Farewell fantasy: Biden's big claims

In his farewell speech, US President Joe Biden proudly listed the many "accomplishments" of his administration. But... did he really do all that?

Let’s dive into this grand goodbye and see how much is fact and how much is, well, optimistic storytelling. Buckle up for a journey through promises, policies, and perhaps a bit of poetic license.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Bored of same old tourist destinations? Go to North Korea!

The Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in northeastern North Korea is now open to tourists from most countries, excluding the US and South Korea. Tourists from China are expected to be the first to enter.

“It is anticipated that these initial trips will be for up to five days. Notably, Chinese visitors don’t even need full passports for these trips, as special single-entry travel permits to North Korea are arranged for them,” Rowan Beard of Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) told NK News, citing local DPRK partners.

Would you try it out?

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🪖 Denmark plans new military base in Greenland

Copenhagen plans to build a military airbase in western Greenland to “demonstrate strength” and increase Arctic Command staff in the capital Nuuk, TV2 reports, citing a classified Danish military report.

The report outlines Denmark’s strategy to enhance Arctic and North Atlantic defense capabilities. It was completed in September 2024. The base in Kangerlussuaq would host F-35 fighters for periodic operations, sovereignty defense, and deterrence.

Estimated at 1.1 billion kroner ($150mln), the base would accommodate up to 94 personnel and protect critical Greenlandic infrastructure, including undersea cables and energy facilities. In addition, a mobile military base transportable by aircraft is also mentioned. The Arctic Command headquarters in Nuuk, currently staffed by 70, would be expanded by 58 personnel. The report also emphasizes the importance of satellite communications and surveillance.

In January, TV2 reported Denmark’s $2 billion Arctic military expansion plan, including more ships, drones, and sled patrols. In May 2024, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the government may station Arctic Command units in Kangerlussuaq.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested Greenland should belong to the United States, though Greenland’s prime minister firmly rejected any sale. Greenland gained its status as an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark in 2009.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Trump's dilemma: Sanctions or peace talks to end the Ukraine conflict?

A team led by US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a sanctions strategy toward Russia that might aid in resolving the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

Two primary courses of action are under consideration:

1️⃣ Following the current administration’s lead, Trump could opt to strengthen existing sanctions on Russia, aiming to increase pressure and potentially secure concessions.

2️⃣ Alternatively, the focus could shift toward a diplomatic resolution. In this case, certain sanctions on Russian oil producers might be eased - contingent on the perception that the conflict is nearing its conclusion.

It’s worth noting that Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to bring an end to the conflict swiftly after taking office.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Over 11 million Ukrainians arrived in Romania in past 3 years – Romanian border police

“As far as Ukrainian citizens are concerned, our workers carry out the border control formalities for them, in accordance with the national and community regulations in the field. 11,005,575 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania from 10.02.2022 to 15.01.2025 at national level,” the police said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency data, some 6.8 million Ukrainians have left the country since February 2022, with the majority or 6.2 million, settling in Europe.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US spending is out of control, says Trump's Treasury pick

The United States is facing what Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary nominee, called “a spending problem.”

Speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing, Bessent highlighted the deficit’s unprecedented peacetime level of 6.8% of GDP. “We have never seen this before when it’s not a recession or not a war,” he remarked.

Federal spending has grown to 24-25% of GDP, a substantial increase from historical norms. Bessent explained that for decades, revenues typically made up about 17% of GDP, with spending slightly higher, resulting in a manageable 3.5% budget deficit.

But with today’s dramatically higher spending, Bessent warned that the country’s fiscal path has become unsustainable.

"This is one of the things that got me out from behind my desk and my quiet life in this campaign, was the thought that this spending is out of control," he said.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Nine key facts about the new strategic partnership between Russia and Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian will meet today in Moscow to sign a new comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. Here’s what’s known about it:

▪️The deal will replace the 2001 agreement, which was in effect for 20 years and was repeatedly renewed automatically.

▪️Discussions on the new document began in July 2020, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed on the need to reflect significant global shifts.

▪️In November 2021, then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed Iran’s willingness to sign a comprehensive long-term cooperation agreement with Russia during a phone call with Putin.

▪️According to Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Kassem Jalali, the agreement will consist of an introduction and 47 articles.

▪️After signing, the agreement must be ratified by Iran’s parliament and will remain in force for 20 years.

▪️Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi highlighted the key areas of the partnership: economics, technology, and humanitarian ties.

▪️The agreement emphasizes strengthening collaboration in security and defense sectors.

▪️One of the priorities of the agreement is completing the North-South Transport Corridor.

▪️Russia and Iran, both opposing a unipolar world order, aim to deepen cooperation within frameworks like the SCO, BRICS, and the EAEU.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Netanyahu’s Office confirms ceasefire deal signed by Israel, Hamas, US, and Qatar

A ceasefire agreement involving Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar has been signed, according to a statement cited by the Jerusalem Post.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🎤Netanyahu promises potential renewal of Gaza conflict to preserve coalition

In order to maintain unity within his governing coalition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly assured his far-right partners that the Gaza conflict could resume after the first phase of the ceasefire, The Washington Post reported, citing sources.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📉 Biden set to leave office as one of the least popular US presidents since 1938

President Joe Biden is on track to leave office as one of the most unpopular leaders in US history at the end of his first term, based on public approval ratings.

🔍According to the latest Gallup poll, only 39% of Americans approve of Biden’s performance, while 56% disapprove. Comparatively, Biden's approval slightly trails Donald Trump’s at the same point in their presidencies: Biden holds 36.7%, while Trump had 37.6%, per FiveThirtyEight's poll aggregator.

When reflecting on Biden’s legacy, more than half of Americans (54%) believe he will be remembered as a weak president, according to Gallup data.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣Ukrainian forces burn soldiers' bodies to avoid paying families - PoW

A captured Ukrainian border guard has alleged that Kiev's regime is burning the bodies of Ukrainian servicemen to avoid compensating their families.

🔊"There are so many injured and even more dead. The stationary crematorium in Kharkov cannot handle it," he told Sputnik.

🔊"They [Ukrainian forces] also burn [the bodies of] foreign mercenaries to hide the presence of foreign contingents in Ukraine," servicemen added.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥Massive fire at major California power plant prompts evacuations

The fire involves one of the world's largest battery storage facilities, which houses tens of thousands of lithium batteries, according to media reports. Emergency crews are working to contain the situation.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt