Tekijä: Amnewsworld

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…

Starbucks workers in three U.S. states have filed legal action against the coffee chain, alleging that its recently revised dress code has forced employees to buy new clothes without compensation. Class-action lawsuits were lodged Wednesday in Illinois and Colorado state courts, while workers in California filed complaints with the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency. If the agency declines to act, employees intend to pursue a class-action lawsuit there as well. The cases, supported by Starbucks Workers United, argue that the dress code change violates state laws requiring employers to reimburse expenses that primarily benefit the company. New standards spark…

Morocco’s flower growers are facing a stark battle for survival as prolonged droughts and parched wells threaten a once-vibrant industry that colors homes, brightens celebrations, and fuels a growing export market. For florist and entrepreneur Nadia Ouahbi, each morning begins with anxiety. Her one-hectare nursery, which produces around 15,000 plants annually, including violets, chrysanthemums, and daisies, is struggling to survive as nearby wells run dry. “We are struggling due to a shortage of water,” she said. “The wells have dried up to the point that when we wake up in the morning and find no water, we would be overcome…

The death of James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, has reignited debate over his influence on American evangelical households. While Dobson’s teachings once promised stronger families, many who grew up under his guidance now say those methods fractured their homes and left lasting scars. Amber Cantorna-Wylde, daughter of former Focus on the Family executive Dave Arnold, recalls being placed at the center of evangelical ideals in the 1990s. At age 13, she received a silver purity ring in a public ceremony, a ritual meant to symbolize chastity until marriage. But after coming out as gay years later, she…