Here is your monthly news briefing for December 2017.

 

Tillerson says US ready to talk to N. Korea; Japan wants pressure

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-tillerson/tillerson-says-u-s-ready-to-talk-to-north-korea-japan-wants-pressure-idUSKBN1E62UI

 

China and South Korea pursue closer ties, but THAAD remains issue

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/chinese-and-south-korean-leaders-seek-to-improve-ties-but-thaad-remains-thorny-issue

 

UN Security Council sanctions N. Korea: N. Korea calls sanctions an “act of war.”

https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/24/politics/north-korea-un-resolution-response/index.html

 

France – US meet to discuss degraded situation in W. Africa

https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFKBN1DV3YM-OZATP

 

Saudi Arabia pledges $100 million to fight for W. Africa

http://www.africanews.com/2017/12/05/saudi-arabia-pledges-100-million-to-g5-sahel-force/

 

14 UN peacekeepers killed, 40 wounded in Congo

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2017/12/08/14-UN-peacekeepers-killed-and-40-wounded-in-Congo-attack.html

 

Nigerian troops arrest 400 Boko Haram militants and families

https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/nigeria-troops-arrest-400-plus-boko-haram-fighters-families-20171216

 

Eygpt: Gunman kills 11 in attack on Coptic church

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security/gunman-kills-11-in-attacks-on-coptic-church-christian-owned-shop-in-egypt-idUSKBN1EN0SX

 

Son of slain Yemeni president takes up anti-Houthi cause

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/exiled-son-of-yemens-saleh-takes-up-anti-houthi-cause-idUSKBN1DY12V

 

US to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-israel/in-break-with-decades-of-u-s-policy-trump-to-recognize-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-idUSKBN1DZ04V

 

“Day of Rage” protests against US embassy move enter second week: Largely orchestrated and mandated by Hamas leadership, not grassroots

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/israeli-army-responds-fresh-protests-live-fire-171220150203833.html

 

US weighing budget cuts to UN over vote to condemn US-Israeli diplomatic sovereignty

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455019/donald-trump-nikki-haley-un-reformers

 

As Venezuela disintegrates, Maduro consolidates power

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/as-venezuela-disintegrates-maduro-consolidates-power/2017/12/08/f9e5b366-dc27-11e7-a241-0848315642d0_story.html?utm_term=.fe59f686ea0c

 

White House: 2017 in Review

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-year-one-making-america-great/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wh&utm_content=20171222_year-end-accomplishments-17