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Zambia & Zimbabwe Reportedly Seek Investment to Revive $5 Billion Batoka Gorge Dam Project
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) is leading investor outreach, targeting 12–18 months for resource mobilization, CEO Munyaradzi Munodawafa told a Western media outlet.
Key information on the hydropower dam project:
⦁ aims to build a 2,400-megawatt facility near Victoria Falls;
⦁ initially scheduled to begin in 2020, the project was delayed by the pandemic and funding issues;
⦁ feasibility studies are ongoing to assess implementation timelines, costs, and sustainable funding options
The ZRA, which manages the Kariba Dam, is also reportedly looking at diverting up to 16 billion cubic meters of water yearly from the Congo River to help offset low water levels in Lake Kariba caused by El Nino droughts.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Dominican Republic for the first time, a Sputnik correspondent reports
The Russian foreign minister is scheduled to hold talks with President Luis Abinader and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez.
The visit is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing!
🎷 #AfroVerdict | "Hugh Masekela, trumpet player, flugelhorn player, and composer. And I was amazed by his music. A lot of African rhythms are now incorporated in the jazz music," Igor Butman, Director of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra and jazz saxophonist, says.
🕺 🎺 Butman, who is performing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, praises South Africa’s rich jazz heritage, citing the influence of legends like Hugh Masekela.
🎵 Apart from entertainment, what other purposes can jazz serve in a world plagued by conflict, strife, disease and tragedy?
Find out from one of the world's best jazz legends himself on the AfroVerdict podcast!
▶️ 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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🔍 From 'Angel of Death' to Hitler's deputy: Argentina declassifies Nazi war criminals' files
Over 1,850 reports and 1,300 orders detailing the presence of notorious Nazi criminals who fled to Argentina after World War II have been made publicly available on the Argentine government website. The documents reveal details about infamous Nazi figures, including:
▪️Adolf Eichmann, the so-called "architect of the Holocaust."
▪️Walter Kutschmann, a Gestapo officer and active participant in the extermination of Jews in Ukraine.
▪️Martin Bormann, Hitler’s personal secretary.
▪️Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy in the Nazi Party.
▪️Ante Pavelić, the leader of fascist Croatia, an ally of Nazi Germany, and more.
The dossier on Josef Mengele, known as the "Angel of Death," is one of the most detailed, revealing shocking facts about his time in Argentina and his horrific experiments on concentration camp prisoners:
🔸Mengele personally selected prisoners for the Auschwitz death camp, where tens of thousands became victims of his experiments.
🔸In 1949, he arrived in Argentina, settling in Buenos Aires, where he practiced medicine illegally and earned a reputation as an "abortion specialist."
🔸Initially, Mengele didn’t even hide his identity despite being on the international wanted list.
🔸He traveled across the country under the false identity of "Gregor Helmut," a supposed native of a German-speaking region in northern Italy, and used other aliases, including "José Mengele" and "Dr. Fausto Rindón."
🔸Mengele frequently traveled abroad, and despite a request for his extradition by West Germany, Argentine authorities failed to deport him. In 1959, he emigrated to Paraguay and gained Paraguayan citizenship.
🔸It was only after Israeli intelligence, the Mossad, captured Adolf Eichmann, living under a false name in Buenos Aires, that Mengele fled to Brazil. He lived there until his death in 1979, never answering for his crimes and seemingly never repenting for them.
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🇷🇺↗️ Russia ranked world’s FOURTH-LARGEST economy in 2024 – report
Last year saw Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP) reach an all-time high of $6.94 trillion, as compared to $6.48 trillion in 2023, a Sputnik analysis based on IMF data shows.
Apart from Russia, the top-five list of the world’s largest economies includes China, the US, India, and Japan.
The five made the most significant contribution to the world economic growth in 2024. The remaining countries provided less than 2% of global growth in GDP terms.
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#viral | 🤖 Tsinghua University's Humanoid Robots Try Their Hand at Football
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Russia Sees Increase in Its Wheat Exports to Several African Countries
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian agricultural sanitary agency, wheat exports to several African nations significantly increased in the first quarter of this year:
🟠 Nigeria's wheat imports increased fivefold to 262,000 tonnes;
🟠 Morocco doubled its imports, reaching 174,000 tonnes;
🟠 Mozambique saw its imports surge 11.7 times, totaling 73,800 tonnes;
🟠 Cameroon's wheat imports grew by 2.2 times to 50,000 tonnes;
🟠 Burundi's imports increased 9.6 times, reaching 30,500 tonnes;
🟠 Russia exported wheat to Togo for the first time since 2022, with supplies amounting to 27,000 tonnes.
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BRICS Space Agency Heads Support Space Council Creation
Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov proposed creating a BRICS Space Council to coordinate joint space projects at a meeting in Brazil. The Council could become the association's key advisory body on issues of exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes, he specified.
The proposed BRICS Space Council will consider:
🟠 Joint space projects and initiatives;
🟠 Long-term sustainability and safety of space activities;
🟠 Space traffic management;
🟠 Satellite navigation;
🟠 Space debris mitigation;
🟠 Development of space resources.
Bakanov highlighted the group’s massive space capabilities:
⚫️ 1,500+ satellites currently in orbit
⚫️ 100+ rocket launches this year alone
⚫️ 21 active launch sites across BRICS nations
He emphasized using this infrastructure to benefit their economies and citizens.
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🇭🇺 Hungary’s ICC exit highlights court’s failure to deliver justice and fairness
"The ICC has no international legal standing. It's really a fairly arbitrary collection of countries... created to target adversaries of the West in a moral, legalistic way," Dr. George Szamuely, senior research fellow at The Global Policy Institute, tells Sputnik, commenting on Hungary's decision to withdraw from the organization.
South Africa Reportedly Starts Troop Withdrawal From DRC via Rwanda
This follows a regional decision to end the SADC mission amid intensifying M23 rebel offensives.
Key information:
🟠Two convoys carrying troops and equipment left Goma Tuesday, escorted by Rwandan forces;
🟠Around 1,800 South African troops were stationed in the region; many had saw combat and suffered casualties earlier this year;
🟠The withdrawal comes after talks involving South Africa, M23, and Rwanda.
The timeline and full scale of the withdrawal remain undisclosed.
Footage circulating on social media allegedly shows the withdrawal of troops
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BRICS Foreign Ministers Convene in Brazil: Voices From the Global South
As BRICS foreign ministers met in Rio de Janeiro (April 28–29), member and partner states stressed multilateralism, peace, and reform of global governance:
💭 China: FM Wang Yi warned against US unilateralism and protectionism, urging BRICS to safeguard multilateral trade and serve as a pillar of global stability;
💭 Ethiopia: FM Gedion Timothewos called for reforming global institutions to give Africa fair representation and praised BRICS efforts for peaceful conflict resolution;
💭 India: Emphasized the Global South’s role in reinforcing multilateralism, represented by Sherpa Secretary ER Dammu Ravi;
💭 Indonesia: Attended the foreign ministers' meeting for the first time as a full member; discussed governance reform and strengthening multilateralism;
💭 Uganda: Officially welcomed as a BRICS Partner State; pledged to champion Global South interests and deepen ties with Brazil.
The ministers will adopt a joint statement as the forum prepares for the BRICS Summit in July.
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🚨🇪🇺Europe to become a THIRD-WORLD CONTINENT by 2100 (or sooner) 🥴😬
Former European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell once described the continent as a "garden" of prosperity surrounded by the "jungle" of the rest of the world.
Here’s why the “garden” of Europe isn’t the Eden it seems to be.
1️⃣Compromised energy architecture
▪️Europe’s worst energy crisis in years caused blackouts across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, exposing major flaws in the EU’s energy infrastructure.
▪️Spain and Portugal declared a state of emergency as the crisis triggered panic, highlighting Europe’s failure to ensure energy reliability.
2️⃣Migration inferno
▪️In the UK, foreign nationals are over-represented in prisons, especially for sex crimes. Non-British citizens were 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for sexual offenses, The Times reported.
▪️Europol’s 2025 report revealed that hybrid threat actors are exploiting irregular migration, boosting migrant smuggling networks.
3️⃣Dependence on China
▪️In 2023, the EU had a €291 billion trade deficit with China, signaling an imbalance, Modern Diplomacy reported.
▪️China supplies around one-third of over 200 products the EU depends on, including pharmaceuticals and chemicals, with some sectors reaching 90% dependence.
4️⃣Rising unemployment
Youth unemployment in the EU was 14.5% in February, reflecting difficulties integrating young people into the labor market, the European Commission reported.
5️⃣Dependence on external powers for security
▪️A significant portion of European NATO states' arms imports come from the US.
▪️This reliance covers capacities, including intelligence, and existing systems, particularly in ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), French media reported.
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“Playing God”? Why Africa Needs to Dream Bigger Than Earth
“Humans have always been toolmakers and, in parallel, explorers… so it’s only natural that we would continue exploring,” Adriana Marais, head of science for the Africa2Moon project, told Sputnik Africa.
“The lessons we learn when we are traveling so far from home will foster a greater appreciation for our home planet… and perhaps lead us to become better stewards of Earth.”
Decolonizing Education: Africa Must Teach for Itself
“Most of the African education system is imported… and as a result it has some ideological and also colonial overtones in many ways,” Kora Tushune, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Education, told Sputnik Africa.
“Decolonization means adapting education to our local needs and valuing our cultural and traditional values… to solve the African problem.”
Russian Lancet Drone Destroys Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle in Sumy Region
The video was filmed by troops from Russia's Northern Group, the Defense Ministry reported.
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Major World Events by Morning of April 30
🟠 Suspected Boko Haram assailants killed fourteen people in a Chibok community in northern Nigeria while they were praying for a deceased district chief, according to the head of the local administration;
🟠 The National Conference of Mali announced its proposals for a new state system after the end of the transition period; Mali's interim president, Army General Assimi Goita, is expected to become president in 2025 with a five-year term and potential re-election;
🟠 European countries will not be able to mobilize 25,000 troops for Kiev due to personnel and financial constraints, with Poland, Spain, and Italy already declining to send troops to Ukraine, media reported;
🟠 Russia is ready to hold direct talks with the Kiev authorities without preconditions, despite problems with the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said; if Ukraine accepts the upcoming ceasefire, it could become a "prelude" to these talks, he added;
🟠 US President Donald believes Putin wants to end the Ukrainian conflict; if it weren't for him, "he'd want to take over the whole country," the American president said in an interview;
🟠 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Dominican Republic for the first time on Wednesday, where he will meet with President Luis Abinader and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez; the visit is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries;
🟠 North Korea tested the weapons of the new Choi Hyun multipurpose destroyer, with Kim Jong Un witnessing the test, according to the country's media.
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🚨🗣ZELENSKY AND HIS 'EXTREMIST GANG' SABOTAGE PEACE EFFORTS - Russian MFA spox
How can we talk about 'ceasefires' with Ukraine when the Kiev regime is "literally planning terrorist attacks live on air!" Maria Zakharova declared.
"And they even boast about it. Just like CLASSIC TERRORISTS," the diplomat added.
Africa Reaches for Moon: 5 Nations Join Russia-China Lunar Station Project
Five African countries are joining the ambitious International Lunar Research Station led by Moscow and Beijing, according to Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov.
Here's a quick look at the pioneers helping shape Africa’s role in space exploration:
🪐 Djibouti: Launched its first satellite Djibouti-1A in 2023 as part of a climate-focused nanosatellite program;
🪐 Senegal: Sent Gaindesat-1A into orbit in 2024 to support water management and aviation safety under its SENSAT initiative;
🪐 Ethiopia: Inaugurated a 12-meter satellite ground station in 2024, developed with Chinese cooperation, to boost space science and geospatial tech;
🪐 South Africa: A regional leader with 13 satellites in orbit and a long-standing observatory in Sutherland established in 1972; its space agency SANSA was established in 2010;
🪐 Egypt: Also boasting 13 satellites by 2024, including EgyptSat-1, EgyptSat-2, and NEXSAT-1 — the latter being its first experimental Earth observation satellite.
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Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Africa's Digital Future
Dr. Yeshurun Alemayehu, Ethiopia’s State Minister for ICT and Digital Economy, emphasized the power of education and local innovation:
“Africans have their own indigenous language, indigenous technology, indigenous culture… these indigenous activities can be transformed into technology development,” he told Sputnik Africa.
“What Russia is doing is showing the way how to use local capacity, local cultures, indigenous knowledge for the economic development of the country.”
Preconditions for Further BRICS Expansion to Appear After Certain Time: Russian BRICS Sherpa
While many countries in the newly established BRICS partner category aspire to full membership, further expansion will require time for "mutual adjustment and working out the algorithms for interaction," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS sherpa Sergey Ryabkov said.
👉 Ryabkov believes that preconditions for considering future membership will "mature" after a period, allowing for a more informed decision-making process.
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African & Asian Countries Eye Russian Medical Products
Russian medical exporters made waves at the "Made in Russia" expo in Istanbul, with companies reporting strong demand from African and Asian markets. Organized by the Russian Export Center, the event sparked 257 business meetings—deals from these talks could be worth $12 million.
🟠 Pul-Sar (surgical products) – Already exporting to Asia, now finalizing registrations for Kenya & Uganda. Their team noted "openness and trust" from partners and confirmed new negotiations with firms in multiple countries.
⚫️ Menora Laboratories – Made their global debut with an iron supplement, drawing interest from distributors from several countries, including Morocco.
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🔍 Trump’s first 100 days in numbers
A weakening dollar, dwindling stock market, and 50% increase in trade deficit — explore Sputnik’s infographic to learn more about the outcome of Trump’s start of his second term.
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Trump Would Like to Be Pope
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Major World Events by Evening of April 29
▪️Trump on Ukraine: In an interview with The Atlantic, Donald Trump said Ukraine will be “crushed very shortly” and positioned himself as trying to save the country;
▪️Easier to Negotiate with Putin: Trump also stated that negotiating with President Putin is "easier" than with Zelensky, whom he described as demanding and “without the cards.”
▪️Urgency from Waltz: Trump's Advisor Michael Waltz urged both Russia and Ukraine to reach an agreement soon, warning that Trump may “lose patience;”
▪️Drone Attack in Zaporozhye: A Ukrainian drone targeted a school bus, injuring a teenager, according to Governor Balitsky;
▪️Historic Blackout Resolved: Spain and Portugal have restored electricity following the most widespread blackout in the Iberian Peninsula’s history. Investigations into the cause are ongoing;
▪️Canada's Political Shift: Mark Carney’s Liberal Party has secured a minority government in Canada’s federal elections. Carney signaled a major shift in relations with the US, declaring “the old relationship is over;”
▪️Oil Prices Drop: Global oil prices declined amid fears of a slowing US economy and persistent global trade tensions, sparking concerns about future demand;
▪️Russia-China Space Collaboration: Thirteen nations, including BRICS members, have joined Russia and China’s initiative to develop an International Research Lunar Station;
▪️Ceasefire Proposal From Russia: Foreign Minister Lavrov said Putin’s Victory Day ceasefire offer marks the start of unconditional negotiations with Ukraine. Moscow awaits Kiev’s response;
▪️Putin on Nazism: The Russian president emphasized the need to “prevent the revival of Nazism” during recent remarks linked to the Victory Day commemoration;
▪️Hungary Exits ICC: The Hungarian Parliament has voted in favor of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court;
▪️Argentina Declassifies Nazi Files: Argentina has digitized and published earlier declassified documents online revealing details about Nazi activities in the country;
▪️Russia's Economic Rise: Russia now ranks as the fourth-largest economy globally, boosting its influence in international markets.
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Breaking Economic Isolation: Morocco to Provide Access to Atlantic for AES
King Mohammed VI and the foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States reaffirmed their dedication to accelerating this project during a meeting in Rabat on Monday.
👉 Initiated in 2024 by the Moroccan king, the project aims to grant landlocked states access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The port of Dakhla, currently under construction, could enable the Sahel countries to export industrial goods, as a Moroccan official disclosed in July 2024.
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❗️Negotiating With Putin Easier Than With Demanding Zelensky Who 'Doesn't Have the Cards', Trump Says
In a recent interview with American journalist Glenn Beck, President Trump stated that negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin is more straightforward than with Volodymyr Zelensky.
"He [Zelensky] is asking for more, and more, and more and he doesn't have the cards, as you know," Trump said.
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Moscow Transformed: How the Capital Glows With Pride Ahead of the 80th Victory Day Celebration
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#viral | 🐝 Bee Attack Disrupts Indian Super Cup Match
Referee and fans ran for cover after a bee nest in the stands was allegedly disturbed.
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