Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass has launched a petition for the return of Queen Nefertiti's bust from Berlin to Egypt, arguing it was removed illegally, along with other artefacts like the Rosetta Stone and Dendera Zodiac.

Meanwhile, in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to defend the nation's sovereignty amid tensions with Somalia over a maritime deal and disputes with Egypt regarding Ethiopia's Blue Nile dam.

In Europe, NATO members Romania and Latvia have reported Russian drone incursions into their airspace, prompting calls for a collective NATO response to these violations, with Romanian F-16s scrambled and a drone crash in Latvia.

Turning to the Mediterranean, Italy's coast guard has recovered six bodies and reported 21 missing after a tragic migrant shipwreck near Sicily, highlighting the deadly risks of migration routes.

In Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his challengers are questioning the integrity of the recent election, which saw a low voter turnout, citing widespread skepticism and procedural irregularities.

Lastly, in Russia, pro-Putin candidates are dominating gubernatorial races across the country, viewed as a vote of confidence in Putin's leadership amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.