Defense Department accepts Boeing 747 from Qatar for Trump's use
01:43
22/05/2025
White genocide? - Donald Trump ambushes South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa
22/05/2025
Trump confronts South Africa's Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide
22/05/2025
Netanyahu says ordered enhanced security at Israel missions worldwide
22/05/2025
Two staff members of Israeli Embassy killed in shooting in Washington
22/05/2025
Ramaphosa denies white citizens are persecuted in South Africa
22/05/2025
Judge says US government didn't follow court order on deportations
22/05/2025
Ramaphosa in the USA: S. African press says 'White genocide dominates face-off'
22/05/2025
Eugene Jarecki talks about his documentary 'The six billion dollar man'
22/05/2025
Gaza blockade: International pressure mounts on Israeli government
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France 24
33 minutes ago
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Dozens held after Trump-ordered immigration raids in Los Angeles
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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
What is the high seas treaty?
The treaty was adopted by UN member states in June 2023. It has been ratified by 31 nations plus the European Union, and comes into force 120 days after its 60th ratification. But at the UN Ocean Conference this week, hosts France said around 50 countries have ratified the pact, bringing it within reach of enactment. The United States signed the treaty in 2023 under Joe Biden but is not expected to ratify it while Donald Trump is president. Here are the key points of the treaty text: International waters The treaty covers international waters, which fall outside the jurisdiction of any single state, and account for more than 60 percent of the world's oceans. Specifically, it applies to waters beyond countries' exclusive economic zones, which extend up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. It also covers what is known as "the Area", shorthand for seabed and subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The Area comprises just over half of the planet's seabed. Once enacted, a decision-making body -- a Conference of the Parties (COP) -- would have to work with regional and global organizations that already oversee different aspects of the oceans. These include regional fisheries bodies and the International Seabed Authority, the arena where nations are hotly contesting a proposed set of rules to govern deep-sea mining. Trump's decision to sidestep the authority -- to which the US is not a member -- and issue deep-sea mining permits in international waters has raised tricky questions of jurisdiction. Marine protected areas Currently, almost all protected marine areas (MPAs) are within national territorial waters. The treaty, however, allows for these reserves to be created in the open ocean. Most decisions would be taken by a consensus of the COP, but an MPA can be voted into existence with a three-quarters majority, to prevent deadlock caused by a single country. One crucial shortcoming: the text does not say how these conservation measures will be monitored and enforced over remote swathes of the ocean -- a task that will fall to the COP. Some experts say satellites could be used to spot infractions. Individual countries are already responsible for certain activities on the high seas that they have jurisdiction over, such as those of ships flying their flags. Sharing the bounty? On the high seas, countries and entities under their jurisdiction will be allowed to collect animal, plant, or microbial matter whose genetic material might prove useful, even commercially. Scientists, for example, have discovered molecules with the potential to treat cancer or other diseases in microbes scooped up in sediment, or produced by sponges or marine mollusks. Benefits-sharing of those resources has been a key point of contention between wealthy and poorer nations. The treaty establishes frameworks for the transfer of marine research technologies to developing countries and a strengthening of their research capacities, as well as open access to data. But it's left to the COP to decide exactly how any monetary benefits will eventually be shared, with options including a system based on specific commercialized products, or more generalized payment systems. Environmental impact studies The treaty requires signatories to assess the environmental impacts of planned activities under their control on the high seas before they are authorized in instances when such activities may have more than a minor or transitory effect. It also calls for countries to assess the potential impact on international waters of activities within national jurisdictions that may cause "substantial pollution" or harm the high sea marine environment. Ultimately, states are responsible for giving the green light to any potentially harmful activity -- a role NGOs hoped would go to the COP, to make controversial approvals more difficult. The treaty also requires states to publish updates on an activity's environmental impacts. Approvals can be called into question if unanticipated impacts arise. Though they are not specifically listed in the treaty, activities that could come under regulation include transport and fishing, as well as more controversial subjects such as deep-sea mining or even geo-engineering initiatives to mitigate global warming. © 2025 AFP
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Czech court jails Colombian for eight years over Russia-linked arson
A court in the Czech Republic on Monday sentenced a Colombian national to eight years in prison for plotting an arson attack on public transport in Prague, which officials believe was in part orchestrated by Russia. Andrés Alfonso de la Hoz de la Cruz, who pleaded guilty, was also ordered to pay damages worth 115,000 Czech koruna (€4,639). The 26-year-old was arrested a year ago after setting three public buses ablaze at a public transport depot in Prague's Klicov district. He recorded the incident and fled the scene as local workers brought the fire under control. At the time, a spokeswoman for Prague's public transport authority said the fires caused at least 200,000 koruna (€8,067) in damages. Cruz had received orders on Telegram and was promised a sum in order to carry out the deliberate blaze, the court revealed. In the aftermath of the attack, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said it was likely organised and financed by Moscow. Such incidents were part of Russia's repeated efforts to 'to undermine the trust of citizens in our state,' said Fiala. The Kremlin had denied any involvement in the incident. Fiala and other Western officials have accused Russia of staging dozens of attacks across Europe since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. These allegations build on earlier incidents, including a 2014 explosion at a Czech ammunition depot that Prague attributed to Russia's GRU military intelligence service. Iran claims it has obtained a large batch of information on Israel's nuclear programme, its intelligence minister said on Sunday, without providing any evidence to support it. Speaking to Iranian state television after a cabinet meeting, Esmail Khatib said the Intelligence Ministry had acquired 'an important treasury of strategic, operational and scientific intelligence' from Israel, which he said had been 'transferred into the country with God's help.' Khatib alleged that thousands of documents had been seized, including information related to Europe, the US and other individual countries, though he did not explain how the intelligence was obtained. Khatib, a Shiite cleric who was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022 for his alleged involvement in cyber espionage, said the documents would be made public soon. He claimed they were retrieved through 'infiltration' and 'access to sources,' but offered no specifics or proof. The announcement, which came days before Tehran is expected to face renewed diplomatic pressure over its own atomic activities appears to be aimed at countering a high-profile Israeli intelligence operation in 2018. At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his agents had smuggled out a 'half-tonne' of documents from Iran concerning its nuclear programme. The operation was cited by US President Donald Trump when he withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran. The latest Iranian claims come as the board of governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) prepares to meet this week, with Western nations reportedly planning to censure Iran over its failure to clarify long-standing questions about its nuclear activities. Such a move could lead to the issue being referred to the UN Security Council and potentially trigger the reimposition of UN sanctions under the 'snapback' mechanism outlined in the 2015 deal. Iran has signalled it will reject a US-backed proposal after five rounds of nuclear talks, raising concerns of a renewed crisis. Tehran is currently enriching uranium up to 60% purity — just short of the 90% level needed for nuclear weapons — and has stockpiled enough material to build several bombs. Without an agreement, analysts warn that Iran's already struggling economy could worsen further, potentially fuelling domestic unrest. The risk of Israeli or US military action against Iranian nuclear sites also remains, amid fears that Tehran could sever cooperation with the IAEA and dash toward developing a nuclear weapon.
