North America

Washington, Jan 4 (PTI) Veteran Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, considered an ardent supporter of India-US ties, has been elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time, becoming the most powerful elected woman in the US.

Pelosi, 78, second in line for the presidency, took the gavel as Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives in the new Congress after the mid-term elections.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nancy Pelosi knew this moment would come, even if others had their doubts — or actively worked to stop her.

Pelosi is poised to be elected Thursday as House speaker, the only woman who has held the office and now one of few elected officials who will be returning to it. The last time a speaker regained the gavel was more than a half-century ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — No one budged at President Donald Trump’s closed-door meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, so the partial government shutdown persisted through Day 12 over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. They’ll all try again Friday.

In public, Trump renewed his dire warnings of rapists and others at the border. But when pressed in private by Democrats asking why he wouldn’t end the shutdown, he responded at one point, “I would look foolish if I did that.”

03 Jan 2019; AFP: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a rather stark take on the situation in war-wracked Syria, summing it up in two words -- "sand and death" -- while remaining vague about the timing of the withdrawal of US troops.

"So Syria was lost long ago. It was lost long ago. And besides that, I don't want -- we're talking about sand and death. That's what we're talking about," Trump said during a cabinet meeting.

03 Jan 2019; AFP: Disney posted its second best year at the box office ever, raking in $7.325 billion worldwide for everything from "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War" to hit animated sequel "Incredibles 2" and the latest "Star Wars" film.

Disney remains the only studio to ever post more than $7 billion in annual box office receipts. In 2016, it recorded its best year at $7.6 billion.

03 Jan 2019; DW: US President Donald Trump said if he were popular in Europe then he would not be doing his job. Trump touted the "tremendous service" the US provides European nations and that in turn, they should respect the US.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The 19 Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo in Washington D.C. closed their doors on Wednesday as the partial U.S. government shutdown dragged on.

"Due to the federal government shutdown, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed," the Smithsonian institution said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"Museum and National Zoo programming and events are also canceled," said the statement.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday held firm on his initial request for 5 billion U.S. dollars for funding the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, hours ahead of a planned meeting with congressional Democrats to bridge their bitter divide, which has dragged a partial government shutdown into the 12th day.

Trump was asked by a reporter at a cabinet meeting Wednesday morning in the White House whether he would accept a bill containing border wall funding below 5 billion dollars.

Tijuana (Mexico), Jan 2; AFP: A group of 150 migrants from Mexico tried crossing over to the US. The US Border Patrol used tear gas and pepper spray to counter them as they threw rocks while trying to get into the country. This led to 25 arrests.

It is the second time since November that border officers have used tear gas during an attempted mass migrant crossing in the San Diego area. At least three volleys of gas were launched onto the Mexican side of the border near Tijuana's beach.

01 Jan 2019; DW: The US secretary of state has reassured Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington still supports his country. Pompeo's comments reflect unease caused by Donald Trump's plans to withdraw US troops from Syria.

A decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw US troops from Syria will not affect Washington's cooperation with Israel over Syria and in efforts to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (top photo) said on Tuesday.