US blocks assets of Saddam’s nephews News
US blocks assets of Saddam’s nephews

[JURIST] The US Department of the Treasury [official website] announced on Thursday that they have frozen the assets of six nephews of Saddam Hussein [press release] to help end support for terrorists and insurgents in Iraq. "This action targets the money flows of former regime elements actively supporting attacks against Coalition forces and the Iraqi people," said Stuart Levey [official profile], the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The US has also given the names and information of the six men to the UN so that other countries can seize assets in foreign banks as well. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

USSR established

On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.