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⚡️🇷🇺🇨🇳 SERGEY LAVROV DELIVERS PUTIN’S GREETINGS & BEST WISHES TO XI JINPING
Russia’s FM held a bilateral meeting with Xi in China today.
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Senegal, Namibia & Other African Countries Can Potentially Join OPEC, Secretary General Says
OPEC is in talks with many countries regarding membership in the organization, Haitham Al Ghais said, adding that he has already held meetings with representatives from Senegal and Namibia among others.
"We are always open to new OPEC members, provided they meet the organization's criteria and adhere to its statutes. These clearly state that a prospective member must share OPEC's objectives and be a significant net exporter of oil," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 9th OPEC International Seminar.
Trump, Ukraine & the Dollar: War or Business Deal?
🕊The longer the weapons flow, the slimmer the chances of reaching peace between Russia and Ukraine, Alex Manyasi, Policy Engagement Manager at APHRC, Kenya, told Sputnik Africa.
“What that does, it also reduces the appetite for Ukraine to actually negotiate... and therefore... escalate the conflict much more.”
“His approach is very transactional and business-oriented,” he noted. “I don't think it's more about looking at ending the war or supporting Ukraine but more of the US than earning more dollars in the process of expanding the dollar globally.”
“So the US should not expect to see that their sanctions will not have consequences back home, they definitely will... They might want to […] get money from Ukraine. But I don't think that this is a conflict that Donald Trump is willing to push so that then it starts hurting the US economy,”
Trump Calls Putin a 'Tough Guy', Despite the 'Nice" Talk
"He's a tough guy. That's been proven over the years. He fooled a lot of people. He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden… he didn't fool me," Trump said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
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🇦🇲☦️ Pashinyan playing with fire: Armenia’s Church has survived persecution for 1700 years, will outlast him
💬 “Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest is just one link in the chain of authoritarian actions by Nikol Pashinyan aimed at neutralizing or discrediting all individuals and organizations with resources, influence and authority, both in Armenia and the diaspora,” Maj. Gen. Artur Vanetsyan, former head of Armenia’s National Security Service, told Sputnik, commenting on the ongoing Karapetyan saga.
AES 'Has More to Gain Than to Lose by Leaving WAEMU,' Nigerien Political Analyst Says
As the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU or UEMOA) is controlled by France, it is the right moment for the AES to create a common currency, leave the WAEMU, and turn toward BRICS, Issoufou Boubacar Kado Magagi told Sputnik Africa.
On July 11, the delegations of the three AES countries left the room in protest during a session of the WAEMU Council of Ministers in Togo.
✅ What benefits could AES countries gain from withdrawing from WAEMU?
🟠Deeper ties with BRICS: the AES could benefit from economic cooperation with the BRICS, which promote local currencies and challenge the dominance of the dollar and euro, according to Magagi.
"These countries are strategic partners for the Confederation of Sahel States."
"When you create a currency, the more you sell, the more you prosper."
Deliveries of US Weapons to Ukraine Have Not Stopped & Are Continuing — This is a Fact, Kremlin Says
"Much has been said about high prices and so on. Now it seems that these supplies will be paid for by Europe. Some will be paid for, some will not," kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted.
🎤Trump to announce new arms deliveries to Ukraine
Trump will announce a new plan for arms deliveries to Zelensky's regime, which may include offensive weapons, per Axios.
🔍The plan will likely include long-range missiles, the article said.
➡️Trump previously said that the United States would send additional Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. According to Trump, the United States will send Ukraine "various pieces" of military equipment, which will be paid for in full.
➡️Russia has repeatedly stated that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the settlement of the conflict and directly involve NATO countries in it.
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❗️Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari died in a clinic in London, his official social media page says
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Iranian President Reportedly Injured in Israeli Attack in June
Massoud Pezeshkian sustained a minor leg injury on June 16, according to an Iranian media. The incident occurred during the evacuation of a building in Tehran that had been struck by Israel.
🎯 The attack targeted a meeting of the Supreme National Security Council held in a building in western Tehran.
Several other officials also suffered minor leg injuries during the evacuation, the source reported.
👉 Six projectiles were fired at the building’s entrances and exits to obstruct evacuation routes and airflow. After the explosions, power was cut off, but the meeting participants managed to leave through a pre-arranged emergency exit.
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Botswana Announces 2.76% Devaluation of Its National Currency to Counter Diamond Market Slump
The adjustment aligns with Botswana’s biannual currency peg review, which ties the national currency, the pula, to a basket of currencies, including the South African rand, to maintain stability, a finance ministry official confirmed.
👉 The diamond sector, a pillar of Botswana's GDP, triggered a 3% economic contraction in 2024, with further decline expected in 2025. Additionally, foreign reserves have dwindled to five months of import cover (down from 10+ months), pressuring the exchange-rate system.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi approved the steeper devaluation (up from 1.51% in December 2024) to boost local competitiveness and curb demand for foreign currency.
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Lavrov Thanks Kim Jong Un for Support in Kursk Region
During his visit to Wonsan, the Russian FM commended North Korea's military assistance in liberating the Russian Kursk region, as reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The two sides also agreed that the United States and its allies were fueling growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
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Lavrov Arrives in China
The Russian FM traveled to China to participate in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.
According to Moscow, this meeting is a strategic step in preparation for the SCO summit, scheduled for August 30 to September 1 in Tianjin.
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Tanzania Sets Ambitious Goal: 8 Million Tourists Annually by 2030 to Fuel Economic Growth
This target marks a substantial increase from the over five million visitors recorded in the 2024/25 period.
👉 The goal was announced by Dr. Pindi Chana, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, during the launch of Ngorongoro Day at the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) on Saturday.
Dr. Chana emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing service delivery and intensifying promotion of Tanzania's diverse attractions to draw both international and domestic visitors.
📺 She highlighted the recent success of promotional initiatives, which have already contributed to a notable increase in national park visitors and pushed current tourist numbers past five million.
The minister expressed confidence that the eight-million target, outlined in the ruling party's 2025–2030 manifesto, is "achievable."
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#viral | 🇮🇹 78-Year Wait Over! Rare Monk Seal Returns to Italian Shores!
🦭 After 78 years, a monk seal has been spotted off the coast of Conca dei Marini, Campania region, Italy. The presence of this incredibly rare marine mammal signifies a promising recovery of the local ecosystem, offering new hope for marine conservation.
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'The EU Turned Out to Be a Vassal State to the US' — And Will Pay to Prolong the Conflict 'Till the Last Ukrainian'
“The Ukrainians are bankrupt… the Europeans are going to pay for these armed supplies,” Abobakr Mohamed Abbakar Khussein, Assistant Professor at a Russian university, told Sputnik Africa.
“Trump would like to make Europeans supply Ukraine with weapons from their own stock…”
“This is considered to be a political bribe.”
“High unemployment rate, deindustrialization… a vessel state to the US.”
“Not a shift… just a way of playing that game.”
“Israel is a priority, not Ukraine or Europe in particular.”
“Continuing supplying arms would create internal popularity decline…”
📹 Russia's FSB Thwarts Bomb Plot: Ukrainian Agent Neutralized
A video of the Federal Security Service neutralizing a Kiev regime agent who attempted to hide a bomb under a Russian military vehicle in the Tyumen area has been made public.
The video shows the offender being killed after hurling a grenade at special troops while being apprehended.
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#viral | When Coziness Runs 'in the Paws' — Literally!
An adorable video of a kitty meticulously building a blanket bed is going viral on social media.
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#viral | Serpentine Stroll: Pet Python's Childlike Interest Goes Viral
An Indonesian man captured his pet python on a walk.
The video shows the reptile approaching children sitting on the tiles with interest. The footage of the creepy walk was widely shared on social media, causing debates over safety concerns among users.
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South African Police Minister Suspended Over Alleged Links to Organized Crime: What Is Known So Far
President Cyril Ramaphosa established a judicial commission for "an urgent and comprehensive investigation" into allegations against Minister Senzo Mchunu.
The president placed Mchunu on leave pending the inquiry, and appointed an interim police minister.
🔎 The commission will examine:
🟠Infiltration of criminal syndicates into law enforcement, intelligence, and judicial institutions;
🟠Suppression or manipulation of investigations, corruption, and intimidation of whistleblowers;
🟠The role of senior officials and possible complicity of government members.
🔙 Background to the case:
▪️In early July, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of:
⦁ concealing criminal activities;
⦁ involvement in corruption within law enforcement;
⦁ interfering in criminal investigations, including the disbanding of the 2018 Political Killings Task Team.
▪️The minister rejected the allegations, describing them as "wild claims" lacking "evidence or due processes."
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Senator Graham Threatens Countries Cooperating With Russia
"China, India, and Brazil, you're about to get hurt big time if you keep helping Putin," US Sen. Graham* said in an interview with CBS News.
Football Player Jeremy Doku Welcomed Like a Rock Star in Ghana
The star striker for Manchester City and the Belgian Red Devils arrived in Accra for a charity tour.
Born in Belgium to Ghanaian parents, the soccer prodigy set the tone as soon as he stepped off the plane, breaking into a few dance moves with local artists and getting swept up in the local excitement.
💸 And as if that weren't enough, he handed out cash left and right, turning Kotoka Airport into a spontaneous party.
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Paris, London Still Blame Russia for the Collapse of Their Colonial Empires, Says Vladimir Putin
"This historical memory, this historical negativity, persists," the Russian leader told journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview.
"They helped the colonies gain independence and sovereignty," Putin emphasized.
🇷🇺 PUTIN SNUBBED US DELEGATION FOR DISRESPECT TO RUSSIAN BORDER GUARD
In a newly released interview, Vladimir Putin recalled refusing to speak with a visiting US delegation in St. Petersburg after one member rudely mistreated a Russian border guard.
💬 “He represents the state. Disrespecting him means disrespecting Russia,” Putin told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.
Major World Events by Morning of July 13
🟠South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the nation on security issues today;
🟠During his visit to Wonsan, DPRK, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov thanked Kim Jong Un for North Korea's military participation in the liberation of the Russian Kursk region;
🟠The Gabonese government has scheduled the legislative and local elections for September 27, with a revision of the electoral lists starting on July 14 and the submission of candidacies from July 27 to August 7;
🟠Lavrov has arrived in China to participate in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO member states;
🟠A coordination meeting of African Union heads of state is scheduled in Malabo.
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Torrential Rains in Agadez, Niger: At Least Two Lives Lost, Widespread Destruction
The deluge, totaling 68 mm, claimed the lives of a woman and a child, leaving homes and neighborhoods submerged. The powerful currents swept away vehicles and structures, causing extensive damage.
Authorities formed a crisis committee, mobilizing rescue services and security forces.
While farmers in the region view the rainfall as a much-needed relief after a prolonged drought, residents of Agadez, a UNESCO-listed city, express frustration over the lack of adequate flood control measures.
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Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai Raises Over $3 Million to Support Tanzanian Girls’ Education
During her birthday visit to Kongwa District, Dodoma Region, Malala Yousafzai urged parents and guardians to keep girls in school, citing challenges like teenage pregnancies and long travel distances.
Malala explained that the Malala Fund partners with local groups like the Msichana Initiative to help girls return to school and pursue their dreams.
📚 Education is a fundamental right for all girls, she stressed and called on communities to stop stigmatizing pregnant girls, encouraging support for their return to education.
Kongwa District Commissioner Mayeka Simon Mayeka noted that some parents withdraw daughters for domestic work, increasing risks of early marriage or pregnancy. She urged communities to stop viewing girls as income sources and support their education.
👉 Malala is a Pakistani girls' and children's education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
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Mali's Army Strikes Hard in the North, Destroying Fuel Depot and Terrorist Bases
Malian forces carried out offensive operations, neutralizing terrorist hideouts near Timbuktu and Gao.
🔹A strategic fuel stockpile vital to their mobility was destroyed 42 km east of Ber (Timbuktu).
🔹"Transit hamlets" used by terrorists as bases or rallying points were destroyed in the Gossi area.
"The hunt continues unabated," the General Staff insists, reaffirming its commitment to a secure Mali.
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