Iraqi government forces appear on the way to pushing ISIS out of the city of Ramadi but it's just a small part of the vast territory the militant group controls.
Secretary of State John Kerry said the move was "one of the most significant steps" in fulfilling the July nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.
In poorly regulated Lahore, Pakistan, Ayesha Mumtaz is a relentless enforcer of food-safety rules who strikes fear into local eatery owners. But some restaurateurs say she goes too far.
The Japanese government apologized and offered some $8 million in compensation for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women into sexual slavery during World War II.
Near the end of this year saw a collision between the headstrong leaders of two powerful countries: Russia and Turkey. There are worries that a Russo-Turkish feud could escalate.
Mustafa Alnour Alhassan is 26. He's dying of mycetoma, a flesh-eating fungal infection. It can be treated — but in poor countries treatment is not readily available.
As part of an anti-corruption crackdown, Nigeria is prosecuting former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki. He allegedly stole billions earmarked for the fight against Boko Haram.