Taiwan President Offers Cooperation With Ukraine to Combat Sanctions Evasion 
New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District 
Colombia Suspends Electricity Exports to Ecuador as Trade and Security Dispute Escalates 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Limit Wall Street Investment in Single-Family Homes 
Syria Announces Ceasefire With Kurdish Forces as U.S. Pushes Integration Deal 
U.S. Backs Iraq’s Move to Detain ISIS Fighters, Urges Global Repatriation 
Spain Pushes for EU Joint Army to Strengthen European Security and Deterrence 
U.S. Steps Aside as Syria Reclaims SDF-Held Territory in Power Shift 
Trump Warns Iran Against Restarting Nuclear Program, Signals U.S. Readiness to Act 
Japan Government Bond Rout Deepens as Election Spending Fears Shake Markets 
Supreme Court Signals Doubts Over Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook 
Japan Snap Election Sparks Bond Yield Surge as Parties Clash Over Fiscal and Monetary Policy 
NATO Chief Says Greenland Sovereignty Not Discussed as Trump Backs Off Tariff and Force Threats 
Trump Administration Launches Immigration Enforcement Operation in Maine Amid Political Tensions 
Trump Calls for Prosecution of Jack Smith After Congressional Testimony 
Trump Withdraws Canada Invitation to Board of Peace Initiative 
Somaliland President Meets Eric Trump and Israeli President at Davos to Seek Recognition and Investment 
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week has joined both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in calling for a ban of Russian oil and energy products from entering the US. Pelosi has urged House Democrats to support the ban.
Pelosi made the announcement through a memo Sunday night, the same day the White House released a statement regarding aid to Ukraine and also urging Congress to stop accepting Russian oil into the country. Pelosi said that the House of Representatives is exploring legislation that would further isolate Russia from the global economy. However, Pelosi also made clear that this legislation that Congress is set to pass will not affect global markets, despite the rising gas prices in the country.
“The House is currently exploring strong legislation that will further isolate Russia from the global economy,” said the memo. “Our bill would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products from the United States, repeal normal trade relations between Belarus and the United States, and take the first step to deny Russia access to the World Trade Organization. We would also empower the Executive to raise tariffs on Russian imports.”
Pelosi sent the memo to House Democrats following US President Joe Biden’s request for Congress to authorize $10 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic assistance for Ukraine. Congress will vote on the legislation, but with Biden’s stance that no US troops will be deployed to Ukraine.
In other related news, Pelosi has given her endorsement to Democratic California Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass is one of the frontrunners among candidates to succeed Mayor Eric Garcetti. Pelosi endorsed Bass in a video message.
“Karen fights to meet the kitchen table needs of Los Angeles families and of families across America,” said Pelosi. “What keeps you up at night is what keeps her up at night.”
Bass has also received the endorsements of her fellow Democratic colleagues in Congress, including Reps. Jimmy Gomez, Norma Torres, and Lou Correa. Recent polls have shown Bass in the lead despite a big portion of voters in Los Angeles who are undecided.
