Church of Norway The Church of Norway officially ceases to be the state church of Norway after almost 500 years.
New York City Authorities seek three men after they rob $6 million on New Year's Eve from the offices of high-end jewelry designer Gregg Ruth in New York City.
Lebanon, New Hampshire Police arrest Anthony K. Boisvert after a foot chase in Lebanon, New Hampshire, charging him in the setting a fire which destroyed an abandoned building on January 2016, and two other fires, one which destroyed the historic First Baptist Church on December 2016 and stabbing two at a condominium complex December 29.
Ceuta Spanish and Moroccan authorities clash with migrants on the Moroccan-Spanish border along Ceuta, as they attempt to climb and rush the border fence.
Campinas massacre A gunman shoots dead at least 11 people, including his former wife, and then himself in a murder–suicide at a New Year's Eve party in the southeast Brazilian city of Campinas. Several others reportedly remain in critical condition.
Foreign relations of the Gambia Gambian President Yahya Jammeh accuses the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, of "declaring war" after it said it was putting forces on alert in case he refused to step down at the end of his mandate on January 19.
2016 United Nations Security Council election Bolivia, Ethiopia, Italy, Kazakhstan, and Sweden begin their terms on the United Nations Security Council, replacing Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain, and Venezuela.
2016 United Nations Secretary-General selection Portugal's António Guterres begins his term as United Nations Secretary-General, replacing South Korea's Ban Ki-moon.
Syrian civil war The United Nations Security Council unanimously votes in favor of the Russian and Turkey-backed ceasefire currently in effect in Syria.
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, claims that the country is close to developing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Indonesia A ferry catches fire en route to Indonesia's Thousand Islands, killing at least 23 people and injuring 17 others.
Burundi A gunman shoots dead Burundi's environment minister Emmanuel Niyonkuru in the nation's capital, Bujumbura.
Al-Qadisiya town A suicide car bomb explosion and gunmen attack in Iraqi al-Qadisiya town situated in west of Najaf, kills at least 7 people and injures more than 17 others. Yesterday, 29 people were killed in a bomb explosion at a busy market in Iraq’s capital Baghdad. ISIS claims responsibility.
2017 Istanbul nightclub attack A gunman opens fire in a nightclub in Istanbul, on the European coast of the Bosphorus, killing at least 39 people with an additional 69 wounded.