of both nations since Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979. The accord includes a proposed $300 billion fund and the lifting of certain sanctions.

Since the memorandum of understanding was signed last week, both countries have begun technical-level discussions to work out the specifics of how the deal will be put into practice. The agreement has faced criticism from Democrats as well as military hawks within the Republican Party.

Rubio left the door open for further progress, saying, “If Iran wants to make a good and real deal, the United States is open to that. If they’re not, then of course the President has options.”

He also noted that technical negotiators are expected to pick up talks again before the end of the month and will likely convene once more in Switzerland.

Despite objections from a top member of the U.S. Congress, President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to finalize a deal selling dozens of jet engines to Turkey worth hundreds of millions of dollars, four sources familiar with the situation confirmed Wednesday.

The engines, manufactured by General Electric, are intended to power Turkey’s first homegrown combat aircraft, known as the Kaan. That aircraft program was launched in 2016 as part of the NATO member nation’s push toward greater independence in its defense capabilities. One source indicated the overall package would exceed $700 million in value.

The planned sale represents a meaningful show of goodwill toward Ankara ahead of a NATO summit scheduled to be held in Turkey on July 7 and 8. The gathering of NATO leaders is taking place amid internal alliance tensions over defense spending, burden-sharing, and U.S. concerns about allies’ involvement in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open during the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

Relations between the U.S. and Turkey have largely been positive under Trump, who has frequently spoken favorably of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Still, friction has persisted over Washington’s earlier decision to exclude Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program and impose sanctions following Ankara’s purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems — a move the United States has characterized as a security risk.

Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, raised concerns during the informal review process and has not given his approval for the deal, according to two of the sources, one of whom is a U.S. official.

Even so, the sale is expected to move forward in the coming days, after which the State Department is anticipated to formally notify Congress. The State Department declined to offer any comment on the matter.

The decision to proceed comes roughly a year after Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan publicly expressed frustration over what he described as delays in the approval process.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Progressive candidate Iván Cepeda formally conceded Colombia’s presidential race on Wednesday to conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella, who carried an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump heading into the vote.

According to election results, de la Espriella — a businessman and attorney who had never previously sought public office — beat out Cepeda, a sitting lawmaker, by roughly one percentage point, a margin of nearly 251,000 votes.

In a nationally televised address, Cepeda acknowledged the outcome, saying: “We assume with serenity, responsibility, and absolute resolve — and let there be no doubt about it — the role that circumstances demand of us. We will exercise a democratic, vigilant and constructive opposition.”

Political observers view the outcome as a repudiation of outgoing President Gustavo Petro’s administration, whose agenda Cepeda had pledged to carry forward. That agenda included a largely unsuccessful initiative to negotiate with various armed factions under a program called “total peace.”

Election authorities released nearly all vote totals within hours of polls closing on Sunday. Both Petro and Cepeda initially refused to accept those figures, with Cepeda indicating he would hold off on conceding until a recount was completed.

De la Espriella, who is 47 years old, is set to begin a four-year term on August 7. His campaign had not issued a response to Cepeda’s concession as of Wednesday.

The win places Colombia among a growing number of nations that have turned toward political outsiders to address difficult challenges related to public safety, social conditions, and economic pressures.

Describing himself as the candidate of “the never-before-seen,” de la Espriella appealed to voters worried about a return to widespread internal conflict. He promised a tough-on-crime approach modeled after strategies used by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, including the construction of large-scale prisons. Those methods have reduced homicide rates in El Salvador but have also drawn criticism over alleged human rights violations.

Known by the nickname “The Tiger,” de la Espriella holds dual citizenship in both Colombia and the United States, identifies as a Trump supporter, and is a registered member of the Republican Party.

BUCHAREST — Romania’s Social Democrats, the leftist party holding the most seats in parliament, announced Wednesday that they are nominating their own leader, Sorin Grindeanu, to serve as prime minister. The move is part of a broader effort by political parties to piece together a functioning government after a pro-European coalition collapsed last month.

The Social Democrats themselves set off the political turmoil in early May when they walked away from the coalition and joined forces with far-right opposition lawmakers to bring down Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.

The three remaining parties from that dissolved coalition have since made clear they have no intention of entering into a new government alongside the Social Democrats. The problem is that without them, no other grouping holds sufficient parliamentary seats to command a majority.

A candidate put forward by the president to lead a new government was unable to secure enough backing. Under Romanian political rules, if a second candidate is nominated and also falls short, the country would be required to hold new parliamentary elections.

The pro-European parties have expressed a desire to form a minority government as a way to head off a snap election, but they have yet to reach a consensus on whether the Social Democrats or the center-right parties should lead that arrangement.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A wave of anti-immigrant anger is driving thousands of African migrants out of South Africa, as tensions build ahead of a self-imposed June 30 deadline set by anti-immigration protest groups demanding action from the government.

The protest groups have been staging demonstrations and marches across the country for months, blaming immigrants — without evidence — for South Africa’s high unemployment rate, failing public services, and rising crime. They have threatened to launch a “national shutdown” if the government does not take steps against what they describe as a serious illegal immigration problem by the end of the month.

South Africa’s police minister confirmed that authorities are on high alert, with large-scale protests expected on the deadline day itself.

In the meantime, thousands of migrants have taken refuge in makeshift shelters and near embassies, fearing for their safety. Multiple African countries have begun bringing their citizens home while publicly condemning what they call a climate of xenophobia in South Africa.

The issue has dominated national politics since March, when protests erupted in several major cities. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on television earlier this month in an effort to calm the situation. He accused some protest organizers of using immigration as a political tool, and stated that “illegal immigration is not the cause of our social and economic difficulties.” However, Ramaphosa also acknowledged that the country’s border control systems have fallen short.

South Africa has long been a destination for migrants from other parts of Africa due to its comparatively stronger economy. According to 2022 census data, roughly 2.4 million foreign nationals were living in South Africa at the time, making up less than 4% of the country’s 62 million residents. Critics argue those numbers don’t capture the full picture, since many undocumented individuals would not be counted.

Over the past two years, South Africa’s home affairs ministry says it has deported more than 100,000 people found to be living in the country without proper documentation, while turning away approximately 500,000 more at border crossings. Anti-immigration groups have pointed to those numbers as proof the problem is significant.

Violence has accompanied the rising tensions. Police are investigating the deaths of two Mozambican nationals killed this month in a small coastal town, where more than 50 homes in an immigrant neighborhood were also set on fire, according to local officials. In a separate incident last week, a man from Malawi was allegedly stoned to death during anti-immigration protests, triggering another police investigation.

South Africa has a long and troubled history with xenophobic violence. Migrants from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi often settle in low-income communities where unemployment is high and tensions run deep. In 2008, more than 60 people — both South Africans and foreign nationals — were killed when anti-immigrant violence erupted in Johannesburg and spread across the country. Sporadic outbreaks have occurred ever since.

A spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN chief was “deeply concerned by reports of xenophobic attacks and acts of harassment and intimidation against migrants and foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.”

Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique are among the African nations that have spoken out strongly against the treatment of their citizens. Nigeria and Ghana together have repatriated nearly 2,000 people on government-funded flights and say more evacuations are planned. Zimbabwe and Mozambique have also brought back smaller numbers of nationals.

In the eastern city of Durban, approximately 10,000 Malawian migrants gathered at a temporary shelter last week hoping to return home. More than 8,000 of them have since departed on buses arranged by the Malawian government or private sponsors, though more continue to arrive. South African authorities said they assisted with the repatriation process, but also formally deported many of those individuals for lacking valid residency documents.

High-stakes diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran held in Switzerland did not yield a final agreement, but they did mark meaningful progress in turning a fragile memorandum of understanding into a more structured diplomatic process.

The delegations gathered at Bürgenstock, a venue overlooking Lake Lucerne, where American and Iranian officials agreed to press forward with technical negotiations under the framework of the Islamabad MoU. Qatar and Pakistan served as mediators throughout the process.

On the American side, US Vice President JD Vance joined other senior envoys at the table. Iran sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi along with other top officials. Qatar and Pakistan not only helped shape the structure of the talks but also jointly issued the official statement and took on the role of mediators in a wider effort to steer the crisis away from military confrontation.

According to the joint statement released by Qatar and Pakistan on June 22, the discussions resulted in the creation of a high-level committee for political oversight, along with working groups focused on nuclear matters, sanctions, monitoring, and dispute resolution. The two sides also agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal within 60 days. Additionally, the US and Iran committed to establishing a direct communication channel to help prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a de-confliction mechanism involving Lebanon, both parties, and the mediators.

The Switzerland meeting went beyond a simple two-way negotiation between Washington and Tehran. It reflects a broader regional realignment in which the United States appears to be drawing on a wider network of partners — including Gulf nations and Pakistan — rather than relying solely on its traditional coordination with Israel to handle the political and security fallout from the crisis.

Washington faces a two-part challenge going forward: determining whether Iran is genuinely willing to accept meaningful nuclear monitoring and additional technical arrangements, while also keeping related regional issues — Lebanon, maritime security, sanctions relief, and frozen assets — from derailing the overall process. For Tehran, the Swiss talks present an opportunity to maintain leverage while securing economic and political concessions, though it also means entering a more formalized process of verification and implementation.

One of the most sensitive topics under discussion is the return of international nuclear inspectors. Vance stated that Iran had agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country, describing it as an initial step toward addressing American concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. However, Iranian officials have been careful not to frame this as a one-sided concession, stressing that any final arrangement would hinge on implementation, sanctions relief, and decisions from Iran’s top political and security leadership.

The question of sanctions is equally complicated. Iranian officials have suggested that restrictions on oil and petrochemical exports have been waived, that a blockade has been lifted, and that some frozen assets have been released. American officials have been more guarded in their language, emphasizing mechanisms, waivers, and limits on how any released funds can be used. The gap between what each side is saying publicly and what can actually be enforced is expected to define the next phase of negotiations.

For Gulf nations, the more pressing concern is not about claiming a diplomatic win — it is about whether this agreement can genuinely reduce risk across the region. The crisis had placed pressure on shipping lanes, energy markets, Lebanon, and Gulf security more broadly. Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi political analyst, said the agreement is being received with restrained optimism in Saudi Arabia.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency stated Wednesday that inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites will go forward under a recently signed memorandum of understanding, pushing back on claims that Tehran has not consented to granting inspectors access.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi made the remarks during a press conference held at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where he emphasized that the agreement — signed by the presidents of both Iran and the United States — explicitly calls for IAEA oversight of nuclear activities.

“I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there has been a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both presidents,” Grossi told reporters.

His comments come amid ongoing uncertainty about whether Iran has truly agreed to allow IAEA inspectors back inside its borders.

Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance described nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran held in Switzerland as a “very, very good day,” stating that Tehran had agreed to permit IAEA inspectors into the country and calling it a “major milestone.”

Iranian officials quickly pushed back on that description. Tasnim reported Monday that neither Iran’s negotiating team nor top government officials had approved the return of inspectors to the country.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that any cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog would occur within the boundaries of Iran’s safeguards obligations and in line with decisions made by the country’s parliament and Supreme National Security Council.

Despite the back-and-forth public statements, Grossi stood firm, saying the memorandum itself lays out a clear foundation for inspections to take place.

“The accord,” he said, “says explicitly that the nuclear activities that are going to be carried out with regards to the nuclear material facilities will be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters.”

While Grossi acknowledged the exact timeline for inspections remains unclear, he was adamant that the process will not be stopped.

“Obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential. This is going to happen,” he added.

Iran’s current stance is shaped by legislation passed last summer that scaled back cooperation with the IAEA and suspended inspections. However, IRNA reported that the law still allows inspectors to visit certain active nuclear facilities under limited conditions.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A panel of independent experts working under a United Nations mandate has accused Israel of intentionally shooting children in Gaza, while also repeating prior accusations that Israel has carried out genocide in the territory.

Israel strongly and repeatedly denies that it has committed genocide during its two-and-a-half-year military campaign in Gaza.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which operates under the U.N. Human Rights Council, released a report Tuesday stating that approximately 30% of Palestinians killed between October 2023 and October 2025 were children — a total exceeding 20,000. Investigators believe additional children may be missing or buried in unmarked graves.

Israel has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians and has pushed back against genocide accusations from both the commission and various human rights organizations. Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the report as a “libelous sham,” saying the allegations had not been verified. The ministry also attacked the commission itself, describing it as “a fundamentally flawed mechanism whose very purpose is to single out and vilify Israel rather than seek the truth.”

The report concluded that the devastating impact of the conflict on children in Gaza constitutes both war crimes and genocide — an escalation of accusations the commission first raised in September.

“Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, children continue to be killed and seriously injured, with continued disregard by Israel for the ceasefire and for the protection owed to Palestinian children under international law,” said Srinivasan Muralidhar, the commission’s chair.

The report named specific Israeli military divisions operating in areas where children — some as young as infants — were killed, and identified the types of weapons used. Investigators paid particular attention to cases where children were killed by quadcopter drones or sniper fire, frequently from a single gunshot.

Medical professionals interviewed by the commission said autopsies from those incidents “indicate a high degree of precision in the use of force, suggesting that the shot was carefully aimed rather than incidental or the result of indiscriminate fire.”

The report also documented cases of children being killed even after a ceasefire was reached in October 2025, including instances involving children who were reportedly gathering firewood near the yellow line that marks the boundary of Israeli military-controlled territory.

“By maintaining that the children killed were ‘suspects,’ the Israeli security forces have deflected responsibility to Palestinian children, portraying them as ‘terrorists’ rather than casualties,” the report states.

Israel has broadly criticized the United Nations and firmly rejected the commission’s previous findings, including the genocide accusation, asserting that it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties and protect children. The current conflict began with the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 individuals being taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those who died after the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed casualty records that United Nations agencies and independent experts generally regard as reliable. The ministry does not separate civilian deaths from militant deaths, but reports that women and children account for roughly half of all fatalities.

Great Britain, France, and Germany issued an unusual joint statement Wednesday expressing serious concern about Chinese activities in waters east of Taiwan, where China had recently deployed coast guard patrols.

The de-facto embassies representing the three European countries in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, described the actions as “novel Chinese activity” — without specifying exactly what those activities involved — and warned that they posed a threat to stability across the region.

China considers Taiwan its own territory, claiming the democratically governed island is a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under its control. Chinese authorities described the recent operations as a “maritime traffic enforcement and hydrographic survey operation.”

Chinese state media characterized the activities as “sending a pointed warning” to Japan and the Philippines, following an announcement that those two countries intended to discuss their shared maritime boundaries in waters that China also claims.

On Tuesday, China sent its newest and most powerful aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait — the stretch of water that separates mainland China from Taiwan — just hours after Taiwan kicked off a five-day military exercise designed to test the island’s readiness in the event of a Chinese attack.

The joint European statement was direct in its criticism: “These actions threaten regional stability and the freedom of navigation and safety of international shipping. We reiterate our opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo, particularly by threat or use of force or coercion.”

The three nations’ offices also called on all parties to respect navigational rights, freedoms, and the safety of those at sea. China’s Foreign Ministry had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

In recent years, China has steadily increased its pressure on Taiwan, sending military ships and aircraft near the island on an almost daily basis and periodically staging live-fire military drills.

Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have also grown since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that Japan’s military could become involved if China takes aggressive action against Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the current military exercises are intended to improve combat readiness and test how quickly military units can be deployed — particularly in response to a sudden escalation of what is known as Chinese grey-zone warfare.

Grey-zone tactics include a broad range of aggressive but non-combat actions, such as navy ship patrols and drone flights, that stop short of open warfare.

Earlier this month, Taiwan reported that Chinese coast guard vessels had been stopping commercial ships near Taiwan and demanding that those vessels disclose their planned routes.

Switzerland has launched contract talks with defense manufacturers from France, Israel, and South Korea as the neutral nation looks to add a second air defense system to its arsenal, the Swiss government announced Wednesday.

The move follows major setbacks to Switzerland’s 2022 order of Patriot missile defense systems, built by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Originally scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2028, that timeline has been pushed back four to five years as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine diverting production and supply.

The Swiss defense ministry confirmed it has resumed previously suspended payments to the United States for the Patriot system and said it wants to minimize any further delays or additional costs tied to that order.

At the same time, officials said negotiations are now underway with manufacturers from France, Israel, and South Korea for a separate, complementary system. The ministry did not identify the specific companies involved in those discussions.

Swiss officials cited a “deteriorating security situation” as the driving force behind the decision, saying the country needs the ability to defend itself from attack as rapidly as possible and requires capacity beyond what the Patriot system alone can provide.

“In addition, a second system reduces dependence on a single provider and a single supply chain, thereby strengthening security of supply,” the ministry stated.

Last month, when Switzerland first signaled it was exploring missile defense options beyond the Patriot system, Germany had also been mentioned as a possible supplier country, though it was not included in the latest round of announced negotiations.

Wealthy buyers from Poland, the United States, and Gulf-based nations are flooding into Spain’s capital city of Madrid and its famous Costa del Sol coastline, searching for a secure luxury retreat amid the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as political upheaval in the United States.

Spain’s Mediterranean coast has historically attracted sun-seekers from Britain and Germany, but a more diverse group of investors looking to protect their assets against global instability has entered the market in recent years, according to half a dozen real estate agents, European housing market analysts, and a property attorney who spoke with Reuters.

Official government figures back up that observation.

“Whether it’s Ukrainians or Poles settling on the Costa del Sol, or Americans coming to Spain, the common factor is the geopolitical situation,” said Rebeca Caballero, who leads the international department at realtor Gilmar.

Property registration data from last year shows that foreign buyers were involved in more than 39% of all home sales across major tourist provinces, including Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Alicante on the Costa Blanca, and the Balearic Islands.

That wave of foreign investment has contributed to soaring property prices in a country where housing has become a significant political flashpoint. Spain’s central bank has called for coordinated government action to increase housing supply, citing an estimated shortage of 750,000 homes nationwide.

Polish buyers, hailing from one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies, have been purchasing Spanish coastal properties since 2020. However, their activity has tripled since the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year they made up 4% of all foreign purchases — up from just 1.6% in 2019.

“The strongest wave of investment came after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine … with a frenzy of purchases made over the phone,” said Agnieszka Marciniak-Kostrzewa, who founded a Marbella-based real estate agency.

Marlena Bartkowiak represents that wave of buyers. The 46-year-old, who runs a transport company in Poland, bought an apartment in Benalmadena on Andalusia’s Costa del Sol as a contingency plan when the war began.

“Spain came to mind as it was somehow the least involved in all sorts of political manoeuvring on the European stage,” said Bartkowiak, who continues to live primarily in Poland.

Neinor, one of Spain’s largest property developers, sold 70% of its upscale 102-home Santa Clara development completed in Marbella last year to Polish clients. Polish buyers also dominate purchases in a 64-floor skyscraper currently under construction in the coastal city of Benidorm.

“Spain right now is a diversification play on security grounds,” said Paloma Perez Bravo, CEO of real estate firm Dils-Lucas Fox.

Just as conflict near Poland’s eastern border has fueled Polish investment, real estate professionals are now seeing a fresh wave of demand from Gulf-based investors following the outbreak of the Iran war. Three real estate companies told Reuters they are currently negotiating luxury property deals on the Costa del Sol with buyers from Dubai, as the conflict has damaged the emirate’s reputation as a peaceful sanctuary for the wealthy. At least two transactions have already been finalized.

Marciniak-Kostrzewa recently completed a sale to a Polish client living in Dubai who was looking for a safer home base for their family.

While Dubai has attracted wealthy foreigners with its zero property tax policy, realty lawyer Maria Ruiz Lopez noted that regional wealth tax exemptions and allowances in Madrid and the Costa del Sol make those areas particularly appealing to high-net-worth buyers compared to other parts of Spain.

“We believe there will be an opportunity to attract those seeking an alternative to Dubai … partly because conflicts make Spain appear as a calmer option,” said Mario Lapiedra Vivanco, deputy CEO at Neinor, which has already closed a transaction with a buyer from Dubai.

American buyers have also entered the picture in growing numbers. Gilmar’s Caballero pointed to a surge in U.S. investors — many of them of Hispanic heritage — purchasing Spanish property since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year.

“It’s not just violent conflict, but also the political and social pressure,” Caballero said. “Many do it as an investment. And others see it as a Plan B, because they don’t know what’s going to happen in the United States.”

Between 2024 and 2025, Gilmar reported that U.S. investments jumped from 0.5% to 6.2% of its total property transactions, with Americans surpassing British buyers as the top foreign purchasers on the Costa del Sol.

Across Spain as a whole, Americans represented 2% of all foreign property purchases and paid the third-highest average price of any nationality, trailing only Swedes and Germans, according to data from the General Council of Notaries.

The growing pool of international buyers has pushed home values upward. Real estate agents handling properties priced between €1 million and €20 million (roughly $1.13 million to $22.68 million) say the rising values make Spanish real estate an increasingly attractive investment, reinforcing the buying trend and distinguishing the market from others in Europe.

Spain’s warm climate and stable economy are additional draws for prospective buyers.

Jack Harris, a London-based partner in Knight Frank’s international residential team, said luxury home prices in Spain have climbed by as much as 9.5% year-over-year — a faster pace than comparable markets in France and Italy.

“Spain has been something of an outlier in terms of performance across Europe over the last 12 months,” Harris said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan indicated Wednesday that a private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to take place when Trump arrives in Ankara for the upcoming NATO summit next month.

Turkey is preparing to welcome all 32 NATO member leaders, along with officials from the alliance’s Gulf and Asia-Pacific partner nations, for a summit scheduled July 7-8. The gathering comes at a time of internal tensions within the alliance over how costs and defense responsibilities should be shared, as well as U.S. frustrations over allies’ roles in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Iran war.

When reporters in parliament asked Erdogan whether he and Trump planned a separate face-to-face meeting outside of the main summit proceedings, he responded that “it will most likely happen,” though he offered no additional details.

Erdogan has previously emphasized that Trump’s presence at the summit is critical for demonstrating unity among NATO members.

The two leaders have developed a strong working relationship since Trump returned to the White House in 2024, expanding cooperation across several regional issues and settling some long-standing disputes, including a sanctions-evasion case involving Turkish state lender Halkbank.

Burhanettin Duran, who serves as Erdogan’s communications director, addressed Turkish media representatives in Ankara, saying that burden-sharing would be one of the central items on the summit’s agenda.

“The changing security architecture is pushing NATO allies to re-evaluate their defence spending. In that framework, Turkey aims to reach the 3.5% + 1.5% target by the end of 2030,” Duran said, according to a summary of his remarks released Wednesday.

The summit will also be attended at the foreign ministers level by representatives from the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative — a partnership forum involving select Middle Eastern nations — as well as Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Australia, collectively referred to as the Indo-Pacific Four.