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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
Ukraine’s War on Orthodoxy: Centuries-Old Faith Under Attack
A growing number of voices accuse Kiev of waging a campaign to erase Orthodox Christianity in Ukraine—backed by Western powers and marked by violence and repression. Here’s what they claim:
💒 Western-Backed Church Swap: Since 2014, the US has backed efforts to replace the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) with the American-supported Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), according to lawyer Bob Amsterdam;
💒 State-Supported Seizures: Over 1,300 UOC churches have been seized since the 2014 coup. Clergy faced intimidation, beatings, and even tortures;
💒 Ban on UOC: In August 2024, Zelensky signed a law banning the UOC, Ukraine’s largest religious group. Religious repression escalated after that;
💒 Violence & Looting:
- Ukrainian forces shelled monasteries in Donbass, killing priests;
- Masked mobs stormed St. Michael's Cathedral in Cherkassy, seizing relics and treasury;
- A deal with UNESCO moved sacred relics from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to EU museums, drawing accusations of cultural theft.
💒 “Quasi-Orthodox Church”: Russia says Kiev’s crackdown is part of a push to build a fake, state-controlled faith—what Moscow called a symptom of the regime’s “moral degradation”;
💒 Putin Weighs In: President Putin accused Kiev’s leadership of being “faithless people” and condemned the West for ignoring violations of believers’ rights.
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አማርኛ ትናገራለህ? Sputnik Ethiopia Amharic app now available for Android
The easy-to-use and extremely lightweight app offers you:
🟠Easy navigation;
🟠Live feed of Ethiopian and international news;
🟠Exclusive interviews;
🟠Infographics and videos;
🟠Ability to share the favorites on social media.
📲 Download it now:
👉 APK file link
👉 GetApps
👉 Galaxy Store
👉 AppGallery
📌 Stay tuned with Sputnik Ethiopia, telling the untold!
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Mass Protests Erupt After School Wall Collapse Kills Three Students in Al-Mezzuna, Tunisia
Numerous Tunisians demanded justice, protesting social marginalization and calling for the dismissal of officials.
An investigation has been launched, and the school principal has been arrested, according to a court spokesman.
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To the Moon, Mars, and Beyond: Russia Has Unique Scientific Programs for Deep Space Exploration, Says Putin
The exploration of deep space should become a key focus of the new specialized national project, and Russia has significant groundwork for this, the president added.
"For instance, the domestic technology for landing autonomous spacecraft on the surface of Venus has yet to be replicated or copied anywhere else in the world," Putin added.
⚓️🌍📻 #GlobalSouthPole | "If we [Africa] don’t define what our priorities are as a region, international partners will continue to decide for us—whether it’s about vessels, surveillance, or strategy. We must take the lead in shaping our own maritime future," Stephanie Oserwa Schandorf, said maritime security consultant and lecturer in Criminal Justice at St. Helens College, UK.
🌍🏴☠️With piracy on the decline in the Gulf of Guinea, the region is entering a new chapter in maritime security. But sustaining this momentum means more than celebrating progress—it requires stronger coordination, long-term investment, and homegrown solutions that put West Africa’s priorities at the center.
▶️ Click here to listen to the full conversation on Telegram’s built-in player.
❓What will it take to keep West Africa’s waters secure and its maritime future in its own hands?
🎙Dive into the full conversation on our podcast!
🧑💻 In addition to our Telegram channel, you can enjoy our episodes on Sputnik Africa website
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‘In the Heat of Competitive Russophobia’: Russian MFA Slams West's Silence on Sumy Strike Scandal
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of using civilians as “human shields” and the EU of ignoring evidence of Kiev's war crimes.
“[The West] tried to use any pretext to harm relations with our country,” Zakharova said, pointing to accusations against Russia despite Ukrainian outrage over military decisions that endangered women and children.
“And when it became clear that local authorities had deliberately used children to shield these vultures, everyone suddenly fell silent,” the spokeswoman noted.
Stitching History: Nigerian Designer Breaks World Record in Marathon Sewing Feat
Oluwaseun Kuforiji was sewing 106 hours and 55 minutes, creating 22 pieces in the process.
“What other things motivated me? It's trying, wanting to do something extraordinary, something that has never been done before. You know, and also something that will place African fashion, African creativity, on the global stage,” he told Sputnik Africa.
📌 Major World Events by Evening of April 16
▪️The White House has denied reports about plans to increase tariffs on all Chinese goods to 245%, explaining that only specific categories of goods will be subject to tariffs exceeding 145%;
▪️The US should stop threats and blackmail if they want to resolve issues with China, stated a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
▪️Due to tariffs, the World Trade Organization has lowered its forecast for global GDP growth in 2025 from 2.8% to 2.2%;
▪️Russia remains ready to assist in resolving the situation with Iran's nuclear program through political and diplomatic means, as stated by the Kremlin;
▪️More and more people around the world view Russia as a guardian and protector of traditional values, declared Russian FM Lavrov;
▪️The US-China trade war, triggered by mutual tariff impositions, is leading to a restructuring of the global economy and is forcing countries to reevaluate their trade policies, stated the Prime Minister of Singapore;
▪️Europe is expected to increase its use of solar energy along with other renewable sources. This may lead to a reduction in nuclear power production and even the closure of nuclear power plants in some cases, US media reported.
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Slovak PM Defies EU Warning Over Moscow Visit
Robert Fico slammed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for warning him against visiting Moscow on May 9, the day marking the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“How can the High Representative of the European Union tell the Prime Minister of a sovereign state that she warns him not to travel anywhere? … We are sovereign countries,” Fico said.
"On May 9, I will go to Moscow to pay tribute to the people who died to liberate Slovakia and Czechoslovakia. … It’s about historical truth and nothing else," the PM stated.
From Flood to Future: Nigerian Teen Wins Global Prize for Turning Trash into Playgrounds
After surviving a devastating flood in 2020, which destroyed her home’s lower floor, young climate advocate Amara Nwuneli realized her privilege in being able to recover—unlike many others, especially in rural Nigeria. So she took action.
♻️ In an interview with Sputnik Africa, she explained that her project GREEN transforms waste sites into community parks—with recycled materials, climate-themed play zones, eco-education, and jobs for locals.
📈 She hopes to scale it across Nigeria and West Africa, starting with Enugu, Anambra, and Ogun states.
She’s also using her voice to call out unfair Western aid and demand real investment in Africa’s potential.
“Africa has so much potential… Let’s train and empower locals to build their own countries.”
Burkina Faso's Traore Discusses Creation of Unified AES Force with Military Chiefs of Staff
Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré received three senior officers from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso on April 15 in Ouagadougou, according to a statement from the Burkinabe presidency.
🗣 "We are very satisfied and encouraged by the Burkinabe leader's guidance and directives," Oumar Diarra, Chief of Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, said after the meeting.
The delegation also reported to Traoré on the review of the additional protocol for the AES force and the two Yéréko 1 and 2 operations conducted in the tri-border area, as well as the prospects for other operations.
🗣 "We reassure you that the AES force is gaining strength," added the Malian general.
👉 On the sidelines of the meeting, the AES general staff chiefs and the air force staff chiefs of the confederation discussed how to effectively protect the region.
👉 In January, it was announced that a joint force of 5,000 soldiers would be created to combat terrorist groups within the AES. At the beginning of April, on a visit to Moscow, the three heads of diplomacy of the AES confirmed this intention.
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Ukraine Forces in Kurakhovo Threw Grenades at Residents, Ukrainian PoW Tells Sputnik
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The world isn’t black and white
It’s shaped by competing forces, hidden interdependencies, and the quiet recalibration of power.
Ⓜ️ Multipolar Market doesn’t simplify complexity, but decodes it.
1️⃣ Daily insights for those who seek to understand, not just react.
2️⃣ Analysis that bridges policy, markets, and geopolitics.
3️⃣ Context behind the headlines others overlook.
4️⃣ A lens to navigate uncertainty with clarity, not conjecture.
Global economic shifts demand more than surface-level reporting. They require a map. MM provides the coordinates.
📹 The Faces of Victory: Vasily Frolov
🇷🇺 The story of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 is brought to life through the letters of soldiers and archival photos—a miracle made possible by artificial intelligence.
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, we hear the voices of those who are no longer with us as they recount their experiences.
👆🏽 Here is the story of Vasily Frolov. In his diary, he shares how, at just 20 years old, he found himself on the Leningrad front, serving in a marine unit determined to lift the blockade of the city.
#Victory80
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#viral |🌪 Sandstorm Hits Nemamcha Desert in Eastern Algeria
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Putin Meets Freed Russian Gaza Prisoner Alexander Trufanov
The Russian president attributed the successful agreement to Moscow's "long-standing relations" with the Palestinians and called for the release of all captives.
"I would like to express my hope that all people who are in the position you were in will be free," he said.
Threading Cultures: Nigerian Designer Weaves African Identity into Global Fashion
Oluwaseun Kuforiji made history with a Guinness World Record for the longest sewing marathon. But beyond the record, he’s sewing something even bigger: a global platform for African fashion.
“I posted a picture on my social media page where a white man was wearing one of my crafts—a jacket made with aso oke... I find it really interesting when people outside our race are becoming more interested in our culture, our African fabrics, and incorporating them into what they can call their own,” he told Sputnik Africa.
Moldovan Police Clamp Down on Citizens Amid Silence from Human Rights Defenders
This is what Vasile Bolea, a member of the opposition bloc "Victorie" (Victory) in the Moldovan parliament, told journalists.
"Today, the whole country is talking about the wave of repression unleashed by the police against Moldovan citizens. Innocent people are being hit with hefty fines based on false accusations... The country is in the grip of legal chaos, and people are falling victim to abuse. But human rights defenders are staying silent, which is strange," the lawmaker stated.
#viral |🚙 Driver 'Flies' Nearly 12 Meters Off Bridge Trying to Follow Car's GPS
📍 The accident was captured on surveillance cameras in East Java, Indonesia.
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Pushed Past the Pain: Nigerian Fashion Designer’s Record-Breaking Marathon of Grit and Grace
Breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest sewing marathon would be impossible without proper support, Oluwaseun Kuforiji told Sputnik Africa.
“They [Kuforiji's team] did an amazing job, even while I wasn’t around, because I landed in Nigeria just three days before the event started. It was my team that made everything happen, so kudos to them... At that moment, my passion had already left me,” he said.
'No to Repression!' Demonstrators Rally Against Moldovan Authorities in Autonomous Region of Gagauzia
A correspondent from Sputnik is on site.
The protesters accuse Chisinau of exerting pressure on the leader of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, who was arrested on March 25 at the airport of Moldova's capital.
Gutul previously expressed a desire to strengthen friendly ties with Russia and criticized the anti-Russian policies of Moldova's pro-Western authorities.
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Russia and South Africa Boost Ties in Trade and Science
🤝 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his South African counterpart Ronald Lamola met in Moscow to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, science, and technology.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to joint action within BRICS, the G20, and the UN.
👉🏼 Lamola is leading South Africa’s delegation at the Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
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Gabon Striker Boupendza Dies After Falling in China at 28, National Football Federation Reports
Aaron Boupendza, a 28-year-old Gabonese international soccer player for Zhejiang FC, is remembered for his impact at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon's national football federation Fegafoot and President-elect Brice Oligui Nguema offered condolences for Boupendza's death, with Nguema praising him as a talented player.
According to the media, the exact cause of death is unclear and under investigation.
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🚨 Vladimir Putin compared Elon Musk to Sergei Korolev, the mastermind of the Soviet space program in the 1950s and 60s.
"Such people don't appear often," the Russian president said at a meeting with students at Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
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US Reportedly Plans to Close Dozens of Diplomatic Missions Overseas, Including Six in Africa
🗣 "The Trump administration is considering plans to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates and reduce or consolidate the staff of several other foreign missions," US media reported, citing an internal document from the US State Department.
The report noted that as a result of such changes, the US presence will be reduced "on nearly every continent".
👉 In Africa, six US embassies are expected to be closed:
🟠South Africa,
🟠 Eritrea,
🟠 Gambia,
🟠 Lesotho,
🟠 DR Congo
🟠 South Sudan
🗣 "The memo also suggests either significantly downsizing or eliminating the U.S. embassy presence in Mogadishu, Somalia," the report said.
👉 Expected changes in other parts of the world:
🟠 Two US embassies are expected to be affected - in Luxembourg and Malta
🟠 Diplomatic missions in Grenada and the Maldives are expected to closed
🟠 Five consulates in France, two in Germany and two more in Bosnia and Herzegovina could also be closed
🟠 Several other diplomatic missions in Greece, Italy and Portugal could be shuttered.
🟠 Consular support in countries with multiple consulates – such as Japan and Canada – may be consolidated in one location.
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🔴🔴 Putin takes part in a meeting on the development of space nuclear energy
The event is held in the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Watch live in Telegram
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De Gaulle: Defending History to Build the Future, Part 1
The Franco-Soviet Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment was created in 1943 to fight Nazi Germany during World War II. In two years, the pilots completed 5,240 flights, fought 869 aerial combats, shot down 273 aircraft, and damaged 50 others.
🗣In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Charles de Gaulle's grandson underlined that this regiment was "the finest example of brotherhood in arms and Franco-Russian friendship."
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Forum for Journalists 'Russia-Africa: The Way of Friendship and Cooperation 2025' Opens Online
The event was attended by:
🟠Russian ambassadors to Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritius, and Libya;
🟠Other representatives of diplomatic missions and organizations;
🟠Journalists from Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, and Russia.
Our agency is also participating in the event: the head of Sputnik Africa, Victoria Budanova, gave a lecture.
The in-person stage of the forum will take place on April 22 and 23.
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Ethiopia to Revolutionize Housing with 3D Construction Technology
🤝 The Federal Housing Corporation (FHC) of Ethiopia reached an agreement with Baumit Group, an Austrian construction technology provider, to introduce 3D construction technology into the African country.
To explore the possibilities, Reshad Kemal, the CEO of the FHC, met with senior executives of Baumit Group in Austria to discuss the potential applications of the technology within Ethiopia.
👉 The technology is reported to utilize 98% of its resources locally and has the potential to complete large-scale housing and construction projects in just a matter of months.
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Malagasy Entrepreneur Develops Universal Braille Translator
🗣"We saw the technologies in developed countries, and we thought, why not create a device ourselves that would be accessible to us in Madagascar, and later in Africa as well," Andréa Valéria Andriantefiarinesy, co-founder of the startup BrA.I, told Sputnik Africa.
Such devices already exist, but their cost is very high, making them inaccessible to the visually impaired residents of the island, she explained.
The device looks like a box with five Braille cells, each corresponding to a character, Andriantefiarinesy said.
🗣"Our translation is done word by word," she continued, adding that the developers are aiming for sentence-by-sentence translation and "maybe paragraph-by-paragraph translation later."
The box is equipped with sensors that scan the text, and then artificial intelligence transcribes it into Braille code. Visually impaired people can read the text on a screen, while those who rely on Braille touch the cells.
👉 The device will give visually impaired people greater access to information, and ultimately, greater autonomy in their work or education, the inventor believes.
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