US, Tehran having ‘good talks’ as drones hit Iran’s neighbors – Trump

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has submitted a proposed constitutional reform to the country’s government-controlled National Assembly that would extend presidential terms from six to seven years. The legislative body is expected to formally approve the changes in September, further cementing the rule of the 80-year-old leader, who has governed the Central American nation continuously since 2007. The proposed constitutional overhaul also includes explicit provisions to disqualify opposition figures whom the regime labels as “traitors” or “coup plotters” from seeking public office. The move follows previous constitutional amendments passed by the assembly, including the elimination of presidential term limits in 2014 and the extension of terms from five to six years in 2024. That same year, the legislature formally designated Ortega’s wife and vice-president, Rosario Murillo, as “co-president”, establishing a direct path of succession in the event of Ortega’s permanent absence. Human rights organisations and international bodies, including the United Nations, continue to raise alarms over the steady dismantling of democratic institutions in Nicaragua. Following anti-government protests in 2018 that resulted in more than 300 deaths at the hands of security forces, the regime carried out widespread arrests ahead of the November 2021 presidential election. Dozens of potential opposition candidates were detained, forced into exile, or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship and property, leaving Ortega to secure re-election without viable political competition.

BOLOGNA: The death of a Moroccan businessman during a police restraint in the Italian city of Bologna has reignited Europe’s heated debate over migration, policing and the treatment of immigrants, with the case exposing the deeply personal human stories often overshadowed by political rhetoric. The incident comes as European governments face mounting pressure over migration policies. Just days after thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans to suspend a free-movement agreement with Spain, reinforcing her government’s tough stance on immigration. Amid the political storm, the death of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born entrepreneur who had spent most of his life in Italy, has become a symbol of the broader tensions surrounding migration and law enforcement. Videos recorded by local residents on July 19 showed police officers restraining Fakir face down on the ground for several minutes after responding to reports of a distressed man behaving erratically in a residential area. The footage, which quickly spread across social media, sparked widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct. Authorities said officers were responding to emergency calls about a man shouting, kicking garage doors and striking a vehicle. An autopsy and official investigations into the officers’ actions remain ongoing, while four Red Cross volunteers who were present are also under review. The tragedy triggered thousands of peaceful protesters to gather in Bologna, demanding accountability and justice for Fakir’s family. However, demonstrations later turned violent when a small group clashed with police, leaving dozens of officers injured and further intensifying political divisions. Friends, relatives and lawyers describe Fakir as far more than the image portrayed in political debates. Having arrived in Italy from Morocco at the age of six, he built a successful life, eventually owning a small metalworking company after years of hard work. Behind that success, however, he had been battling severe anxiety. According to his lawyer, Fakir feared deportation after complications involving his residency permit, despite living in Italy for nearly four decades. He had also been struggling financially as his business declined, forcing him to lay off several employees. Family members said he concealed his emotional pain, insisting everything was fine even as he sought psychiatric assistance weeks before his death. Sociologists argue that Fakir’s story highlights the dangers of reducing migration to political slogans while ignoring the human lives behind the headlines. As Italy awaits the outcome of official investigations, his family says they continue to trust the country’s justice system and hope the full truth surrounding his final moments will emerge.

Spain has deployed additional security forces to its North African territory of Ceuta after a massive wave of migrants crossed from Morocco, creating one of the largest border crises in the region’s recent history. Ceuta’s President Juan Jesús Vivas said around 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave within 24 hours, while at least 43 people died during the crossing attempts. The sudden influx overwhelmed local authorities and triggered an emergency response from Madrid. Spain’s Interior Ministry gave a lower estimate, saying around 50,000 people had reached Ceuta since early Thursday. Officials said more than 25,000 migrants had already returned voluntarily to Morocco. The crisis intensified after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be immediately returned to Morocco. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an “attack” and promised that those who entered illegally would be sent back as quickly as possible. During a visit to Ceuta, Sánchez said Spain would strengthen border security and accused criminal networks of spreading misleading information about the court ruling to encourage migration attempts. He added that Moroccan authorities were cooperating with plans to return migrants. Spanish authorities have now increased military deployment in Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa, after several hundred additional crossings were reported there. Many of those arriving were young men, but women, children and infants were also among the migrants. Officials estimated that around 7,000 minors were part of the latest arrivals. Ceuta, located on Morocco’s northern coast, is one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. The territory has long been a major route for migrants seeking entry into Europe and remains a sensitive issue in Spain-Morocco relations. The latest arrivals have caused concern among European leaders. Several governments called for stronger border controls, while EU officials described the scenes in Ceuta as unacceptable and urged an immediate halt to irregular crossings. The last major migration surge in Ceuta occurred in 2021, when thousands crossed the border amid a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco. However, officials said the current movement is far larger and has created an unprecedented challenge for local authorities.