Here is your weekly news briefing on significant global events through 09 – 15 JAN 2017.

 

SYRIA / NEAR EAST

 

US Special Operations kill ISIS leader in Eastern Syria

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/09/us/politics/us-syria-isis.html?ref=middleeast

10,000 Palestinian residents protest against Hamas over failure to provide basic electrical services

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/world/middleeast/gaza-strip-hamas-protests.html?ref=middleeast

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SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

Brazilian police kill nearly 3,500 in 2015, according to recent report; many killings extrajudicial

http://www.ibtimes.com/violence-brazil-police-killed-nearly-3500-people-2015-report-says-2474976

Gang violence in Brazil intensifies; many killed in multiple prison massacres

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/10/brazil-prisons-gang-violence-riots

U.S. citizens evacuated following extradition of Haitian Sen. Guy Philippe, charged in Miami with money laundering and drug trafficking

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-haiti-usa-idUSKBN14U09A

Daniel Ortega begins third term as President of Nicaragua; wife Rosario Murillo takes VP office

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/daniel-ortega-president-170111082241269.html

Mexican President Enrique Nieto seeks to diversify trade with the EU; demands US stop the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/12/against-our-dignity-mexico-vows-never-to-pay-for-trumps-wall

California man charged with shooting of US Consular in Guadalajara, Mexico

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-charged-shooting-u-s-consular-officer-mexico-n705406

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EUROPE AND RUSSIA

US troop buildup in Poland a “threat”, says Moscow
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38592448

George Soros-funded elitist NGOs attacked by Hungarian Fidesz government; opposition newspapers shut down by force

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38593509

US sanctions 5 more Russian diplomats over human rights violations, bringing total of Russians on list to 44

http://www.dw.com/en/us-sanctions-five-russians-over-human-rights-violations/a-37070930?maca=en-rss-en-eu-2092-rdf

Chechnyan police kill 4, detain dozens in counter-terror raid

http://www.rferl.org/a/chechnya-kadyrov-police-killed-four-militants-detained-dozens/28227128.html

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EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC

US identifies Indonesian pro-ISIS group Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) as terrorist organization

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/us-brands-pro-islamic-state-indonesian-group-terrorists/3430706.html

Thai king seeks changes to draft constitution in order to ensure royal powers

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thai-king-s-office-seeks-changes-to-draft-constitution-pm/3427124.html

China threatens war with United States over man-made islands in the contested waters of the South China Sea

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-38607235