The U.S. government spent more than a decade preparing responses to malicious hacking by a foreign power but had no clear strategy when Russia launched a disinformation campaign over the internet during the U.S. election campaign, current and former White House cyber security advisers said.

• December 21, 2016

The Kremlin said on Wednesday almost all communications channels between Russia and the United States have been frozen but the U.S. State Department disputed the statement.

• December 21, 2016

Russia, Iran and Turkey said they were ready to help broker a Syrian peace deal after the three countries held talks in Moscow on Tuesday and adopted a declaration which set out the principles any agreement should adhere to.

• December 20, 2016

Oil prices rose on Tuesday but settled below session highs after Libya announced the reopening of pipelines after a two-year blockade that ended earlier this month.

• December 20, 2016

The United States on Tuesday blacklisted seven Russian businessmen and eight companies and government enterprises over Russia's annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement, moves Moscow called "hostile acts."

• December 20, 2016

Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS.MI) is trying to resolve differences with a key investor over its 5 billion-euro ($5.2 billion) rescue plan to allow the deal to go ahead and avoid a state bailout.

• December 19, 2016

The Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday by an off-duty police officer who shouted "Don't forget Aleppo" and "Allahu Akbar" as he opened fire.

• December 19, 2016

NATO and Russia held more than three hours of talks on Monday, discussing ways to reduce military accidents but also underscoring their deep disagreement on the conflict in Ukraine.

• December 19, 2016