💬 Is a Kurdish-proposed demilitarized zone in Northern Syria possible?

Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has proposed the creation of a "demilitarized zone" in Kobani, a town on the Syrian-Turkish border, under US supervision. But is this plan viable?

"The Turks have their own territorial ambitions in Syria, and so I don't expect that they would welcome or approve such a plan," political and security analyst Ali Rizk told Sputnik.

▪️Abdi's proposal comes amid the Biden administration's efforts to maintain a ceasefire brokered last week between the SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in northern Syria.

▪️US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said a truce in the northern Syrian town of Manbij was extended on Tuesday until the end of the week.

▪️The fate of Kobani, a Kurdish-majority city, hangs in the balance as the SDF braces for a possible Turkish offensive. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signaled on December 13 that Ankara's strategic goal was to eliminate Kurdish militias.

"They still consider the SDF to be a terrorist organization affiliated with the [Kurdistan] Workers' Party," explained Rizk.

The viability of the demilitarized zone largely depends on the incoming US administration. If Donald Trump decides to keep US troops on the ground in Syria, Turkiye might be forced to accept the Kurdish plan, Rizk assumes.

But it is equally possible that Trump would opt for withdrawal. During his first tenure, the pull-out was delayed to maintain control over Syrian oil in Kurdish-held regions, where at least nine US military bases have been deployed since 2015.

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❗️ Sending Polish troops to Ukraine is a "matter for discussion" - President

Possible deployment of Polish troops in Ukraine is a "matter for discussion," but no such discussions are currently underway, Polish President Andrzej Duda said before leaving for the EU summit in Brussels.

"There have been no such discussions so far. No one has ever proposed something so specific as to what should happen; what is the formula? "Duda added.

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🔍Is the deep state targeting Elon Musk ahead of Trump's inauguration?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a target of the outgoing Biden administration.

"Deep state traitors are coming after me using their paid shills in legacy media," Musk tweeted on Tuesday.

❓What did he mean?

▪️Musk's tweet came in response to a New York Times report that the Pentagon had launched at least three reviews into him and his company SpaceX, for alleged violations of security reporting rules.

▪️The NYT claims, quoting anonymous sources, that Musk failed to comply with federal protocols for protecting state secrets and did not provide details of his meetings with foreign governments.

▪️Congress Democrats are also scrutinizing Musk: last month they asked the Pentagon to investigate whether Musk had "inappropriate communications" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

▪️Musk has also faced heavy criticism from Canada-based news agency Reuters, which investigated apparent "harms" at his companies and even won a Pulitzer Prize for their series “The Musk Industrial Complex" in May.

▪️Mike Benz, a former State Department official, claimed on X on Tuesday that Reuters is in cahoots with the Biden administration, noting data from the USASpending website showing hefty sums paid by the US government to the agency.

▪️Benz said at least 11 US government agencies have recently scrutinized Musk and his companies Tesla, SpaceX and X in what looks like a coordinated campaign.

▪️The apparent Democrat-driven crackdown against Musk coincided with his active support for the Trump campaign and the president-elect's decision to pick the businessman to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency" or DOGE.

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🏠💷 UK spends record amount to tackle homelessness — $1.27 bln

British authorities will spend nearly £1 billion ($1.27 billion) to tackle homelessness, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.

"Too many people have been failed by the system time and again. 160,000 children face spending this Christmas without a stable place to call home," Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said.

In comparison, the UK has spent £12.8 billion to support the Kiev regime, resulting in more than 2 million Ukrainians losing their homes, according to the Global Protection Cluster.

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🤡 Top Trudeau cringe moments revisited

While the Canadian opposition has repeatedly demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau step down, here is a selection of the most viral moments which contributed to the decline of his ratings.

📹 00:00 "I am, and always will be, a proud feminist."

On December 12, during his speech at the Equal Voice Foundation Gala in Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his criticism of the democratic process in the United States, noting that the American electorate did not choose Kamala Harris as the 47th President.

📹 00:35 Handing out donuts goes cringe

In September 2024, during a visit by the Canadian Prime Minister to a steel factory in Sault Ste. Marie, one worker opted out of participating in Trudeau's event. He confronted the Prime Minister with concerns about taxes and dental care, expressing his dissatisfaction with Trudeau's policies directly. In response, the Prime Minister had little to say.

📹 01:56 Supporting Khalistani extremists

In April 2024, the Canadian Prime Minister attended a Vaisakhi celebration in Toronto, where he publicly expressed support for pro-Khalistani slogans. The Khalistan movement represents an extremist ideology that seeks to establish an independent Khalistan, separate from India.

📹 03:40 Applauding a Ukrainian Nazi

In September 2023, Canadian lawmakers, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, extended a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, a World War II-era Ukrainian Nazi collaborator who served in the SS 14th Waffen Grenadier Division. Following this controversial event, Trudeau issued an apology for the "incident," while pinning the blame for the scandal on what he called "Russian misinformation."

📹 04:43 Trudeau’s tongue tumult

In October 2023, Trudeau was filmed in the Parliament, playfully sticking out his tongue and winking at the House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus.

📹 04:50 Trudeau's Bohemian Rhapsody

Trudeau was captured on video singing the iconic Queen song at The Corinthia Hotel in London, just before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. He stood by a piano, performing alongside other members of the Canadian delegation.

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🥴 Blinken: We're arming Ukraine now so Trump can get a better deal

Increased military escalation and US spending on Ukraine will help Trump get a good deal, argues US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"My objective now, in the time we have, is to make sure that we give President Trump the strongest possible hand to play if there's going to be a negotiation," he said.

He then said that Ukraine's accession to NATO will be a "very challenging" issue in peace talks with Russia.

"I think it's very challenging for Russia to do that," Blinken added.

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Debra Tice asks Putin to help find her son in Syria

US journalist Austin Tice's mother sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a letter late Wednesday seeking help finding her son missing in Syria since 2012, NBC reports.

"You have profound connections with the Syrian government, which can be a great benefit for our unrelenting efforts to find our Austin and reunite our family," she wrote.

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🎆 Tired of the NJ drones? Watch the drone magic from China!

China has surely taken drone shows to the next level. Fireworks combined with drones to create a scene of a spaceship or a celestial portal unfolding.

📹 Video taken from social media

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❗️ Journalists from "unfriendly" countries will attend Putin’s annual Direct Line — Peskov

Accredited journalists from unfriendly countries will attend Russian President Vladimir Putin's press conference tomorrow, although they are few in number, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"First of all, of course, all those foreigners from unfriendly countries who continue to work here are accredited. And then there are some other foreigners who have expressed a desire to come specifically for this press conference," Peskov said.

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🇮🇷☢️ Blinken: Prospects of JCPOA exist, Trump will decide

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he believes that there is a possibility of resuming negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program.

"I think there is a prospect of negotiations. But of course it depends on what Iran chooses to do and whether it chooses to engage. Of course, the incoming administration will make the decision," Blinken said.

In May 2018, Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran responded by reducing its commitments under the deal.

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⚠️ Head of the DPR: Situation in Kurakhovo is 'critical' for Ukraine

Ukraine's armed formations are in a critical situation in Kurakhovo (Donetsk People's Republic), their only supply route is under fire, regional head Denis Pushilin told Sputnik.

"In the direction of Kurakhovo, the Russian forces liberated two more settlements just the day before - Trudovoye and Starye Terny, Annovka, Pushkino, Vesely Gai were also liberated. In Kurakhovo itself, the situation for the Ukrainian military is critical - the only supply route is under our constant fire," Pushilin said.

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The Biden administration has accused President-elect Trump of allegedly instructing Republicans to halt the functioning of the US government, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

She cautioned about the potential for instability across the nation.

Earlier, Trump had urged Democrats to either eliminate the debt ceiling or raise it. He linked this issue to an upcoming vote in Congress on a temporary government funding resolution, warning that without it, the US could face a government shutdown as early as December 20.

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❗️With three hours to go before Vladimir Putin's Direct Line goes live, the influx of inquiries from Russians is nearing 2 million, according to Russian media stats.

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🔔Coming Soon: Year-End Results with Vladimir Putin!🔔

In just three hours, at 9:00 AM GMT (12:00 PM Moscow time), Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver his year-end summary during a combined Q&A session and press conference.

Russia’s leader is set to provide candid responses to all questions. Don’t miss this event!

Stay tuned!

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🔸Coming Soon: Year-End Results with Vladimir Putin!

🔸Ukraine’s murder of Russian chem defense chief ‘not a smart thing to do’, Trump envoy cautions

🔸US deep state hounding Musk?

🔸Is a Kurdish-proposed demilitarized zone in Northern Syria possible?

🔸Even journalists from unfriendly countries rush to participate in Putin’s annual press conference

🔸Desperate mother begs Vladimir Putin to help find her son, journalist Austin Tice, missing in Syria since 2012

🔸Check out Trudeau’s cringiest moments

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US government shutdown looms as Trump, Biden feud over funding bill

Part 1 👉 Part 2

US President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t taken office yet, but he’s already throwing punches, tackling the Biden administration over the massive government funding deal.

What are they sparring over?

🔺On Tuesday, congressional leaders introduced a short-term funding bill aimed at keeping the federal government operational until March 14.

🔺This stopgap measure was announced just days before a looming December 20 deadline to avert a government shutdown.

What led to the collapse of the government funding plan?

Republicans are opposed to the increased spending proposed in the 1,547-page bill, which includes allocations of $100.4 billion for disaster relief, $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, and various other provisions.

Part 1 👉 Part 2

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US government shutdown looms as Trump, Biden feud over funding bill

Part 2 👉Part 1

Feuding with the Biden administration over the government funding deal, Trump has placed the debt ceiling at the forefront of discussions aimed at keeping the government operational.

🔸Trump is urging lawmakers to incorporate an increase in the debt ceiling into the budget package, which would enable the Treasury Department to issue new debt to meet existing obligations.

🔸Republicans have been encouraged to approve a ‘clean’ stopgap funding bill paired with a hike to the debt ceiling before Trump takes office on January 20.

🔸Elon Musk, picked to head the newly-established "Department of Government Efficiency" or DOGE, warned on X that “any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years!”

What was the White House response?

Trump and the Republicans were blasted for “playing politics with this bipartisan agreement.” This would “hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Trump and Vance remain adamant, quipping that raising the debt ceiling “is not great, but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch.”

Part 2 👉Part 1

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