MEXICO-VIOLENCE

COLONIAS, Mexico — New clashes between vigilante groups and government forces in Mexico's violent western state of Michoacan call into question the strategy of a federal commissioner appointed to restore order. All sides are accused of being infiltrated by drug traffickers trying to take over from the Knights Templar, which controlled commerce, politics and daily life in much of the state until self-defense groups rose up two years ago. 

OBAMA

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will spend most of the coming week previewing more of the proposals he will outline in his annual State of the Union policy address, including on identity theft, electronic privacy and cybersecurity, the White House says.

HAITI-PROTEST

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Protesters burn tires and throw rocks and glass bottles at riot police during another anti-government demonstration in Haiti's capital amid a bitter political stalemate over long-delayed elections. By David McFadden. 

NYPD-SLOWDOWN CITY

NEW YORK — Of all the statistics from the recent New Year's Eve in Times Square — 1 million revelers, 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of confetti, thousands of police officers, dozens of surveillance cameras — there is one number that stands out: zero, as in zero tickets for low-level crimes during a police slowdown in response to tensions with the mayor. 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-MARTINEZ

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Thousands of people in the Dominican Republic greet new baseball Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez after he lands in his homeland aboard a private plane bearing his country's flag. By Ezequiel Abiu Lopez.