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Nancy Pelosi wins reelection as Speaker of US House of Representatives

She received the support of a majority of Congressmen

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi

© AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

WASHINGTON, January 4. /TASS/. Democrat Nancy Pelosi has been reelected Speaker of the US House of Representatives as the 117th US Congress convened on Sunday. The meeting is broadcast on the website of the legislative body.

The 80-year-old representative of the Democratic Party received the support of a majority of Congressmen. She defeated 55-year-old Republican Kevin McCarthy.

Pelosi has been elected speaker of the lower house for the fourth time: she held this post in the 116th Congress, and from January 2007 to January 2011 (110th and 111th convocations).

At the end of the general election on November 3, 2020, the US Democratic Party lost part of its mandates, but still retained its majority in the House of Representatives.

One of the first tasks of the new Congress will be to approve the results of the presidential elections at a joint meeting of both chambers on January 6.

On December 14, the US Electoral College convened and confirmed Biden’s election victory. The Democrat received 306 votes, while incumbent President Donald Trump secured 232 votes. With 538 electors, a candidate needs to get 270 votes to be elected to the office of President of the United States. Nevertheless, Trump has not conceded, filing a multitude of lawsuits claiming irregularities and voter fraud in a number of key states. Trump’s legal battles have failed to gain any ground, being rejected in state courts, as well as by the US Supreme Court. The inauguration of the next head of the US administration will take place on January 20.

Middle East conflict

Israeli anthem booed before start of football match in Paris

Prior to the event, leftist politicians and activists staged a protest at a square in Paris’ northern suburb of Saint-Denis

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According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

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FSB detains Russian for passing defense industry data to Ukraine's intelligence

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Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

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Russia ratifies comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korea

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Daniil Medvedev loses chances of reaching semifinals at ATP Tour Finals

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Russian forces liberate Voznesenka community in Donbass region over past day

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Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

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Kremlin comments on possible return of Japanese, European cars to Russia

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France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons

US denies possession of extraterrestrial technologies

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Gazprom says EU artificially destroys gas demand to the detriment of its own economy

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Russia provides free military aid to Central African Republic — Foreign Ministry

Moscow has provided free military aid to the Central African Republic at the country’s government’s request

Lukashenko congratulates Trump on winning US presidential election

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Russia’s Vityaz, Viking air defense systems attract major attention at Airshow China

Russian surface-to-air missile systems have demonstrated their value in the special military operation in Ukraine, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln noted

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Elon Musk claims war mongers back Kamala Harris’ 'puppet regime'

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Ukraine targets medics and journalists as priorities — military doctor

Santa noted that the medic’s red cross draws the attention of Ukrainian troops, so affiliation patches on uniforms must blend in, and identifying marks are also not applied to evacuation vehicles

Talks out of question: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 400 servicemen and 29 armored vehicles

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Authorities of southeastern Ukrainian region report ‘infrastructure damage’

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The circumstances of the incident are being established at the moment

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Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Bank of Russia sells currency worth $42.6 mln in domestic market

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Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk area

Russian tactical aircraft pilots conduct sorties at any time of day or night in any weather conditions, using various armament

Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 13th

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Assassination attempt on Putin mentioned by Budanov prepared with US money — Russian MFA

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Mi-171A3 helicopter draws interest from partners in China — Russian Helicopters

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Attempts being made to drag Syria into armed confrontation in Middle East — diplomat

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Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

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Swedish minister in charge of gender equality suffers from bananaphobia

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Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

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Pilot lauds thrust, aerodynamics of smooth-flying Su-57 fighter jet

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Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

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Ukraine's Kurakhovo Reservoir dam blast to help, not hurt Russian troops — expert

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

Businessmen in Germany, Russia again eager to interact more, says executive

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No plans for major government reshuffle after parliamentary election — Georgian PM

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Hidden painting found under Malevich’s Black Square

The colors could be seen through the cracks on The Black Square under the microscope, an expert says

Court sentences ‘Russian Volunteer Corps’ members to life in prison in absentia

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Russia had to revise nuclear doctrine amid West’s reckless push for escalation — Kremlin

According to Peskov, "revisions have been made and will be formalized now."

US plans to remove 'arrogant' Zelensky and stage 2025 elections in Ukraine — SVR

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Israeli anthem booed before start of football match in Paris

Prior to the event, leftist politicians and activists staged a protest at a square in Paris’ northern suburb of Saint-Denis

Third generation Ratnik combat gear to be displayed at Army-2019 in June

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US missile defense site to defend Poland from Russia too — Polish minister

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Russia to collaborate with Arab nations for Middle East de-escalation — diplomat

"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

Iran will never try to build nuclear weapons, president tells IAEA chief

Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US of derailing the agreements around Iran's nuclear program

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Buran space shuttle celebrates 30th anniversary of milestone flight

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South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

As Yoon Suk Yeol said, the reported dispatch of North Korean servicemen to participate in Russia’s special military operation "poses a serious security threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Europe but also to the entire world"

Putin discussed Ukraine with Saudi crown prince — Kremlin

"The sides indeed touched upon the topic of the conflict. We have nothing more to say," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian State Duma ratifies agreement on military cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe

According to the agreement, the sides will also exchange information on the issue of mutual interests in the military sphere, as well as coordinate efforts to jointly counter challenges and threats to global and regional security and stability

Russia expands production of VK-2500 helicopter engines

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Annual inflation in Russia from November 6 to 11 accelerates from 8.53% to 8.56%

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IEA upgrades outlook on oil demand growth for 2024 to 920,000 bpd

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Russian troops storm into Kupyansk outskirts in Kharkov Region — military expert

Troops from various Russian army units are engaged in battles in the outskirts of Kupyansk, Andrey Marochko said