📹 Trump says Putin wants to meet, 'we're setting it up'

US President-elect Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet, and such a meeting is being prepared.

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Scholz's cabinet blocks $3 billion urgent aid package for Ukraine – reports

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Green Party) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party, SPD) reportedly proposed a €3 billion ($3.09 billion) emergency aid package for Ukraine ahead of the February 23 parliamentary elections. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office has blocked the plan, according to a German newspaper.

The report states that the foreign and defense ministries aim to request additional funds from the German parliament's budget committee, as the current budget lacks provisions for Kiev's urgent needs. This comes amid uncertainty over the incoming US administration's Ukraine policy.

Scholz's cabinet justifies its veto by citing the desire to avoid binding the post-election government to a pre-decided commitment. Additionally, the Chancellor may be wary of alienating SPD voters with another costly aid package.

In December, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag, triggering early elections scheduled for February 23.

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🤡 ‘Fire away. No pun intended’ – Biden jokes while addressing California wildfires

As wildfires devastate California, displacing thousands and destroying homes, President Biden has come under fire for making an offhand comment during his remarks.

The comment was seen by many as inappropriate given the severity of the crisis.

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🗳 Election of new Canadian Prime Minister slated for March 9 – statement

The election of the new leader of Canada's Liberal Party, who will serve as the country's new prime minister, will take place on March 9, the party announced on Friday.

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would step down as head of government and leader of the ruling Liberal Party once his successor is chosen.

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China to send high-level official to Trump inauguration for first time – reports

Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to send a top-ranking official to the inauguration of Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.

This would mark an unprecedented move, as no Chinese official beyond the ambassador has ever attended such an event.

Potential attendees include Vice President Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, or Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and a close ally of Xi. Discussions between Beijing and Trump's transition team are ongoing to determine the appropriate representative.

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❗️Fire-related deaths rise to 10

At least 10 people have died during LA wildfires, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Officials warn that the actual death toll will remain unclear until it's safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been under evacuation orders since the fires began.

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🗣US creates infrastructure for nuclear-capable jets in Greenland - Russian Ambassador

The United States is creating an airfield infrastructure in Greenland for planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin told Sputnik.

"The island-based US Pituffik Space Base [ex-Thule Air Base] today is a part of the US' system for warning about a nuclear strike from the Arctic direction. It is undergoing comprehensive modernization, including radar systems worth billions of dollars. It is also building airfield infrastructure for F-35 fighter jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Such jets have already used the base's airfield for training," Barbin said.

The US military has been permanently present in Greenland since World War II, the ambassador added.

"Russia supports boosting stability in the Arctic. It is possible only on the foundation of creating a system of international security equal for all Arctic states," Barbin said.

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🟠 Scholz's cabinet blocks $3 billion urgent aid package for Ukraine – reports

🟠 Raging California wildfires claim 10 lives

🟠 VIDEO: Trump ‘setting up’ meeting with Putin

🟠 Turkiye's border build-up: Is Ankara planning to force Trump’s hand in Syria?

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🤝Afghanistan eyes LNG transit agreement with Russia

Kabul intends to sign an agreement with Russia on the transit of 50 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas through Afghanistan, the head of the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, Rustam Khabibullin, told Sputnik on Friday.

The deal is set to be finalized at the 2025 KazanForum, with gas tankers expected to handle the shipments. Trial runs have already been completed successfully.

This follows previous agreements for the annual transit of 50 million tons of Russian oil (2023) and 2 million tons of Russian wheat and flour (2024).

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❗️Ukrainian forces strike Donetsk supermarket with HIMARS missiles, civilians injured

Ukrainian military forces launched a rocket strike using HIMARS missiles in Donetsk People's Republic, injuring at least three civilians, according to a Sputnik correspondent.

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🇻🇪Nicolas Maduro to be inaugurated as Venezuela’s president for third term on Friday

The ceremony will take place amid opposition protests and rallies in support of the elected president. Here are the key details:

▪️ The elections, held in July, sparked widespread protests from those disputing the official results.

▪️ The opposition claims their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won. After the election, González faced criminal charges and sought asylum in Spain.

▪️ Gonzalez has gained backing from the US, held meetings with regional leaders, and visited Uruguay, Argentina, and Washington.

▪️ The situation with Gonzalez is seen as a repeat of the previous opposition leader Juan Guaido episode, where Guaido led an alternative government for several years.

▪️ Experts predict the inauguration could be unpredictable, with prisons potentially becoming flashpoints for unrest due to possible riots.

▪️ Russia will be represented at the ceremony by the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, who has already arrived in Caracas.

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⛔️Trump's motion to halt hush money sentencing denied

US Supreme Court cleared the way for President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing in his hush money criminal case and ordered him to appear for sentencing on January 10, dealing him a setback as he prepares to begin his second term in office.

"The application for stay presented to Justice Sotomayor and by her referred to the Court is denied for, inter alia, the following reasons. First, the alleged evidentiary violations at President-Elect Trump’s state-court trial can be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal. Second, the burden that sentencing will impose on the President-Elect’s responsibilities is relatively insubstantial in light of the trial court’s stated intent to impose a sentence of “unconditional discharge” after a brief virtual hearing," the court paper said.

In May 2024, a jury found Trump guilty on 34 charges of falsifying business records related to a payment to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with whom Trump allegedly had had an affair. Trump rejected the accusations against him, and his lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the indictment.

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🔥Photo of Los Angeles wildfires taken by Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov from the International Space Station.

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'Buy Greenland': Trump shares a video showing citizens of the island wearing MAGA hats and asking him to “help”.

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