Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Italy Supreme Court Upholds Salvini Acquittal in Migrant Kidnapping Case 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
Trump Announces $1,776 Cash Bonus for U.S. Military Personnel Ahead of Christmas 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. to Continue 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure 
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned what she said were “illegal” border attacks by Azerbaijan on Armenia. Pelosi visited Armenia over the weekend to pledge the support of Washington over the Russian ally.
Pelosi visited Armenia Sunday in an effort to strengthen support for what the top House Democrat said was a beacon of democracy. Speaking in Yerevan, Pelosi also said her visit was significant following Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenia that triggered border clashes that left over 200 people dead.
“We strongly condemn those attacks,” said Pelosi, adding that the incidents were triggered by Azerbaijan’s assaults on Armenia and the chronology of the conflict must be clear.
Pelosi’s remarks were condemned by Baku, saying that Pelosi was threatening peace in the region, especially following her visit to Taiwan last month which angered China.
Pelosi’s remarks blaming Azerbaijan for the conflict come in contrast with remarks by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken previously called for calm in the area but did not pin the blame on either side.
Blinken also urged Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev Sunday to comply with the ceasefire, “disengage military forces and work to resolve all outstanding issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan through peaceful negotiations,” according to State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Rep. Frank Pallone, who was part of the delegation led by Pelosi, said that Washington wanted to do whatever it can to show more support for Armenia’s security.
Weighing in on Armenia’s disappointment with Russia’s response to the conflict, Pelosi said it was interesting that Russia only responded by launching a monitoring mission rather than protection.
“It is interesting that they were disappointed they got fact finders and not protection from that relationship and we’ll see what happens next,” said Pelosi.
Wednesday last week, Pelosi told reporters during a news conference that the proposed bill that would see stricter rules on lawmakers' stock holdings and trades should come together this month.
Pelosi described the legislation as “very strong” but did not indicate whether the bill would also include congressional staff in the provisions.
A vote by the House on the legislation follows months after committees sought to draft a bill. Lawmakers are also set to go on a break until the November midterm elections.
