January 13 – United States
Iran releases 10 US sailors who strayed into the Iranian territorial waters and were detained by the Iranian authorities a day earlier. The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanks Iran for the prompt release of the sailors and uses the incident to indicate the critical role of diplomacy.
January 16 – United States
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announces that Iran has taken adequate steps toward implementing the nuclear deal, allowing for the United Nations to lift sanctions against it. The agreement was reached in July. Lifting sanction will release billions of dollars of Iran’s frozen assets abroad, allow Iran to sell its oil and gas to other countries, open Iran to foreign companies for investment, and will allow Iran to trade with other countries and use the global banking system. (January 16): Iran releases four Iranian-Americans from prison in exchange for seven Iranian citizens imprisoned in the United States for violation of sanction against Iran. Among the freed Americans are Jason Rezaian, a journalist for the Washington Post, who was accused of espionage, and Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor, imprisoned for proselytizing Christianity in Iran. (January 23): Iran and China sign 17 agreements aimed at boosting trade and economic relations between the two countries. (January 25): Accompanied by a 120-strong delegation of the country’s government ministers and businessmen, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives in Europe on a state visit, the first one in 16 years. The purpose of the visit is to discuss trade relations with Italy and France, such as a $24 billion deal to purchase 118 Airbus planes.
February 1 – North America
The World Health Organization (WHO) declares a global public health emergency after a significant spike in cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome throughout Americas, which are linked to the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus. Microcephaly is a condition where a baby is born with an underdeveloped brain, while the Guilkain-Barre syndrome is a rare nervous system disorder. Cases of microcephaly have been centered in north-east Brazil, but the outbreak of the virus has affected more than 20 countries. There is no treatment or vaccine available. The only way to fight Zika at the moment is to destroy the mosquito-breading environments, such as stagnant waters, and protection against mosquito bites. Working with partners, WHO is leading efforts to develop vaccines, therapies, and diagnostic tests.
February 14 – United States
United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonin Scalia dies unexpectedly. Scalia was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and was one of the most conservative members of the Court. He was a strong opponent of abortion and gay rights and proponent of the death penalty. He was a strong supporter of originalism that holds that the US Constitution has a fixed meaning and does not change with the times. Scalia’s death may shift the balance of power in the Court, if President Barack Obama appoints a fifth liberal justice. Republicans insist that President Obama, who is at the end of his second term, should allow a new president to name a new justice.
February 27 – United States
The partial ceasefire for Syria comes into effect. It was brokered by the United States and Russia with the Syrian government and Syria’s main rebel groups. It excludes, however, Islamic State (IS) and the Nusra Front with links to al-Qaeda. (February 29): The United Nations (UN) starts aid deliveries of food, water, medicine, and other necessities to tens of thousands of Syrians who are trapped in besieged areas.
March 2 – United States
The United Nations Security Council unanimously approves new tough sanctions on North Korea in response to its recent nuclear test and a launch of a long-range rocket, which has violated existing UN sanctions. Additional sanctions include more export bans, inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea, and blacklisting new North Korean individuals and organizations. (March 10): North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles in a show of force. It also claims that it has miniaturized nuclear warheads. (March 17): United States President Barack Obama issues an executive order that extends US sanctions on North Korea. These sanctions freeze North Korean government assets in the U.S. and ban any US exports and investment in North Korea.
March 20 – United States
United States President Barack Obama pays a historic three-day visit to Cuba, the first visit by a sitting American president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. The main issues between the two countries are the US trade embargo and Cuba’s poor record of human rights. The embargo imposed on Cuba 54 years ago costs the US economy an estimated $1.2 billion a year, but there is strong opposition in the U.S. Congress to remove it. The visit, however, symbolizes a significant turnaround in the US-Cuban relations.
March 25 – United States
The United States special forces kill a number of senior leaders of the militant organization Islamic State (IS) in Syria. They include the second-in-command Abdul Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli, who served as a finance minister, and Tarkhan Batirashvili, a Georgian known as Omar Shishani who served as minister of war. Others include Abu Sara, whose job was to pay fighters in northern Iraq, and several IS associates who were directly involved in external plotting and training.
April 21 – Mexico
Authorities in the US state of California discover a sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel that ran from a home in Tijuana, Mexico to a suburb in San Diego, California. They also seize a ton of cocaine valued at around $22 million and seven tons of marijuana. The nearly half-a-mile- tunnel was equipped with lights, ventilation, a rail system and a motorized freight elevator capable of carrying up to 10 people.
April 21 – United States
Authorities in the US state of California discover a sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel that ran from a home in Tijuana, Mexico to a suburb in San Diego, California. They also seize a ton of cocaine valued at around $22 million and seven tons of marijuana. The nearly half-a-mile- tunnel was equipped with lights, ventilation, a rail system and a motorized freight elevator capable of carrying up to 10 people.
April 26 – United States
The United States military officials say that after following intelligence leads about where the Islamic State (IS) stores its money across Syria and Iraq, the U.S. destroyed up to $800 million of IS cash in special air strikes. This includes $150 million that was kept in a house in Mosul in Iraq. IS’s losses of territory, oilfields, and cash have had a negative impact on its capabilities of maintaining its current fighters and recruiting new ones. The U.S. says that in February 2016 IS had about 25,000 fighters, about 10,000 less compared to the previous year.
April 27 – United States
Four journalists in Iran receive long-term sentences in prison for “spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and acting against national security. A US-based media advocacy group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemns the sentencing and the laws that allow harassment of journalists.
May 27 – United States
United States President Barack Obama is the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima since the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city on August 6, 1945 that killed directly about 80,000 people and destroyed 70 percent of the city. During this deeply symbolic visit, President Obama pays his respects to the victims at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Memorial Park, where he and Japan’s president, Shinzo Abe, lay wreaths. In his speech, President Obama calls on nations to pursue a world without nuclear weapons.
June 12 – United States
Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American security guard, kills 49 people and wounds 53 in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida in the United States. Mateen is killed after a three-hour standoff with police. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. and the deadliest incident of violence against the LGBT community. During the standoff Mateen called 911 and pledged his allegiance to Islamic State (IS), but the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says it found no evidence to confirm his ties to this terrorist organization. This massacre renews a polarizing debate on gun control in the U.S. The two guns used by the shooter were high-capacity semi-automatic pistol and semi-automatic rifle also used in other mass shootings, including those in San Bernardino, Newtown and Aurora. Any efforts to ban semi-automatic weapons are strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). (June 15): A US Democratic senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, leads a 14-hour filibuster demanding that Congress agree on legislation that would ban suspected terrorists from buying guns and expand background checks to gun shows and Internet sales. He ends the filibuster after securing a commitment from the Senate leadership to hold a vote on the two proposals. (June 22): In a similar protest against Congressional inaction on gun control, sixty members of the House Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Georgia Representative John Lewis and Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark, stage a sit-in on the floor. They demand that Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, allow vote on gun safety legislation. They occupy the floor through the night, but leave the next day after Ryan adjourns the House for the July 4 holiday without voting on the measure. Democrats insist that they will continue pursuing gun safety legislation.
June 13 – Canada
A radical Islamic group Abu Sayyaf based in the Philippines kills Canadian Robert Hall who was kidnapped for ransom 10 months earlier. The group demanded several million dollars for Hall, but the Canadian government opposes paying ransoms for hostages. The Abu Sayyaf group is based in the southwestern part of the Philippines, where for more than four decades it has been engaged in an insurgency for an independent Islamic province in this predominantly Catholic country. The group has only a few hundreds of militants, but is considered very violent.
July 5 – United States
Two white police officers in Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana fatally shoot a black man, Alton Sterling, who was selling CDs in front of a convenience store. Responding to a report that he used a gun to threaten someone outside a store, police officers have a short altercation with the man and they shoot him several times at close range while holding him down on the ground. The incident is recorded on cell phones by multiple bystanders, as well as on store surveillance and officer body cameras. The shooting sets off widespread demonstrations in Baton Rouge and demands for a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The protests are led by Black Lives Matter (BLM), an activist movement originating in the African-American community that campaigns against violence, racial profiling, police brutality, and systemic racism toward black people. (July 6): A Minnesota police officer fatally shoots a young African American man, Philando Castile, during a routine traffic stop for a broken tail light. After being asked for his license and registration, Castile tells the officer he has a licensed weapon in the car. As he puts his hands back up, the officer fatally shoots him several times. The immediate aftermath of the shooting is live-streamed on Facebook by his girlfriend who is in the car with Castile. Following the Castile’s shooting, BLM protesters come to the streets throughout Minnesota and other states. (July 7): During the BLM peaceful demonstrations against the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Dallas, Texas, an Army Reserve Afghan War veteran Micah Xavier Johnson ambushes and fatally shoots five and wounds seven police officers. Johnson was reportedly angry over police shootings of black men and stated that he wanted to kill white police officers. He is killed during a standoff with the police. Some conservatives blame the BLM movement for the shootings, but the movement denounces the killings.
July 11 – United States
The United States is sending 560 more military personnel to Iraq to assist with fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS). This will bring the number of the US personnel in Iraq to 4,650, who mostly train and advise the Iraqi forces.
July 18 – United States
The United States Republican Party holds its National Convention in Cleveland, OH. During the four-day gathering, the party’s 2,472 delegates ratify the party platform and formally nominate billionaire businessman Donald Trump as the Party’s nominee for President of the United States and Mike Pence as his running mate. (July 25): Similarly, the U.S. Democratic Party holds its National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 4,763 delegates confirm Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as its nominee for President of the United States and Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia as her running mate. Hilary Clinton makes history by becoming the first female major party presidential candidate.
August 1 – United States
The United States carries out targeted air strikes on the Libyan city of Sirte, the stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) in Libya. The air strikes are coordinated with and in support of the Libyan unity government. Although there has been some progress in rooting out the IS fighters from Libya, the efficiency of the fight is questionable as various rival militia factions in Libya are embroiled in hostilities against each other.
August 15 – United States
Torrential rains cause catastrophic flooding in the U.S. state of Louisiana, killing five people, displacing tens of thousands, and causing damage estimated at $30 million. In one part of the state, more than 31 inches of rain fell in just 15 hours.
September 12 – United States
After months of negotiations, the United States and Russia broker a ceasefire agreement in Geneva for Syria between the Syrian government forces of Bashir al-Assad and the various opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Army and the hardline Islamist Ahrar al-Sham. According to the deal, if the ceasefire holds for seven days, the U.S. and Russia will join forces to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State (IS), al-Nusra Front, and other jihadist groups. The truce excludes action against these terrorist groups. The ceasefire is also designed to deliver urgently-needed humanitarian aid to civilians in places under siege, such as the city of Aleppo. (September 19): The Syrian government declares the ceasefire over, which was poorly adhered to, with Syrian military incidents of bombings and blocking convoys with humanitarian aid. The ceasefire suffered a set-back when a US-British coalition mistakenly killed at least 60 Syrian government soldiers in an airstrike aimed at IS militants.
September 14 – United States
The United States commits a record $38 billion in military aid to Israel over 10 years, the single largest such pledge to any country in the U.S history. This amount includes $33 billion in foreign military financing funds and an unprecedented commitment of $5 billion for missile defense.[1] The previous aid, which will expire in 2018, amounted to $31 billion. This funding will allow Israel to update its fighter aircraft fleet, including the acquisition of additional F-35s and F-15s, enhance the mobility of its ground forces and strengthen its missile defense systems.
September 21 – United States
The United States Senate approves $1.15 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia despite an opposition in the Senate to block this controversial deal. Those in favor argued that the arms will help the Saudis fight Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda more effectively. The opposition to the deal led by Senators Rand Paul and Chris Murphy argued that the U.S. should not supply weapons to the country which is militarily involved in a conflict in Yemen and accused of human rights violations there. They also argued that the weapons sale to Saudi Arabia might increase an ongoing arms race in the region.[2]
October 3 – United States
Russian President Vladimir Putin suspends an agreement with the United States on the disposal of surplus weapons-grade plutonium. Signed in 2000 and amended in 2010, the deal called for the disposal of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium from each country, the material big enough to build 17,000 nuclear warheads.[3] The cancellation of the deal, once an example of successful post-Cold War cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, shows a corrosion of the relations between the two sides.
October 24 – United States
The Norwegian government says that it invited 300 US troops to be stationed at the Vaernes military base around 620 miles from the Russian border.[4] The troops will be deployed in January 2017 and the program will be evaluated later that year. So far the United States stored military equipment in Norway, which is a NATO member, but not troops. Recent conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Russia’s annexation of Crimea have raised tensions between Russia and the West.
See a map with a route of Russian warships passing Norway and other European countries on its way to Syria.
November 8 – United States
Republican candidate Donald Trump delivers a shocking victory in the U.S. presidential election, winning 306 electoral votes and defeating Democratic candidate former First Lady and Senator Hillary Clinton with 232 electoral votes. Trump, the billionaire real estate mogul and former reality TV star, who led an unconventional and divisive campaign, wins the solidly Republican states, as well as the swing states of Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He also wins Michigan and Wisconsin, states that have not voted Republican for president since 1988 and 1984 respectively.[5] Trump who never has held elected office mobilized white working class Americans who feel left behind by globalization and blame the Washington establishment for that. He stirred controversy with his anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments, harsh and racially-charged rhetoric, as well as comments about women. Hillary Clinton wins the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes, but in the American system, the election victory is determined by electoral votes.[6] Republicans also win the majority in both houses of Congress. The President-elect vows to reverse many of the Obama administration’s policies, such as the Affordable Care Act, and appoint a Conservative Supreme Court justice. Protests develop across the country with anti-Trump slogans.
More on the 2016 election results.
Explaining the Electoral College.
More on the Electoral College.
Arguments for and against the Electoral College.
December 28 – United States
US Secretary of State John Kerry gives a speech, which defends the Obama’s Administrations’ decision to abstain from a UN Security Council vote on a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He says that the recent rapid growth of settlements in the areas long considered the territory of a future Palestinian state jeopardize the two-state solution, which, he says, is “the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” Kerry also disagrees with Israel’s argument that settlements are aimed at bolstering its security. He criticizes the Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, saying its policies are leading towards “one state.” At the same time, Secretary Kerry says that the U.S. would not join efforts to dictate peace terms at the UN Security Council and it would not recognize a Palestinian state without a negotiated agreement. He criticizes Palestinian leaders who do not do enough to stop Palestinian terrorists from carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians.[7] In response to Kerry’s speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Kerry of bias against Israel and says his administration is looking forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration to repeal the resolution. Donald Trump has indicated that he would break with long-standing US policies toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Secretary of State John Kerry’s full speech on Israel (video: 71:30 min)
Secretary of State John Kerry’s full speech on Israel: transcript
December 29 – United States
Russia and Turkey mediate a new ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Government and the opposition groups. The two countries, who support different sides in the Syrian conflict, act as guarantors, while Iran acts as a signatory to this trilateral agreement. The ceasefire comes into effect on December 30. The ceasefire excludes groups designated by the UN as terrorist, such as Islamic State (IS), Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (previously known as Nusra Front), and other jihadist groups. According to the deal, both sides also agree to enter peace talks scheduled for January 15 in Kazakhstan.[8] The Assad regime will bring Russia as its ally, while Turkey will side with moderate anti-Assad rebel groups. The United States, which has led an anti-Assad international coalition to fight IS in Syria, has been sidelined by Russia and Turkey and excluded from these negotiations. The US President-elect Donald Trump says that after taking the oath of office, he will cooperate with Russia in Syria in defeating Islamic State (IS).
Map: who controls what in Syria.
December 29 – United States
The United States expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes two compounds used by Russia for intelligence gathering, and broadens sanctions on Russian entities and individuals as punishment for interfering in the US November presidential elections, an effort to undermine the US election processes and institutions and aggressive harassment of U.S. officials in Russia. In a statement, President Barack Obama says that “all Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions”.[9] The Russian hacking included spearphishing, targeting government organizations, think-tanks, universities, political organizations, and corporations, steeling information from these organizations, and then public release of some of this stolen information. The US intelligence agencies, including the FBI and CIA, conclude that the hacks were aimed at causing damage to Hillary Clinton’s campaign and help to install Donald Trump as president.[10] Some lawmakers call for Congress to establish a committee to examine the cyber attack and Russian’s efforts to interfere in the U.S. election. The Russian government, as well as President-elect Donald Trump dismiss the hacking claims.