The Japan Times newsroom selected these international news stories as the most important of 2017.
1. Trump takes power: Donald Trump was inaugurated U.S. president on Jan. 20, ushering in a tumultuous period for the United States. Trump attempted to shake up much of what his predecessor, Barack Obama, had done during his term in office. Stoking controversy at nearly every turn, Trump still manages to maintain a firm bedrock of support despite an ongoing investigation into Russian vote-meddling that may have played a role in his election.