Nicaragua’s leader says no more elections for the country
“There will never be elections here again,” Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega proclaimed on Sunday, underscoring his grip on the Central American nation of just over 7 million people. Ortega made the latest remarks during celebrations marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, during which he helped overthrow the US-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza. Ortega then led the country until 1990, returned to power in 2007, and has steadily dismantled democratic checks on his authority. His 2021 reelection was widely condemned as a sham after leading opposition figures were jailed, exiled, or barred from running. In recent years, Ortega has further tightened his grasp by appointing his wife as co-president, extending presidential terms, and cracking down on political opposition and dissent. The Trump administration has labeled Ortega as a dictator and expanded sanctions and travel restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their relatives.
The Odyssey revives a geopolitical row
A contentious debate is stirring once more over Western Sahara because of Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster film “The Odyssey.” The movie was filmed in the resource-rich, desert expanse on the north-west of the African continent. For five decades, Morocco has claimed this land, while the Polisario Front, a nationalist politico-military organization backed by Algeria, wants to establish the area’s independence. Meanwhile, the UN calls Western Sahara a “non-self-governing territory,” a label given to places considered to still lack political sovereignty. Despite the disputed status, The Odyssey’s credits list the filming location as the Kingdom of Morocco, with no mention of Western Sahara. Critics argue the movie is ‘whitewashing colonialism’ and bolstering Morocco’s efforts to legitimize its claim. International consensus has appeared to shift toward Morocco in the last few years, including recognition of the territory as part of the Kingdom by US President Donald Trump during his last term.
Hamas elects a new hardline leader
Hamas has a new leader. On Tuesday, the militant group announced that Khalil al-Hayya will succeed Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in Gaza nearly two years ago. Hayya, who is based in Qatar, was a close associate of Sinwar’s, who is seen as a hardliner who opposes concessions to Israel, particularly on the issue of disarmament. Hayya was already considered to be heading Hamas from exile, acting as chief negotiator for Hamas during the war with Israel. Last year, he survived an Israeli airstrike in Doha that killed his son and four other people. Three of his sons were killed in previous strikes in Gaza. Naming al-Hayya suggests that although the group is willing to take steps such as dissolving its government in Gaza, disarmament will remain a red line.
