Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 14:40

🇿🇦💰 South Africa's stable political environment boosts local currency and stock market, says finance minister

🗣 "The markets were looking for stability and the formation of the government of national unity in a very short period gave that stability," Minister Enoch Godongwana said speaking the sidelines of the New Development Bank’s annual general meeting in Cape Town. "This meant that the rand and South African equities benefited from this political stability created in a very short time."

The official highlighted the importance of political stability in boosting investor confidence.

A government of national unity was recently formed in the country after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.

The rand has gained a significant 3.7% against the US dollar since the announcement of the new cabinet on June 29, outperforming other African currencies. The FTSE/JSE All Share Index has also seen a robust 6.6% increase over the same period.

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 13:50

❗️Russia will change its nuclear doctrine based on an analysis of recent conflicts and the West's actions in connection with the Ukraine conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov tells Russian media

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 13:24

🇿🇦 BRICS New Development Bank approves substantial loan of up to $1 billion to support water projects in South Africa

This investment will specifically target poorer households, aiming to improve access to essential services and address existing infrastructure backlogs in South Africa.

The loan will be channeled through South Africa's Municipal Infrastructure Grant, a program designed to empower municipalities in providing essential services to underserved communities.

🗣 "We welcome the NDB's funding commitments. They will go a long way in assisting us with the funding challenges faced by some of our programmes and parastatals. Every cent is welcome," said Minister of Finance and NDB Governor, Enoch Godongwana.

👉 In a separate move, the NDB, established by the BRICS group in 2015, has also approved a $150 million loan, denominated in Chinese yuan, to China's Bank of Communications Financial Leasing.

This funding will support the acquisition of LNG carriers, contributing to the growing demand for liquefied natural gas in China.

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 12:33

❗️The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 360 soldiers and 23 armored vehicles in Russia's Kursk region during the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry reports

In total, during the fighting in the region, the enemy lost more than 8,500 soldiers and 80 tanks, the ministry noted.

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 11:43

📹 Ukrainian soldiers fire at a car with two women and children in Russia's Kursk region

As a result, a girl was wounded, her mother said.

The civilians were trying to escape from the Sudzha district, which was attacked by Ukrainian forces.

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 11:05

❗️Russian troops have liberated the villages of Ptichye and Vyemka in the DPR, the country's Defense Ministry reports

More key points from the ministry's daily briefing:

🟠The Russian Armed Forces have struck drone assembly plants and hangars for their storage in Ukraine's Kharkov region;

🟠Ukrainian troops lost up to 1,920 soldiers during the past day.

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 10:28

🐊 🇮🇳 Crocodile commute: Indian men capture crocodile, take it for a ride

The young men carried a rescued crocodile, found in the Vishwamitra river, to the forest department.

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01 Sep 2024 09:30

🇦🇪🇸🇩🇸🇸 UAE allocates $7 million to fight hunger in Sudan and South Sudan

The United Arab Emirates signed an agreement with UNICEF to allocate the money to provide emergency food aid for the crisis in the two African countries. Of these funds, $6 million will go to Sudan and $1 million to South Sudan.

It is noted that 17.7 million people in Sudan and 7.1 million people in South Sudan suffer from food insecurity.

Earlier, the UAE Foreign Ministry said that the Middle Eastern country has already funded 70% of the $100 million it pledged at an international conference in April to support Sudan and neighboring countries.

Fierce fighting has been raging in Sudan between the rebel Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) and the regular army since April 15, 2023. According to the UN, over 8.2 million people in Sudan have fled their homes because of the fighting, including about 1.7 million who have taken refuge in neighboring countries.

Moreover, the country's health ministry said that more than 13,000 people have died and more than 30,000 have been injured during the ongoing conflict.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 21:42

⛓🌍 Africans don't require authorization from former colonial powers to reclaim their appropriated artifacts, the Togolese foreign minister says

🇹🇬 African peoples and the Afro-descendant diaspora do not have to ask permission from former colonizers to "talk about memory", declared Robert Dussey during a pre-congress in preparation for the 9th Pan-African Congress in Lome.

This event will be an opportunity to "take concrete actions" to give meaning to the Pan-Africanist struggle, affirmed the minister without specifying what actions were involved.

💬 "We suffered from slavery, deportation and colonialism. We continue to suffer from neocolonialism, but we do not have the right to say so. Why do we not have the right to claim our humanity? We do not have to ask permission from all those who plundered the African continent, to take back what they stole", he argued.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 20:59

🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warns Russia-Ukraine talks will get harder with time

"Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned potential negotiations a year and a half ago. He said we had nothing against them... Opponents must understand that the longer they take, the harder it will be to agree on anything. It was easy to agree in Istanbul, less than a month after the start of our special military operation. But Ukraine did not want it," Lavrov said in an interview to the RT broadcaster.

🇺🇸 The top Russian diplomat also stressed that Ukraine's joining NATO was non-negotiable.

Putin said in June that Russia would cease fire and start talks with Ukraine as soon as Kiev withdrew troops from regions that Russia saw as its own and abandoned plans to join NATO. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the proposal, calling it an ultimatum.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 19:58

👧 🇿🇲 Transforming lives: How Russian charity is empowering young girls in Zambia

Kalingalinga Girls organization in Zambia supports over 100 girls who study mathematics, natural sciences, and engage in creative activities to pave the way to a better future for them.

Sputnik Africa sat down with a Russian philanthropist Yanina Dubeykovskaya, founder of the project, who told us that Africa is the only place in the world where one may observe fundamental benefits with ordinary efforts, transforming the lives of those less fortunate for the better.

💬 "All girls, all kids need support, it's not depending on where they are living," she explained.

The charity also provides full scholarships to the girls under the "Angel Parents" program, where individuals or families pay for girls' education and develop bonds, because weekly classes were not enough to support a child's all-round development.

More than that, for 14-year-old Ruth Tembo, a student at Kalingalinga Girls who never attended school until she turned 13, Yanina became a real mother figure.

💬 "It is important because it's giving us the opportunity to be in school," Tembo told Sputnik Africa, adding that "she was sad that she was living and didn’t know anything" before she became part of the project.

Now, Ruth studies science, English, and mathematics and is learning Russian to become a lawyer one day.

👉 Read the full story behind this charity!

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 19:28

🇧🇫📹 Assami Yanogo, a young acrobat from Burkina Faso, has been mastering the art of plate spinning for 21 years

Assami left school in the second grade to fully commit to his acrobatic career. He skillfully spins plates and makes a living from this unique art form.

Today, this talented acrobat is a great source of pride for his family. Assami Yanogo, whose name means Meaning in the Mooré language, continues to amaze and inspire others with his dedication and artistic prowess.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 18:54

🇫🇷📹 The protest demanding President Macron's resignation and France's exit from the EU was held in Paris on Saturday

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 18:15

🇧🇩 Bangladesh flood death toll rises to 59

Earlier, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief reported 54 deaths.

🕯 Among the deceased are six women, 12 children and 41 men, local media reported, citing a statement from the ministry.

At least one person is also reported missing.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 17:41

📩 Rethinking accountability: the Kremlin spokesman on double standards in technology and terrorism

💬 "Terrorists use Telegram. But they also use cars. Why haven't they arrested the CEO of Renault or Citroen?" Dmitry Peskov commented on the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

This striking comparison sheds light on the double standards in holding technology creators accountable. Should we rethink how we address tools used for both good and bad?

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 14:11

🇹🇿 🚛 Tanzania issues warning on used truck purchases from UK

The Tanzanian High Commission in London is warning businessmen against buying used trucks from the UK, citing numerous complaints about delays and subpar vehicles.

🗣 "We have seen an increase in the number of complaints from traders who have sent money to the UK to purchase trucks, only to face delays of over six months without receiving their vehicles," said Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mbelwa Kairuki.

The UK has been a popular source for used trucks for Tanzanian cargo transporters, due to its right-hand drive system, affordable prices, and reputation for durability. However, recent complaints about delays and substandard vehicles have raised concerns. For Tanzanian traders, who often rely on loans for these significant investments, the stakes are high, making careful scrutiny essential.

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01 Sep 2024 13:48

🇪🇹 🌾 Ethiopia aims for rice revolution, inspired by wheat success

Ethiopia, which has made significant economic reforms in recent years, sees agriculture as a key pillar of its growth strategy, utilizing the country's favorable climate and extensive suitable land.

The government's focus on wheat cultivation in recent years has resulted in Ethiopia becoming one of Africa's top wheat producers, achieving self-sufficiency and even venturing into exports. Drawing inspiration from this success story, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture has identified rice as the "millennium crop" for ensuring food security and driving economic growth.

The country aims to achieve its ambitious National Rice Strategy Plan (2020-2030), which includes food self-sufficiency, export expansion, and import substitution in both rice and edible oils, according to Mandefro Nigussie, CEO of the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute.

Nigussie highlighted the government's commitment to this transformation, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to achieve these ambitious goals.

👉 The recent award of the FAO's Agricola Medal to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his government's commitment to food security and innovative solutions in wheat self-sufficiency further underscores Ethiopia's dedication to agricultural transformation, the CEO noted.

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01 Sep 2024 12:54

🇧🇫 Young Burkinabe activists call Ukraine a "blatant supporter of international terrorism"

Kiev is a "sponsor of terrorism supported by France," according to a joint statement by the Burkina-Russia Coalition, the Pan-African Revolutionary Councils and the African Network for Solidarity and Development.

The statement was released after a meeting of activists and supporters of the groups in Ouagadougou on August 31. Their meeting was aimed at demonstrating support for the transitional authorities and condemning Kiev's alleged involvement in terrorist activities in the Sahel.

The document also accuses Ukraine of becoming a proxy force for the West, deployed in hotspots around the world. It goes on to say that Ukraine, with the support of France, is actively recruiting Africans to fight in the war against Russia. The activists point out that Ukrainian embassies themselves pose a threat to African countries.

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01 Sep 2024 12:03

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Sputnik Africa

01 Sep 2024 11:26

🏠 Tanzanian schoolboy, once the breadwinner for his family, now receives a house as a gift

James Eprahim, a bright 14-year-old born in the Kilimanjaro region, was forced to become the breadwinner for his sick mother and five younger siblings who lived in harsh conditions.

Although he often had to skip school, he excelled academically. James' teachers, noticing his dedication and struggle, visited his home and were heartbroken by what they saw. Touched by his situation, they pooled their money to help the family.

After the story caught the attention of the local media, Glads Welfare Organization provided the family with a new home and a chance for a brighter future.

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01 Sep 2024 10:54

🌍 💉 UNICEF launches emergency tender for mpox vaccines to aid crisis-hit countries

The emergency tender is a collaborative between the UNICEF, in partnership with Gavi, Africa CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The tender outlines the potential for agreements with vaccine manufacturers for up to 12 million doses through 2025, depending on production capacity.

UNICEF will utilize conditional supply agreements, allowing for immediate purchase and shipment of vaccines once financing, demand, readiness, and regulatory requirements are met.

WHO is currently reviewing information submitted by manufacturers regarding two vaccines – one produced by Bavarian Nordic and another by Japan's KM Biologics – for potential emergency use listing. A decision on emergency licenses is expected by mid-September.

👉 The declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency by WHO earlier this month followed an outbreak in the DR Congo that spread to neighboring countries. Congo has reported over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths, while over 150 cases have been confirmed in Burundi.

Cases of the clade Ib type of the virus have also been confirmed in Sweden and Thailand, raising concerns about the global spread of the disease.

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01 Sep 2024 10:01

🇩🇿 Algeria officially joins BRICS New Development Bank, the country's finance ministry says

Algeria's membership in the New Development Bank is expected to provide significant support for the country's economic growth in the medium and long term, the ministry added.

BRICS New Development Bank was created in 2015, with Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa becoming its first members. In 2021, Bangladesh, Egypt, the UAE and Uruguay joined the bank. The bank's activities are aimed at financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in the BRICS states and developing countries

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01 Sep 2024 09:03

🇷🇺 📷 Beslan School Siege: 20 years of Russia's tragedy

This Sunday marks 20 years since the Beslan school hostage crisis, an Islamic terrorist attack considered the deadliest school shooting in the world's history.

The attack on the school happened on September 1, 2004, which is known as "First Bell" or Knowledge Day in Russia as the official beginning of the academic year.

The crisis started when a group of armed terrorists took over School Number One in the small town of Beslan, North Ossetia, an autonomous republic in Russia's North Caucasus region, and for three days, more than 1,100 people—777 of them children—were held hostage.

A total of 334 people—186 of them children—perished, along with all but one of the attackers.

👉 Learn more about the events of the terrorist attack on our website

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 21:23

🇷🇺🇨🇬 Russia is developing a system to monitor intestinal infections in the Republic of Congo

Russian scientists are conducting a major project in the country to study the incidence and structure of intestinal infections, Vladimir Dedkov, a scientist from the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute, headed by Russian consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, told Sputnik Africa.

🎯 The goal is to develop, based on the results of the project, a general program for monitoring such infections in order to prevent them, the scientist explained.

🧪 In addition, Moscow is helping the African country by providing screening systems and equipment "where they are lacking it," he continued. Indeed, due to the logistical and financial challenges on the continent, African specialists "lack equipment in some places, there is always a problem with consumables and reagents."

💬 "It is interesting for us, because we have the opportunity to test our screening systems," summarized Dedkov, who is also a member of the WHO working group on new pathogens.

Specialists from Rospotrebnadzor organized a training course on the prevention of infectious diseases in the Republic of Congo from August 19 to 23.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 20:37

🇷🇺🇨🇬 Russia successfully tested mpox screening kits in the Republic of Congo

🦠 Vladimir Dedkov, a scientist at the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute and a member of the WHO working group on new pathogens, shared with Sputnik Africa the details of the trip of Russian specialists from Rospotrebnadzor (Russian consumer watchdog) to the republic to fight infections.

💬 "We took with us kits developed in our institute to diagnose mpox. And we tested them with the help of colleagues from the Republic of Congo. Now we understand that our tests work very well," Dedkov said.

💵 Having similar features with German Altona Diagnostics tests, particularly in terms of specificity, the Russian kits are less expensive which represents an advantage because it allows for a greater quantity to be supplied, the scientist noted.

🗣 "Russia is ready to help in any way possible. We have a lot of experience. The USSR played a significant role in the fight against smallpox, including on the African continent. Vaccines were supplied there, specialists and virologists were sent. And that's how we defeated this infection. Well, if necessary, ‘we can repeat it,’ as we say," Dedkov said.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 19:43

🇩🇪🇲🇼 German experts release initial findings on plane crash which killed Malawian former VP

The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation has released a preliminary report on the plane crash that killed Malawi’s former Vice President Saulosi Chilima and eight others. The report noted missing flight recorders and a non-functional emergency locator.

It revealed that the aircraft was not equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder or a Flight Data Recorder, and these devices were not required by relevant aviation regulations.

The aircraft was manufactured in Germany, which led the Malawian government to enlist German experts for the investigation.

Amid public pressure for a comprehensive investigation, a final report is expected next year.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 19:13

🇩🇯 Djibouti's bold offer to Ethiopia: A gateway to peace in the Horn of Africa?

🇪🇹 In a move to deescalate regional tensions, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Yusuf has announced his country's willingness to grant Ethiopia "100%" access to the port of Tadjourah, located 100 km from the Ethiopian border.

This significant proposition, revealed in an interview with BBC Focus on Africa, marks a shift from last year’s reluctance and could drastically change Ethiopia's access to seaports.

Djibouti’s President, Omar Guleh, reportedly extended this offer to Ethiopia. However, the foreign minister did not specify which government entity would oversee the agreement, the timeline for its implementation, or the exact conditions of the proposed port management arrangement.

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 18:39

Ukraine's economic downfall: from potential European leader to indebted loser

Gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine had the potential of becoming a leading European economy, due to its industries, agriculture, vibrant population and diverse trade ties inherited from the Soviet Union. However, it has now ensnared itself in a debt trap.

▪️ On August 30, ratings agency, S&P Global, set Ukraine's foreign currency credit rating at "selective" default, after the country announced plans to restructure over $20 billion of debt. 

▪️ The IMF will decide next week whether to provide Ukraine with another $1.1 billion from a $15.6 billion aid program.

▪️ After tearing apart preliminary peace accords with Russia in April 2022, the Zelensky regime went on a debt spree. Ukraine's government-guaranteed debt has grown to $155.36 billion (over 88% of GDP), with an increase of $3.2 billion over the past three months alone. 

▪️ Ukraine's debt under Volodymyr Zelensky has catapulted by about $74 billion – roughly the total debt accumulated by the first five Ukrainian presidents, according to estimates. 

▪️In comparison, under the first Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk (1991-1994), Ukraine borrowed just around $400 million, or 1.1% of GDP.

▪️ Ukraine's gross external debt surged to $167.8 billion in March 2024. 

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 17:56

❗️ Russian mission to UN demands that UN Secretariat, other international organizations firmly condemn Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod

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Sputnik Africa

31 Aug 2024 17:23

🇷🇼 Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame fires senior military officers

🪖 The head of state dismissed on Friday several high-ranking military officers, including Major General Martin Nzaramba and Colonel Etienne Uwimana, in a sweeping purge of the country's disciplined forces.

The dismissals, which include 195 other military personnel, come after allegations of corruption, misconduct, and violations of the military code of conduct, according to local media.

The Rwanda Defense Forces continue to enforce strict discipline within the ranks, with similar dismissals occurring in the past.

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