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1. Capitol Riot
2. White House
Two Cabinet members resigned after the Capitol rebellion. Transport Secretary Elaine Chao submitted her resignation, saying she was “deeply concerned” about events on Capitol Hill. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos later resigned, saying President Trump’s role in stimulating the Capitol crowd was “the tipping point”. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team are considering a quick impeachment process if Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from office in the next few days. Pelosi, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic lawmakers asked the government to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from his presidential powers. Trump yesterday publicly admitted his defeat in the November elections for the first time and acknowledged that a transfer of power is underway.
3. Coronavirus
The United States reported more than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths in a single day for the first time yesterday, as gloomier statistics accumulate. In Los Angeles County, the number of people dying from Covid-19 in one day is now equivalent to the number of homicide deaths the city sees in an entire year. China has locked up Shijiazhuang, a city of 11 million people near Beijing, to contain the country’s worst crisis in months. In Japan, Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures entered a state of emergency today. Here is some good news: a new study offers initial evidence that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine may be effective against the two new variants of the coronavirus, first identified in South Africa and the United Kingdom, which are now emerging in Worldwide.
4. Iran
The US military flew two B-52 bombers to the Middle East to demonstrate its “continued commitment to regional security and deterring aggression,” the Air Force said. It is the fourth demonstration of such strength in the past two months, when tensions over the anniversary of the death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani are confused with tensions that led to the transfer of presidential power in the United States. There is great concern that adversaries may take advantage of domestic turmoil in the United States, but so far, there is no concrete evidence that something is going on. Meanwhile, a Baghdad investigative court judge issued an arrest warrant for Trump on his way out of office for the murder of an Iraqi paramilitary leader during the Soleimani murder last year.
5. Boeing
Boeing reached a $ 2.5 billion settlement with the Justice Department over criminal charges that the company defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration when it obtained approval for its ruined 737 Max jet. The deal includes a $ 243.6 million criminal fine, $ 1.77 billion indemnity payments to Boeing airline customers and $ 500 million to a fund to compensate relatives of crash victims. The planes were landed by the FAA in 2019 after two fatal accidents that killed 346 people, and the Justice Department said Boeing was not honest about the safety and performance of its jets. The FAA approved the jets to transport passengers again in November, but not before serious changes were made to the defective security system that caused the accidents.
BROWSE BREAKFAST
2020 was tied for the hottest year on record – but the disasters caused by climate change set it apart
It was not a great year for many things, including weather problems.
Company that makes mahjong sets apologizes after critics say the game’s design is culturally insensitive
It is difficult to improve a beloved classic.
Elon Musk overtakes Jeff Bezos to become the richest person in the world
Your net worth? $ 191 billion.
‘Bridgerton’ has already released the hottest stars of 2021
Ah, that sweet Regency escapism.
Keep your 2021 goals simple to succeed, like dressing up and talking to others
Putting clothes? Talking to … people? Hmmm, it seems like an exaggeration.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$ 91,000
This is how much a South Korean judge ordered the Japanese government to pay damages to each of the 12 survivors of sexual slavery during the war. Girls and women forced into sexual acts during World War II were known as “comfort women”.
TODAY’S QUOTES
“The job of rebuilding the United States, of truly repairing what is broken, is not the job of any individual politician or political party. It is up to each of us to do our part. To reach. To listen. And to keep attached to the truth and to values that have always taken this country forward. It will be an uncomfortable, sometimes painful process. But if we enter it with an honest and unwavering love for our country, perhaps we can finally begin to heal. “
Former First Lady Michelle Obamain a statement addressing Wednesday’s violence at the U.S. Capitol
TODAY’S CLIMATE
Check your local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
L’Heure exquise
The first time I heard this work by Reynaldo Hahn, sung here by Susan Graham, I was moved to tears. We hope this will bring you some peace after a difficult week. (Click here to view.)