⚡Notable news reporter Barbara Walters has died at age 93

💬 "The refugee burden falls disproportionately on certain countries. And we have not mentioned Turkey here because of course, it's not a member of the EU but the bulk of Syrian refugees decamped to Turkey. So Turkey is facing an in surge of refugees on a scale that is greater than Germany's," says Dr. Kenneth Surin, a political and foreign affairs analyst, on migration crisis in Europe.

🎧 Listen to more of Dr. Surin’s analysis in our podcast

So Long, Farewell: Venezuelan Opposition Puts End to Interim Government Led by Juan Guaido

The Venezuelan opposition put an official end on Friday to the interim government headed by Juan Guaidó, who since January 2019 has challenged the Maduro government and claimed to be the "interim president" of the South American nation.

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Brazil to Reportedly Rename Largest Port After Late Football Legend Pele

The largest port in Brazil and Latin America, located in the city of Santos, will be named after three-time world football champion Pele, Brazilian news portal G1 reported on Friday, citing Santos ex-mayor Paulo Alessandri Barbosa.

Shortly after the athlete's death was confirmed by family and his manager, outgoing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of mourning in honor of Pele. A wake is expected to be held Monday, with a funeral Tuesday morning.

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US Grounds Several F-35 Fighter Jets After Mishap in Texas Runway

The United States grounded several F-35 fighter jets as a result of concerns following a mishap that occurred with the aircraft on the runway of a military base in Texas earlier in December, the Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office spokesperson told Sputnik.

Earlier this month, a US F-35B fifth-generation fighter jet crashed during a test flight at a base in the state of Texas. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and did not suffer any serious injuries.

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🌍 The year 2022 was full of turbulence and Africa was one of the focal points of the world agenda. Although still struggling with political instability, impacts of climate change and the world pandemic – and affected by the 2022 global food and energy crisis – Africa in many regards showed its commitment to peace and security, making a number of achievements on the way to prosperity.

As the year is coming to an end, Sputnik recollects the most significant events of 2022 related to the continent – and reviews those that are planned for the next year

👉 READ THE FULL STORY

US Arms Sales to NATO Allies Almost Double in 2022: Report

The number and price of arms sales approved by Washington to its NATO allies almost doubled in 2022 as compared to 2021, a US magazine has reported.

The outlet noted that last year, the US government approved 14 possible major arms sales to its allies in the alliance, worth about $15.5 billion. In 2022, the figure soared to 24 potential major arms sales with price tag of around $28 billion, including $1.24 billion worth of arms sales to possible new NATO member Finland.

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📌 LIVE UPDATES: Ukrainian Forces Shell DPR 49 Times in a Day, Local Authorities Say

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😳 Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch may be asked to pay reparations to Barbados for having a slave plantation on the island in the 18th and 19th century.

▪️ The seventh great-grandfather of Cumberbatch, who played the role of a plantation owner in the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave, bought the Cleland plantation in St. Andrew, Barbados, back in 1728.

▪️ The plantation then became home to 250 slaves until slavery was abolished more than 100 years later.

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❗️ Russia is ready to fight for the right to speak Russian, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says

⚡️Pope Benedict XVI has passed away at age 95.

He held the apostolic see from 2005 to 2013, when he unexpectedly announced his decision to abdicate.

In recent years, he lived in a small monastery, Mater Ecclesiae, in the Vatican Gardens.

Turkey Agrees to Withdraw Troops From Syria After Trilateral Talks in Moscow

According to the reports, Turkey agreed to withdraw forces from the territories they occupied in northern Syria. Russia, Turkey and Syria also discussed the implementation of the agreement made in 2020 on the opening of the M4 highway linking Aleppo to Latakia, the source said.

The parties reportedly stressed that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in Turkey, was "a proxy of Israel and the United States" and posed "the greatest danger to Syria and Turkey."

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⚡️An air alert has been declared in all parts of Ukraine

One of the Best Meteor Showers of the Year Quadrantids Coming January 2-3

The annual Quadrantids meteor shower is already underway, it started on December 26, but it is set to reach its peak early next year - January 2 and 3 to be exact.

Obviously, the Quadrantids will be the first meteor shower of 2023, but it will also be one of the year’s most vibrant. From the evening of January 2 into the early hours of January 3, viewers can expect to see an average of 80 so-called “shooting stars” in the night sky per hour, though it could peak at up to 200 per hour.

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⚡️ The funeral of Benedict XVI will take place on January 5; the ceremony will be led by Pope Francis

❗️The Russian MoD’s briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️Russian Forces eliminated more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two armored combat vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Kupyansk;

▪️Russian servicemen eliminated up to 140 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed five tanks, seven armored combat vehicles and four pick-up trucks near Krasny Liman;

▪️Russian troops eliminated more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as destroyed two armored carriers, four armored vehicles and three pick-up trucks near Donetsk;

▪️The Russian Army eliminated up to 50 Ukrainian troops, as well as destroyed three infantry combat vehicles, two armored combat vehicles and five pick-up trucks in the Zaporozhye region;

▪️Russian Forces hit 75 Ukrainian artillery units at their firing positions;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed five US-made AN/TPQ- 50 radar stations in the DPR;

▪️Russian troops destroyed two Ukrainian artillery ammunition depots in the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region;

▪️Russian Forces destroyed four US-made M777 artillery systems in the DPR;

▪️The Russian Army destroyed a Czech-made "Dana" self-propelled howitzer in the LPR;

▪️Russian Air Forces shot down two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters in the DPR;

▪️Russian air defenses destroyed Ukrainian UAVs

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🇿🇦 A vagrant lion on the run was caught on camera outside the town of Musina on the Pont Drift road in Limpopo province, South Africa.

🦁 It is yet to be known what led to the animal roaming along the road. A Twitter user suggested: "He’s not lost - We are in his yard."

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❗️ Key statements from Putin's New Year address:

▪️The president noted that the past year was a year of pivotal events laying the foundation for the future and independence of Russia.

▪️He stated that truth is on the side of Russia, which protects its people in its historical territory.

▪️Vladimir Putin reminded that the Western elites had for years assured everyone of their peaceful intentions, including in the Donbass, but in fact supported the neo-Nazis.

▪️The president thanked the participants of the special operation for their fortitude and courage, saying “millions of people are with you in heart and soul.”

▪️Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that Russia will overcome all difficulties, and keep the country great and independent.

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Greek citizens living on the island of Crete are concerned over high energy prices while also blaming the European Union for mismanaging its energy policy, leading, in their opinion, to the current situation, according to the people surveyed by Sputnik.

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⚡️An update from Russia's MoD:

▪️On December 31, as a result of the negotiations with Kiev, 82 Russian soldiers were released. They were in mortal danger in captivity;

▪️All released Russian troops are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance;

▪️Released Russian troops will be delivered to Moscow by military planes for treatment and rehabilitation.

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Heading to the US: Four Human Skulls Discovered in Mexico Airport Luggage

Four human skulls have been found in a package at Queretaro Intercontinental Airport in Mexico. The gruesome content was discovered through a regular X-ray inspection. The destination of the package was Manning, South Carolina.

The transfer of human remains requires a special warrant from health authorities which was not obtained, reports have indicated.

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