📞 First Presidential Medal awarded by… phone

In a uniquely remote ceremony days before his term concludes, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Pope Francis.

This made the pontiff not only the sole recipient of this top honor during Biden’s presidency but also the first ever to receive it by phone. The departure from tradition was necessitated by Biden cancelling his final official trip to Rome due to the wildfires in Los Angeles.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

AfD declines to condemn Russia in party election program – reports

The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party chose not to include a condemnation of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in its election program, German broadcaster N-tv reported.

A proposal by Bundestag member Albrecht Glaser to criticize Russia's actions was rejected by 69% of around 600 party delegates during their congress in Riesa.

The party’s draft program describes the Ukraine conflict as a disruption to peace in Europe and envisions Ukraine as a neutral state, outside of the EU and NATO.

At the same event, AfD co-chair Alice Weidel was approved as the party's candidate for chancellor.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️The death toll from the Southern California wildfires has risen to 16, according to NBC News.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🚫Swiss People's Party urges Defense Minister Viola Amherd to resign over violating national security

The Swiss People's Party (SVP), Switzerland's largest political force, has called on the head of the country's Defense Ministry, Viola Amherd, to resign over her failed security policy.

"The fact that Switzerland can no longer guarantee its internal and external security is the result of political mistakes – and a consequence of wrong appointments”, a statement read.

The party slammed the defense minister for prioritizing woke culture in the army over security and supplying the Kiev regime with arms instead of maintaining the country’s traditionally neutral stance.

“Ms. Amherd would rather deal with gender issues in the army than with equipping the army. She is having weapons ordered for Switzerland delivered to Ukraine. These are the wrong priorities, Federal Councillor!” the statement said.

The Swiss People's Party holds 62 of the 200 seats in the country's lower house of parliament, the National Council.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🫁Deadly smoke crisis: California wildfires threaten health and lives

Researchers see a growing health threat from the vast plumes of pollution created by wildfires like the one that has devastated Los Angeles, according to The New York Times.

Southern California’s wildfires are spreading more than flames – they're filling the air with toxic chemicals from burning household items, electronics, and vehicles.

⚠️ Risks: Respiratory issues, heart problems, and potential long-term effects like dementia.

💬 Recommendations: Officials urge residents to stay indoors, use air purifiers, and wear N95 masks when venturing outside.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥WATCH: Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr strike drone unit destroyed a Ukrainian T-72 tank.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤖AI Golden Age almost here, strict regulations to follow – expert

Artificial intelligence will enter a "golden era" in 1.5-2 years, replicating the success of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, a Kaspersky Lab expert Vladimir Dashchenko told Sputnik.

"Many people use ChatGPT as a consultant and advisor. It is a very powerful tool to promote and collect opinions," he said.

However, he also predicts the active use of neural networks in cyberattacks. The expert also did not rule out that in 2025, some countries may tighten regulation of the AI sphere, including banning the export of data and hardware.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥From New York to Reichstag: Top five fires that shook the world

As wildfires scorch Southern California, let’s recall the profound impact left by some of history’s most devastating fires.

1️⃣Notre Dame fire (2019)

No culprit has been found five years on from the fire that ravaged the iconic French cathedral and contaminated areas of Paris with toxic dust and lead. Totally restoring it is expected to run into 700 million euros ($767 million).

2️⃣Reichstag Fire (1933)

The Reichstag fire was such a boon for the Nazis that it is speculated they started it themselves.

Chancellor Adolf Hitler blamed the communists for setting it ablaze, used an emergency law to crush all opposition, and harnessed total power. While no one died in the fire itself, it set the stage for the largest conflict in human history, WWII, which is estimated to have claimed around 85 million lives.

3️⃣The Great Fire of New York (1835)

Firefighters drilled holes in the frozen East River and Hudson River to get to water during the blaze. No wonder the nation’s first aqueducts were built after the fire.

4️⃣Great Fire of London (1666)

A new stone London rose from the ashes of this fire that destroyed over 13,000 mostly timber homes.

Interestingly, the first fire insurance companies were established.

5️⃣Great Library of Alexandria, Egypt (48 BC)

It took centuries for humanity to recover from the loss of the priceless knowledge contained in the over 40,000 ancient scrolls on science, philosophy, literature, etc. that were lost in the fire.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

⚔️Poland growing weary of Ukraine and its refugees – defense minister

Frustration with Ukrainians who have left the country and are leading a lavish lifestyle is growing within Polish society, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz admits in an interview with the Financial Times.

“Of course there is fatigue in Polish society, and it is understandable especially when people here see young Ukrainian men driving the latest cars or staying in five-star hotels,” he said.

He also said that relations between Warsaw and Kiev are strained because of historic grievances and farm export dumping from Ukraine.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔍Poland: NATO needs a decade to hit Trump’s defense goals

Poland's Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that NATO countries would need 10 years to meet Donald Trump's proposed defense spending target of 5% of GDP, though he supported the idea itself.

Reaching Trump’s goal “will take another decade, but I think he should not be criticised for setting a really ambitious target because otherwise there will be some countries that will continue to debate whether more spending is really needed,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

He also ruled out the deployment of Polish troops to Ukraine, emphasizing "the border states are not the ones who should in any way appear with their troops in Ukraine".

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Kalinovo in the Kharkov region and the settlement of Yantarnoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

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

▪️Ukraine lost over 450 militants and a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle manufactured in the USA, in the Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost over 410 militants and six artillery systems in the Russia's Battlegroup Zapad combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost over 190 troops and a tank in the Russia's Battlegroup Vostok area of responsibility.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 90 soldiers in the Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr and Sever areas of responsibility.

▪️Russian air defence systems shot down 55 Ukrainian drones.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 250 servicemen and two warehouses in the Russia's Battlegroup Yug area of responsibility.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥 Dark hypocrisy exposed

Hundreds of inmates, making up one-third of the firefighting force, are battling wildfires in Southern California, according to local authorities.

Yet, the US criticizes China for using forced labor, even passing laws to sanction goods allegedly produced by Uyghur labor in Xinjiang, Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalls.

"Will Congress draft sanctions against California and private companies for using prison labor?" she wonders.

"So tired of this dark hypocrisy!" Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Ukraine lost more than 350 militants in the Kursk region over the past day, along with a tank, four infantry fighting vehicles, five armored personnel carriers, and 12 combat armored vehicles, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated.

The Kiev regime's total losses in the Kursk region since the start of hostilities have exceeded 51,000 militants.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣'What's wrong with them?' - Trump slams California authorities over wildfire management

US President-elect Donald Trump has accused California officials of mishandling the devastating wildfires around Los Angeles.

"The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols [politicians] have no idea how to put them out," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

"This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?" he added.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔍Looters target VP Harris’ house during LA fires

Los Angeles police have detained two suspects after reports of a burglary at the Brentwood home of Vice President Kamala Harris.

No evidence of a crime was found at the scene by responding officers, yet two suspects were detained for violating a curfew in place over the raging Palisades fire.

"No one was in her home at the time," said Ernie Apreza, the vice president’s press secretary, in a post on X.

The curfew followed evacuation orders amid concerns over possible looting of unattended homes.

Officials had announced 22 arrests in the two evacuation zones near the Palisades and Eaton fires as of Saturday morning, most of them for burglary, looting, or trespassing.

Footage from Brentwood is spreading on social media, where mansions of other famous people are located.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📈 Trump’s advisor nominee proposes up to 50% tariffs

Stephen Miran, Donald Trump's nominee to chair the Council of Economic Advisers, has proposed a sharp increase in US tariffs averaging 20%, with some as high as 50%, compared to the current 2%.

Miran argues that this protectionist approach could boost domestic industries and reduce dependence on foreign imports. But critics warn it could raise costs for consumers and spark global trade tensions.

This signals Trump's intention to continue reshaping US trade policy.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt