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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
'A Return to Normalcy' – Lavrov Downplays Hype Around US-Russia Dialogue
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned against portraying recent Russia-US contacts as sensational, speaking during a BRICS foreign ministers' press conference:
Key points from Lavrov’s remarks:
🟠Moscow keeps BRICS partners regularly updated on talks with Washington;
🟠Russia is committed to developing US ties without compromising its partnerships;
🟠Dialogue with the US continues on various issues — "always preferable," according to Lavrov;
🟠BRICS members remain concerned about unilateral sanctions, protectionism, and economic fragmentation;
🟠Lavrov reiterated that the Bucha provocation "still remains on the conscience of the West;"
🟠Trade between BRICS nations is increasingly de-dollarized — over 65% of settlements now occur in national currencies;
🟠On Ukraine, Lavrov stated the conflict can only be resolved by addressing its root causes, notably abandoning Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
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Open-Heart Surgery Now Possible in Niger Thanks to Cooperation With Burkina Faso
On April 28, Health Minister Garba Hakimi introduced a pioneering open-heart surgery at Niamey General Hospital, with surgical teams from both countries in attendance.
The development marks a major step towards health sovereignty, allowing patients with heart disease to receive care locally.
🗣 "Thanks to this partnership, we are taking a significant step towards treating cardiovascular diseases, a crucial public health issue," said Professor Daou Mamane, director of the hospital.
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🎥🎥 Sergey Lavrov holds a press conference following the plenary meeting of the BRICS Ministerial Council
☝🏾 Follow the event live on our Telegram channel
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Victory Day 'Sacred Holiday' Not Only for Russia, But Also for Many Former Soviet Republics: Putin
Foreign military personnel attending the Volgograd Great Heritage-Common Future forum are expected to participate in Moscow's May 9th Victory Day parade, the Russian president said.
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#viral | Putin Orders to Send Emergencies Aircraft to Help Extinguish at Shahid Rajaee Port
Several aircraft of the Russian Emergencies Ministry will be sent at Iran's request, the embassy in Tehran noted.
🔺Meanwhile, the death toll from the blast has risen to 36, a member of the parliamentary health commission reportedly said.
Social media footage shows ongoing efforts to extinguish the fire after the blast
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#viral | CCTV Footage From the Moment Fire Started Until Explosion in Bandar Abbas, Iran
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Can US and Russia Find Common Ground in Talks Process?
The United States disrupted the process of strengthening strategic stability, the Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told the CBS News in a recent interview.
"In the US doctrinal documents, we are described as adversary, when the officials in Washington called some time ago, called us enemy," Lavrov explained.
Confidence-Building Efforts in Focus in Russia-US Talks on Ukraine, Lavrov Says
Trump's proposal on 30 days moratorium on the strikes against the energy infrastructure was supported by Putin and observed strictly, the Russian FM told the CBS News in a recent interview.
"This was a confidence building measure against the policy and action taken by the Zelensky regime," he said. "As I said, several hundred times civilian energy infrastructure was struck."
"But if you believe that it's only Ukraine who is interested in confidence building, I think a short answer would be this is an illusion," he concluded.
❗️Russia is not negotiating the integrity of its territory, and Trump understands this, Lavrov noted
Lavrov also addressed Trump's remarks that the Crimea issue is not currently under discussion.
"Yes, because it is a done deal," the foreign minister told the CBS News in a recent interview.
#viral | Crimea Bakes Another Record Easter Cake—And It's Even Bigger!
A giant Easter cake was baked to mark the end of Easter week, beating the previous record by almost two times.
The Easter cake was called "The Orthodox World in Miniature" and was 4.5 meters in circumference, weighing more than 140 kilograms. It was decorated with 32 gingerbread Orthodox landmarks of the peninsula.
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◾️ 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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❗️ US Not Expanding Sanctions Against Russia So as Not to Hinder Peace Process in Ukraine Conflict, US Secretary of State Says
Key statements of Marco Rubio:
◻️ The United States now has reasons for both optimism about the efforts of the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to resolve it, and reasons for concern;
◻️ Washington will assess the progress of the parties to the conflict in Ukraine in the coming week and decide whether they want to continue to participate in the peace process.
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Uganda Declares End of Ebola Outbreak Less Than Three Months After First Confirmed Case
"This follows 42 days without a new case since the last confirmed patient was discharged on March 14," the Ugandan Health Ministry said on X.
"The country's long-standing experience in managing outbreaks enabled a fast, coordinated, and effective response," the WHO noted in a statement.
#SputnikInfographic | 12 Days to Victory Day
Sputnik Africa continues to revisit the endgame battles of the Great Patriotic War. On this day 80 years ago, Soviet troops continued their advancing, consolidating efforts.
80 years ago today, Soviet troops fought fiercely in the heart of Berlin, where key governmental and political institutions of Nazi Germany were situated.
Among these was the infamous Führerbunker, where Adolf Hitler met his ultimate demise.
#Victory80
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#viral | Sheep Traffic Jams? – Usual Story for German City Freiburg!
A video of a big bleating flock allegedly heading to the sheepfold from a pasture right through the city streets going viral on social media.
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❗️Putin's proposal for a Victory Day ceasefire is the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions, Lavrov says
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Cape Town Wildfires Force Evacuations, Arson Suspected
Nearly 200 households were evacuated due to three ongoing wildfires in Table Mountain National Park, which began on Friday, according to Jermaine Carelse, a spokesperson for the city’s Fire and Rescue Service.
While there have been no reported deaths, one firefighter was injured, and approximately 3,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed.
Over 250 firefighters and four helicopters are battling the uncontained wildfires, which are being fueled by strong winds, Carelse said.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid affected areas for their safety and are investigating the possibility that the fires were deliberately set.
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Africa’s Space Ambitions Are No Luxury — They’re Leadership
Adriana Marais, head of science at the Africa2Moon project, believes Africa must dream big — even while tackling basic challenges.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Sputnik Africa, she defended the vision of launching the continent’s first mission to the Moon:
"We have to balance these kinds of basic improvements with dreaming about the future. Otherwise, we risk not participating in this really exciting era of space exploration. […] When we are outside of our comfort zone… we overcome challenges that we couldn't anticipate, and in doing so, we learn new things and are able to advance."
Eurasia Should Become 'Example of Sustainable Economic, Social & Humanitarian Development': Putin
The international community needs to collaboratively build a new, equal, and indivisible security architecture that reliably protects all states without harming others' interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Great Heritage-Common Future forum in Russia's Volgograd.
🗣 "This issue is especially relevant for Eurasia. Our common continent should become a space of peace and stability," the Russian president added.
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Celebrating World Town Twinning Day: Russia-Africa Connections
On April 27, we honor the powerful tradition of city diplomacy—born in 1942 when Coventry (UK) extended a historic hand of friendship to Stalingrad (Russia).
🤝 Today, this legacy thrives through remarkable Russia-Africa twin city partnerships:
🌍 Astrakhan & Grand-Popo
🐫 Russia's camel capital meets Benin's pristine beaches
⚔️ Volgograd & Port Said
The WWII hero city twins with Egypt's pioneering port
❄️ Vorkuta & Antananarivo (Madagascar)
Arctic prison city links to the "City of Thousand Warriors"
🎻 Izhevsk & Lusaka (Zambia)
Where Russian arms and melodies meet African-European fusion
🏰 Kazan & Tlemcen (Algeria)
Russia's third capital pairs with the "Pearl of Maghreb"
☀️ Makhachkala's triple bond:
Sfax (Tunisia) - business hub
Biskra (Algeria) - Sahara's gateway
Ndola (Zambia) - sports capital
🎭 St. Petersburg's global ties:
Alexandria (Egypt) - legendary library city
Cape Town (SA) - Africa's business leader
🏞 Yalta's international family:
Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) - from fishing village to UN "City of Peace"
Abomey-Calavi (Benin) - academic excellence hub
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'Independence is Not Just Freedom – It is Also Love & Unity,' Sierra Leonean President Tells Nation on 64th Independence Day
"Our strength lies in our ability to embrace our differences while fostering the common ideas that bind us together," Julius Maada Bio said in his address to the nation on Sunday.
"As we recount our past, I am delighted that our resilience is gradually paying off," he noted.
⚖️ Ghanaian Content Moderators Sue Meta Over 'Gruelling' Working Conditions & Psychological Trauma, Report Says
Moderators employed by a contractor for Meta* in Accra said they "suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse" due to exposure to graphic content like murders, violence, and child abuse, according to an investigation by a British newspaper.
"In Ghana, Meta is displaying nothing short of a complete disregard for the humanity of its key safety workers upon whom all its profits rely: content moderators," the newspaper quoted tech justice NPO Foxglove's co-executive director Martha Dark as saying.
Rapid Support Forces Announce 'New Phase of War' With Sudanese Army
Advisor to the commander of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Pasha Tabiq's statement came after the Rapid Support Forces targeted the Wadi Seidna Air Base, reportedly destroying a number of warplanes, drones, and weapons depots.
Tabiiq emphasized that the coming days will witness painful strikes against strategic sites belonging to what he called "Burhan's militias and terrorist brigades," and that Port Sudan is the next target.
On Friday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned the RSF attack on a shelter center in Atbara, which resulted in at least 11 deaths.
"Following the consecutive defeats it has suffered in recent months across all battlefronts, the RSF terrorist militia resorted to such cowardly terrorist tactics," the statement read. "It has been persistently targeting power stations nationwide, within its genocidal campaign, as attacking energy infrastructure disrupts water plants, hospitals, and all essential services."
WATCH | Russian FM's Full Statement on Trump Being Only Western Leader to Understand Root Causes of Ukraine Conflict
"We continue our contacts with the American side on the situation in Ukraine," Sergey Lavrov told CBS in a recent interview. "There are several signs that we are moving in the right direction, first of all, because President Trump is probably the only leader on Earth who recognized the need to address the root causes of this situation. When he said that it was a huge mistake to pull Ukraine into NATO, and this was a mistake by the Biden administration, and he wants to rectify this."
"The American team now is getting a better understanding of the Russian position and of the root causes of this situation," he added.
Ethiopian Athlete Teges Assefa Wins London Marathon
The runner finished the race in first place with a time of 2:15:50. Kenyan athlete Jepkosgei finished second, and Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan finished third, according to the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.
Teges Assefa won a silver medal in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
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🌱 South Africa Praises Tanzania's Decision to Lift Agriculture Import Ban, Hails Diplomatic Resolution
It comes as a result of "constructive diplomatic engagement" between the two countries' top diplomats, the South African Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
🔍 Key Details:
🟠 Tanzania imposed the ban Wednesday, citing “high-risk phytosanitary threats” to its food security;
🟠 On Friday, the bans were lifted following South African and Malawian quick engagements with Tanzanian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture to resolve the issue;
🟠 Malawi plans to send a delegation, including its foreign and agriculture ministers, to Dodoma in May for further discussions;
🟠 Expert-level discussions on plant health and market-related concerns continue between Tanzania and South Africa.
🔙 The dispute reportedly flared after Malawi banned Tanzanian maize flour, rice, ginger, and bananas, while South Africa blocked Tanzanian banana imports.
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#SputnikInfographic | ML-20: A 3D Look at a Key Piece of Soviet Victory Equipment
Victory equipment, soaked in oil and gunpowder, born in fire and metal: these are not just machines, but silent witnesses of a great feat.
Sputnik presents 3D models of Victory equipment that broke the back of the war.
The 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937, designated as the ML-20, was manufactured between 1937 and 1946. It is considered one of the best heavy guns of the WW2.
During World War II, the Soviet Army primarily used the ML-20 as an artillery piece at the corps or army level. Yet, the gun was adapted for installation on the chassis of heavy tanks, the KV-1S and IS-2, resulting in the SU-152 and ISU-152 self-propelled guns.
#Victory80
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Ukraine Conflict Ceasefire Just to Rearm Kiev Doesn't Align With Peacemaking Goals, Russia's Lavrov Says
"[EU's] Kaja Kallas and [NATO's] Mark Rutte bluntly stated that they can support only the deal which at the end of the day will make Ukraine stronger, would make Ukraine a victor. So if this is the purpose of the ceasefire, I don't think this is what President Trump wants. This is what Europeans, together with Zelensky, want to make out of President Trump's initiative," the Russian FM told the CBS news in a recent interview.
What if Nazism Had Triumphed, Part 2: Asia
What would have occurred if Nazi Germany's assault had not been stopped by Soviet troops?
A special project is presented by Sputnik, which describes the horrifying "alternative future" of the Fuhrer's schemes.
👉 Journalists used archival materials to create this reality, which thankfully never materialized, and artificial intelligence was used to visualize it.
#Victory80
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Russia Will Develop Partnership With South Africa to Strengthen International Security, Putin Says
The Russian president congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on Freedom Day, celebrated in South Africa on April 27 to mark the end of apartheid and the country's first democratic elections of 1994.
"Relations between our countries are at a high level - this was fully proven by our joint work during last year's BRICS summit in Kazan," read the congratulatory message.