Monday, Jan. 17
- In a
speech celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged the need to close the racial
wealth divide when she said the United States economy Òhas never worked
fairly for Black Americans — or, really, for any American of color.Ó
Tuesday, Jan. 18
- Secretary
of State Antony Blinken traveled to Kyiv to meet
with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro
Kuleba to consult with them on the Russian troop
build-up at the Ukrainian border and to Òreinforce the United StatesÕ
commitment to UkraineÕs sovereignty and territorial integrity,Ó per a
State Department statement.
- The
Treasury Department sanctioned three businessmen who are alleged to be
Òfinancial facilitatorsÓ for the Lebanese militant Shia
Islamist group Hezbollah: Adel Diab, Ali Mohamad Daoun and Jihad
Salem Alame. The department also sanctioned
their travel company, Dar Al Salam for Travel & Tourism.
- The
White House launched its website for ordering COVID-19 tests a day ahead of
schedule in a move to boost testing capacity amid an omicron-fueled surge
in coronavirus infections. The program allows
four tests per household, which Òwill typically ship within 7 to 12 days
of ordering,Ó according to the website.
Wednesday, Jan. 19
- Alongside
a number of other judicial nominees, President Joe Biden nominated Nusrat Jahan Choudhury, a Bangladeshi-American civil rights lawyer,
to serve on a federal district court in New York. If confirmed by the
Senate, she would become the first Muslim-American woman to serve on a federal court in the
U.S.
- Blinken commented that Russia is ready to attack
Ukraine at Òvery short noticeÓ and warned that the country is facing an
Òunprecedented threatÓ that he pledged to use ÒrelentlessÓ diplomacy to
defuse. Biden backed BlinkenÕs comments, saying
that ÒRussia will be held accountable if it invades – and it depends
on what it does.Ó
- At a
news conference ahead of the one-year mark of his presidency, Biden said
his administration achieved Òenormous progress,Ó but stressed that he
would continue to address challenges including COVID-19 and the rising
cost of living.
- The
Biden administration announced that it is considering re-designating
YemenÕs Houthi rebels as an Òinternational
terrorist organizationÓ after the group claimed responsibility for a drone
and missile attack on Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates that killed
three people.
Thursday, Jan. 20
- The
Senate sunk the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights
Advancement Act — both part of BidenÕs push to defend voting rights
— after being faced with Republican and centrist Democrat
opposition. ÒI am profoundly disappointed that the Senate has failed to
stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not
deterred,Ó Biden said in a statement.
- The
CIA determined that the so-called ÒHavana Syndrome,Ó a set of symptoms
purportedly affecting hundreds of U.S. diplomatic workers across the world
which first appeared in Cuba, is not part of a widespread campaign by a
foreign power, and is more likely caused by environmental factors,
undiagnosed medical conditions or stress, per a New York Times report.
- The
Pentagon publicly released drone footage of a botched strike in Kabul that
killed 10 innocent people, including seven children, when it mistakenly
targeted a man who worked for a U.S. humanitarian organization. The
footage was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the
New York Times and was subsequently released by Central Command. Despite
acknowledging the tragedy, the Pentagon has said no one will be held
accountable for the attack.
- The
Supreme Court rejected a request from former President Donald Trump to
block White House records including presidential diaries, visitor logs,
speech drafts and handwritten notes sought by the House panel
investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. The court
ruled that the documents would not be protected even if Trump were still
the president.
- The
U.S. sanctioned four Ukrainian nationals, including two lawmakers — Taras Kozak and Oleg Voloshyn — two members of the Ukrainian
parliament; and Vladimir Sivkovich and Volodymyr Oliynyk, two
former officials, whom it accuses of working on behalf of Russia to
ÒdestabilizeÓ Ukraine.
- China
and Russia delayed a U.S. effort at the United Nations to sanction five
North Koreans in response to recent North Korean missile launches by
placing a ÒholdÓ on the sanctions ahead of a closed-door UN Security
Council meeting on North Korea. The block period can last for up to six
months.
- The
Justice Department announced charges against Rodolphe
Jaar, 49, a dual Haitian-Chilean citizen, the
second man it accuses of being involved in the assassination of Haitian
President Jovenel Moise
last year. Jaar was arrested in the U.S., where
the Justice Department said some of the conspiracy was formulated.
Friday, Jan. 21
- Biden
held a virtual meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first substantial conversation between
the two leaders since Kishida became JapanÕs
prime minister in October. The conversation centered on cooperation in
economic and security issues including China, North Korea missile threats
and Russian troop build-ups along the border with Ukraine.
- The
Justice Department charged Chad Stark, 54, of Texas, with posting an
online threat on Craigslist against election officials in Georgia. Stark
was arrested by the FBI and is due to appear in federal court on a
criminal charge of threatening three Georgia election officials.
Saturday, Jan. 22
- The
Transportation Department said, starting Jan. 30 and continuing until
March 29, it will suspend 44 flights from the U.S. to China by Xiamen, Air
China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, as a response
to the Chinese governmentÕs decision to suspend some U.S. airlinesÕ
flights due to concerns about COVID-19.
- The
Centers for Disease Control released studies showing that booster shots of
the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 90%
effective at preventing omicron-related hospitalizations.
Sunday, Jan. 23
- The
State Department ordered the families of all American staff at the U.S.
Embassy in Ukraine to leave the country as tensions with Russia ramp up.
It also said non-essential embassy staff could leave Ukraine at government
expense and that all Americans should consider departing immediately.
- Special
Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said the U.S. is
unlikely to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement unless Iran releases
four U.S. citizens that the federal government claims it is holding
hostage.