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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
NASA Says May Consider International Cooperation in Mars Travel Project
Public Affairs Specialist Steven Siceloff has told Sputnik that NASA will "absolutely" commemorate the upcoming 25th anniversary of the International Space Station's continuous habitation.
Highlights of the NASA official's interview with Sputnik:
▪️ NASA officials are expected to continue visiting Russia for crew flights on the Soyuz spacecraft;
▪️ Russia and the US are expected to continue using cross-flights to deliver their astronauts and cosmonauts to the ISS beyond 2025;
▪️ NASA is developing plans to launch Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the ISS;
▪️ The ISS represents a "model" for international space cooperation but it remains to be seen whether it will set an example for future projects;
▪️ Despite the situations between the US and Russia "at the highest level," NASA and Roscosmos maintain communication on a daily basis;
▪️ The upcoming meeting between acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy and Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov will hopefully set a path forward for cooperation between the two space agencies;
▪️ Russia and the US will work together to ensure the safe decommissioning of the ISS.
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'Unapologetically Woman': Kenyan’s MP Call to Action on African Women’s Day
Catherine Nakhabi Omanyo, Women Representative for Busia County, delivered a powerful message for International African Women's Day celebrated on July 31st.
Here are key highlights from her interview with Sputnik Africa:
▶️"Every child in Africa, a girl, was born a leader." Omanyo urged all girls to embrace their identity with pride and power, declaring there's no shame in being a woman — only strength;
▶️She honored trailblazers like Wangarĩ Maathai and Orie Rogo Manduli, celebrating their lasting legacies;
▶️Omanyo hailed the Pan-African Women's Organization for its global advocacy:
"Women’s rights are not something we must keep begging for — they are a basic need."
"I was told to be complete I should have a man... In politics, any woman who has made it is labeled — single, divorced, or a prostitute. But I brave up and deliver."
"African women are coming out of their shell of fear... and expressing themselves without fear."
What is the strategic importance of Chasov Yar, which Russian forces are closing in on?
The Russian Armed Forces have entered the suburbs of Chasov Yar and are less than a kilometer away from the city itself. Why is this city the scene of fierce fighting, and what makes it so important?
Geography
🔺Chasov Yar sits on a hill about 15 kilometers west of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) which was liberated by Russia in May 2023.
🔺Chasov Yar’s geographical position makes it important from a strategic standpoint, as it overlooks the surrounding area for many kilometers.
🔺Its boundaries are quite complex. From north to south, it is crossed by the Seversky Donets -Donbass Canal, and the O-0506 highway. There is also a railway line with a bridge over the canal.
🔺Chasov Yar has several industrial zones and large enterprises, such as the Chasov Yar refractory plant. Such areas could potentially be used to equip shelters or fortifications.
🔺On the other side of Chasov Yar are Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, and Konstantinovka. The latter is an important railway hub.
Fortifications
🔺The city has been turned by Ukrainian forces into a powerful fortified area reminiscent of those in the liberated city of Artemovsk.
🔺Construction of fortifications in the area of Chasov Yar reportedly began in July-August 2022. During the battle for Artemovsk, the city was used as a transport hub crucial for the entire logistics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces group in the Artemovsk-Soledar area.
Strategic Importance
🔺Liberating Chasov Yar would provide control of a logistics center that has been key for the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2014.
🔺By taking control of the highway and railway hub, Russia could disrupt delivery of reinforcements and munitions to Ukrainian forces.
🔺Control of Chasov Yar would pave the way for advancing on the so-called Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration.
🔺Liberation of Chasov Yar is crucial for liberating the Donetsk People's Republic from the forces of the neo-Nazi Kiev regime.
@SputnikInt
Sentence Reduction for Malian Terrorist: ICC Does Not Send 'a Good Message,' Says Lawyer
The International Criminal Court has reduced the sentence of Al Hassan, convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, by one year. This decision has sparked criticism. Malian lawyer Amadou Tieoulé spoke candidly to Sputnik Africa:
"When someone is brought before the ICC, it is because they are believed to have committed heinous offenses that have struck at the soul of the universal community. Reducing the sentence can cast doubt on the ICC’s decision."
"If we do not reach this stage, we will not be safe from the threats and injunctions of the International Criminal Court. It is a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of African heads of state."
⚡️FBI Uncovers Hidden Cache of Trump–Russia Probe Documents Marked for Destruction, Fox News Reports
FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly discovered a hidden, secure room inside FBI headquarters containing multiple “burn bags” filled with thousands of sensitive documents—some linked to the controversial Trump–Russia investigation, Crossfire Hurricane.
Sources told Fox News Digital that among the finds was the classified annex to John Durham’s final report, containing intelligence suggesting US agencies knew the FBI would promote the Trump–Russia narrative before their probe began.
Early briefings reveal that the annex may support claims of a coordinated effort within the US government to assist the Clinton campaign by fueling Trump–Russia allegations.
Patel’s team, acting on investigative requests, continues to analyze the documents and turn over relevant materials to Congress. The discovery raises major questions for former officials like James Comey, John Brennan, and James Clapper.
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Tanzania Welcomes Boost in Russian University Scholarships
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed gratitude to Russia for raising the annual student quota for Tanzanian scholars from 90 to 150.
The announcement was made by Russian Ambassador Andrey Avetisyan during the launch of a pilot uranium plant by Mantra, a Rosatom subsidiary.
👏 Thousands applauded as President Hassan thanked Russia for expanding educational opportunities. Alexander Evstigneev, head of the Russian House in Dar es Salaam, noted a surge in applications: “This year, the competition has reached 3.3 applicants per spot.”
🎓 Top Russian universities sought by Tanzanian students include Peoples’ Friendship University, and several institutions in Saint Petersburg. Popular study areas are General Medicine, Management, and Agricultural disciplines.
🤖 The Russian House also runs a preparatory faculty for technical fields with support from top Russian universities, and plans to launch a robotics center under the Russian Engineering School initiative.
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Following Earthquake, Volcano Erupts in Kamchatka, Russia
Shortly after a strong earthquake struck Russia's Kamchatka, with aftershocks still trembling the area, Klyuchevskaya Sopka erupted.
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AfDB's Africa Development Fund to Enter Capital Markets, Targeting $5 Billion Every Three Years, Official Says
"We have an ambition to go to the capital markets and raise funding, which would help us to diversify the way that we fund ourselves," AfDB's Head of Resource Mobilization Valerie Dabady told a press briefing.
'Armenia Becomes New Battleground in Global Hybrid Warfare': Expert
"The arrest of businessman Samvel Karapetyan and the open persecution against the Armenian Apostolic Church are two movements that reveal an increasingly clear pattern: Nikol Pashinyan's government has aligned itself with the Western agenda to dismantle the traditional pillars of the nation," Argentine international relations expert Tadeo Casteglione told Sputnik.
✨ Military Cinderella: Who's Valery Zaluzhny, West's replacement for Zelensky?
👉 The US and the UK are grooming Zaluzhny for Ukraine's top post. This scenario was discussed at a recent secret meeting in the Alps, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service revealed on Tuesday.
Here's what you need to know:
🟧 Until February 2024, Zaluzhny served as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He became notorious for organizing meat grinders for Ukrainian troops.
🟧 In March 2024, after clashing with Zelensky over military decisions, Zaluzhny was removed and appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to London.
🟧 As Ukraine’s ambassador, Zaluzhny revealed a new deal with the UK: 5,000 to 7,000 Ukrainian students will reportedly study in the UK annually, eventually becoming future officials in Ukraine.
🟧 As of January 2025, Zaluzhny held first place in the trust rating of Ukrainian residents. According to Socis, the former commander-in-chief enjoyed the trust of almost 72% of Ukrainians.
🟧 Most recently, Vogue published Zaluzhny’s column that outlines his "vision for Ukraine’s future." After Zelensky’s 2022 Vogue feature boosted his Western image, Zaluzhny’s appearance in the fashion mag is most likely a political PR move.
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Reviving Indigenous Knowledge is Crucial to Ending Africa’s Food Crisis, Expert Warns
Reviving indigenous knowledge is key to addressing food insecurity and climate change in Africa, Willis Ochieng, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Empowerment and Agricultural Transformation for Sustainability, told Sputnik Africa.
Speaking one the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake +4 in Addis Ababa, he noted:
"We realize that in terms of climate change, we need to go back to indigenous knowledge... there’s a lot of knowledge that is getting lost that could help us adapt."
"If we can be able to give agriculture the priority it deserves, then we can be able to... address the issues of food insecurity in the continent."
#viral | Mother Hen by Accident
🐥 A woman in China unintentionally became the mother of 70 chicks after leaving three boxes of eggs in her kitchen and going away for two days. Upon her return, she found that the eggs had hatched, and the chicks were running all over the house. The video is now going viral on social media.
The woman believes the intense heat sped up the incubation process. The chicks have since found homes—she kept two and sent the rest to her parents' village.
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Belarus Ready to Supply Ethiopia With All Necessary Complex of Engineering Products: Lukashenko
Belarus is ready to transfer the relevant technologies to Ethiopia and train its people in these technologies, the Belorussian president said at the meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos.
"Ethiopia is one of the most important countries in East Africa for us. We have good memories and good hopes for future cooperation since the Soviet era. [...] We see a certain place for ourselves in Ethiopia to be useful to you," the president said.
❗️The Kremlin took note of Trump's statement yesterday regarding the timing of the Ukrainian settlement, Peskov says
Moscow remains committed to the peace process to resolve the conflict and to ensure its interests, the Kremlin spokesperson noted.
Speaking about the possibility of a meeting between Trump and Putin, Peskov said that the issue was not on the agenda in a substantive sense and is not on it.
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Russia-Africa Valdai Conference: ‘It’s About Sovereignty and African Unity’
We are pushing for a new international development funding agreement that resolves historical inequalities while also preparing the global staff to respond to future shocks with resilience. We are truly grateful for Russia's support to all our G20 presidency priorities
#SputnikInfographic | Why Capturing Chasov Yar in Donetsk People's Republic Significant for Special Military Operation?
📍Chasov Yar is strategically and operationally important since it controls the dominant heights and offers a direct route to Konstantinovka and the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, which is still under Ukrainian control.
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Russia Ready to Continue Negotiations With Ukraine, Foreign Ministry Says
"Three rounds of negotiations have taken place, and we are ready to continue them. As for meetings at a higher level, such meetings must be seriously prepared. Without this, it is probably premature to talk about them," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Russian journalists.
🗣 NATO knew Ukraine would be 'A HUGE SOURCE OF TROUBLE' — Mearsheimer
US political scientist John Mearsheimer told Tucker Carlson that NATO planners had long understood Ukraine was a red line for Russia — but pushed ahead anyway.
💬 “People recognized at the time that Ukraine is a special case… You can get away with Poland, even the Baltics — but Ukraine is a different matter.”
💬 “Putin made it manifestly clear this is unacceptable — that this is an existential threat.”
Major World Events by Evening of July 30
▪️The FBI uncovered a hidden cache of Trump–Russia probe documents marked for destruction, including a classified annex to John Durham’s report suggesting US agencies knew beforehand the FBI would advance the narrative, Fox News reports;
▪️The African Union has urged its member states and the global community to reject Sudan’s parallel government, warning that its recognition would undermine peace efforts and threaten the country's unity and future;
▪️Russian state nuclear company Rosatom has launched a pilot uranium plant in Tanzania to trial advanced technologies ahead of building a full-scale facility by 2029, which could produce up to 3,000 tonnes of uranium per year;
▪️South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe declared that the country will no longer tolerate being "bullied" over its natural resources;
▪️With Trump’s Friday deadline looming for a 30% tariff hike, South Africa is holding off finalizing a key trade deal, awaiting clarity on Washington’s next move;
▪️Trump announced a 25% tariff on India as well as a punitive measure for its cooperation with Russia; the White House also confirmed a 50% tariff on Brazil over actions deemed threatening to US interests;
▪️The Russian economy has built a kind of resilience to sanctions, as it already operates under an extensive array of restrictions, Kremlin said;
▪️The African Development Bank’s Africa Development Fund plans to enter the capital markets, aiming to raise $5 billion every three years to support regional development, according to an official;
▪️Former US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that RT now commands a larger American audience than CNN;
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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!
#ad
#viral | Unyielding Chapel Amid Kamchatka Tremors
The chapel's bells tolled autonomously during an earthquake in Russia's Kamchatka region, yet the structure remained intact. "Lord, have mercy," a person is heard saying.
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'As Long as I Am in Power, There Will Be No War': Tigray Leader Pledges Peace
In this week's meeting with a peace delegation in Mekelle, President Tadesse Werede of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration emphasized that Tigray will not initiate war and that he is fully committed to preventing further conflict, local media reported.
“The people of Tigray do not want war,” he reportedly said, noting that the peace process remains incomplete due to the continued displacement of citizens in violation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Russian Specialists Will Create Heat Map of Malian Mineral Deposits, Energy Ministry Says
The agreement was signed during the first meeting of the Russian-Mali intergovernmental commission (IMC) in Bamako, the Russian ministry said in a statement.
"This is the first commission of its kind among the AES nations, and [the commission's co-chair, Malian Economy Minister Alousseni Sanou] and I are determined to make it a model for other countries in the alliance," Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov stated.
Russia Keeping Pace—and Even Advancing—in Global AI Race: Putin
The AI race continues with new AI models emerging every few months, German Gref, CEO Russia's biggest financial conglomerate Sber, said at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sber can now present its models, which are quite competitive, he added.
Putin credited Sber with identifying and investing in promising areas, enabling success despite recent hardships.
AI-generated image
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'More Positivity From Intra-Continental Trade as Kenya Opens Borders for Africans'
"For a very long time, it has been a disservice to ourselves, in that we have been more welcoming to citizens from the Western world against our own neighbors. It would have been easier for someone to travel from the UK or the US to Kenya, as opposed from, let's say, Zimbabwe to Kenya".
Cote d’Ivoire's Ouattara to Seek Fourth Term in October Election
"I am a candidate because the constitution of our country allows me to run for another term and my health permits it," the Ivorian president said.
Thailand, Cambodia Agree to Ceasefire, Freeze Military Action Along Shared Border
This decision came after two rounds of meetings between officials from the two nations, who were aiming to de-escalate tensions in the disputed border region, according to the Bangkok Post.
📞 Emergency communication channels will reportedly be established.
🕓 This suspension will be effective until at least August 4, when the two countries' defense ministers are scheduled to meet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital.
At the same time, the Thai and Cambodian armies began negotiations to implement the ceasefire agreement signed the previous day.
👉 Despite these talks, clashes reportedly continued along the border. On Tuesday, Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire, a claim Phnom Penh denied.
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Russian Agri-Tech Leader Launches Pilot Project in Uganda to Digitize Private Farming Operations
AgroSignal, part of the Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem Group, will hold practical testing and adaptation for a year. The project focuses on 500 hectares of soybeans and corn, key food crops in the East African country.
Target effects of the digital system's implementation:
🟠a reduction of up to 30% in the cost of purchasing materials for farming,
🟠an increase in productivity and crop yields.
The implementation of IT solutions in Uganda is carried out through local partners - agricultural consultants, who also provide primary technical support and conduct user training.
🌍 The pilot project is also aimed at adapting some of the AgroSignal services to the needs of local agricultural producers, whose solutions are important not only for Uganda, but also for Africa as a whole.
AI-generated image
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🇷🇺 Roscosmos chief arrives in the US for first NASA meeting in 8 years – reports
Head of Roscosmos Dmitry Bakanov has arrived in the United States, where he is scheduled to meet with NASA leadership and the crew of the upcoming Crew Dragon mission, which includes Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, the press service of the Russian space agency reported.
💬 “Dmitry Bakanov arrived in Houston at the head of a Roscosmos delegation to meet with NASA leadership. This marks the first in-person meeting between the heads of the Russian and US space agencies in eight years,” the statement said.
Africa Needs to Combine Indigenous Knowledge With Technology to Achieve Food Sovereignty: Official
"We've been producing food to feed ourselves, but now things have evolved," South Africa's Deputy Director for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Peter Ramolotja, told Sputnik Africa on the sidelines of the second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake +4 (UNFSS+4), convened in Addis Ababa.