ࡱ> >@= ,bjbj?? &]], D+r*******-X0r* *k*kkk ^*k*kk)*P]k** +0D+*0k0,*k* :   Monday, Dec. 27 President Joe Biden signed the United States enormous $777.7 billion annual military budget, weeks after both chambers of Congress passed the bill by overwhelmingly margins. The budget is $24 billion over what the Biden administration originally requested. It is Bidens first military budget approval in office, as well as the largest military budget in both U.S. history and in the world, over triple that of China, the second-biggest military spender. Biden met with state governors, pledging to support states struggling with the omicron variant of COVID-19, but saying states need to take the lead in controlling the recent and alarming surges in coronavirus cases, which have been breaking through even to vaccinated and boosted individuals. There is no federal solution, Biden said of the global pandemic. This gets solved at a state level. The Centers for Disease Control halved the recommended self-isolation period for asymptomatic people who test positive for COVID-19: down from 10 days to five, although it still recommended wearing a mask around others at all times for the following five days. Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a press conference that this decision was made with scientific backing in mind, but also in part to minimize the prospect of mass labor shortages. We need to keep society running, Fauci said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called on federal regulators to crack down on Wall Street over climate change concerns. The volume of greenhouse gas emitted by the financial-services industry is outrageous, Warren tweeted. If it were a country it would rank as the fifth-largest emitter in the world. Regulators need to crack down on the financial sector's role in the climate crisis. Tuesday, Dec. 28 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an engineering analysis covering about 3 million vehicles from Hyundai and Kia to evaluate the efficacy of recalls initiated by the two automakers over the past six years due to non-collision engine fires, among other considerations. Biden formally ordered the repeal of travel restrictions from eight southern African countries imposed last month: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Biden said the restrictions are no longer necessary to protect the public health. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol made public the news that it agreed to delay or withdraw demands for just over 500 of White House records during former President Donald Trumps tenure in office at the request of the Biden administration, which was concerned that some of the documents could compromise national security if made public. However, Biden still rejects Trumps claim that all internal White House documents pertaining to the riot be withheld on the grounds of executive privilege. Wednesday, Dec. 29 Former Senate majority leader Harry Reid died at the age of 82 due to pancreatic cancer. Reid, a Nevada Democrat, served as former President Barack Obamas point man in the Senate and helped to secure the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. CDC data showed surges in the omicron variant are fueling thousands of new COVID-19 hospitalizations among children. The 7-day average of daily hospitalizations for U.S. children rose more than 58% between Dec. 21 and Dec. 27, with symptoms including difficulty breathing, high fever, and dehydration. New infections in the U.S. in general have soared to their highest levels on record since the pandemic began. The New York Times reported that the Pentagon is building a second courtroom for war crimes trials at Guantnamo Bay that will not allow public attendance and will permit two military judges to hold proceedings simultaneously starting in 2023. Thursday, Dec. 30 Biden had a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned, according to a Kremlin aide, that it would be a colossal mistake for the U.S. to slap any sanctions on Russia over its potential actions against Ukraine, on whose border Russia has been building up troops for weeks. Meanwhile the White House said Biden urged Putin to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. The Navy announced it fired two leads on the combat ship Montgomery Cmdr. Richard J. Zamberlan, the ships skipper, and Cmdr. Phillip Lundberg, the vessels executive officer because of a loss of confidence in their ability to command. Friday, Dec. 31 New Years Eve. No news to report. Saturday, Jan. 1 The U.S. announced it cut Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea out of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a duty-free trade program, due to gross violations of internationally recognized human rights being perpetrated by the government of Ethiopia and other parties amid the widening conflict in northern Ethiopia, as well as by the unconstitutional change in governments in both Guinea and Mali, which violate AGOA statutes. Sunday, Jan. 2 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced he tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms. I requested the test today after exhibiting symptoms while at home on leave, Austin said in a statement. My symptoms are mild, and I am following my physicians directions. Twitter permanently suspended the personal account of Rep. 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