A massive bill that extends billions of dollars in tax assistance to businesses and expands the budget deficit won US House of Representatives approval on December 17 in the closest thing to a grand bipartisan tax bargain in years.

Delegates from Libya's warring factions signed a UN-brokered agreement on December 17 to form a national unity government, a deal that Western powers hope will bring stability and help to combat a growing Islamic State presence.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed confidence after talks with Turkey's prime minister on December 17 that Ankara would do its part to bring about a sharp reduction in the number of illegal migrants entering the European Union (EU).

The United States and Cuba have agreed to restore scheduled commercial airline service for the first time in more than five decades in a deal allowing 110 round-trip flights a day between the former Cold War foes.

The UN Security Council warned on December 17 that some countries are failing to implement long-standing sanctions against Islamic State, as an unprecedented meeting of finance ministers put the global focus on cutting off the militant group's funds.

President Hassan Rouhani said on December 16 a UN watchdog's closure of investigations into Iran's past nuclear activities is a political victory for the country, lifting the main obstacle to implementing Tehran's deal with world powers.

US President Barack Obama is welcome to visit Cuba but not to meddle in its internal affairs, a senior foreign ministry official said on December 16 on the eve of the first anniversary of the two countries' historic rapprochement.

The United States has delivered a fresh supply of ammunition to Syrian Arab fighters ahead of an expected stiff battle with Islamic State as they push toward the Syrian town of al-Shadadi, a key logistics hub for the group, US officials tell Reuters.

The United Nations formally kicked off the race for the next secretary-general on December 15 and the world body's 193 members were encouraged to consider putting forward a woman for the top job that has been held by a man for the past 70 years.

A new Saudi-led Islamic alliance to fight terrorism will share information and train, equip and provide forces if necessary for the fight against Islamic State militants, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on December 15.