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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
‘Final 2030 in Morocco – Spain Doesn’t Deserve It’: Fans React to FIFA Investigation
🔍 The investigation into the Spanish Football Federation was triggered by Islamophobic chants from Spanish fans during the match against Egypt, which took place last week in Barcelona. The chant, translated literally, read: “Whoever doesn’t boo is a Muslim.”
Even Spain’s star player, Lamine Yamal — a Muslim with roots in Morocco and Equatorial Guinea — addressed the incident publicly:
“I know it was aimed at the rival team and it wasn’t something against me — but as a Muslim, it doesn’t stop being a lack of respect and something intolerable,” he wrote on social media.
❗️First Ship Passes Through Strait of Hormuz After US & Iran Announced Ceasefire: IRIB Channel
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Zimbabwe Plans Special Economic Zone Status for 8 Lithium & Iron Mining Sites
Awaiting Cabinet approval, the inter-ministerial proposal would turn lithium- and iron-rich mining areas into industrial hubs—signaling a shift from resource extraction to local processing, state media reported.
According to Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, the move will offer:
▪️tax breaks,
▪️streamlined rules
▪️local processing infrastructure to curb raw mineral exports
This initiative follows a government ban on the export of raw lithium and other strategic minerals, reinforcing Zimbabwe's push for local value addition.
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🎙️🌍 #PanAfricanFrequency explores two bold initiatives showcasing the continent’s huge potential in reshaping trade, health, and autonomy. Dr. Mikatekiso Kubayi speaks on new Russia-Africa maritime routes via the port of Lomé. Then, Dr. Miriam Mutebi reveals how the African Journal of Cancer Research aims to rewrite the narrative, own African data, and transform cancer care from within.
With the Strait of Hormuz in turmoil, how does Africa prioritizing new trade corridors with Russia benefit its internal and international trade sectors? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below👇
▶️ Listen to the full discussion via:
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#viral | Light Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing on Busy Highway in Pennsylvania
🛬 The plane, carrying a pilot and one passenger, landed safely on the roadway after experiencing engine trouble during a flight from New Jersey to Indiana, according to US media. No injuries were reported.
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❗️'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight' if Iran Does Not Make a Deal: Trump
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Over 7.9 Million Beninese Voters Expected on April 12 Presidential Election: Electoral Commission
🇧🇯🗳 A total of 7,462 polling stations will be open in Benin and 112 abroad, according to the National Autonomous Electoral Commission.
ECOWAS has appointed former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo to lead its electoral observation mission.
📅 The mission will be deployed from April 7 to 15 to ensure transparency and a peaceful vote.
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'The Armed Forces Are an Essential Partner in the Journey Toward Democracy': Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
The Sudanese military has a long history of siding with the people's will, specifically during the pivotal revolutions of April 6 in 1985 and 2019, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stated on the anniversary of these events.
This historic bond is now being reinforced as the nation stands together in the ongoing "Battle of Dignity" against the current rebellion, he added.
The slogan "One Army, One People" is a living reality proven by the military’s immediate response whenever the citizens seek protection, al-Burhan noted.
The Armed Forces remain dedicated to completing the path toward a democratic transition, ensuring that the Sudanese people alone have the right to choose their future and their leaders, he emphasized.
📹 Footage captured in early 2026 shows General al-Burhan inspecting the armed forces to assess combat readiness and oversee military operations
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🚨 'If you see it, you wouldn’t believe it. They rebuilt the helicopters in less than 10 minutes—all three of them,' Trump shares new details of US pilot rescue op
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#viral | Pallas's Сat Sunbathing at Moscow Zoo
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#viral | Kid Sets Crowd on Fire With Unforgettable Performance During Independence Parade in Senegal's Tambacounda
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Nigerian Troops Foil Church Attack, Rescue 31 Hostages in Northwest, Army Says
Nigerian troops swiftly responded to a distress call about terrorists abducting worshippers during an Easter church service in Kaduna State, the army said.
Guided by local residents, soldiers immediately mobilized in pursuit and engaged the fleeing attackers in a fierce firefight that forced the terrorists to abandon their hostages, it noted.
The remains of five victims killed by the terrorists were recovered at the scene, while blood trails indicated the fleeing assailants suffered significant casualties, according to the statement.
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Tanzanian Student Invents Revolutionary Smart Glasses to Navigate Blind People: Media
Majaliwa Tanu, 19-year-old inventor at Radio Habari Maalum College in Arusha, has created obstacle-sensing eyeglasses, allowing visually impaired people not to rely heavily on walking sticks, a local media outlet reported.
"These glasses are capable of detecting the presence of a person, vehicle or any object ahead, and then activate a warning mechanism to alert the wearer of potential danger," local media quoted Majaliwa as saying.
◾️ Fearless John - @European_dissident is a free lance journalist covering geopolitical conflicts of the "new cold war" between the main world powers.
◾️His channel focuses on exposing war crimes and the manipulation and propaganda of the Western media and is full of subtitled videos and posts about the wars in Ukraine, Israel and the different issues affecting the relations between countries like migration crisis and Western neo-colonial practices.
◾️Follow:
/channel/European_dissident
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Iran Strikes Enemy's Energy Infrastructure in 96th Wave of Operation True Promise 4: IRGC
Iran's armed forces have carried out attacks on Israeli and US-linked petrochemical and energy infrastructure across the region in response to US-Israeli strikes on the B1 bridge in Kerej and petrochemical facilities in Mahshahr, the IRGC said.
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Moscow Sees Sharp Rise in Europe’s Interest in Nuclear Weapons, Deeply Worrying Trend: Zakharova
Other statements by the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman:
🟠The growing “pro‑nuclear” movement among European countries is contributing to the erosion and weakening of the global nuclear non‑proliferation regime;
🟠Moscow welcomes the ceasefire between Iran and the US, noting it had initially advocated a diplomatic resolution of the conflict;
🟠Guarantees are needed to prevent a recurrence of man‑made crises such as the recent conflict involving Iran;
🟠A UNSC resolution on the Strait of Hormuz proposed by Bahrain, and vetoed by Moscow and Beijing, could have set a dangerous precedent in international law had it been adopted;
🟠Ukraine poses a long‑term threat to international information security and has become a haven for cybercriminals, she stressed.
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Four New Russian Embassies Will Soon Open in Africa, Russian FM Says
🌍 45 Russian embassies are already operating on the African continent, Sergey Lavrov noted.
“We are quite rapidly restoring our presence on the African continent, which had been sharply reduced during the collapse of the Soviet Union,” he stressed.
#viral | Seeing Russian Tourists, Turkish Gas Station Worker Instinctively Writes 'Putin' on Receipt
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🇮🇷✈️ Why F-15 pilot rescue fiasco became Iran’s huge operational win
✅ Despite ultimately recovering the aviators, the US operation to rescue F-15 crew members downed in Iran “was a debacle,” political analyst Tobias Nase tells Sputnik.
💬 He argues that the true outcome of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) effort was concealed from the public “to hide the fact that it turned into a huge operational success for Iran.”
“The US is again hiding the real casualties of this war. Every dead soldier risks eroding Trump’s public support,” he observes.
Speedy Resolution of Ukrainian Conflict in Interests of US, Europe & Ukraine: JD Vance
"We're going to continue to participate in that process," the US VP said during remarks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest.
Many in Africa Turn To Orthodoxy in Search of Authenticity: Priest
People of various ages are coming to the faith through conscious decisions made after reflection and personal communication, Archpriest Daniil Lugovoy, rector of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Midrand SA, told Sputnik.
"Usually, a person comes to Orthodoxy not because it is something unusual or exotic for them, but because at some point they begin to seek an integrated spiritual life,": he added.
Tinubu Greenlights $2,390 Bln of Debt Repayment for Reliable Electricity Across Nigeria
⚡️As reliable electricity is vital for jobs, livelihoods, and growth, President Tinubu's administration is prioritizing power supply to businesses and small enterprises, according to Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to the President.
The Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme "is not just about settling legacy debts. It is about restoring confidence across the power sector — ensuring gas suppliers are paid, power plants can keep running, and the system begins to work more reliably,” Olu Arowolo-Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to President Tinubu explained.
Nearly 1,500 Dead Since Early March Due to Israeli Aggression in Lebanon
According to the country's Ministry of Health, 1,497 people have been killed and 4,639 others wounded in strikes carried out by the Israeli army since March 2.
👉Among the victims are 130 children and 101 women.
A video from social media shows the actions of the Israeli army in South Lebanon
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Ethiopia Plans to Launch Free Transit Visa for Stopover Passengers
The initiative, which targets Ethiopian Airlines' more than 15 million annual passengers, allows them to stay in the country from 24 hours to seven days and explore local sights instead of waiting at the airport.
🔊The scheme, together with the airport project in Bishoftu, will help position Ethiopia as a competitive global tourism hub, State Minister Sileshi Girma announced.
The planned program is a shared project by
🏙the Ministry of Tourism;
🛫Ethiopian Airlines;
🧍🏾the Immigration and Citizenship Service Ethiopia.
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❗️Iranian Intelligence Chief Majid Khademi Killed in US & Israeli Airstrikes
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‘We've Lost the Keys’: Iranian Embassies in Africa Respond Humorously to Trump's Demand Ove Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian embassy in Zimbabwe responded ironically to Trump's demand to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic mission in South Africa followed up with the joke:
"Shh... the key’s under the flowerpot. Just open for friends."
What Measures Have African Countries Implemented to Mitigate Rising Fuel Prices Amid Middle East Crisis?
Several African countries have already implemented the measures to shield their consumers and key economic sectors from rising global prices amid the Middle East crisis.
⚫️Gambia: The Gambian government decided to subsidize motor fuel costs by reducing the diesel price by 24% to $1.29 per liter and gasoline price by 3% to $1.32, according to the statement of the Ministry of Petroleum.
⚫️South Africa: The Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced the monthly fuel price adjustments and a decrease in fuel levy by approximately $0.17.
⚫️Namibia: The Ministry of Mines and Energy reduced fuel levy by 50% for at least three months until the end of June to protect consumers from rising petroleum costs, media reported.
⚫️Ethiopia: Speaking to media, Finance Minister Ahmed Shide noted that the government implemented subsidies to maintain domestic fuel prices relatively stable amid the Middle East tensions.
⚫️Zambia: The government adopted zero-rating of value added tax and suspension of excise duty for a three-month period, starting from April 1.
⚫️Zimbabwe: The temporary removal of taxes on diesel was announced by the government to preserve economic stability from external turmoil, a local media outlet reported.
⚫️Morocco: The ministerial commission maintained subsidies for gas to ensure its price for households remain unchanged amid global supply disruptions, according to local media.
⚫️ Kenya: The government is going to set price ceiling using the petroleum development levy, Treasury Secretary John Mbadi announced.
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💥🇷🇺✈️ 35 years of aerobatic chivalry and class: Russian Knights celebrate birthday
On April 5, 1991, a legend of aerobatics was born as the Russian Knights ('Russkie Vityazi') became the world's first demonstration team to perform solo and group stunts using heavy fighter jets.
Compared to aerobatics using lighter, trainer-class aircraft, the size of the Knights' planes created special challenges – the need to showcase the achievements of the national aerobatic school using stock, combat-capable aircraft (starting with Su-27s, then Su-30s and Su-35s).
Composed of top pilots from Kubinka Air Base outside Moscow and other garrisons, the Knights became the first aerobatic team to perform outside the country — with first solo shows in Poland and Czechoslovakia and first formation flights over the UK in 1991.
Since then, they went on to rack up records at top air shows around the world, from Europe and China to the Gulf, India and the former Soviet Union, as well as MAKS and ARMY events, and Moscow's annual Victory Day parades.
The Knights' routines feature a full range of advanced aerobatic maneuvers, including:
🟠 Synchronized barrel rolls.
🟠 Nesterov loops.
🟠 Afterburners-on banked and stall turns.
🟠 Breathtaking breakaways.
🟠 'The mirror' (parallel flight by two jets, one flying upside down).
🟠 The Guardian Angel, a unique stunt involving vertical ascent and the timed, precision release of heat flares.
🟠 The 'Kubinka Diamond' – a formation performed jointly with the Swifts, a Russian aerobatic team flying MiG-29s, and involving up to 9 aircraft.
The Knights' stunt work can be very dangerous.
Between 1995 and 2016, they lost 6 pilots and 6 planes in crashes.
But despite these losses, they have not only carried on but mastered new maneuvers and formations using 4+ and 4++ generation jets with new avionics, control suites, and thrust-vectoring engines.
'Knights' is actually not a precise translation.
Vityaz is a synonym for Bogatyr – the legendary folk warrior heroes of Slavic lore endowed with superhuman strength and courage in defense of the motherland.
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Hungarian Army to Guard Turkish Stream Pipeline Section from Serbia to Slovakia, Says FM
⛽️ Hungary, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey have agreed to take decisive measures to protect the pipeline, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
Szijjártó called a recent attempted sabotage part of Ukraine's attacks on Hungary's energy supply.
👉 Earlier, Serbia had informed Hungarian authorities about explosives found near the pipeline on Serbian territory, prompting PM Viktor Orbán to convene an emergency defense council meeting.
Ukraine has previously targeted the Nord Stream pipeline, cut off gas and oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, and recently shelled Turkish Stream infrastructure inside Russia, Szijjártó noted.
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Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Convoy Heading to Frontline in Sumy Region: Artillery Commander
Akhmat special forces and Battlegroup Sever units neutralized both personnel and vehicles, using UAV surveillance and tactical drones, a Russian artillery commander told Sputnik.
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