President of Central African Republic (CAR) Faustin Archange Touadera to visit Moscow on January 14 - presidential spokesperson
 
CAR president expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the Russian capital, the presidential spokesperson of CAR told Sputnik.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US imposes new restrictions on export of advanced AI technologies
 
In order to "protect national security" and prevent the use of advanced AI technologies by countries perceived as "threats", the United States is imposing new restrictions on the export of advanced chips and artificial intelligence (AI) models, according to a document by the US Department of Commerce.
 
According to the department, the restrictions will help prevent the use of AI technologies for weapons development, cyber attacks, or mass surveillance by hostile states. At the same time, Washington's trusted partners and allies will have access to cutting-edge technologies.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺 🪖 Key statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense daily briefing on the situation in the Kursk region:

◻️ Russia’s Battlegroup Sever hit 11 Ukrainian formations in its combat zone.

◻️ Ukrainian forces lost more than 230 servicemen over the day in the Russian Kursk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

◻️ Since the beginning of combat operations in the Kursk region, Ukraine has lost more than 51,430 servicemen.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Saudi Arabia to sell enriched uranium, expanding nuclear program
 

"We will enrich it [uranium] and we will sell it; and we will do a 'yellowcake,'" Prince Abdulazi said of the powdered mineral concentrate used for preparing uranium fuel for nuclear reactors.

 
According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia is developing and expanding a nuclear program that would eventually include uranium enrichment. Riyadh has stated that it wants to use nuclear energy to diversify its energy mix.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

What the US wants, the US gets? Denmark set to talk American Arctic security as Trump’s Greenland gamble heats up

Denmark is ready to discuss security interests in the Arctic with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.

"We agree that the Americans have certain concerns about the security situation in the Arctic, which we share and therefore in close cooperation with Greenland, we are ready to continue talks with the incoming U.S. president, in order to ensure legitimate American interests," FM said at a news conference.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

It's official: Kremlin confirms Putin-Pezeshkian talks to be held on 17 January
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian during the latter's official visit to Russia.
 
The leaders will discuss prospects for further expansion of bilateral cooperation in the spheres of trade, investment, transport, logistics, and humanitarian issues, as well as key matters on the regional and international agenda.

After the talks, Putin and Peseshkian will sign a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and Iran and offer statements to the press.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Kiev's assault on the Russian TurkStream compressor station should be viewed as an attack on the sovereignty of countries that receive energy, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🦊 What does a fox do? Steal camera-drones

A tourist tried to film a beautiful fox with a drone but the animal decided to take matters into its own paws, grabbing the camera and running away.

Dare you catch it now!

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Zakharova on transfer of RCH 155 self-propelled artillery system from Germany to Ukraine

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Waging wars and reshaping Middle East? What Israel plans to do in 2025

2024 proved a challenging year for Israel, marked by prolonged engagements in Gaza and Lebanon and significant setbacks due to missile strikes from Houthi forces and Iran. Sputnik reached out to Dr. Hassan Nafaa, professor of political science at Cairo University, to gain insights into Israel's potential goals for this year.

1. Opposing Iran and its nuclear program is going to be at the top of Israel’s agenda this year, Dr. Hassan Nafaa tells Sputnik.

“The main challenge in 2025 is to prevent Iran at all costs from producing an atomic bomb,” he claims.

Though Israel has been accusing Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons for years, Tehran repeatedly denies these allegations, pointing out that the Iranian nuclear program is strictly peaceful.

2. Next on Tel Aviv’s agenda this year will be securing the release of the hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, raid, or recovering their bodies if these people have already met their end.

3. Dr. Nafaa also predicts that Israel will continue waging its campaign in Lebanon, ostensibly in a bid to drive Hezbollah from the southern parts of the country.

4. Finally, Israel is likely going to try to “build a broad coalition with the Gulf states” such as Saudi Arabia and to create a “new Middle East through and with the support of Trump and the United States,” the scholar suggests.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤡 French submarine crews accidentally turn off stealth mode with fitness app

French nuclear submarine crew members unknowingly revealed patrol schedules by sharing fitness activities on the Strava app, according to French media. Strava is an app for tracking the activity of athletes using mobile devices.

The Longue Island base near Brest, housing four nuclear-armed ballistic submarines, is the most secretive in the French Navy. These "black boats" have maintained continuous patrols since 1972, ready to deliver nuclear strikes on presidential orders. Strict security measures—ID checks, facial recognition, and electronic bans—protect the base and its 2,000 staff.

Despite this, sensitive details about submarine patrols were leaked. An investigation revealed that crew members’ use of Strava inadvertently disclosed their activities, echoing 2024 "StravaLeaks," where global leaders’ movements were similarly exposed.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal: Is it possible to avoid ‘hell’ in Mideast?

Donald Trump threatened there would be "hell to pay in the Middle East" if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages by his January 20 inauguration. How are the developments unfolding?

How are Hamas-Israel talks proceeding?

Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to stress Trump’s demand to clinch the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal between Hamas and the Jewish state by January 20.

The meeting came amid the indirect Hamas-Israel negotiations with Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediation in Doha. Qatar gave Hamas and Tel Aviv a final draft of a deal as media reports said that the next 24 hours “will be pivotal” to arriving at a consensus.

Is US optimistic?

WH spokesman John Kirby said that the Gaza deal is possible before the inauguration but that “more compromises are needed."

CIA director Bill Burns stressed that there's “every reason for political leaders to recognize that enough is enough” and that “it's time to make a deal.”

What is Israel’s stance?

Israeli officials believe "there is a chance of reaching an agreement, but it is a serious challenge.” On conditions of the deal, Tel Aviv wants a 2,000-meter depth buffer zone inside Gaza, while Hamas insists on the size of 300-500 meters.

Israel also rejects its withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land along the Egypt-Gaza border, plus commitment to a permanent rather than temporary ceasefire.

What is Hamas’ position?

Hamas earlier signaled its readiness to release 34 captives “whether alive or dead as part of the first phase” of the deal, which is also expected to include a ceasefire in Gaza for a period of between six and seven weeks and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Ukrainian forces' attempt to attack the Russian Gai-Kodzor compressor station of the Turkstream gas project is a continuation of Kiev's energy terrorism under the supervision of "overseas friends," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

According to him, the United States, which is significantly increasing LNG supplies to European markets at inflated prices, is the beneficiary of such terrorism.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

'For us, Ukraine is our organic territory, it’s us' - Russian philosopher Dugin

Donald Trump has “absolutely no understanding” of the Ukrainian issue, Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin tells Sputnik while weighing in on the odds of the new US administration helping resolve the conflict.

“For us, Ukraine is our organic territory, it’s us, our people, and our nation,” Dugin points out, whereas, he alleges, for Trump, it is just some "distant entity" that poses little interest to him.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤖 Cyberpunk 2025

In Brazil, a robot went for a walk with his dog, which is also a robot. Residents watched with curiosity, but a real dog was scared of his new acquaintance.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Ukraine’s attack on TurkStream is US plot similar to Nord Stream blast – expert

Ukraine’s drone attacks on a Russian compressor station supplying natural gas through the TurkStream pipeline to the EU via Turkiye “were prompted by the US and the EU secretariat,” Dr. Mamdouh G. Salameh, an international oil economist and global energy expert, told Sputnik.

According to Salameh, Ukraine's actions aim to undermine EU energy security for two reasons:

1. Following orders from the US, which profits by selling more gas to the EU.

2. Displaying ingratitude toward the EU, despite its financial aid and weapons support to Ukraine.

EU faces gas deficit

Salameh noted that Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russian gas supplies come during peak gas demand due to winter weather conditions. On January 1, Ukraine also halted the transit of Russian gas to Europe.

The EU is now scrambling to replenish its gas storages, which have fallen below average levels. With market competition intensifying, Bloomberg has warned that this could lead to a prolonged gas deficit lasting until 2026.

US emerges as the major beneficiary

The US is capitalizing on the crisis by increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe at prices 2–3 times higher than Russian pipeline gas, Salameh emphasizes.

“More US LNG supplies align with President-elect Trump’s objective to reduce America’s trade deficit with the EU,” he states.

Salameh also points to a broader pattern of US profiteering from European energy crises, referencing the Nord Stream sabotage. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh previously reported that US intelligence operatives were behind the attack.

The latest strike on TurkStream, Salameh argues, bears the same “inspirational hallmark” as the Nord Stream sabotage in order to sever forever the EU’s dependence on Russian piped gas," Salameh concludes.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤯 P. Diddy cover-up, US deep state and UFOs: Top five LA wildfire theories

The Los Angeles wildfires have sparked numerous theories about their origins, ranging from political blame games to far-fetched ideas.

1️⃣ Did the federal government use directed energy weapons (DEW)?

Some online users have suggested that DEWs were used to ignite the wildfires, citing unusual destruction patterns, such as intact palm trees standing amidst completely destroyed vehicles and homes.

These anomalies have fueled speculation that the fires were deliberately started by globalists to undermine livelihoods, erode national identities, and pave the way for a one-world government.

2️⃣ Are corporations enforcing 15-minute cities on Americans?

A subset of the DEW theory proposes a more pragmatic motive: corporate liberals allegedly sought to clear the land and redesign the affected areas into "15-minute cities."

This urban planning concept aims to reduce car use and carbon emissions by ensuring that all daily necessities are within a 15-minute walk.

3️⃣ Is P. Diddy destroying evidence?

Another controversial theory links the wildfires to rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs. Some speculate that the fires were orchestrated to destroy evidence related to sex crime allegations against Diddy, who has faced over 100 accusations. The claims include alleged "freak outs" involving Hollywood celebrities.

4️⃣ A UFO accident?

Several viral videos show strange objects moving over Los Angeles at speeds too fast for an aircraft or drone, sparking speculation about extraterrestrial involvement in the wildfires. Some even suggested that the fires might have been caused by a UFO accident.

5️⃣ “Woke” firefighters to blame?

Republican commentator Scott Jennings stirred controversy on CNN's News Night on January 8 by attributing the wildfires to California’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he claims came at the expense of professional hiring. "I’m wondering now if your house was burning down, how much do you care what color the firefighters are?” he asked.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US Defense Secretary calls for $1 trillion defense budget - how much taxpayer money will be wasted?

Outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended a staggering $50 billion boost to the US defense budget for fiscal year 2026, bringing the Pentagon’s projected spending to over $1 trillion annually in the years ahead.

The most surprising aspect is that this jaw-dropping figure doesn’t even include the billions allocated for support to Ukraine and Israel, which come from separate funding packages.

But the real question is: where is all this money going? The Pentagon has never passed a full audit. That’s right — billions of taxpayer dollars simply vanish into a black hole of inefficiency, mismanagement, and bloated contracts.

Add to that overpriced weapons programs, delays, and cost overruns on major projects like the F-35 fighter jet, which has inflated the lifetime costs to $2 trillion.

Is this really about national security, or is it about enriching defense contractors?

Now, it is far from guaranteed that the incoming Trump administration will follow along with the proposed budget as is. Time will tell.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🛰🛰🛰🛰 LIVESTREAM UPCOMING: Russian FM Sergey Lavrov sums up the year in a press conference

Lavrov will meet representatives of Russian and foreign media in Moscow and answer their questions on burning geopolitical topics.

He will sum up the year of work of Russian diplomacy and outline plans for the future.

Join us tomorrow at 8:30 am GMT!

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Ukraine’s attack on TurkStream is energy terrorism – Western scholars

Kiev’s drone attacks on a Russian compressor station supplying natural gas to EU customers via TurkStream constitute “energy terrorism” aimed at Europeans, pundits told Sputnik.

Dr. Marco Marsili, a researcher at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, described the assault as a “clear act of energy terrorism.”

“By attempting to disrupt this vital energy flow, it is not only an attack on Russia’s infrastructure but also an attempt to blackmail European nations, putting their energy security at risk,” Marsili told Sputnik.

Ukraine violated international law

Marsili, a former public official and election observer for the OSCE/ODIHR, emphasized that Ukraine’s actions represent a blatant violation of international laws that protect civilian infrastructure and economic resources in conflict zones.

He specifically referenced the 2011 International Court of Justice ruling in the case of Nicaragua v. United States, which condemned attacks on infrastructure for economic disruption, and the 2007 European Court of Human Rights decision on energy infrastructure attacks.

Ukraine uses terror against Europeans

“Terrorism is when you target civilians. The attack on TurkStream is part of Ukraine's broader strategy of targeting civilian objectives,” said George Szamuely, a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute, speaking to Sputnik.

Szamuely argued that by attacking TurkStream, Ukraine seeks to coerce Hungary and Slovakia into aligning with EU foreign policy and, more importantly, NATO’s bellicose stance on Ukraine.

“This is clearly illegal under international law, as it attempts to pressure civilians to influence government policies,” Szamuely concluded.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹 NATO instructors use outdated methods and learn from Ukrainians, captured border guard reveals

NATO instructors are not only sticking to outdated training methods that fail to address current realities, but they are also attempting to "learn" from the Ukrainian soldiers they are supposed to be teaching.

A Ukrainian border guard, who underwent training in both Britain and France, shared these details with Russian security forces after being captured.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt