Author: Amnewsworld

Transnational organized crime groups based in East and Southeast Asia are expanding their global footprint, shifting scam operations to new continents in the wake of mounting law enforcement crackdowns in their home regions, according to a damning new report from the United Nations. The report, titled “Inflection Point: Global Implications of Scam Centers, Underground Banking and Illicit Online Marketplaces in Southeast Asia,” was released Monday by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It reveals that industrial-scale scam operations, once concentrated in the border zones of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines, are now popping up in Africa, Latin…

As the Catholic world mourns the death of Pope Francis at age 88, the legacy of history’s first Latin American pontiff remains as polarizing as it is profound. His transformative vision for a more inclusive, pastoral church sparked not only sweeping reforms but also unprecedented opposition from within the Vatican’s own ranks. From his election in 2013, Pope Francis was viewed with suspicion by conservative and traditionalist factions of the Church. Unlike his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, Francis rejected pomp in favor of humility—appearing without the traditional red velvet cape and washing the feet of women and Muslims in early…

An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike in Gaza has mistakenly killed several humanitarian aid workers, prompting widespread condemnation from the international community and renewed calls for stricter safeguards for civilian personnel operating in war zones. The strike, which occurred during what officials described as an ongoing military operation against Hamas-affiliated targets, reportedly struck a clearly marked humanitarian convoy. Among the dead are staff members of a foreign aid organization known for delivering food, water, and medical assistance to civilians trapped in Gaza’s besieged zones. Israeli authorities confirmed the incident late Tuesday, describing it as a “tragic mistake” and promising a…

Former President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping move to overhaul the federal workforce, initiating the reclassification of up to 50,000 government employees under a controversial category known as Schedule F — a central pillar of the conservative Project 2025 blueprint that outlines his second-term governance strategy. Announced online and soon to be formalized in the Federal Register, Trump’s executive action sets the stage for converting thousands of civil service positions into at-will appointments, drastically reducing job protections and giving the administration broader authority to dismiss employees viewed as resistant to the president’s agenda. “If these government workers refuse to…

The Nashville Zoo is celebrating an unexpected addition to its animal family with the birth of a red river hog piglet named Chive. The male piglet, born on April 1, is said to be about the size of a cantaloupe and is already capturing hearts behind the scenes. According to zoo officials, Chive’s birth came as a surprise, as staff were not expecting second-time mother, Tater, to deliver so soon. When keepers discovered the newborn, he was in a fragile state—cold, weak, and still covered in afterbirth. With the mother showing no interest in nursing or caring for the piglet,…

As the geopolitical tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing reshapes global trade dynamics, Brazil is emerging as a key contender in the global food security landscape. The country’s Agriculture Minister, Carlos Fávaro, announced Brazil’s aspirations to become a leading food supplier to the world, particularly as new opportunities arise from China’s suspension of beef imports from nearly 400 American processing facilities. Fávaro made the comments during a press briefing in Brasília following a high-level BRICS agriculture ministers’ meeting, where officials from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, India, and newly added Iran convened to explore strategies for agricultural cooperation and trade expansion.…

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland met Thursday evening with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man wrongfully deported from the United States despite a court order blocking his removal. The meeting marks a significant turn in a case that has become a lightning rod for legal, political, and diplomatic debate between Washington and San Salvador. Van Hollen posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) showing him speaking with Abrego Garcia in what appeared to be a local restaurant in El Salvador. The senator, who arrived in the country Wednesday, said the primary aim of his visit was to see…

In an escalating constitutional confrontation, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg has found probable cause to hold officials in the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court, citing willful defiance of his orders to halt deportation flights to El Salvador. The judge’s sharply worded ruling on Wednesday accused the administration of acting in “deliberate and gleeful” violation of his directive last month, which ordered the return of deportation planes mid-flight. The ruling sets the stage for potential prosecution of federal officials if the administration fails to remedy the violation by April 23. “The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of…

Harvard University has declared it will not comply with sweeping demands from the Trump administration tied to its nationwide campaign against antisemitism putting nearly $9 billion in federal funding at risk. In a letter sent Friday, the administration called on Harvard to implement a controversial set of reforms, including a ban on face masks at protests, “merit-based” hiring and admissions policies, and an audit of university views on diversity. The updated demands also require the school to withdraw recognition and funding from any student group accused of endorsing “illegal violence or harassment.” Critics say the measures target pro-Palestinian student protesters,…

Voters in oil-rich Gabon cast their ballots on Saturday in a historic presidential election—marking the first vote since a military coup ousted the Bongo political dynasty in 2023. The election is widely viewed as an effort by the country’s transitional leader, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, to legitimize his grip on power and extend his leadership for a full seven-year term. Over 920,000 registered voters, including more than 28,000 overseas, were eligible to vote at more than 3,000 polling stations across the country. Despite Gabon’s vast petroleum wealth, nearly one-third of its 2.3 million citizens live in poverty, adding to…