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

🟠Netanyahu confirms ceasefire but reportedly signals possibility of renewed conflict

🟠Key facts about the new strategic partnership between Russia and Iran

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

🟠VIDEO: Mass protests in Israel as citizens reject the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Stay tuned, the negotiations will be streamed live on Sputnik's telegram and website.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤝One agreement and a lot of cooperation

Iranian Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, published a post in Russian on his X account ahead of the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Stay tuned, the negotiations will be streamed live on Sputnik's telegram and website.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt