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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
Karapetyan's Arrest: 'West's Traditional Resistance to Russia is Shifting to Values'
"Countries where the West has leverage are being targeted. Unfortunately, Armenia is one of them," Armenian political scientist Hrant Melik-Shakhnazaryan told Sputnik.
PKK Members Burn Weapons in Disarmament Step
Dozens of members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organization designated as terrorist by Turkey, have publicly burned their weapons in northern Iraq.
This action marks a significant step in the disarmament process of the group, which primarily based in the Kurdish-majority regions of southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq and north-eastern Syria.
👉 The move follows the PKK's announcement in May of its dissolution and its decision to end the armed conflict with Turkey, a conflict that has spanned over four decades. According to a Sputnik source, the second phase of this disarmament is anticipated in the coming days.
The PKK was founded in 1978 with the stated aim of defending the rights of the Kurdish population in Turkey, though Ankara views it as a terrorist organization.
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Nigerian Economy Showing Positive Trends Amid Reforms, Says Information Minister
"Even all the rating agencies in the world are giving Nigeria some pass marks. We are seeing some upward ticks in the way our economy is being managed," Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told a delegation of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, attributing the progress to the comprehensive reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu's administration.
BRICS: Building a New Global Order Beyond Dollar Dominance
“The BRICS people are taking some kind of a well-researched and knowledge-based initiative in trying to save themselves from this dollar dominance,” Berehe Tesfa, Former Senior UN Policy Advisor, told Sputnik Africa.
“The WTO, as far as I'm concerned, is dead literally now… The BRICS nations will create their own version of the WTO.”
“The West will be forced to come to terms to create a multilateral world where we have multiple poles of development, multiple poles of power, and not just the kind of the first Cold War power dominated by the US.”
US Sanctions on UN Rapporteur Undermine Human Rights, Says UN Official
Washington's decision to impose sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese is an attempt to assert control over international decisions, Haitham Abou Said, head of the International Council for Human Rights' mission at the UN in Geneva, told Sputnik.
📜🫷🏽Such an action directly contradicts the foundational American principles of "freedom of opinion, expression, and thought," according to the UN official. He also noted that these sanctions undermine international human rights law, specifically Articles 18 and 19.
"The US is trying to politicize decisions, especially those regarding Israel. The US will not allow any restrictions on Israeli actions by other countries or organizations," Abou Said argued.
#viral | 🍦 Tasty & Cool: Lemurs & Raccoons at Crimean Zoo Escape Heat by Eating Ice Cream
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❗️Russian FM Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rubio are holding a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, a Sputnik correspondent reports
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Air Market Momentum Grows as West African States Embrace SAATM Vision & Nigeria’s Air Corridor Push
✈️📻📦 #GlobalSouthPole | “This can go on to foster trade and regional integration […] And above all, support and offer revenue generation for the government, but above all, an industry that is self-sustaining,” Angu’zu Raymond, aviation law researcher at the UN Space Generation Advisory Council, explained.
🌐 In this edition Raymond breaks down how Africa’s skies are no longer just air routes; they’re economic corridors. As the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) takes off and Nigeria launches its AfCFTA air export initiative, the continent is beginning to trade across borders, not just through them.
🛫 With faster routes for local producers, new cargo opportunities, and reduced dependence on Europe and the Gulf, this is Africa building capacity — in the air and on the ground.
❓Will liberalized skies finally anchor the goals of Agenda 2063, or are more reforms still needed to lift off?
🎙Join us for a grounded but forward-looking conversation on aviation, trade, and African economic transformation.
▶️ Click here to listen to the full conversation on Telegram’s built-in player.
🧬 In addition to our Telegram channel, you can enjoy our episodes on Sputnik Africa website
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Diplomacy 101: Know Their Official Language
Trump to the President of Liberia:
“Such good English. Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
Liberia: [blinks in official language]
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DRC, M23 Rebels Hold Second Round of Peace Talks in Qatar, Reports Say
During Qatari-mediated talks, the two delegations aim to reach a deal on a broader truce, a diplomat familiar with the talks told a French media outlet.
"This round of negotiations will be critical towards reaching an agreement," the diplomat said. Doha is working closely with the African Union, he added.
📹 Russian Armed Forces' UAV Destroys Ukraine's Self-Propelled Artillery System, UAV Operator Tells Sputnik
📍 Dnepropetrovsk Region
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📹 Heavy Israeli Airstrikes Target Eastern Gaza City, Palestinian Media Reports
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BRICS vs. Bretton Woods: Toward a Fairer Multipolar World?
The Bretton Woods institutions and dollar dominance make fair financial exchange impossible, former Nigerien Minister of Infrastructure Cherif Chako told Sputnik Africa.
🌎However, the final declaration of the BRICS Summit presents a "golden opportunity" to change the situation and "build a multipolar world in finance, trade, and development," according to the speaker.
🌍 And what about Africa?
Chako praised the idea of establishing the BRICS grain exchange, which could benefit both the association and the African continent:
"This initiative will strengthen cooperation aimed for the well-being of the people of the AES and other African countries," the ex-minister emphasized.
#viral | Two seal pups were released into Russia's Lake Ladoga after rehabilitation at the Baltic Seal Friends Foundation
🦭The seal pup Osik, found in the waters of the Neva River, became a real star and mystery of the center. This Ladoga seal pup had an unusually light color, which made him look like a Baltic seal.
However, his main distinguishing feature was his wild and independent character.
✅The Seal Puppy, however, earned a reputation as a modest person: she ate conscientiously, gained weight, grew, and did not cause any trouble for specialists.
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Malaysia Accuses Israel of Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza Strip
"The longest conflict of modern history, rooted in the unjust and illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory, must be brought to an end," Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said at a foreign ministers' meeting at the East Asia Summit.
#viral | 🐼 Panda Dindin at Moscow Zoo Cools Off With Ice Cream
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Trump's Nobel Peace Prize Nomination & His Push for Arms Sales to 'Are in Contrast,' Says Expert
Prof. Fulu Netswera, Head of the BRICS Research Institute, has challenged US President Donald Trump’s counterterrorism rationale for nations like Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Gabon, and Mauritania – noting their low terrorism prevalence.
In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Prof. Netswera framed the policy as a potential veiled threat, suggesting failure to purchase arms could trigger unrest at any moment.
☝️ The expert warned that increased military spending would significantly impact the economic development of these African nations, leading to deeper debt and diverting funds away from critical needs.
"It is a catastrophe," Prof. Netswera stated. "They will continue to be subservient to the USA […] So the question of both economic and military sovereignty is going to be kissed goodbye forever by these countries."
#viral | 🚜 Driverless Asphalt Pavers Work on Highway Construction Sites in China's Hubei Province
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CAR President Meets Rebel Leaders in Historic Peace Move
On Thursday in Bangui, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra held a historic meeting with leaders of the UPC and 3R rebel groups, joined by Russia’s Acting Chargé d'Affaires and Military Attaché Colonel.
This landmark dialogue follows April’s agreements in N’Djamena, where rebels pledged to lay down arms and reintegrate into society. The meeting concluded with a symbolic handover of weapons by former combatants – a powerful gesture toward lasting peace.
Russia reaffirmed its support for the CAR Government and people in their efforts to stabilize the country and restore security.
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China & Africa Sign First Yuan Loan Deal, Media Reports
The China Development Bank (CDB) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) signed a loan agreement worth 2.1 billion yuan (about $290 million) on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS Summit, marking Africa's first financial subsidy in Chinese currency, according to the media.
👉 According to the CDB, the money will be used to support African projects in the areas of:
🟠infrastructure,
🟠energy,
🟠industry,
🟠information and communications,
🟠water and sanitation.
The China-South Africa yuan financial project is reportedly expected to boost Southern Africa's economy, strengthen the yuan, and lessen dependence on the US dollar.
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Morocco Announces Massive Renewable-Powered Data Center in Western Sahara
The North African country plans to construct a 500-megawatt data center in the city of Dakhla powered entirely by renewable energy.
🌐 The state-owned facility is a key component of the country's strategy to enhance data security and establish itself as a major digital hub for Africa, according to Digital Transition Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni.
The announcement of the project follows the January launch of Morocco's first sovereign data center, currently providing cloud services to both public and private entities.
👉 The new center, part of a larger 11 billion dirham ($1.22 billion) digital modernization plan (2024-2026), also includes investments in artificial intelligence and nationwide fiber optic network expansion. Details regarding cost and timeline remain undisclosed.
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Sahel Criminal & Human Rights Court is Established
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially announced the creation of a Bamako-based court with jurisdiction over serious crimes, local media reported.
These include:
🟠war crimes,
🟠crimes against humanity,
🟠terrorism,
🟠human rights violations.
👉 A maximum-security prison will also be established in the Malian capital.
👉A shared judicial database and a digital platform will be created to streamline information exchange.
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EU Ministers Kicked Out of Eastern Libya Over 'Sovereignty Breach'
🚫 A high-level EU delegation was denied entry into eastern Libya on Tuesday after arriving for talks with the Benghazi-based government, media reported.
The delegation – including EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner and ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta – was declared persona non grata upon landing and told to leave immediately.
The eastern government, allied to military commander Khalifa Haftar, accused them of disregarding Libya’s sovereignty by meeting earlier with the rival UN-recognized western government in Tripoli without its permission.
ℹ️ Libya has been split between competing governments since 2014, and continues to be a major transit route for migrants attempting dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean.
AI-generated image
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IMF Policies Have Made Kenyans’ Lives a 'Living Hell'
“The implementation of austerity measures by the Kenyan government, as a result of the pressure coming from the International Monetary Fund, has made Kenyans' lives a living hell; Kenyans have not been used to that kind of lifestyle. Now, they are currently living it,” said James Mwangi Macharia, Founder of African Center For Corrective And Prevention Action and Party Leader of Party For Democratic Reforms.
“Currently we are under that colonialism of economy, where we are given money and then we are trapped. Once we are trapped, citizens want to breathe and in the process of trying to breathe, [...] they create civil disorder. So whatever is happening is a direct result of economic colonialism from the World Bank, from the IMF, and other organizations that are funding our government. So we are not free. We are not free because we are trapped in debts.”
'New Development Bank Should Replace IMF & World Bank,' Nigerian Professor Says
The Bretton Woods institutions "have done their worst" and must be "totally destroyed," Professor of Political Economy at the University of Abuja Abubakar Sadeeque Abba told Sputnik Africa.
"They are no longer relevant; they have been used as agents of exploitation and stealing of resources and destruction of economies of Third World countries," the speaker stated.
"[NDB] will go a long way to create a world where we live together, we move together, and we prosper together. […] The bank will come in with practicable measures and workable solutions for Africa to key in and develop their own economies," he stressed.
Tanzania's New Era of Development: President Set to Unveil Groundbreaking 2050 Vision
Samia Suluhu Hassan prepares to launch the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (TDV), themed "The Tanzania We Want," next Thursday, Minister of State for Planning and Investment Kitila Mkumbo announced.
"This will be the second time the country writes a non-partisan national development endeavor, the first was the 2000-2025 under the late former President Benjamin Mkapa," the official told reporters. The TDV 2050 builds on the successes and lessons of its predecessor, he added.
Iran’s Nuclear Program Impossible to End by Military Means – IAEA Chief
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described Iran as a large country with a significant economy, industrial potential, and technical capabilities, which cannot be negated by military means;
▪️ He emphasized that the nuclear issue cannot be resolved through force; only a comprehensive agreement with a strict verification system can address it;
In June, a UN atomic agency report accused Iran of not reporting various nuclear-related activities prior to an Israeli attack.
▪️ But Grossi noted the absence of credible evidence that Iran possesses nuclear weapons, despite data hinting at bomb-making capability;
▪️ The IAEA believes Iran has not taken steps necessary to build a nuclear weapon.
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#viral | Moscow Zoo Pandas Head Indoors as City Heats Up!
🌡Due to the extreme heat of over +30°C, which is unusual for Moscow, pandas will spend more time inside their cooled enclosures — sometimes even by force — to avoid heatstroke, the zoo's director general said.
💧The enclosures are kept at a panda-friendly temperature and equipped with misting and ventilation systems.
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❗️❗️❗️‘If Somebody Wants to Re-Progress You, Don't Agree:’ Ghana’s Labor Minister
“We need to stand as a people, work as a people, [and] reach a destination so our people cannot be dying trying to reach Europe. It’s unacceptable. We must be happy here,” Minister Rashid Pelpuo told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the 3rd Africa Job Creation Forum in Addis Ababa.