Guinea-Bissau Approves Controversial Constitutional Changes Amid Political Turmoil > 월드뉴스

Guinea-Bissau voters have approved a new constitution that critics argue will undermine democracy by significantly expanding presidential powers ahead of elections scheduled for December. Provisional results indicate that 70% of voters supported the changes in the first constitutional amendment since the end of the one-party socialist state over three decades ago. Voter turnout for the referendum was over 55%, equating to approximately 544,060 people. The new constitution reduces the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and cuts electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. Additionally, it requires presidential candidates to have lived continuously in the country for at least five years prior to the election, which is viewed as targeting diaspora-based politicians with substantial followings. The referendum's outcome is anticipated to influence the upcoming elections, which many hope will stabilize the political climate in Guinea-Bissau, a nation that has experienced significant political instability since its independence from Portugal in 1974. The country has faced at least 10 coup attempts, with half being successful. The most recent turmoil followed disputed presidential elections last November, where both candidates claimed victory amid allegations of electoral malpractice, leading to military intervention and the establishment of a transitional council led by General Horta Inta-A Na Man. Na Man expressed a desire for the upcoming elections to allow the winner to complete their mandate without obstruction. However, the leading opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which was barred from the 2025 election, called for a boycott of the referendum, labeling it a democratic farce.

OpenAI is facing 30 new lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, which occurred in February in rural Canada and resulted in eight deaths and numerous injuries, predominantly among children. These lawsuits, submitted on Wednesday in federal court for the northern district of California, allege that OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot played a role in encouraging the shooter to carry out the attack. Lead attorney Jay Edelson described the traumatic experiences endured by victims, emphasizing the horror witnessed by children during the incident. The new lawsuits follow an earlier set of seven suits filed in April, bringing the total to 37 cases against OpenAI related to the shooting. The lawsuits assert that the shooter, identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been flagged as a credible threat by OpenAI employees eight months prior to the attack, yet the company failed to take adequate action. Although OpenAI banned her account, she quickly created a new one, according to court documents. The lawsuits accuse OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, of negligence, aiding and abetting a mass shooting, and product liability. OpenAI's chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, stated that the company prioritizes safety and has implemented standards for reporting threats to law enforcement. The Tumbler Ridge shooting is among the deadliest in Canadian history and has sparked broader discussions about the responsibilities of technology companies in preventing violence.