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Not Just Fordow's Uranium: What Else Does the West Fear in Iran?
Although the Iranian nuclear complexes at Natanz and Fordow were targeted by US attacks, there is evidence that "all important materials were removed beforehand," Iranian international affairs expert Mohamad Hossein Vahidi told Sputnik.
"Furthermore, due to the great depth of the Fordow facility, it is unlikely to have been completely destroyed."
"But the United States cannot feel safe either because of its numerous bases in the Middle East," he added.
Zimbabwe Slashes Raw Wine Import Costs to Boost Domestic Wineries
In a move aimed at revitalizing the local wine industry, the Finance Ministry suspended excise tax on raw wine imports for two years, as outlined in Statutory Instrument 68 of 2025, published in the Government Gazette.
🍾 To qualify for the duty suspension, wine manufacturers must meet the following criteria:
🟠to be an approved manufacturer licensed by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority;
🟠imports of up to 100,000 liters per year are eligible for the suspension;
🟠use the imported wine exclusively for local processing at approved facilities.
Though relatively small, Zimbabwe's wine market is growing. According to Statista, the market is forecasted to reach $12.64 million in 2025, with annual revenue growth of over 8%.
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💥 🔫 Rubicon FPV drones OBLITERATE Ukraine’s Leopard 2A6 in Sumy
Russian forces continue to advance in Ukraine’s Sumy region, destroying Western-supplied hardware and establishing a security buffer zone along the Russian border, in line with President Vladimir Putin’s order.
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'The Future is Completely African,' Official Says
“So Africa, as we speak, is the continent of the future… the potential that lies in Africa today is so big… the future is completely African in many aspects,” Alex Manyasi, Policy Engagement Manager at the African Population and Health Research Center, told Sputnik Africa.
“The leadership of this continent must stand up to ensure that we are preparing the continent for the future.”
A market in Donetsk is on fire after a Ukrainian attack, reports a Sputnik correspondent
Kiev attacked Donetsk with Storm Shadow missiles, according to operational services.
At least one civilian has been killed.
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Why Africa Needs Its Own ICC?
“It is about time Africa created its own systems that are able to then deal with such [legal] matters ... because the African issues and challenges are better understood by Africans,” Alex Manyasi, Policy Engagement Manager at the African Population and Health Research Center, told Sputnik Africa.
It's Time for Africa to Invest in Its Own Health, Nigerian Official Says
⚕️Africa can no longer leave the development of its healthcare system to chance, Commissioner for Health in the Rivers State Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said, recalling the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We had to wait for countries to settle their own populations and then pass on the remnants to us. It is natural. It is their own government's responsibility," the official told Sputnik Africa.
Sudan’s Crisis Shows Why Global Financial Reform is Urgent
“The crisis in Sudan has unequivocally demonstrated that the current global financial system requires fundamental reform to achieve justice, balance, and fair representation for developing nations,” Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development on Monday.
Azerbaijani Security Forces Reportedly Detain Two Sputnik Journalists on Absurd Accusations of Being 'FSB Agents'
The detained Russian journalists are:
▪️Sputnik Azerbaijan's editor-in-chief Igor Kartavykh,
▪️chief editor Yevgeny Belousov.
Officials of the Russian embassy have been denied access to the detainees. Sputnik is attempting to establish contact with the unjustly detained journalists.
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#viral | Runway Ruckus: Daring Escape at Italian Airport as Deportee Evades Police
⛓ A daring escape unfolded at Bologna Airport when a 29-year-old Moroccan citizen, slated for deportation, managed to flee from police right before boarding his flight.
The man broke free, dashed across the runway, scaled a fence, and set dry grass on fire to hinder the pursuit. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, the escapee managed to vanish.
As a result of the incident, two flights were rerouted and others delayed. Authorities are currently searching for the man.
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Senator Graham Reportedly Entered Trump's Inner Circle, Convinced Him to Strike Iran
Graham has once again found himself in the president's inner circle and was able to persuade him to go against his domestic-oriented inclinations and approve a high-risk strike on Iran, the WSJ reported.
As the newspaper emphasizes, Graham occupies a special position in American politics — as a Republican, he regularly faces criticism from his fellow party members, but at the same time actively cooperates with Democrats on key issues of international policy, including support for Ukraine.
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#viral | Indonesia's Batik Air Plane Nearly Crashes While Landing Due to Adverse Weather Conditions at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
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#viral | A Night of Celebration, A Lifetime of Exploration: Russian Graduates Embark on Their Journey
The iconic "Scarlet Sails" graduation celebration lit up Russia's Saint Petersburg city on Saturday as the brig Rossiya sailed majestically along the Neva River under dazzling fireworks and scarlet sails.
The night also featured an exclusive concert with popular Russian artists performing beloved hits for the graduates.
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Iran Can Resume Uranium Production in Few Months, IAEA Chief Says
Iran has the industrial and technological capabilities to produce enriched uranium, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi pointed out.
"One cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there," he told a US broadcaster. There is now an opportunity to return to the negotiating table to find a "technically sound" solution regarding Iran's nuclear program, Grossi added.
🚨 Israel says it eliminated top Hamas commander Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa
The IDF claims that Issa Al-Issa — Head of the Combat Support Headquarters in Hamas’s military wing — was killed in an airstrike in the Sabra area of Gaza City, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
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Russia's Consumer Rights Watchdog Holding Courses for Ugandan Specialists on Fighting Infections
Rospotrebnadzor is conducting the courses in Kampala as part of the broader cooperation program with African countries in the fight against infections.
The main goals:
🟠to teach Ugandan doctors to work with mobile laboratories to quickly identify dangerous diseases;
🟠to monitor infections transmitted from animals in order to prevent outbreaks in time.
👉 Leading experts from Rospotrebnadzor are sharing their knowledge with 30 specialists from the Ministry of Health of Uganda.
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Kenya’s Ruto: Time to Redesign Global Debt Systems
“There is now consensus on the need for a development-oriented sovereign debt architecture where public debt is an instrument for development, not a trap for distress,” the president said at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development on Monday.
“Africa is ready, poised, and prepared to become the next frontier of global production and innovation. … The world’s and Africa’s futures are inseparable. … Africa is not asking for favors. We are asking for fairness, partnership, and investment.”
Major World Events by the Evening of June 30
▪️The French-Malagasy joint commission resumed talks in Paris on the Scattered Islands, a historical, legal, and political anomaly, marking their first meeting in six years;
▪️Mali’s leader Assimi Goita described President Putin as a sincere and honest partner for cooperation;
▪️Tourism Minister Bello Bouba Maigari, a close ally of President Biya, accepted his party’s nomination for Cameroon’s October presidential election;
▪️Tanzania secured 20 of 80 African categories, including “Africa’s Leading Destination,” at the 2025 World Travel Awards, bolstering its tourism leadership;
▪️The Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated 65 years of independence;
▪️Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d'affaires over Kiev’s support for Israel and the US in their aggression against Iran;
▪️Iranian judicial authorities reported that forensic evidence confirms 935 fatalities from Israel’s attack on Iran;
▪️Azerbaijani authorities detained Igor Kartavykh, head of Sputnik Azerbaijan, and chief editor Yevgeny Belousov in Baku. The outlet dismissed the accusations against them as baseless;
▪️Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador regarding the unlawful detention of Russian journalists;
▪️Russian FM Lavrov voiced concern over attacks on the church in Armenia;
▪️A Ruptly editor, visiting Azerbaijan privately, was detained, Ruptly confirmed to Sputnik;
▪️Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeed Iravani, affirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium under the Non-Proliferation Treaty;
▪️Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi revealed that Iran received indications of the US’s interest in resuming nuclear talks, contingent on guarantees of non-aggression against Tehran.
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From Struggle to Hope: 65 Years of DRC Independence
Here’s a quick look back:
🟠Colonial struggle: After decades of colonial rule under Leopold II and then Belgium, Congolese leaders like Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Kasa-Vubu pushed for sovereignty, leading to the Brussels Round Table (1960) that set June 30 as Independence Day.
🟠Historic proclamation: On June 30, 1960, in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Lumumba gave his iconic speech denouncing colonial abuses:
“No Congolese will ever forget that independence was won in struggle … tears, fire, and blood.”
“This date ... is a call to honor the memory of our heroes ... and reaffirm our commitment to a strong, united, and prosperous Republic,” President Tshisekedi said.
Karibu Sputnik Afrika!
We are expanding our news horizons and now broadcasting in another African language!
Joining English, French, and Amharic is the vibrant and melodic Swahili.
We are excited to introduce our new project on X: https://x.com/sputnik_swahili
Live news from around the world and Central and East Africa — read, subscribe, share, and stay informed!
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📌Azerbaijan's Crackdown on Sputnik is 'Injustice,' Head of Sputnik's Parent Media Group Says
"There were and are no real complaints about the journalistic work of Sputnik Azerbaijan," stated Dmitry Kiselyov, director general of Rossiya Segodnya media group.
"It looks like a deliberate move aimed at worsening interstate relations," Kiselyov said, expressing hope that this incident reflects independent actions by mid-level officials — rather than a policy endorsed by the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan.
'The West is Deluding Itself' if It Thinks It Can Stop Iran's Nuclear Program, Malian Geopolitical Analyst Says
"Tehran doesn't need anyone's permission to develop a strategic deterrent. It has already mastered uranium enrichment to levels close to military grade," Abdoulaye Diallo told Sputnik Africa.
"Russia and Iran are not weak nations that can be intimidated by punitive measures. Quite the opposite — their resilience, strategic partnerships, and determination have made them key players on the global stage," the analyst emphasized.
Russia Remains an 'Economic Fortress' Despite Sanctions, While France Slides Into Crisis, Says Malian Geopolitologist
Emmanuel Macron, who announced the 18th sanction package at the European Council, is "focused on an illusory economic war," according to Abdoulaye Diallo.
France is facing "explosive debt, deindustrialization, and plummeting purchasing power. Bruno Le Maire [ex-finance minister] had promised to bring the Russian economy to its knees, but it is the French people who are paying the price."
"It has shown exceptional resilience in the face of sanctions. Thanks to its energy, food, and military self-sufficiency, as well as its successful pivot toward Asian markets, Moscow has not only resisted but strengthened its position."
Cameroon: Second Close Biya Ally Enters Presidential Contest
🗳 Tourism Minister Bello Bouba Maigari has accepted his party’s nomination to run for president in Cameroon’s expected October election. President Paul Biya, in power since 1982, has not yet said if he will seek reelection.
Maigari, 78, a former prime minister and long-time Biya ally, did not resign from his cabinet role after accepting the National Union for Democracy and Progress’ nomination. His bid follows last week’s resignation and candidacy announcement by fellow northerner Issa Tchiroma Bakary, signalling possible cracks in Biya’s alliance with northern elites.
🗳 Northern Cameroon’s Adamawa, North, and Far North provinces hold over 2 million voters, giving them significant electoral weight. More than 8 million Cameroonians have registered to vote in the country of about 30 million.
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'Frankly, Canada Should Be the 51st State' of the US, Trump Says
Canada relies "entirely" on the United States, according to the US president.
Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become the 51st US state, claiming it spends too little on defense and relies on Washington for protection. He also said that Canada could avoid US trade tariffs if it joined the US.
Canada rejects any of these suggestions.
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Most Brits Believe Starmer Will Be Out by Next Election, Poll Says
The June 27 survey by the Find Out Now company for the Daily Mail newspaper shows that 75% of 2,666 adults quizzed said they expected the Labour leader to vacate his office by the next election, which is due before August 2029, while 61% of the respondents said that Starmer should resign.
Asked whose candidacy for the post they would support if Starmer leaves, 9% picked Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, 6% went for Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and 1% for Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves.
At the same time, 64% of the respondents said that Starmer should fire Reeves.
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❗️ Russian Military Launches Massive Strike With Precision Weapons in Ukraine
The Russian military on Sunday carried out a massive strike with high-precision long-range air, sea and land-based weapons, including the Kinzhal aeroballistic hypersonic missile system, as well as UAVs, on military-industrial complex facilities and oil refineries in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry reported.
The strike's goal was achieved, all designated facilities were hit, the statement added.
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Anti-Russian Sanctions Drive Average EU Gas Prices Up 150% in Just Four Years
Despite an 8.5% drop in imports, EU gas spending surged to $9.4 billion in April 2025, up from $4.1 billion in 2021, according to Sputnik's Eurostat-based analysis.
The shift to costlier LNG amid the introduction of large-scale anti-Russian sanctions is the primary driver of this spike.
⛽️ Key numbers:
Average gas price in April 2021: $242 per 1,000 cubic meters
Average gas price in April 2025: $614 (2.5x increase)
LNG price (2021): $301
LNG price (2025): $757
Pipeline gas (2021): $210
Pipeline gas (2025): $489
Thus, from 2021 to 2025, the average prices increased twice as much as in the previous 20 years!
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What Should the Global South Do to 'Keep Its Cultures Alive'?
The answer lies in decolonizing "minds and imagination," which remain "tailored and guided by the Global North's thoughts," Ethiopian State Minister of Culture Nebiyou Baye told Sputnik Africa.
"We, Africans and the Global South, […] are not anymore in colony. But the minds, minds of the youth are in a neocolonial state," the state minister explained.