Author: Amnewsworld

Gabonese voters headed to the polls on Saturday for the first round of legislative and local elections, marking another step in the country’s political transition following the end of the Bongo family’s decades-long rule. More than 1,600 candidates are competing for 145 parliamentary seats, while around 17,000 contenders are vying for municipal and departmental positions. Those elected will play a decisive role in shaping Gabon’s governance, including the selection of mayors, departmental assembly leaders, and senators. The vote comes just months after coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema secured a sweeping victory in the April presidential election, the first since his…

On the shores of Lake Naivasha, where thick mats of water hyacinth have long suffocated aquatic life and crippled local fisheries, a Kenyan engineer has found an unlikely solution. Joseph Nguthiru, founder and CEO of HyaPak, is transforming the invasive weed into biodegradable alternatives to plastic, tackling two environmental crises at once — plastic pollution and ecosystem degradation. “Water hyacinth is the world’s most invasive aquatic weed,” Nguthiru explained. “It destroys aquatic ecosystems and affects fishing, irrigation, and even increases malaria risks.” HyaPak’s signature product, biodegradable seedling bags, can be planted directly into the soil. As they decompose, they release…

Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially cleared President Yoweri Museveni and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, to contest in the country’s 2026 presidential elections, setting the stage for what could be one of the nation’s most decisive political battles. Museveni, 81, has held power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Running again under the banner of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), he highlights economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and national stability as proof of his enduring leadership. His campaign pledges include wealth creation, improved education and healthcare, and a renewed fight against corruption. However,…

A landmark ocean agreement to govern the world’s high seas moved a step closer to reality on Friday as Morocco became the 60th country to sign the treaty, the first international legal framework designed to protect marine biodiversity in waters beyond national jurisdiction. The treaty covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean, an expanse that makes up almost half of Earth’s surface. Long vulnerable to overfishing, deep-sea mining, and the accelerating effects of climate change, these international waters have until now existed in a governance vacuum. “The high seas are the world’s largest crime scene,” said Johan Bergenas, senior vice president…

Malawi’s former president Peter Mutharika has opened an early lead in the country’s presidential election, according to provisional tallies released over the weekend. Figures from around a quarter of the nation’s councils indicate that the 85-year-old former leader has secured about 51 percent of the votes, while incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera trails at 39 percent, Reuters reported on Sunday. The closely watched September 16 vote had been forecast as a two-horse contest between Mutharika, who served from 2014 to 2020, and Chakwera, who took office five years ago under promises of reform. Mutharika has campaigned on a message of stability…

Grammy-winning country songwriter Brett James, best known for penning Carrie Underwood’s hit “Jesus Take the Wheel” and Kenny Chesney’s “When The Sun Goes Down,” died in a plane crash in North Carolina, authorities confirmed Friday. He was 57. The crash occurred Thursday afternoon when a small Cirrus SR22T went down “under unknown circumstances” in a wooded area in Franklin, according to a preliminary report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). None of the three people on board survived. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed the identities of the victims as James, Melody Carole, and Meryl Maxwell Wilson. The plane…

A federal judge has sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s legal team, ruling that their lawsuit was bloated with irrelevant and political rhetoric rather than legal arguments. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday, in a four-page order, described the filing as “tedious and burdensome,” noting that much of its content had no bearing on the case before the court. “A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally,” Merryday wrote, underscoring that court proceedings must be guided by law, not politics. The judge ordered Trump’s lawyers to submit a…

France was gripped by nationwide unrest on Thursday as strikes and demonstrations disrupted transport and public services, amplifying discontent over President Emmanuel Macron’s economic agenda. In the capital, large sections of the Paris Metro were paralyzed, with thousands of commuters stranded during peak hours. Buses and regional trains also reported delays, while some schools, postal services, and administrative offices operated at reduced capacity. The widespread disruption reflected the determination of workers and unions to oppose government plans to slash spending on public services. At the heart of the protests is anger over what demonstrators describe as eight years of pro-business…

In a landmark moment for African athletics, Botswana’s 21-year-old Collen Kebinatshipi stormed to victory in the men’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships, becoming the first athlete from his country to win a world title in a men’s event. Kebinatshipi clocked a blistering 43.53 seconds, setting a new national record and edging out Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards, who also set a national record with his silver medal finish at 43.72 seconds. Botswana doubled its celebration when 24-year-old Bayapo Ndori secured bronze in 44.20 seconds, holding off Jamaica’s veteran Rusheen McDonald, who faded in the final stretch to place…

In a rare and historic shift, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has publicly labeled Israel an “enemy” — the first time an Egyptian leader has used such language since Anwar Sadat’s groundbreaking 1977 trip to Jerusalem. Speaking at the Arab-Islamic summit, Sisi condemned Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, warning that its actions not only threaten regional stability but also endanger Egypt’s own security and the durability of peace agreements forged over decades. The declaration underscores rising tensions as Israel’s offensive in Gaza draws increasing criticism from Arab states. Egypt, a key mediator in past ceasefire negotiations and one of the…