Emily Taylor

Tornadoes in the Dallas suburbs kill at least eight people, reports say, raising the death toll to 26 in a week of storms in several US states.
BBC News – US & Canada

Former South African President FW De Klerk joins criticism of a campaign to remove the statue of colonial leader Cecil Rhodes from Oxford University.
BBC News – Africa

Since December 6, the Thunder had won nine out of 10 games prior to its Christmas Day clash against the Chicago Bulls, when it fell 105-9
Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder had a massive comeback in its sights,
Oklahoma City Thunder

Shoppers are set break a new record and spend more than £700m online during Christmas Day, experts predict.
BBC News – Business

The head and several leaders of one of Syria’s most powerful rebel groups, Jaysh al-Islam, have been killed in an air strike east of Damascus.
BBC News – Middle East

At least 7,000 people are evacuated from their homes in northern Argentina as heavy rains swell river levels, with the Uruguay River area particularly affected.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Pope Francis appeals for peace and reconciliation in a wide-ranging Christmas Day address covering war, terrorism and the migrant crisis.
BBC News – Europe

The Army is called in to support efforts to protect communities in Cumbria amid fears of further flooding.
BBC News – UK

The victims of the Iran hostage crisis are to receive compensation 36 years after their ordeal, reports say.
BBC News – US & Canada

A huge explosion at a butane gas depot in south-eastern Nigeria has left “tens” of people dead, Nigeria’s president says.
BBC News – Africa

LOS ANGELES – With about four-an
Oklahoma City Thunder

The A’s swung a deal with the Padres on Wednesday for first baseman Yonder Alonso and lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski, giving up left-handers Drew Pomeranz and Jose Torres in the process.
OAK Homepage News

Hotel group Hyatt warns visitors that it suffered a security breach in its customer payment system.
BBC News – Business

A fire in the early hours of the morning at a hospital in Saudi Arabia kills 25 people and injures more than 100, the Civil Defence Agency says.
BBC News – Middle East

Argentina’s new president unveils a new official Twitter account after his predecessor kept the previous one in their latest public spat.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Belgian police arrest a ninth suspect in connection with the 13 November attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people.
BBC News – Europe

Two Burmese men are found guilty and sentenced to death by a court in Thailand for the murder of two UK backpackers whose bodies were found on a Thai beach in 2014.
BBC News – UK

The Black Lives Matter group disrupts shopping and air travel in two US states in a pre-Christmas protest over police killings of black men.
BBC News – US & Canada

The Nigerian army has all but won the war against Boko Haram militants, President Muhammadu Buhari tells the BBC.
BBC News – Africa