Monday, Dec. 12
- The
Treasury Department announced sanctions against Emmerson
Mnangagwa Jr., the son of ZimbabweÕs President Emmerson Mnangagwa, along
with sanctions against three other individuals and two entities alleged to
be Òhuman rights abusers and those who undermine democratic processes or
facilitate corruption,Ó the department said.
- China
launched a suit at the World Trade Organization against the United States
over chip export control measures that China says threaten Òthe stability
of the global industrial supply chains,Ó per a statement by ChinaÕs
commerce ministry. The U.S. released export controls in October aimed at
stunting ChinaÕs semiconductor industry.
- The
Justice Department began its second major sedition trial regarding the
events of Jan. 6, 2021. A federal prosecutor argued that four members of
the far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers should be found guilty of
seditious conspiracy for plotting to use force to stop the peaceful
transfer of power at the Capitol to keep former President Donald Trump in
the White House.
- Georgia
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger received a
subpoena related to special counsel Jack SmithÕs investigation of former
President Donald Trump, who focused strongly on the states as he sought to
overturn his 2020 election loss. Smith was appointed last month by
Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee the Justice DepartmentÕs
Mar-a-Lago investigation but also aspects of TrumpÕs attempts to stay in
power, including the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U. S. Capitol.
Tuesday, Dec. 13
- The
U.S. began a three day summit with leaders of African nations. President
Joe Biden hosted dozens of regional leaders for talks focused on
challenges like the climate crisis, governance, food security, trade,
investment, and health. The summit Òis rooted in the recognition that
Africa is a key geopolitical player,Ó said National Security Advisor Jake
Sullivan.
- Biden
signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that protects
same-sex and interracial marriage in the U.S. The House passed the bill on
Dec. 8 after a successful vote in the Senate at the end of November.
- The
Energy Department announced that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory reached a ÒmilestoneÓ in fusion energy that has the
potential to one day become a boundless source of clean energy.
- NASA
announced that its rover Perseverance recorded the sound of a dust devil
on Mars: about 10 seconds of gusts of up to 25 miles per hour and the
pinging of dust particles against the rover.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
- The
House approved a weeklong spending bill to avert a government shutdown,
buying Congress time to finalize an outline for a longer-term spending
package totaling roughly $1.7 trillion.
Thursday, Dec. 15
- The
Biden administration restarted the program that provides free coronavirus tests to U.S. households in an effort to
reduce the rise in ÒtripledemicÓ virus cases and hospitalizations due to
COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, during the holiday
season.
- A
congressionally-formed government accounting watchdog called the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board was allowed full access to inspect and
investigate accounting firms in China. ÒFor the first time in history, we
are able to perform full and thorough inspections and investigations to
root out potential problems and hold firms accountable to fix them,Ó said
PCAOB Chair Erica Williams.
- Biden
announced support for the African Union joining the Group of 20, or G20, a
global forum for major economies, in an effort to build stronger relationships
with African nations. ÒAfrica belongs at the table in every room where
global challenges are being discussed, and in every institution where
discussions are taking place,Ó Biden said.
- The
House passed the Puerto Rico Status Act, a bill to allow Puerto Rico to
vote on a binding referendum on whether to become a state or gain
independence. The bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate.
Friday, Dec. 16
- The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that updated booster
shots have reduced the risk of COVID-related hospitalization by roughly
50% compared with certain groups inoculated with the original vaccines.
- The
CIA released over 13,000 documents related to the 1963 assassination of
President John F. Kennedy. Other sensitive records on the killing were
kept secret for another year for Ònational securityÓ reasons. Many of the
documents focused on assassin Lee Harvey OswaldÕs movements and his
contacts.
- A
U.S.-French satellite called the Surface Water and Ocean Topography
satellite was launched into orbit from a base in California. The satellite
will map almost all of the worldÕs oceans, lakes and rivers.
- Secretary
of State Antony Blinken announced the formation
of the Office of China Coordination in the State Department, a body tasked
with consolidating, managing and implementing policymaking decisions
related to China.
- Douglas
Jensen, an Iowa construction worker who stormed the Capitol building on
Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the
insurrection. Jensen was accused of chasing law enforcement and rallying
supporters while carrying a three-inch blade.
- Attorney
General Merrick Garland instructed federal prosecutors to end disparities
in the way they charge offenses involving crack cocaine and powder
cocaine. Mandatory minimum sentences for crack-related offenses are 18
times lengthier than those for powder cocaine. Anti-racist advocates and
the governmentÕs own data have shown for decades that this nearly
40-year-old policy has led to the dramatically disproportionate
incarceration of Black Americans.
- The
Pentagon announced that its investigation into reports of UFOs has so far
not led to evidence that aliens have visited or crash-landed on Earth.
- The
Transportation Security Administration said that it had intercepted a
record number of guns at airport security checkpoints this year: 6,301
guns, about 88% of which were loaded.
Saturday, Dec. 17
Sunday Dec. 18
- The
State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Blinken
held talks by phone with newly appointed Peruvian President Dina Boluarte earlier in the week. ÒSecretary Blinken encouraged PeruÕs institutions and civil
authorities to redouble their efforts to make needed reforms and safeguard
democratic stability,Ó the State Department said.