12/4

• According to Iran’s prosecutor general, the country’s morality police has been suspended (see 9/22).

12/5

• 33,000 North Carolina residents experienced power outages after what authorities said was a “targeted” act of vandalism on substations.
• The Department of Homeland Security announced its third pandemic-related extension of ID deadlines for air passengers from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025.
• Russia’s defense ministry said that Ukrainian drones hit two Russian air bases.
• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian website design refusing to work with same-sex couples planning to marry.

12/6

• Raphael Warnock won the Georgia Senate runoff against Hershel Walker (see 11/26).
• A Manhattan jury found the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corporation guilty on all charges they faced, including criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records.
• Indonesian lawmakers unanimously passed a new criminal code that bans sex outside of marriage.
• According to the Secret Service, hackers linked to the Chinese government stole at least $20 million in U.S. COVID-19 relief benefits.
• Anderson Lee Aldrich, the suspect of the Club Q shooting, was formally charged with a total of 305 counts, including murder, hate crimes, and assault.
• An Argentina court sentenced its Vice President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, to six years in prison, disqualifying her from holding public office. Vice President Kirchner was found guilty of fraudulently awarding public contracts.
• A U.S. judge dismissed the case against Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, claiming the crown prince is entitled to sovereign immunity despite his alleged involvement in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
• Germany detained 25 members and supporters of far-right group Reichsbuerger. According to the prosecutor’s office, the group was preparing to violently overthrow the state and install former Prince Heinrich, who has sought support from Russia, as national leader.

12/7 

• China lifted numerous COVID-19 rules, a sign that the country is moving away from the zero-COVID policy that triggered national protests.
• The Taliban carried out its first public execution since the return to power.
• Peru’s now-former President Pedro Castillo was impeached and arrested after announcing his plans to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government. Since then, Dina Boluarte, Peru’s former vice president, was sworn in as President.
• According to a U.N. Report, Russian forces illegally killed at least 441 civilians outside of Kyiv, additionally predicting the number is “considerably higher.”

12/8

• Brittney Griner was released from the Russian penal colony and returned to the U.S.
• Iran held its first execution of an anti-government protester, who was convicted of injuring a security guard with a knife and blocking a street in Tehran.
• The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which has a $847 billion budget.
• Russian President Putin said that the Russo-Ukrainian war is “going to take a while,” also warning of the “increasing” risk of nuclear war.
• The FDA authorized COVID-19 boosters for children aged 6 months and older.
• The House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act.

12/9

• Brittney Griner arrived in the United States (see 12/8).
• Former Minneapolis police officer J. Alexander Kueng was sentenced to 3-½ years in prison for his involvement in the murder of George Floyd.
• Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced her departure from the Democratic Party and registered as an independent.

12/10

• Russia launched new Iranian-made drones over Ukraine.

12/11

• Former Libyan intelligence officer Abu Agela Mas’ud Kheir al-Marimi, who was accused of building the bomb that destroyed an American passenger plane over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, was taken into U.S. custody and will face charges for the act of terrorism.
• At least 2 people were killed and 4 were wounded during Peru protests demanding general elections following the impeachment of former President Castillo (see 12/7).