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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
Iran's FM Araghchi May Travel to Moscow Next Monday to Meet With Putin
Abbas Araghchi announced his plans to travel to Moscow for an official visit in an interview with a US broadcaster.
Key statements by Iran's top diplomat on Tehran-Tel Aviv escalation:
▪️Washington needed nuclear talks "to cover up" plans to attack Iran;
▪️Tehran doesn't know how it can trust the US anymore: "What they did was, in fact, a betrayal to diplomacy";
▪️The US's demands of zero uranium enrichment in Iran are impossible;
▪️Iran is not ready to negotiate with Israel "as long as the aggression continues."
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Europe’s Financial 'Apartheid' Won’t Stop Africa — the Continent Found Russia as an Ally
Africa can overcome energy poverty — but it won’t happen through empty multilateral promises. It will take real allies, said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, speaking at #SPIEF2025.
“We think a country like Russia, with a lot of power, can really be able to untangle that,” he told Sputnik Africa.
Breaking Mold of Indoctrination: African Talent Shines Brighter Than Western Idols
"I grew older and realized I was 10,000 times more talented than any of them [Western TV stars], humbly," Zimbabwean artist, designer and writer Xander Pratt told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of #SPIEF2025.
🇦🇲 Pashinyan’s West-vetted assault on Karapetyan and Armenian Church part of anti-Russia purge – analyst
The Armenian Apostolic Church, openly critical of PM Nikol Pashinyan’s pro-EU policies, is the only nationwide institution still out of his grip, political scientist Hrant Mikaelian told Sputnik.
Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest is part of an attempt to bring it fully to heel, says the research associate at the Caucasus Institute (Armenia).
Several dynamics are at play:
🔸 Karapetyan poses a serious threat as Armenia’s most prominent businessman, offering a credible alternative to the current leadership.
🔸 Pashinyan’s political weakness, with approval ratings at rock bottom.
🔸 The West is closely watching and supporting the repressive actions against pro-Russian figures in Armenia.
💬 “Western groups focused on Armenia have always kept a close eye on Karapetyan – he’s simply too big a player,” the pundit noted.
📹 "A thousand friends are not enough, one enemy is too many, we want to be friends with everyone"
The president of Indonesia explained why he chose to go to the #SPIEF2025 rather than the G7 summit.
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❗️ Russian authorities will support new Russian brands, the president says
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WATCH | 📹 Russian President Putin greets the son of the King of Bahrain Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa
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❗️❗️❗️'We Came Here Purposely to Forge That Relationship' — Sierra Leone Deepens Mining Ties with Russia
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Julius Mattai, is calling for a win-win partnership with Russia—built on technical collaboration, mutual respect, and long-term development goals.
💎 Mining & Geology Collaboration
Sierra Leone is working closely with ROSGEO, following a 2024 MoU, to advance geophysical and geochemical surveys, improve mineral mapping, and upgrade lab capabilities—key steps in unlocking the country’s underground wealth.
🛠 Upskilling the Workforce
With support from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ALROSA, young Sierra Leoneans are now in training for diamond valuation, cutting, and polishing—a major leap toward local value addition and job creation.
⚡️ Energy Partnerships
Recognizing mining’s energy demands, Sierra Leone is seeking Russian expertise to strengthen electricity infrastructure and connect mining operations to the national grid—a move toward more sustainable, efficient production.
“We are gaining traction… #SPIEF2025 has been an extra bonus,” he told Sputnik Africa.
Nigerien Leadership Says Nationalized Orano’s Subsidiary
The nationalization will affect the mining company SOMAIR, a subsidiary of French uranium mining giant Orano, the government statement read, as per the state media.
The Nigerien government accused Orano of several “irresponsible acts.”
On May 17, the Financial Times newspaper reported that Orano was considering selling its assets in Niger due to difficulties in relations with the country's military leaders.
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Iran Has No Desire to Negotiate With Anyone While Israel Attacks It, Foreign Minister Says
"In the current circumstances, as long as the Zionist regime's attacks on Iran continue, we do not want to negotiate with anyone ... The Americans want to, they have sent messages several times, serious messages, but we have clearly told them that until the aggression is stopped, there can be no talk of dialogue and diplomacy," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, as broadcast by state media.
Explore Sputnik's Compilation of Videos Showcasing the Most Powerful Iranian Strikes on Israel
This collection prominently features strikes on Haifa and Tel Aviv and spans the entire period of escalation between the two countries.
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Latest Updates on the Iran-Israel Conflict: Evening of June 19
▪️The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran reported a precision strike on an Israeli military command and intelligence center, which was "located near one of the hospitals;"
▪️An agent of Israel's Mossad was arrested in western Tehran;
▪️The foreign ministers of the UK, Germany, and France will hold talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister on Friday in Geneva;
▪️The US has moved some aircraft from its base in Qatar due to fears of a potential Iranian attack, according to a Western news agency;
▪️Russia has warned the US against interfering in combat operations against Iran, saying it could lead to uncontrollable consequences, stated Russia’s MFA spokeswoman Zakharova;
▪️Iran’s National Security Council said that attacks will stop only when Israel is “punished” and pays “reparations” to the Islamic Republic;
▪️The IRGC announced the beginning of the 15th wave of the Operation Truthful Promise-3.
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🔴🔴 Putin holds meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto
Watch live on Telegram
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❗️Israel's attack on Iran is an unprovoked aggression that violates the UN Charter and international law, Zakharova says
"This is a criminal venture fraught with consequences for regional and global security. Attempts to justify it with non-proliferation concerns are cynicism," the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
Iran-Israel Escalation: Latest News by Morning of June 19
🟠Over 20 targets in Tehran were struck by 60 Israeli fighter jets, with one attack hitting anti-tank missile production facilities in Iran, according to the IDF;
🟠Israel attacked the heavy water reactor at the Arak Nuclear Complex in northwest Iran, Iranian media reported, adding that the facility sustained minimal damage, and there was no radiation detected;
🟠An attack by the Israeli Air Force targeted Karaj, west of Tehran, as reported by Iranian media;
🟠Iran deployed its Sejjil missiles, with a range of 2,000 km, for the first time against Israel, media reported;
🟠Online videos showed Iran launching a "new generation of missiles" in a fresh wave of attacks on Israel;
🟠Missiles from Iran struck Tel Aviv, with six explosions heard in the city, including in the Holon area, according to the media;
🟠The main target of Iran's morning ballistic missile attack was the large Israeli Army Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park, Iranian media reported; the facility is situated near Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva;
🟠Iran's missiles hit Israel's stock exchange, media reported;
🟠Iran's Tasnim News Agency published a list of US military bases within range of Iranian missiles;
🟠Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei cautioned the US against joining Israel's war, warning that it would spark "an all-out war in the region."
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'The BRICS Countries Are Natural Partners of Africa:' Head of Afreximbank
Benedict Okechukwu “Okey” Oramah emphasized the vital role BRICS nations play in Africa’s future:
“All of them are trading with Africa one way or the other… What we need more from them is to come and invest into Africa,” he told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of #SPIEF2025.
🕯In memory of Sputnik journalist Russell Bentley
🔸 On June 20, Russell Bentley, who was killed near Donetsk on April 8, 2024, would have turned 65.
🔸 He arrived in Donbass in December 2014 to fight alongside the militia against Ukrainian Nazis.
🔸 He joined the Vostok battalion and took the call sign Texas.
🔸 He raised funds and delivered humanitarian aid to the elderly, women, and children.
🔸 Along with volunteers, he fought for Donetsk airport, the village of Spartak, Avdeevka, and Yasinovataya.
📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt
'I Break Stereotype of What is Expected,' Zimbabwean Artist Says
Decades-old stereotypes about Africa, imposed by Western media, "need to be broken," Xander Pratt told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of #SPIEF2025.
"It's not just the media — it's people who need to believe […] that they are greater than the stereotype," he said. "Spirits like myself, exist to make people believe again."
"These two voices can communicate perfectly," he said, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange between Russia and the African continent.
❗️Putin on the situation in the Middle East: Russia is in contact with both Israel and Iran, we have some proposals
#SPIEF2025
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❗️Africa is rapidly becoming the center of global growth, South Africa's deputy president says
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📹 There is silence in the plenary session broadcast hall as everyone waits for Vladimir Putin to begin his speech
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🔴🔴 Putin Holds Meeting With Head of Bahrain's Delegation to SPIEF
Later on Friday, Vladimir Putin and Bahrain's National Security Advisor Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa will take part in the plenary session of #SPIEF2025.
👉 Watch the event live on Telegram!
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#viral | Mass CAR, Motorcycle Rally in Tehran Takes Place in Support of Iran's Foreign Policy
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The defense of businessman Samvel Karapetyan has filed an appeal against his arrest, the businessman's lawyer told Sputnik
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🚨Israel strikes NUCLEAR research center
🇮🇱🪖The Israeli Army reported the damage overnight:
🟠60 fighter jets carried out night raids targeting dozens of sites in Iran
🟠Bombed military industrial facilities used to produce missile components
🟠Struck multiple targets affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense
🟠Targeted the headquarters building of SPND (Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research) in Tehran, part of Iran’s nuclear weapons project
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Russian Mineral Fertilizer Producer Hopes to Increase Its Reach to Africa Fivefold by 2030
According to the results of last year, Uralchem's deliveries to the continent amounted to one million tonnes, but the potential of this market is colossal, said the group's CEO Dmitry Konyaev during the #SPIEF2025.
Africa imported only 10 million tonnes of fertilizers by the end of 2024, far too little for the continent, Konyaev noted. He attributed this to internal issues like poor logistics and complex payments, adding that African farmers often pay more for fertilizers than Europeans, which he called "absolutely absurd."
The company sees the current solution in the development of local distribution and the creation of joint companies, as well as exclusive contracts with large buyers.
AI-generated image
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BRICS Gains International Prominence: Vladimir Putin Holds Talks With Indonesian President
👇 Key statements made by the Russian president during the meeting on the sidelines of #SPIEF2025:
▪️ Russia hopes that BRICS member Indonesia will contribute significantly to the group's development.
▪️ Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is the “main guest” at this year's SPIEF.
▪️ Russia and Indonesia plan to continue cooperating in various sectors, including military technology and transportation.
▪️ Trade turnover between Russia and Indonesia is on the rise.
▪️ Prospects are opening up in the fuel and energy, agriculture, space, and transport technology sectors.
👇 Statements by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto:
▪️ Indonesia thanks Moscow for its support in joining the BRICS at short notice.
▪️ The country is paying great attention to developing cooperation with Russia in various fields, including trade.
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❗️The Russian delegation will be ready to arrive in Istanbul after June 22 to continue negotiations with Ukraine, Zakharova says
The specific dates for the new round of negotiations will be determined and announced in the near future, the Russian FM spokeswoman noted.
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Nigeria Introduces Stricter Oil Export Rules for Real-Time Tracking
Nigeria's oil regulator will now require producers to obtain an export permit, vessel clearance, and a unique ID to enable real-time cargo tracking.
The updated rules aim to:
🟠improve monitoring of oil exports,
🟠combat theft and under-declaration,
🟠increase government revenue.
Unlike the previous system, which only required cargo declarations to customs, producers must now provide more detailed information.
👉 Under the new Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Advance Cargo Declaration Regulation, exporters must pre-file detailed vessel and cargo information, including consignee, destination, tonnage, and estimated arrival time. Failure to comply may result in fines up to $20,000.
The regulator described the changes as a major step toward a more transparent and efficient oil export system.
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❗️A strike on the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran could lead to a disaster comparable to Chernobyl, Russian energy giant Rosatom CEO says
Alexey Likhachev stressed that some Russian specialists have already been evacuated from this plant, while the state corporation considers it possible to leave some.
Rosatom calls on the Israeli authorities to ensure that there is not even a hint of a strike on Bushehr, Likhachev added.
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