Exactly a year after she was grievously injured in a gun attack, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords resigned formally from the House amidst standing ovation and tributes from her colleague.
More than a year after he was nominated by President Barack Obama, the US Senate, defying the powerful pro-gun lobby National Rifle Association, voted to confirm Dr Vivek Hellegere Murthy as the first Indian American US Surgeon General and the youngest ever at age 37, in a cliff-hanger of a 51-43 vote.