U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Three Intellexa-Linked Executives Amid Spyware Controversy 
U.S. Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Enforce Medicaid Funding Ban on Planned Parenthood 
Trump and Zelenskiy Signal Progress Toward Ukraine Peace Deal, Donbas Still Unresolved 
South Korea Prosecutor Alleges Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Abused Power for Bribes 
China Conducts Largest-Ever Live-Fire War Games Around Taiwan Amid Rising Cross-Strait Tensions 
Zohran Mamdani Names Steve Banks as New York City Corporation Counsel Amid Clash With Trump 
Trump Administration Audits Somali-Origin Citizenship Cases Amid Fraud Allegations 
U.S. Questions Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin Residence 
Lockheed Martin Secures $92.8M AEGIS Sustainment Contract from U.S. Navy 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
Kremlin Says Ukrainian Drone Attack Hardens Russia’s Stance on Peace Talks 
Global Concern Grows as Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens Despite Ceasefire 
Najib Razak Files Appeal Against Latest 1MDB Corruption Conviction and 15-Year Sentence 
Jazz Ensemble Cancels Kennedy Center New Year’s Eve Shows After Trump Renaming Sparks Backlash 
Philippines Challenges Chinese Research Vessel Spotted Near Cagayan Coast 
Bukele Signals Willingness to Extend Power as El Salvador’s Term Limits Are Scrapped 
President-elect Joe Biden winning the November elections was a result of people from different walks of life uniting to defeat Donald Trump among other reasons. With Biden’s inauguration on January 20 inching closer, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced unity as its theme.
This week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the theme of the upcoming inauguration for Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris. The theme in the upcoming inauguration is called “America United,” appropriately named after one of Biden’s core traits that he has touted during his campaign. The theme also follows the recent events at the Capitol incited by Trump and his allies and carried out by rioters that support the outgoing president.
“This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people -- one of healing, of unifying, of coming together as America united,” said chief executive officer for the inaugural committee Tony Allen. “It’s time to turn this page on this era of division. The inaugural activities will reflect our shared values and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart…”
The committee also revealed one of Biden’s first acts as President shortly after his official swearing-in along with Harris was to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. Biden will also be joined by his predecessors Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton in the spirit of bipartisanship. Former president Jimmy Carter would not be able to attend the ceremony in order to keep safe in the midst of the pandemic. Their respective spouses will also be joining them at the event.
Biden has made tackling the COVID-19 pandemic among the issues in the forefront as millions of Americans remain infected with the coronavirus and hundreds of thousands have died. With the vaccines from pharmaceutical companies already being administered to those in need, Biden has pledged to seek to release almost all available doses of the COVID-19 vaccine once he takes office. In doing so, the COVID-19 vaccines would become readily available sooner, compared to the strategy by the Trump administration in holding back half that is being produced in order to make sure second shots are available to Americans.
