💸 Biden orders Pentagon to increase military aid to Ukraine

US President urged Defense Department to continue increasing military supplies to Ukraine, commenting on recent Russian Air Force strikes targeting Ukrainian energy facilities that support the military-industrial complex.

"In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defense against Russian forces," Biden said in a statement.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Criminal case opened over Ukrainian terrorist attack in Lgov — ICRF

The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against Ukrainian militants who committed a terrorist act against civilians in Lgov, Kursk Region.

Footage from social media

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🏒 Trump offers Wayne Gretzky to run for Canadian prime minister

President-elect Donald Trump continues to meddle in Canadian affairs, this time suggesting that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky should run for prime minister, "soon to be known as the Governor of Canada," in the 2025 election.

"[Wayne] had no interest, but I think the people of Canada should start a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement. It would be so much fun to watch!" he wrote on Truth Social.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🐜 Ants outsmart humans in maze experiment

A recent study led by a team at the Weizmann Institute of Science examines both humans and ants to test their decision-making and teamwork efficiency.

Both species were tasked with solving the so-called "piano moving problem". According to the study, result showed that ant collective intelligence increased, while human group formation did not enhance cognitive abilities.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russia does not consider pulling out of OSCE - Russian envoy

Russia is not considering the option of withdrawing from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich told Sputnik. He also pointed to the lack of legal procedures for the process.

"In the international legal sense, an organization must have a constitutive document - a charter. The OSCE does not have such a document, and there are no plans to get one in the near future," Lukashevich said.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Terrorist attack on 'Ursa Major' - here is what we know so far:

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea after three explosions on the starboard side in a terrorist attack, Oboronlogistika, a company that owns the ship, told Sputnik.

More details about the incident:

🔶 The ship sank 67 miles off the coast of Spain and 45 miles off the coast of Algeria. The ship left St. Petersburg for the port of Vladivostok 12 days ago.

🔶 "During the emergency external inspection of the vessel, a hole of 50x50 cm in diameter was discovered above the waterline, the edges of the hole were torn and turned inward. The deck of the ship was strewn with fragments," Oboronlogistika said.

🔶 The Russian Foreign Ministry's crisis management center reported that 14 of the 16 crew members had been rescued, while two were missing.

🔶 According to its owner, the vessel is one of the largest bulk carriers in Russia, with a maximum carrying capacity of 9,500 tons. At the same time, the cargo weight was 806 tons.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Estonia will not send financial aid to Syria because of ... Russia?

Estonia will not provide financial assistance to Syria if Syria keeps Russian military bases on its territory, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

"We must clearly understand what Syria will do, what this regime will do. For example, we do not agree to provide financial aid to Syria if Russian bases continue to remain there," Tsahkna told Estonian media.

At the same time he added that he no longer sees grounds for providing protection to Syrian refugees in Europe, and stated the need to facilitate their return to their homeland.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥 Russian UAVs destroy Ukrainian tank in Zaporozhye

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of the Ukrainian tank destroyed by the masterful work of the Stavropol Airborne Troops. A first drone destroyed the trap net, allowing a second drone to destroy the tank with an incendiary munition.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

✍️Annexation dreams in Trump's Christmas letter

Canadian citizens, if their country were to join the United States, would pay 60% less in taxes, Canadian businesses would "immediately double in size," and they would enjoy US protection, promised President-elect Donald Trump.

"Likewise to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and who want the US to be there—and we will!" Trump wrote on his Truth account.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🪖France сompletes training of Ukrainian pilots to operate Mirage 2000-5F fighters

France has completed training of Ukrainian pilots to fly Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, the French Aid to Ukraine account on the X reported.

The pilots and mechanics needed to operate these aircraft were trained at a base in Nancy.

In June, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris would transfer Mirage 2000 fighters to Kiev and would organize training for Ukrainian pilots by the end of the year. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the aircraft would be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.

Operating and maintenance costs for Ukraine will skyrocket, if it has to operate different types of NATO warplanes, military experts earlier told Sputnik commenting on Mirage fighters deliveries.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔹 Biden orders Pentagon to increase military aid to Ukraine

🔹 Terrorist attack on Russian cargo ship Ursa Major - here is what we know

🔹 Israel strikes media vehicle in Gaza, killing 5 journalists

🔹 Cocaine case remains unsolved as Biden leaves the White House

🔹 Trump proposes hockey legend for Canadian PM, says Canada would have 60% lower taxes as part of US

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt