Global Beat is your weekly stop for news from around the world. Join us every Friday morning for important stories you should know about.

This week, Erdoğan and Putin meet in an attempt to resurrect bilateral relations; protesters denounce the timeline for a recall of Venezuela’s president; the world’s longest hunger strike comes to an end; and more.
____________________

Americas

Venezuelan officials announced this week that a recall referendum will be held against President Nicolás Maduro. Still, the country’s leading opposition party denounced the timeline of the vote put forth by the National Electoral Council; if the referendum is held after January 10, Maduro’s vice president, Aristóbulo Istúriz, would govern until 2019. The country’s economic crisis has led to major food, electricity, and medicine shortages.

Also check out:

• Anti-doping fever grips the Rio Olympics – Aliyah Frumin, NBC News

Central & South Asia

The world’s longest hunger strike ended on Tuesday when Irom Sharmila ate her first meal – a bit of honey – in 16 years. Otherwise known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur,” Sharmila stopped eating in 2000 to protest the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives the Indian military the right to kill suspected separatist rebels in Kashmir without prosecution. Sharmila was kept alive through a government-mandated feeding tube while under arrest due to her actions. Sharmila – awarded the Nobel Prize in 2005 – has expressed her desire to run for public office.

Also check out:

• Journalists in Tajikistan to face fines for using ‘incomprehensible’ words – The Guardian

China & East Asia

Japanese Emperor Akihito alluded to his desire to retire this week in a rare public address. Japan’s constitution, however, prohibits an emperor from stepping down. He cited his age (82) and declining health as why he feels unable to fulfill the duties of the Chrysanthemum Throne, which will eventually pass to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito. Some are concerned that if Akihito steps down, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe will be able to further his efforts to strengthen the Japanese military. Emperor Akihito supports Japan’s postwar commitment to pacifism.

Also check out:

• Photos suggest China built reinforced fighter jet hangars on disputed islands in the South China Sea – Eric Beech, Idrees Ali, and Michael Martina, Reuters

Europe & Russia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in an attempt to resurrect bilateral relations. The meeting comes on the heels of last month’s failed military coup in Turkey. Relations between the two countries have been tense since the Turkish military shot down a Russian plane over Syria in November 2015. During the talks, Putin discussed ending sanctions against Turkish goods and Erdoğan considered resuming plans to build a natural gas pipeline with Russia.

Also check out:

• Germany, Netherlands to test joint missile defense operations for possible eastern deployment – Andrea Shalal, Reuters

Middle East & North Africa

On Tuesday, Israel charged a Palestinian employee of the United Nations for aiding Hamas by providing the group with information and materials. The indictment comes just days after Israel accused the director of Christian charity organization World Vision of funneling up to $50 million to Hamas, even though the director said World Vision’s entire operating budget in Gaza for the past 10 years adds up to $22.5 million. Hamas claims both charges are "baseless."

Also check out:

• 2 million residents of war-ravaged Aleppo now without running water – Camila Domonoske, NPR

Southeast Asia & Oceania

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly linked 150 politicians and judges to the illegal drug trade this week and demanded their surrender. He also fired hundreds of military and police officials in a televised address to the nation. Since the beginning of Duerte’s reign about 600,000 people have surrendered to the government, 4,400 have been placed under arrest, and around 500 have been killed. Human rights organizations are concerned that the violence will perpetuate and innocent lives will be lost.

Also check out:

• A short history of Nauru, Australia’s dumping ground for refugees – Ben Doherty, The Guardian 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Zambians will vote for a new president and parliament this week in the country’s second election since former President Michael Sata died in 2014. Current leader Edgar Lungo is up for reelection against nine candidates. Many more voters are set to cast ballots in this election due to an updated registry, which has added 1.5 million Zambians. The major themes of the election are a struggling economy and a high level of youth unemployment.

Also check out:

• Meet Shaka Zulu, the game changing how the world sees Africa – Amir Daftari and Phoebe Parke, CNN

Stay informed. We’ll see you here again next week.