Category: World

A leading candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank has outlined a strategy urging African nations to mobilise up to $4.5 trillion in domestic private capital to drive the continent’s development agenda, aiming to reduce dependence on expensive international debt. This vision signals a shift towards leveraging Africa’s own financial resources to fund infrastructure, healthcare, education, and energy projects critical for sustainable growth. The candidate, whose campaign emphasises financial innovation and regional collaboration, argues that Africa’s private sector

The African Development Bank is convening in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, this week to elect a new president, as the institution confronts significant financial pressures following proposed reductions in U.S. contributions. The U.S. government's plan to decrease its support to the AfDB and its African Development Fund by $555 million presents a substantial challenge for the incoming president. The successor to President Akinwumi Adesina, who concludes his tenure in September after serving two terms, will need to navigate this financial shortfall.

Donald Trump's net worth has surged to an estimated $6.1 billion, marking a significant increase from previous valuations. This financial ascent is largely attributed to his stakes in Trump Media & Technology Group and the $TRUMP cryptocurrency, ventures that have drawn scrutiny over their speculative nature and potential conflicts of interest. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, has achieved a valuation of approximately $2.6 billion. Despite reporting minimal revenue and substantial losses, the company's stock has

Sebastião Salgado, the Brazilian photographer whose haunting black-and-white images chronicled the human condition and environmental fragility, died on 23 May 2025 in Paris at the age of 81. His death was attributed to leukaemia, a condition linked to malaria he contracted during a 2010 assignment in Indonesia. Born on 8 February 1944 in Aimorés, Minas Gerais, Salgado initially pursued a career in economics, earning a master’s degree from the University of São Paulo. His trajectory shifted in the early 1970s when,

The African Development Bank has successfully issued a €1 billion five-year social bond, maturing in May 2030, with a fixed annual coupon of 2.500%. This benchmark transaction, aligned with the Bank's Sustainable Bond Framework, aims to finance projects that promote inclusive growth and social development across its regional member countries. The issuance attracted robust investor interest, with the order book exceeding €1.5 billion, reflecting strong demand from a diverse investor base. The bond was priced at a spread of mid-swaps

The village of Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia has long been regarded as a focal point for Sasquatch lore, with many locals firmly convinced of the creature’s existence. This belief is deeply intertwined with the region’s First Nations heritage, where storytelling has preserved and passed down accounts of large, mysterious beings inhabiting the dense forests. The local narrative embraces Sasquatch not only as a cryptid of curiosity but as an integral part of cultural identity and natural history. Sasquatch, often

Ukraine and Russia have carried out the largest prisoner exchange since the onset of the war in 2022, with each side releasing 307 individuals. This significant development follows earlier phases of a broader agreement initiated during peace talks in Istanbul, aiming to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the return of 307 Ukrainian military personnel, while the Russian Defence Ministry reported a corresponding release of Russian prisoners. This exchange marks a rare moment of cooperation amid

Guinea's media regulator concluded the "Forum on the Future of the Press," an event aimed at revitalising the country's media landscape. However, six prominent news outlets remain blocked, highlighting the ongoing challenges to press freedom under the military-led government. The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology revoked the broadcasting licences of FIM FM, Espace FM, Sweet FM, Djoma FM, Djoma TV, and Espace TV, citing "non-compliance with the content of the specifications." These outlets have been off the air since December

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Senate has voted overwhelmingly to revoke former President Joseph Kabila's parliamentary immunity, paving the way for his prosecution on charges including treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The decision, passed with 88 votes in favour and five against, follows allegations that Kabila supported the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which has intensified conflict in eastern Congo. Justice Minister Constant Mutamba announced that the government has gathered substantial evidence implicating Kabila in supporting the M23 insurgency, responsible

Uganda has formalised an $800 million financing agreement with the Islamic Development Bank to support a suite of infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering the country's trade capabilities and economic integration within East Africa. The agreement, signed during the IsDB's annual meeting in Algiers, encompasses investments in railway development, health, transport, and energy sectors. A significant portion of the funding is earmarked for the development of a railway line intended to connect Uganda to Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway , facilitating access

A growing crisis in African agriculture, driven by climate change and biodiversity loss, is jeopardising Europe's access to essential food imports, including cocoa, coffee, and maize. New research indicates that over half of the European Union's imports of these staples originate from countries ill-equipped to handle escalating environmental challenges. A report by UK-based consultancy Foresight Transitions reveals that the EU's dependence on climate-vulnerable nations for key commodities is intensifying the risk of supply chain disruptions. The study highlights that 96.5% of

President Donald Trump has signed the Take It Down Act into law, criminalising the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, including those generated through artificial intelligence. The legislation mandates online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of a victim's request, with enforcement overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. The Act, formally titled Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks, received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the House with a 409-2 vote and the Senate unanimously.

Indonesian tech professionals are increasingly ensnared by fraudulent job advertisements on platforms such as Facebook and Telegram, leading them into a vast network of scam operations across Southeast Asia. These individuals, lured by promises of legitimate employment, find themselves trafficked into fortified compounds in countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Once there, they are coerced into executing sophisticated online scams employing advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and deepfake tools. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a significant shift in its COVID-19 vaccination policy, limiting routine approval of annual booster shots to individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those with underlying health conditions that increase the risk of severe illness. This marks a departure from the previous approach that recommended annual vaccinations for all individuals over six months of age. Under the new guidelines, healthy individuals between the ages of six months and 64 will require

The University of Zimbabwe has sparked widespread criticism by offering adjunct lecturers a paltry US$5.50 per hour to replace striking academic staff, intensifying an ongoing labour dispute that has disrupted operations at the country’s premier higher education institution. Lecturers, represented by the Association of University Teachers , initiated an indefinite strike on 16 April, demanding a return to pre-2018 salary levels of US$2,250 per month for junior faculty. Currently, most earn less than US$300, supplemented by a Zimbabwe Gold

A summer reading list published by the Chicago Sun-Times has ignited controversy after it was revealed to contain fictitious book titles and fabricated expert quotes, all generated by artificial intelligence. The content, which appeared in the paper's "Heat Index" summer feature, was syndicated by King Features, a subsidiary of Hearst, and was not produced or vetted by the Sun-Times editorial staff. The reading list included non-existent titles such as "Tidewater Dreams" by Isabel Allende and "The Last Algorithm" by Andy Weir.

A proposed $12 billion casino development at Manhattan's Hudson Yards has been abandoned following sustained community opposition, leading developer Related Companies to pivot towards a large-scale residential project. The revised plan includes the construction of approximately 4,000 housing units, marking one of the most significant additions to the city's housing stock in decades. The initial proposal, a collaboration between Related Companies and Wynn Resorts, aimed to transform the western rail yards into a mixed-use complex featuring an 80-story tower housing a

Mrs Nana Shettima, spouse of Vice President Kashim Shettima, joined Senator Rochas Okorocha, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and other prominent figures in calling on Nigerian women to assert themselves confidently in all spheres of life. Their appeal came during a gathering focused on advancing women’s empowerment, where speakers highlighted the need for greater female participation in politics, business, and social leadership. The event underscored the critical role women play in national development and urged them to overcome societal barriers that often

Spain has increased reliance on its more expensive gas-fired power plants as it confronts challenges in maintaining grid stability following a nationwide blackout that exposed vulnerabilities in managing a surge of renewable energy on the system. The blackout disrupted power supplies for thousands, prompting urgent measures by grid operators to strengthen electricity generation from fossil fuel sources while balancing the country’s ambitious green energy goals. The blackout occurred amid an unusual grid strain driven by fluctuations in renewable energy output, particularly

Wild chimpanzees across Africa are drumming on tree roots with structured, region-specific rhythms, suggesting a sophisticated form of long-distance communication and offering new insights into the evolutionary roots of human musicality. A comprehensive study published in *Current Biology* analysed 371 drumming sequences from 47 chimpanzees across 11 communities in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. The research revealed that chimpanzees produce rhythmic patterns that are not random but exhibit consistent timing and tempo, varying distinctly between eastern and western populations. Western

Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi has been nominated as the next Regional Director of the World Health Organization African Region, following a special session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. His nomination comes after the untimely death of Dr Faustine Ndugulile, who was elected to the position in August 2024 but passed away before assuming office. Professor Janabi, a seasoned cardiologist and healthcare administrator, currently serves as the Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He

Austria has secured its third Eurovision Song Contest victory, with 24-year-old countertenor JJ clinching the title in Basel, Switzerland, through his emotive performance of "Wasted Love." This win marks Austria's first since 2014, following Conchita Wurst's triumph. JJ, born Johannes Pietsch, delivered a compelling blend of operatic vocals and contemporary techno elements, captivating both jury and public votes. His performance resonated deeply, earning Austria a combined score of 436 points, narrowly surpassing Israel's Yuval Raphael, who finished second. The song "Wasted Love,"