The race to become Africa's next "super banker" ends on Thursday, with five candidates, including one woman, vying to succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina as head of the African Development Bank in a contest that appears too close to call. In 2015 it took six rounds of voting to elect Adesina as president of the AfDB, which was founded in 1964 and now has 81 members, including 54 African nations.
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Authorities in Washington are searching for three sisters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia Decker (5), who went missing after a visit with their father, Travis Decker, on Friday. The father, who is homeless and drives a white 2017 GMC Sierra, failed to return the girls to their mother, Whitney Decker, as scheduled.
Iran executed Pedram Madani for allegedly spying for Mossad. Madani was convicted of transmitting classified information and meeting Mossad officers. He was also accused of traveling to Israel and acquiring illicit wealth. This execution follows similar cases of individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. Tensions between Iran and Israel remain high amid ongoing regional conflicts. Iran accuses Israel of covert operations within its borders.
US senator Cory Booker's gesture at the California Democratic convention has sparked controversy, drawing comparisons to a similar action by Elon Musk. Social media users likened Booker's extended-arm movement to a Nazi salute, mirroring criticism Musk faced previously. Musk responded with an emoji on X.
French street artist Theo Clerc, imprisoned in Azerbaijan for 422 days for painting graffiti in the metro, has been pardoned and released. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev granted the pardon, allowing Clerc to return to France. French authorities had previously raised concerns about discriminatory treatment in the case, as Clerc's codefendants received only fines.
An Australian man, Lamar Aaron Ahchee, faces potential death penalty in Bali after being arrested for allegedly smuggling 1.7 kilograms of cocaine. Indonesian authorities stated that Ahchee was apprehended following an investigation into suspicious packages mailed from England. Police reports suggest he used online motorcycle taxi services to receive the drugs, allegedly intended for distribution.
Israel on Friday said Hamas must accept a hostage deal in Gaza or "be annihilated", as US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement was "very close". " accept the terms of the 'Witkoff Deal' for the release of the hostages -- or be annihilated."
The Rwanda-backed M23 militia has carried out "mass killings" of Congolese civilians in the occupied eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Tuesday. With hundreds of Congolese soldiers and allied militia fighters having dispersed to avoid capture, the M23 has carried out frequent raids in a bid to stamp its authority on the restive region.
Devastating floods in central Nigeria, triggered by torrential rains and a collapsed dam, have claimed over 150 lives in Niger State. The market town of Mokwa is among the hardest hit, with more than 50 homes swept away and thousands displaced. President Bola Tinubu has offered condolences and mobilized federal agencies to provide assistance, including search-and-rescue operations, relief materials, and temporary shelter.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the deadly attacks on civilians near aid distribution sites in Gaza as potential war crimes. Recent incidents, including one in Rafah that killed 27, highlight the dangers faced by Palestinians seeking essential food aid. Turk called for investigations and accountability, criticizing Israel's militarized aid system for endangering lives and violating international standards.