UN Considers New Map Reflecting Africa's True Size, Guinea-Bissau Adopts Expanded Presidential Powers

The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution, sponsored by Togo and supported by the African Union, to formally adopt a new world map that accurately depicts the true scale of Africa. This initiative aims to phase out the traditional Mercator projection, which significantly underrepresents the continent's size, often comparing it to Greenland. The move highlights a growing push for more accurate global representations and a recognition of Africa's vast geographical and geopolitical significance.

In parallel, Guinea-Bissau has approved a new constitution through a referendum, a move that critics argue will undermine democracy by significantly expanding presidential powers. The constitutional amendment, the first in over three decades, reduces the number of parliamentary seats and introduces new regulations for presidential candidates. These changes come ahead of the country's December elections and follow last year's coup, signaling a shift in the nation's political landscape towards a more centralized executive authority.