Nicaragua Moves to Abolish Elections, France Bans Social Media for Under-15s, and Global Hunger Declines for a Third Year

🇳🇮 Nicaragua is moving to abolish elections. First, on Monday, President Ortega announced that there “won’t be any more elections.” Then, on Wednesday, lawmakers said they would carry out the president’s plan.

• Context: Ortega has ruled Nicaragua for nearly 20 years and has steadily tightened his grip on power. Less than two years ago, he decided he didn’t want to do it alone and made his wife co-president, turning the country into a family-run dictatorship.

🇪🇺🇺🇸 The EU has fined Google a total of $1 billion:

• $524 million for giving its own services more prominent placement than competitors in Google Search.

• $490 million for restricting app developers from promoting payment options outside the Google Play Store, including on their own websites.

Google can appeal the decision. President Trump said the US would investigate the fines and threatened additional tariffs on the EU.

🇻🇪 Venezuela has formally notified the UN that it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Venezuela accused the court of being biased against countries in Africa and Latin America. Venezuela’s parliament began the process under President Maduro, but the Trump administration has also welcomed the decision - a rare point of agreement between Maduro’s agenda and the US government.

President Trump has recently praised acting President Rodríguez but said Venezuela wasn’t yet ready for elections.

🇫🇷 The French parliament has approved a ban on social media for children under 15.

The law means everyone in France will need to verify their age to use social media. Supporters say the ban will help protect children’s mental health. Critics are worried about privacy and whether young people will simply find ways around age checks.

🇨🇦🇦🇪 Canada and the UAE have concluded negotiations on a new trade deal. The agreement aims to make it easier for businesses to trade and invest. Both countries are trying to reduce different types of dependence. Canada is heavily reliant on trade with the US, while the UAE wants to diversify its economy beyond oil and attract more international investment.

• Context: Trade in goods between the two countries was $2.5 billion in 2025. For comparison, Canada’s trade with the US amounted to approximately $715 billion in the same year - 286 times larger than its trade with the UAE. While the deal is worth talking about, it’s only a drop in the ocean for Canada’s economy.

🌎 Global hunger declined for a third consecutive year but remains above pre-COVID levels. Around 7.8% of the world’s population (645 million people) faced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1% (659 million) in 2024. Asia and Latin America have seen steady improvements, while Africa now has the largest number of hungry people. The Caribbean was the only region where hunger increased.

• World: 7.8% of the population faced hunger in 2025.

• Africa: 20%

• Caribbean: 16.6%

• Oceania: 8%

• Asia: 6%

• Latin America: 4%

• North America: Below 2.5%

• Europe: Below 2.5%

🇨🇺🇺🇸 The US has sent its first humanitarian flight to Cuba as part of a $100 million aid package. The shipment included food and hygiene supplies for up to 700 families. The aid will be distributed through Catholic Relief Services and local churches, rather than through the Cuban government.

• Context: The assistance comes as the US is also increasing pressure on Cuba through sanctions and an oil blockade.

🇮🇱 Israel is building a large earthen barrier through Gaza. The barrier follows the “yellow line,” which separates the more than 50% of Gaza currently controlled by Israel from the rest of the territory. More than 23 km of the barrier has already been built. The yellow line was supposed to be temporary under the ceasefire agreement, but the barrier has raised fears that the division could become permanent. Israel says the barrier is meant to protect its troops and nearby Israeli communities.

• Context: The peace process remains stalled. Israel blames Hamas for refusing to disarm, while Hamas accuses Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. More than 1,190 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire took effect. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza over the same period.