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♦️ Breaking & exclusive stories, analysis, opinions 👉 About Africa in other languages: Amharic: @sputnik_ethiopia French: @sputnik_afrique 💬 Contact us https://t.me/Africa_Sputnik_bot
Britain Slashes Aid to Africa by 40% to Boost Defense Spending: Government
🇬🇧 According to a UK Parliament research briefing, overall official development assistance will be cut from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI) by 2027/28. The reduction is intended to fund an increase in defense and security spending, which will reach 2.6% of GDP in 2027.
🔽 Total UK aid spending will fall from an estimated £15.4 billion (at 0.5% of GNI) to approximately £9.2 billion (at 0.3%) in 2027/28 — the lowest level in cash terms since 2012 and as a proportion of GNI since 1999.
Bilateral aid to Africa will be particularly hard hit, falling from £1.5 billion in 2025/26 to £676 million by 2028/29, a reduction of roughly 55%.
The most affected African countries include:
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone (83% cut);
🇸🇴 Somalia (49%);
🇸🇸 South Sudan (46%).
👉 This decision comes as the UK also reduces funding for Gavi, the Global Fund, and ends support for the Polio Eradication Initiative. The government has outlined a "modernized approach" to international development, shifting from being a "donor" to an "investor," with a focus on humanitarian aid, global health, climate, economic development, and women and girls.
🎩 The British Empire's exploitation of Africa, from its extractive industries to the transatlantic slave trade, generated, according to some estimates, trillion dollars in wealth (adjusted for inflation) that flowed to Britain, while Africa's people and resources were systematically plundered.
🆓 The British Empire also profited from the transatlantic slave trade, forcibly displacing millions of Africans and devastating entire communities.
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Putin's Far East Trip 'Demonstrates Strength & Resolve to Defend Russia's Borders': Lebanese Expert
"Despite the fact that this region is far from Moscow, it remains an important outpost, and Russia is fully prepared to defend it," Iskander Kfouri, Russian affairs expert, told Sputnik.
"Today nations once again unite against Russia, not because the Russian people are any different from other peoples of the world, but because Russia possesses enormous natural wealth that arouses the desire of other countries to seize it."
#viral | When You Are Big Serious Cat, But Love to Slide Down a Hill
🐅 After the rain, tigers in China's Henan turned their glass tunnel into a fun slide, queuing up to zoom down until one bumped right into another at the bottom.
The video is going viral on social media.
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AI vs. Human Traffickers: How Tanzania Plans to Track Dangerous Job Ads Online—Official Explains
🇹🇿 Tanzania is integrating AI to monitor and track suspicious job advertisements, enabling authorities to intervene swiftly, officer from the Secretariat for the Prevention of Human Trafficking, Agustino Mwembe, told Sputnik Africa.
Moreover, a national call center was established for citizens to report any suspected trafficking activities, he noted.
👉To identify and repatriate trafficking victims, Tanzania is strengthening cooperation with SADC nations, the Middle East and Asian countries, Mwembe emphasized.
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India Boosts African Fertilizer Imports Amid Hormuz Tensions: Trade Data
🇮🇳🌍 The South Asian country imported 2.5 million tonnes of urea in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, with African producers accounting for nearly half of total shipments, according to data released by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Key Details:
🟠Quarterly Imports: Egypt supplied 609,000 tonnes, followed by Algeria and Nigeria with 245,000 and 244,000 tonnes, respectively. None of the three African countries delivered any volumes during the same period a year earlier.
🟠Shift from Gulf: Strait of Hormuz blockages trapped up to 16 India-bound vessels earlier, forcing New Delhi to pivot away from its traditional reliance on the Gulf region (which usually supplies over 40% of its needs).
🟠Cost Pressures: Fertilizer prices have risen from approximately $30 to $45 per 45-kilogram bag. India's fertilizer ministry has proposed raising subsidies to $37.1 billion, up from $18.6 billion originally budgeted.
🟠Demand Outlook: India revised its annual consumption estimate downward to 38.39 million tonnes due to less favorable rainfall projections, with urea demand reduced from 19.4 to 19 million tonnes.
🟠Trade Context: In the fiscal year 2025-26, Nigeria delivered 447,090 tonnes, Algeria 217,059 tonnes, and Egypt 194,830 tonnes to India.
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100 Years of Fidel Castro: From Prominent Lawyer to Revolutionary Leader
🇨🇺 From a bold assault on a military barracks to the downfall of US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista: how a young lawyer not only managed to unite and lead a group of rebels, but also ignite revolutionary fervor among millions of Cubans.
📹 Sputnik recalls in an animation the key events that shaped the path to the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and changed the history of the island forever.
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Washington Takes Advantage of Ceuta Crisis to 'Weaken' Spain: Moroccan Official
Some powers exploited the events to engage in political propaganda against the Spanish government, Said Bakkali, a member of the political bureau of the Party of Progress and Socialism, told Sputnik Africa.
"The US and Israel seized upon the Ceuta tragedy as an opportunity to settle political scores with Pedro Sánchez's government. This government became a target because of its recognition of the State of Palestine, its criticism of the genocide in Gaza, and its opposition to certain Israeli and US actions in the Middle East."
Russian Tanks Annihilate Ukrainian Personnel in SMO Zone: MoD
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Russian Troops Take Control of Petrovka in Donetsk Peoples' Republic, MoD Reports
👉 The Russian army has continued advancing across all areas of the special military operation zone since the start of 2026, liberating settlements one after another in Donbass and beyond, while steadily expanding security buffer zones in border regions.
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Bypassing Western Models: African Creators Forge Indigenous AI Solutions
🤖 Defying Western dominance, African innovators are creating indigenous AI tools tailored to the continent's unique languages and realities.
Moreover, shifting government policies are starting to favor local talent over Western tech monopolies on the continent, Chadian economist Nguetobaye Massengar Rongar told Sputnik Africa.
📹Watch the video to learn how African countries are breaking this technological dependence and embracing their own AI models.
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❗️❗️❗️South Africa Launches Electronic Travel Authorization to Streamline Travel & Enhance Security: Correspondent
A new initiative will ensure the electronic verification of passengers at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, a Sputnik Africa correspondent reported.
🔊The system allows travelers to apply for visas online, process payments, and verify their identity via facial recognition directly at the airport, Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, told Sputnik Africa.
Four countries—China, India, Mexico, and Indonesia—are currently included in the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) program, and more countries will be added, he noted.
Watch the video to learn more about the ETA's benefits.
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The $1 Trillion Climate Question: Why Should Africa Be Paying Price?
What if the world’s wealthiest are not just accumulating fortunes, but accumulating a climate debt that Africa is being forced to pay? In this episode🎙#AfricanCurrents speaks with Koalie Monaheng, Global Political Lead for the Fair Share Campaign at Greenpeace Africa, on climate inequality, extreme wealth, and a global economic system that continues to extract from Africa.
▶️ Engage with the full discussion via:
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🗣Our website
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You can also find podcasts on Telegram using the hashtag #SputnikRadio
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❗️Russian Troops Take Control of Vodyanoye in Kharkov Region, MoD Reports
👉 The Russian army has continued advancing across all areas of the special military operation zone since the start of 2026, liberating settlements one after another in Donbass and beyond, while steadily expanding security buffer zones in border regions.
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🔥🇷🇺 Russia’s Air Force: 114 years of unmatched air supremacy
To mark the anniversary of Russia’s military aviation, the Ministry of Defense released footage that speaks louder than words, showcasing its iron grip on the skies.
💬 “From swatting down cruise missiles and UAVs to delivering surgical precision strikes along the frontline, Russia’s reach now extends deep into the enemy’s rear - territory once only accessible to long-range aviation and the navy,” Air Force Commander and Hero of Russia Sergey Kobylash summarized it in an accompanying message.
#viral | Romantics of the Steppe: This Sky Watches Over the Earth for Millennia
A sky full of shooting stars, a field full of dreamers and not a single regret.
📍 Buryatia, Far-Eastern Russia
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❗️Russian troops have liberated Oretskoye and Novonikolaevka in the DPR: MoD
👉 The Russian army has continued advancing across all areas of the special military operation zone since the start of 2026, liberating settlements one after another in Donbass and beyond, while steadily expanding security buffer zones in border regions.
⠀
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Kremlin Warning: What Response is Russia Ready For? Analyst Outlines Scenarios
🇷🇺🇪🇺 EU countries and NATO, having failed in their strategy on Ukraine, have turned to new pressure tactics, including detaining and blocking Russian commercial ships, Lebanese political analyst Samir Ayoub has told Sputnik.
Ayoub was commenting on President Vladimir Putin's recent warning that Moscow will deliver a tough response to any future attempts to block or attack its vessels.
The previous absence of an immediate response from Moscow had been misinterpreted as weakness, but the situation has now fundamentally changed, the analyst noted.
Key Scenarios Outlined:
⚫️Military Escort: In case of threat, Russian commercial vessels will be escorted by naval warships, eliminating any possibility of interference.
⚫️Mirror Measures: Russia will begin detaining and seizing European ships, acting on the principle of reciprocity.
Ignoring this ultimatum could push the world toward direct confrontation, Ayoub warned, emphasizing that history shows control over maritime routes has frequently triggered global conflicts.
By threatening key trade routes, the West risks provoking a global economic and military crisis affecting all nations, he concluded.
📹 Russian and Indonesian commandos practice boarding ops in Sea of Japan
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#viral | Indian Man Mistaken for Dead Body Wakes Up After Police Arrive to Retrieve Supposed Corpse
🇮🇳⚰️ Residents in Hanamkonda alerted police after spotting what appeared to be a lifeless body floating motionless in a lake for nearly five hours. When officers arrived, one grabbed the man's hand—only for him to suddenly sit up.
The man explained he had been exhausted after working at a nearby granite quarry, entered the water to cool off, and drifted into such a deep sleep.
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'Safer SADC Equals Safer SA': South Africa Eyes Defense Funding Boost & Regional Support
While awaiting parliamentary approval for increased funding, the National Defense Force can generate supplementary revenue by offering specialized services, such as recruit assessments, to other government departments, Defense Minister Angie Motshekga said, answering a Sputnik Africa's question at a press conference after the Gqeberha Military Base Hospital launch in Eastern Cape.
Furthermore, the armed forces will sustain medical and diplomatic support for neighboring nations via designated military hospitals, General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the South African National Defense Force, noted.
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#viral | Woman Uses Handcart to Help Strangers Cross Flooded Road in Ethiopia
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Malian Forces Neutralize at Least 1,850 Extremists in Two Months: Media
🇲🇱 Mali's army also destroyed:
▪️ 45 bases;
▪️ 11 armored vehicles;
▪️ 230+ motorcycles.
The operations were carried out across the north, east and south of the country, media reported, citing the army's General Staff Public Information Directorate.
✈️ The success of the operation was ensured by the Malian Air Force, which carried out more than 1,500 sorties, delivering 307 strikes against positions of anti-government forces.
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Ethiopia's Endemic Walia Ibex Population Rises After Conservation Push
📹 Watch Sputnik Africa's video to learn how Ethiopia is giving this rare species a second chance.
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Severe Snowstorm Disrupts Travel, Damages Homes in Lesotho
🇱🇸❄️ Heavy snow and strong winds have caused widespread disruption, with border crossings closed and structural damage reported in Berea and Mokhotlong districts, along with livestock losses.
The severe weather, which began Sunday night, has compounded challenges in the mountainous kingdom already vulnerable to harsh winter conditions.
Key Details:
🟠Border Disruption: Qacha's Nek Gate reopened on Wednesday, while Ramatseliso's Gate remains closed, with reopening expected on August 14.
🟠Structural Damage: At least 13 people were left homeless in Ha Masheane after three houses were destroyed by strong winds on Monday.
🟠Livestock Losses: Approximately 24 pregnant ewes died in Mokhotlong after being trapped in snow and attacked by dogs.
🟠Regional Context: The snowfall is part of a broader cold front affecting southern Africa, with South Africa's weather service issuing multiple severe warnings.
🟠Vulnerability: Lesotho's high elevation makes its mountainous areas prone to heavy snowfall between May and September, with authorities urging assistance for affected families.
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🔊 WE BREAK THE SILENCE AND CENSORSHIP
Western media stays silent. We report. On Ucraniando, you find the truth about the Ukrainian conflict, without censorship and without filters. We are the voice they want to silence.
〰️Direct news from Russia.
〰️ Uncompromising geopolitical analysis.
〰️ Exclusive reports.
👍 Join Ucraniando: Chat Telegram lisavukovic:4">Odysee
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Nigeria Pushes EV Adoption With Tax Incentives, 4,000 Approvals in First Half of Year
🇳🇬 The government aims for EVs to make up 60% of the vehicle fleet by 2050 under its 2022 Energy Transition Plan, up from less than 1% currently.
To encourage this transition, the government introduced attractive tax breaks:
VAT: EVs were exempted from VAT in 2024.
Import duties: Cut to zero in 2026 (down from 5%).
📌 The Challenge—Despite these incentives, charging infrastructure remains limited:
🔘As of late 2025, Nigeria had only about 48 public EV charging stations, mostly in Lagos and Abuja, compared with more than 500 in South Africa.
🔘As a result, many EV owners currently charge at home using portable cables plugged into regular household outlets.
⚡️ A Promising Path—Motorcycles and three-wheelers offer the most immediate opportunity for electrification:
🔹Nigeria already has over 15 million motorcycles on the road.
🔹Switching to electric versions could deliver significant fuel savings.
🔹Electric motorcycles and tricycles can cut operating costs by two-thirds compared to petrol-powered alternatives.
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#viral | Breakfast and a Bath: How Kronotsky Reserve's Residents Start Their Day
📍 Kamchatka, Russia
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Tanzanian Innovator Builds Mini Train From Three-Wheeled Taxi
📹 Watch Sputnik Africa's video to see how a creative idea became a unique creation and is now attracting investors.
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Cameroon Ends Nigeria's Reign at Women's AFCON: Sports Journalist
By stunning Nigeria—10-time WAFCON champion—1-0 in the quarter-finals, the Indomitable Lionesses have unveiled a new face and sent a clear message to their opponents, Renaud Inang told Sputnik Africa.
"The victory over Nigeria feels just like winning a final. It marks the end of an era for Nigeria and the dawn of a new one for Cameroon. Most importantly, the Indomitable Lionesses have qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil," he noted.