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1. Capitol riots
2. White House
Two cabinet members have resigned in the aftermath of the Capitol uprising. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned, saying she was “deeply troubled” by the events at the Capitol. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos later resigned, saying President Trump’s role in spurring the Capitol crowd was “the tipping point.” Meanwhile, house speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team are considering a swift impeachment lawsuit if Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from office in the coming days. Pelosi, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic lawmakers have called on the government to invoke the 25th Amendment and strip Trump of his presidential powers. Trump publicly admitted his election defeat for the first time yesterday and acknowledged that a transfer of power is underway.
3. Coronavirus
The US first reported more than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths in one day yesterday, as more grim statistics pile up. In Los Angeles County, the number of people who die from Covid-19 each day is now equal to the number of homicide deaths the city sees in an entire year. China has imprisoned Shijiazhuang, a city of 11 million people near Beijing, to contain its worst flare-up in months. Japan, Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures went into a state of emergency today. Here’s a little bit of good news: A new study provides early evidence that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine may be effective against the two new coronavirus variants, first identified in South Africa and the United Kingdom, which are now widely available. world pop up.
4. Iran
The US military has flown two B-52 bombers to the Middle East to demonstrate its “commitment to regional security and deterrence of aggression,” the Air Force said. It is the fourth show of power in the past two months, as tensions surrounding the anniversary of the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani fade with tensions leading to the transfer of presidential power in the US. There is a broad sense of concern that opponents could benefit from the domestic turmoil in the US, but so far there is no concrete evidence that anything is wrong. Meanwhile, a judge in the Baghdad investigative court has issued an arrest warrant against Trump on his way to office for the murder of an Iraqi paramilitary leader in Soleimani’s assassination last year.
5. Boeing
Boeing has reached a $ 2.5 billion settlement with the Justice Department over criminal allegations that the company defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration when it first received approval for its wrecked 737 Max jet. The settlement includes a criminal fine of $ 243.6 million, compensation payments of $ 1.77 billion to Boeing customers and $ 500 million to a fund to compensate family members of crash victims. The planes were grounded by the FAA in 2019 after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people, and the Justice Department said Boeing was not fair about the safety and performance of its jets. The FAA approved the jets again in November to allow passengers to fly, but not before serious changes were made to the flawed safety system that caused the crashes.
BREAKFAST LEAF
2020 was the hottest year on record, but the disasters sparked by climate change made all the difference
It was not a great year for many things, including for climate problems.
Company making Mahjong sets apologizes after critics say game designs are culturally insensitive
It’s hard to improve on a much-loved classic.
Elon Musk catches up with Jeff Bezos to become the richest person in the world
Its net worth? $ 191 billion.
‘Bridgerton’ is already casting the hottest stars of 2021
Ah, that sweet, sweet Regency escapism.
Keep your 2021 goals simple to succeed, such as putting on clothes and talking to other people
Attracting clothes? To talk with … people? Hmmm, sounds like a lot.
TODAY’S NUMBER
$ 91,000
That’s how much a South Korean judge has ordered the Japanese government to pay damages to each of the 12 survivors of wartime sexual slavery. The girls and women forced into sexual acts during World War II were known as “comfort women.”
TODAY QUOTE
“The work to bring America back together, to really fix what’s broken, isn’t the job of an individual politician or political party. It’s up to each of us to do our part. To reach out. And to hold on to the truths and values that have always guided 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, then we can we may finally start to heal. “
Former first lady Michelle Obama, in a statement on Wednesday’s violence in the Capitol
TODAY’S WEATHER
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AND FINALLY
The glorious hour
The first time I heard this work by Reynaldo Hahn, sung here by Susan Graham, I was moved to tears. I hope it brings you some rest after a difficult week. (Click here to view.)