"The Ukrainian leader thanked Biden for supporting Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression.
The two leaders also discussed details of a new U.S. sanctions package targeting Russian oil production and shipping, which Washington announced earlier the same day.
Zelensky also extended his condolences over the large-scale fires in California and praised the bravery of Americans continuing to fight the wildfires and save residents of Los Angeles and its suburbs." NV
"The vivid, heartbreaking images from this week’s Los Angeles wildfires called urgent attention to California’s longtime decline.
But this time, those affected by its bad policies and bad governance include a demographic rarely touched by them: the rich.Over the last several years, California’s net out-migration numbers set records.
An astounding 343,000 more people left the Golden State than moved to it in 2022, the highest net loss of any state, and 2023 was almost as bad, with a net loss of 268,100.
But the wealthy of California largely stayed put.
It was mostly the lower and middle classes, walloped by notoriously high taxes, mismanagement at every level of government and crumbling infrastructure, who made a run for the door.
The affluent have been largely protected from all that.
They could easily absorb the heavy tax burden and the high costs of housing or gas.
Like Gov. Gavin Newsom, they could avoid their state’s failing public schools and send their kids to private schools instead.
But no water in a fire hydrant is a great equalizer.
Newsom has been the physical embodiment of the shrugging emoji throughout this crisis.
Asked why there was no water in the hydrants, Newsom passed the buck: “Look, the local folks are trying to figure that out,” he said.
Mayor Karen Bass shut down completely and looked catatonic when she was challenged by a reporter with questions like “Do you regret cutting the Fire Department budget by millions of dollars?” Blank stare.
The worst part is this crisis was entirely predictable — so predictable in fact that incoming president Donald Trump noted California’s ongoing water problem on Joe Rogan’s podcast three months ago." NYP
"Police believe a fifth brush fire that broke out in the fiery Los Angeles hellscape on Thursday afternoon may have been set intentionally -- and they've arrested a suspect who was captured by residents. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman indicated the suspect in the nearly-1,000-acre Kenneth fire could face murder charges, if a loss of life is linked to that blaze. "Justice will be swift. It will be firm, and the maximum punishment will be sought," he told NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield. Witnesses told LA's KFI News radio that the suspect was seen riding a motorbike and holding an ignited torch, with three residents chasing him down and gang-tackling him in a front yard." ZeroHedge
"Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to direct talks with US President-elect DonaldTrump....Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump have expressed their readiness to communicate, adding that there are no preconditions to holding a meeting between the two leaders.
“President Putin has repeatedly stated his openness to contacts with international leaders, including the US president and, in particular, Donald Trump,” Peskov said.
“No conditions are required for this. What is required is a mutual desire and political will to conduct a dialogue, to resolve existing problems through dialogue,” the spokesman added, noting that Moscow has recognized Trump’s readiness to solve problems through talks. “We welcome this.” RT
"The Tishreen Dam, a critical source of water and electricity for northeast Syria, has become a flashpoint in the escalating conflict. The demonstration, meant to showcase unity and demand an end to violence, was overshadowed by heavy bombardments in the area, resulting in casualties and chaos." MS
"Thousands of fighters linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps paraded with heavy weapons and vehicles through the streets of Tehran on Friday showing their readiness to face "threats".
The parade by paramilitary Basij volunteers comes after the weakening of Iran's allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, during wars with Israel.
A Guards commander, General Mohammadreza Naghdi, singled out Iran's enemies the United States and Israel during the gathering." MS
"Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky could press criminal charges against former Army Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny, should he decide to run for the presidency. Zelensky has refused to hold elections or leave office after he cancelled a vote scheduled for May 2024, citing the conflict with Russia. A new election date has yet to be set.According to Telegraf, Zelensky has already decided to run in the next election, with the earliest possible date being May 2025. The timing depends on developments in the conflict and whether US President-elect Donald Trump manages to mediate.
If Zaluzhny runs for president, however, he could face criminal investigations, including a probe into the 2022 fall of the city of Kherson to Russian forces, the outlet reported. Sources suggested that Zaluzhny’s name could be tied to the case at a politically opportune moment." RT
"Ukraine is ready to take Hungary’s place in the European Union, the Foreign Ministry in Kiev said on Wednesday. Budapest recently blasted Ukraine for blocking the transit of natural gas from Russia to the European Union." RT
"A total of 161 combat engagements along the Ukrainian frontlines have been recorded over the past 24 hours.
Russia’s airstrikes targeted the areas of Oleksandrivka, Vovchanski Khutory, Sadovod, Hryhorivka, Khatne, Pishchane, Kurylivka, Borivska Andriivka, Zelenyi Hiy, Verkhniokamianske, Maiske, Druzhba, Shcherbynivka, Serhiivka, Andriivka, Toretsk, Kostiantynivka, Temyrivka, Velyka Novosilka, and Kherson.On the Siversk axis, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions once near the settlement of Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk axis, seven clashes were recorded in the areas of Chasiv Yar and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk axis, the enemy carried out 12 attacks near Toretsk, Bila Hora, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk axis, Ukraine’s defenders held back 42 enemy attacks near the settlements of Baranivka, Myroliubivka, Sukhyi Yar, Yelizavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Zelene, Zvirovo, Novyi Trud, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Uspenivka, Novovasylivka, Novoandriivka, and Novoyelyzavetivka.
On the Kurakhove axis, the Defense Forces repelled 29 attacks near Sribne, Andriivka, Petropavlivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne.
On the Vremivka axis, the enemy launched 11 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Yantarne, Vremivka, Kostiantynopil, and Rozlyv.
On the Prydniprovia axis, the Russian invaders unsuccessfully stormed the positions of Ukrainian units three times.
In the operational zone within Russia’s Kursk region, units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces have repelled 25 attacks over the past day. The enemy launched 19 airstrikes, using 31 guided bombs, as well as 469 artillery rounds, including 19 from MLR systems.
On the Volyn and Polissia axes, no signs of enemy offensive groupings being formed were detected.
According to the General Staff, in the border areas of Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the enemy fired artillery and employed aviation against the Ukrainian settlements." Ukrin
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