2017 News Map: A January to remember

World
Europe

As 2017 comes to an end, CGTN has put together a twelve-episode special series "News Map 2017" to review the monthly events of the past year. From December 18 to 29, review the most stirring events, relive the most touching stories, and remember the most powerful faces of 2017.

Below are some of the most consequential headlines from January 2017.

January 1

New Year's Eve attack: 39 killed, 69 injured in Istanbul nightclub shooting

It was a bloody beginning to the year for Turkey as 39 people were killed and 69 injured after 2 gunmen dressed as Santa shot their way into a nightclub in the Ortakoy district of Istanbul. One shooter was killed. The other, Uzbekistan-born Abdulgadir Masharipov, was arrested in Istanbul on January 17.

Turkish special force police officers and ambulances are seen at the site of an armed attack, Istanbul, Turkey, January 1, 2017. /VCG Photo

The gunmen carried an AK-47 rifle and fired more than 180 rounds during the seven-minute attack. Victims included people from 14 countries.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack. It was one of the largest terrorist incidents among the other 150 in January 2017. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the nation would not surrender to terrorists.

January 17

World Economic Forum 2017: The first for a Chinese president

The World Economic Forum this year welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in Davos, Switzerland.

As the first Chinese president to attend the annual summit of business and political leaders, Xi delivered a highly anticipated keynote speech at the opening plenary. In addition to addressing globalization, the emphasis on open trade by President Xi was also "encouraging and reassuring" for other participating economies.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 17, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

This year, the theme of the forum was "responsive and responsible leadership" covering discussions on the year's major leadership challenges.

Over 3,000 guests from all around the world participated in the forum.

January 15

Hard Brexit: British PM confirms UK will leave EU

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May answers questions after delivering a speech on leaving the European Union at Lancaster House in London, January 17, 2017. /Reuters Photo

British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed a hard Brexit plan on January 17, making that winter for the European Union (EU) even colder.

May said in a speech that she sees a new and equal partnership between an independent, self-governing Britain and the EU. The prime minister denied the possibility of a partial membership in the EU.

This paved the way for May's declaration two months later that Britain is officially leaving the European Union.