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Journalists continue to arrive at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, where the talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to take place
❗️ The start of the negotiations in Istanbul is scheduled for 16:00 GMT today, a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.
Footage by a Sputnik correspondent.
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Major World Events by the Evening of July 22
▪️The Kremlin expects no progress in the upcoming Ukraine talks in Istanbul, aiming to defend its interests in the conflict;
▪️Russia expressed readiness to discuss Mozambique's defense issues, according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov;
▪️In response to EU sanctions, Russia expanded its travel ban list, affecting EU officials and citizens involved in activities against Russia;
▪️President Trump stated he is prepared to strike Iranian nuclear facilities "if necessary;"
▪️The US plans to withdraw from UNESCO in 2027, as announced by the State Department.
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'France is Not an Israeli Colony': A Demonstration in Support of Gaza Takes Place in Paris
Protesters carry signs reading "Stop genocide. It's horrific," "Palestine will live," and chant "Thieves! Rapists! Murderers! Israel!"
👉 This protest action occurs as 101 people, including 80 children, have died of hunger in the enclave.
In total, the number of people killed in Gaza during Israeli strikes has exceeded 59,000, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
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GERD Was Built by Ethiopians and Powered by Unity, Says Official
“The Renaissance Dam was built by the Ethiopian people, by the Ethiopian resources,” Aregawi Berhe, Director General, GERD Coordination Office, told Sputnik Africa.
💰Graham's crusade: More bombs, more bucks
Senator Lindsey Graham* is a top pick for US defense contractors, fueling a steady cash flow straight to their pockets.
Let’s dig into how he does it.
🔸 Warmonger in his own words
"If I were a defense contractor, I'd be big time for Lindsey Graham, because I've been forward-leaning on rebuilding our military," Graham stated in June 2015. "People come to you because of your positions."
🔸 Graham's backers
Boeing, Honeywell, Lockheed, Northrop, GE & Raytheon.
His super PAC, Security is Strength, spent ~$4M in 2016 & $13M in 2020. Per The Intercept, a major share of PAC's funding came from defense contractors.
🔸 Defense cash
Per OpenSecrets, the defense sector gave Graham $1.1M between 1993 and 2024.
But most came from defense-tied individuals – like AM General owner Ron Perelman and GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt who gave $500K and $25K for his presidential bid in 2015, respectively, per The Intercept.
🔸 Quid pro quo?
How does Graham return the favor? By boosting defense spending.
In 2014, AM General won a $245.6M contract with the US Army. Coincidence?
In 2015, Graham hiked the Overseas Contingency Operations budget to $96B – $38B more than the original $58B allocation.
🔸 Tricky schemes – even more cash
Graham strongly backed the Export-Import Bank, which guarantees loans for foreign buyers of US goods.
His donor GE gained big: In 2014, the bank approved $1B in GE deals. GE also landed $2.2B in defense contracts that year.
🔸 Nothing personal, just business
Graham's calls for more arms for Ukraine and Israel in 2025 can be easily explained: He wants to be re-elected in 2026.
He raised roughly $110M for his 2020 re-election campaign and expects defense contractors to fork out again.
*banned for terrorism in Russia
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Morocco to Boost Women & Youth in Farming With $117 Million Support From AfDB
The African Development Bank has approved a loan for Morocco's inclusive, solidarity-based agriculture program.
✅Key goals:
🟠provide sustainable economic opportunities for women and youth in farming;
🟠train women and boost their role in agriculture and agro-processing;
🟠boost food security and build climate resilience for small-scale farmers;
🟠promote rural entrepreneurship via tailored financing;
🟠Support Morocco's Green Generation Strategy 2020-2030 and youth employment program.
"Through this new operation, we will support them [women] step by step to build a modern, inclusive and resilient agriculture, capable of revealing the full potential of those who aspire to innovate and create value and employment in their territories," said head of the AfDB country office in Morocco Achraf Tarsim.
❗️Anti-Russian Plans Being 'Cooked' in Europe Present Very Alarming Signals, Lavrov Says
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❗️ News and Information on the Special Military Operation, Russia-Ukraine conflict :🚀 🚀 🚀 /channel/Slavyangrad
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DRC Eyes Reaching Peace Soon Amid Ceasefire Deal With M23 Group, Interior Minister Says
"In eight days, representatives of the DRC and the M23 group will return to Doha. If all goes well, a peace agreement could be signed in the coming months," Jacquemain Shabani told a briefing on the on the Doha declaration of principles.
"We want a definitive peace, a lasting peace," government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stated during the briefing.
Major World Events by the Evening of July 21
▪️Moscow will provide an update once there is clarity on a new round of talks with Ukraine, Kremlin stated;
▪️The US has stationed several nuclear bombs in the UK for the first time in 17 years;
▪️A terrorist plot near Cairo was foiled, with two members of the Hasm Movement killed in the operation;
▪️Sudan has reached record levels of gold production despite ongoing internal conflict;
▪️Algeria’s Sonatrach and China’s Sinopec have signed a memorandum on joint hydrocarbon development;
▪️Ukrainian military cemeteries have run out of available burial spaces, a French newspaper reported;
▪️Metropolitan Anthony, head of the Russian Orthodox Church's external relations, will visit Italy on Saturday for talks with Pope Leo XIV;
▪️Kremlin called the current stage in relations with Azerbaijan difficult, expressing hope that the tensions will subside;
▪️Hungary, Serbia, and Russia are in talks over building a new pipeline to transport Russian oil;
▪️Israeli forces are conducting airstrikes on Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.
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Algeria's Sonatrach & China's Sinopec Sign Memorandum on Hydrocarbon Production
As part of their joint plans, the two state-owned companies are expected to assess and develop resources in the Gourara basin in southern Algeria and the Berkin basin in eastern Algeria, according to Algerian media.
🤝 Sonatrach emphasized that the signing of the memorandum of understanding reflects "the parties' desire to strengthen existing relations and expand cooperation through new opportunities for partnership in the field of hydrocarbon exploration and production."
👉 Sinopec has operated in Algeria, a leading natural gas producer and exporter, since 2002. The company participated in developing the Zarzaïtine field under a cooperation agreement.
Founded in 1963, Sonatrach is Algeria's largest company and a major player in the hydrocarbon market in Africa and the Mediterranean region.
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‘This is Africa’s Time to Rise,’ Says Young Tanzanian Innovator
"I’m African, I’m Tanzanian, and I deeply care about Africa, especially when it comes to agriculture, because I believe it is the backbone of life," Innocent Mabilika told Sputnik Africa.
"Even if you’re still struggling financially, your creative spirit is your greatest weapon."
🗣Ukraine’s front might CRUMBLE by year-end - French media
If Russia keeps the heat on, Ukraine's defenses could unravel by the end of the year, warns Le Figaro.
"Can Ukrainian forces hold out another six months? A year? It doesn’t really matter—because the war is already lost," writes the French outlet.
"This opens a window of opportunity for Russia down the line," a French military source added.
Zimbabwe Launches Crackdown on Illegal Bulk Water Dealers
The nationwide operation seeks to regulate the water delivery sector and protect public health, according to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
💧🦠 The crackdown addresses public complaints about unregulated water abstraction and delivery in urban areas, which authorities say pose health risks and violate national regulations.
The blitz aligns with the law, requiring all bulk water dealers, including borehole operators and water delivery truckers, to be registered, ZINWA's Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Marjorie Munyonga, told local media.
👉 It is illegal to abstract raw water from residential areas without specific authority, Munyonga noted, adding that ZINWA is empowered to collect water samples for quality checks and requires accurate abstraction records from suppliers.
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US Court Dismisses Malian Child Labor Lawsuit Against Chocolate Giants
Plaintiffs' attorney said they are "extremely disappointed" and considering legal options. In an email letter, quoted by a US legal news site, he stated the defendants hid supply chain details, preventing victims from proving links to the farms where they were exploited as children.
✊ Eight Malian plaintiffs, who were trafficked as children to Ivorian cocoa farms and forced to work there, accused Hershey, Nestle and five other companies of:
⚫️Knowingly benefitting from supply chains involving forced labor;
⚫️Violating the US Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
⚖️ Judge expressed "the greatest sympathy" for the victims, and "the greatest condemnation" to the exploiters, but ruled against the case, saying the plaintiffs "lacked standing" as:
▪️Plaintiffs failed to prove direct connection between specific companies and farms;
▪️They couldn't identify which farms supplied which defendants;
▪️General allegations about industry-wide practices insufficient.
AI-generated image
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Third Round of Russia-Ukraine Talks Expected in Istanbul on Wednesday — What's Known So Far?
While Moscow has yet to confirm the date, the talks are expected to begin at 16:00 GMT at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, a Turkish source told Sputnik, adding that details are still being finalized. Meanwhile, a Sputnik correspondent reported Wednesday that tents were being set up at the possible talks venue.
🔻Russian delegation details, as outlined by a Sputnik's source:
🟠The makeup is unchanged from the previous round;
🟠The negotiating group includes four main members of the delegation and four experts;
🟠The delegation at the last round of talks consisted of: Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, Deputy FM Mikhail Galuzin, Chief of Main Intelligence Department of Russian General Staff Igor Kostyukov, Deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin.
🔻Ukrainian delegation updates:
⚫️Zelensky increased the composition of Ukraine's delegation from 12 to 14 people, according to a decree published on Zelensky's website;
⚫️The delegation was supplemented by: Parliament's Human Rights Commissioner Representative Within Security and Defense, Yuriy Kolbasa, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Yevhen Ostryansky;
⚫️The head of the International and Operational Law Department of the Central Legal Department of the General Staff, Alexey Malovetsky, has been replaced by his deputy, Andrey Fomin.
🔻Turkish participation:
▪️Turkey will also be represented by its delegation at the talks, a senior Turkish official told Sputnik.
🔙 Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of direct talks in Istanbul, which resulted in a POWs exchange. Moscow also returned the bodies of deceased Ukrainian troops to Kiev. Both sides exchanged draft memoranda on the conflict resolution.
👉 Stay tuned not to miss the latest updates as developments unfold in Istanbul
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#viral | Saint Petersburg Zoo Welcomes Two New Residents: Mischievous Marabou Storks Laura and Raphael
About one year old, these curious birds are full of energy... and mischief, especially Laura, who loves to snatch anything that piques her interest with her large beak.
"Some advice: keep a small distance from their enclosure, for their sake... and yours!" the zoo advised.
Russian Food Will Be Soon 'Planted in Ghana' — and Ghana's in Russia, Official Says
Why? Because there is a shift towards direct partnerships between Russian and Ghanaian companies in the agro-processing industry, President of the Ghana-Russia Business Development Council Dr. Lawrence Awuku-Boateng told Sputnik Africa.
Particularly this shift concerns cacao, which is a major Ghanian export currently routed through European countries, the speaker noted.
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Tanzania' Geita Region Shines as Mineral Production Soars 50% in Four Years
Mineral output, including gold, surged from 18.21 tonnes in 2021 to over 27.4 tonnes in 2025, Geita Regional Commissioner Martine Shigela said.
"The mining sector plays a unique role in contributing to GDP growth, foreign exchange earnings, and overall economic growth," the official told a press briefing.
New Diabetes Subtype Discovered in African and African American Youth, Challenging Traditional Diagnosis
Key discovery: A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has uncovered a non-autoimmune form of type 1 diabetes (T1D) affecting many young people in Sub-Saharan Africa—and even a portion of Black Americans.
🔬 What’s different?
Unlike classic T1D, which is autoimmune, 65% of African participants in the study lacked islet autoantibodies—key markers for autoimmune diabetes. These youth likely have a distinct, non-autoimmune subtype of T1D, requiring different diagnostic and treatment approaches.
🧪 US comparison:
Researchers also found that 15% of Black Americans with T1D showed similar patterns—autoantibody-negative and genetically distinct from the typical autoimmune form—unlike their white counterparts.
🌍 Why it matters:
This research, spanning Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa, and the US, could lead to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment strategies for populations previously underserved by conventional models.
“Alternative causes must be considered in this group of individuals, and understanding the drivers of this subtype might offer new insights into prevention and treatment,” the study read.
📹 Russia's FSB shows a lengthy video about how security forces stopped the accomplices of the Ukrainian special services in the DPR, Yaroslavl and Lipetsk regions of Russia
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🎥🎥 Lavrov Holds Joint Press Conference With His Mozambican Counterpart
Mozambican FM Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas is on an official visit to Moscow for talks reportedly focused on cooperation in energy, security, and trade.
👉 Watch the event live on Telegram or on our website!
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Mozambique Foreign Minister Says She Calls Lavrov Her Big Brother
"In Africa, I call you my older brother. So, Mr. Foreign Minister, my older brother, I would like to thank you first of all for bringing me back to this wonderful city," Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas said with a smile.
Trump Says US Will Launch More Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities ‘If Necessary’
"Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: ‘Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.’ Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! … Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony 'reporter' and apologize to me and the great pilots who 'OBLITERATED' Iran’s nuclear sites," Trump said on social media on Monday.
FPV Drone Crews From Russia's Center Battlegroup Destroy Enemy Antennas and Drones in SMO zone
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Sudan Achieves Record Gold Production Despite Ongoing Conflict
Sudan extracted 64 tonnes of gold in 2024, generating $1.57 billion in export revenue, Mohamed Tahir Omer, Director of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, announced at a press conference.
The mining sector is a pillar of national resilience, which can help lead the country towards economic recovery, he assured.
👉 The country witnessed a remarkable 53% increase in gold production compared to 2022, when it produced 41.8 tonnes.
Furthermore, the sector has experienced a surge in employment, rising from 5% to 40%. Foreign companies have also resumed mining operations in the country.
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Egypt Welcomes 'Doha Declaration': Step Towards Comprehensive & Lasting Peace in DRC
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Sunday, expressing Cairo's hope that the new agreement will contribute to:
🟠Improving humanitarian and living conditions in the DRC;
🟠Strengthening the foundations of peace and security in Central Africa.
Egypt reaffirmed its support for mediation efforts, while insisting on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states.
AI-generated image
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Passenger Ferry With 280 Onboard Catches Fire Off North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Passengers leapt overboard to flee the flames, media reported. One person has been confirmed dead.
The tragedy occurred just 16 days after a similar passenger ferry sank in the Bali Strait, media noted.
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#viral |📹 Earthquake in Russia's Kamchatka: 7.6 Tremors Rattle Region
No significant damage has been found yet, the governor said.
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