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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❗️In just less than two hours, Putin's Live Q&A session and press conference will kick off

📹Andrea Lucidi, an independent military correspondent working in Donbass, is already there, sharing his impressions specifically for Sputnik.

🌐Stay tuned!

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🤔 What makes Putin's Q&A session so unique?

Russian President Vladimir Putin is the world’s only leader who holds live nationwide Q&As!

👉 Check out why nobody can compare to Putin!

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❗️Russian troops have liberated the settlements of Zelenovka and Novy Komar in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Defense MInistry has announced.

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🇷🇺🪖More statements from the Russian MoD daily briefing on the special military operation's progress:    

▪️Ukrainian losses in the area under the control of Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr reached 520 soldiers.

▪️Russia’s Battlegroup Zapad successfully repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks, resulting in the loss of roughly 460 Ukrainian soldiers.

▪️Ukrainian forces sustained losses of up to 315 soldiers in the operational area of Russia’s Battlegroup Yug.

▪️Russian forces hammered Ukrainian airfields and troop concentrations across 149 districts, over the past 24 hours.

▪️Russian air defense systems downed a guided Neptune missile and wiped out 154 Ukrainian drones, over the past 24 hours.

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🎥🎥 Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his annual end-of-year press conference, Direct Line, combined with a Q&A session.

The event has attracted enormous attention in Russia: the number of questions has almost reached 2 million. New questions continue to arrive around the clock.

It will be the third time that Direct Line, the end-of-year press conference and Q&A session, will be held in a combined format.

This option was first tested in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the events from being held separately. The format returned in 2023.

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⚡️President Putin emphasized that over the past two years, the Russian economy has experienced a growth of approximately 8%.

In comparison, the U.S. economy has grown by 5-6%, while Europe as a whole has seen only a 1% increase.

He further pointed out that Germany, the leading economy in the Eurozone, has recorded no economic growth at all, standing at 0%.

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❗️Russian unemployment rate at record low of 2.3% - Putin

Inflation in Russia is warning sign, Putin said adding that Russians' real incomes has increased.

He stressed that the Russian economy is generally stable and reliable, with 2025 GDP growth to be 2%-2.5%

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❗️Putin calls growth of Russia's economy largely a result of its sovereignty

Sovereignty is especially vital for Russia, because if it is lost, then statehood is lost, he said.

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Russia is unfazed WHEN "bullets are whistling and time flying” - Putin

It's all about the economy, said Putin when asked about today's troubled times, adding that Russia has risen to the challenge.

“You know, when everything is calm, tranquil and stable, we're bored. Well, it's stagnation. We want some commotion,” said the Russian president.

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