The Brief

Flowers are placed next to Turkish police officers as they stand guard near the Reina nightclub, which was attacked by a gunman, in Istanbul
Umit Bektas—Reuters

ISIS Claims Istanbul Attack

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the New Year's attack at an Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 people and wounded scores of others. It said the man opened fire in "revenge for God's religion"

Iraq

Suicide Bomber Kills 22 in Baghdad

A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden vehicle in a bustling market area in Baghdad, killing at least 22 people, Iraqi officials said, hours after the arrival of French President Francois Hollande to the country

President Obama Meets With Japanese P.M. Shinzo Abe In Hawaii

Obama to Give One Last Speech in Chicago

President Obama will give his farewell address from Chicago on Jan 10, in what will likely be his last public appeal in office to preserve the signature achievements of his presidency like the Affordable Care Act

Image

Rogue One Tops the New Year’s Box Office

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Sing loomed large at the multiplexes over the New Year's holiday, racking up the biggest grosses and ringing out 2016 on a high note. The Star Wars spinoff earned just under $50 million for the three-day period

Residents And Activists Hold Anti-Violence March After Deadly Year In Chicago

Chicago's Bloody Year

One of the bloodiest years on record in Chicago ended with 762 homicides and more than 3,500 shooting incidents. There were nearly 300 more homicides and more than 1,000 more shooting incidents than there were in 2015, police said

File photo of an underwater test-firing of a strategic submarine ballistic missile is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea's KCNA

U.S. Condemns North Korea’s Threat of a New Missile Test

The Pentagon warned North Korea of serious consequences if it carries out its latest threat of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. On Sunday, Kim Jong Un announced that the country would soon be able to test a missile capable of reaching the U.S.

Indonesia Ship Fire

Indonesian Ferry Captain Detained After Deadly Blaze

Police in Indonesia have detained the captain of a ferry that caught fire, leaving 23 dead and 17 others missing, amid reports that he abandoned ship as passengers struggled to escape. The tourist ferry caught fire while carrying an estimated 200 holiday revelers

Assad regime violate the ceasefire

Hundreds Flee Fighting Near Syria's Capital Despite Truce

Hundreds of civilians fled the Barada Valley, near the Syrian capital, where government forces were battling insurgent groups including an al-Qaeda-linked outfit excluded from a recent nationwide cease-fire, despite the truce brokered by Russia and Turkey

TOSHIBA New Years Eve In Times Square

Mariah Carey Had Some New Year's Eve Trouble

Few performers have more experience commanding a crowd's attention than Mariah Carey, and her performance on New Year's Eve was no exception—though not for the reasons the singer would have wished

APTOPIX NYC New Years Eve

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017

As 2016 drew to a close, revelers around the world bid a weary adieu to a year filled with political surprises, prolonged conflicts, deadly attacks at gatherings and deaths of legendary celebrities. Here's a look at how people ushered in the new year