President Barack Obama said on December 15 he had tapped Adewale Adeyamo to be his deputy national security adviser for international economics, a position that involves coordinating US participation in the annual G7 and G20 summits.

The UN nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board decided on December 15 to close its investigation into whether Iran once had a secret nuclear weapons programme, opting to support Tehran's deal with world powers rather than dwell on its past actions.

Russia and the United States see enough common ground on Syria for world powers to meet on the troubled country's peace process in New York on December 18, but views on the future of President Bashar-al Assad still diverge.

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Moscow December 15 to try and narrow differences with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in any political transition and which rebel groups should be part of peace talks.

Wide areas of the central Philippines were plunged into darkness on December 15 as powerful typhoon Melor barreled into the coconut-growing region, causing flooding, storm surges and forcing almost 800,000 people to evacuate their homes, officials said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on December 13 brushed off what a Germany magazine said was a request from the United States to provide more military help in the fight against Islamic State.

Russia on December 13 warned Turkey to stop staging what it called provocations against its forces in or near Syria after one of its warships fired warning shots at a Turkish vessel in the Aegean to avoid a collision.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on December 13 he was ready to lead his Fidesz party in 2018 national elections, aiming to become prime minister for a third consecutive term.

Global powers on December 13 backed the formation of a national unity government in Libya, pledging economic and security support to help stabilize the chaotic North African country where Islamic State militants have a foothold.

The United States and its allies conducted 15 air strikes in Iraq and seven in Syria against Islamic State on December 12, the coalition leading the operations said.