Simon Furness

Top Sunni Lebanese ex-minister Mohamad Chatah, a staunch critic of Syria’s government and its Hezbollah backers, is killed in a bomb blast.
BBC News – Middle East

Dozens of people are killed after heavy rains cause flooding and landslides in the south-eastern Brazilian states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

The Turkish military releases a statement saying it does not want to get involved in political arguments, as a corruption scandal rages.
BBC News – Europe

Standing terraces could make a permanent return at all levels of the Football League after its 72 clubs are asked for their opinion.
BBC News – UK

US police release thousands of documents tied to their probe into a Connecticut school shooting, during which 26 people died last December.
BBC News – US & Canada

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar says there must be proper talks before the rebels can agree to a truce, as UN reinforcements arrive in Juba.
BBC News – Africa

Plans are being announced to allow bank customers to pay cheques into their account by taking photos on their smartphones.
BBC News – Business

Five people have been injured in a bomb blast on a bus in the Nasr City area of the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Egypt’s health ministry says.
BBC News – Middle East

Uruguayan presidential candidate Jorge Saravia sustains head injuries as armed robbers break into his home while he was dining with his family.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan reshuffles his cabinet after three ministers resigned over a corruption probe, with one of them urging him to quit.
BBC News – Europe

The Environment Agency warns of further significant disruption from flooding in parts of England, with more heavy rain and gusts of up to 70 mph forecast across UK.
BBC News – UK

Ex-National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden delivers an “alternative” UK Christmas message, calling for an end to mass surveillance.
BBC News – US & Canada

The leaders of Kenya and Ethiopia hold talks with South Sudan’s president in an attempt to halt violence that has claimed thousands of lives.
BBC News – Africa

The number of homes being sold in the UK has risen by 24% over the last year, according to HM Revenue and Customs.
BBC News – Business

Egyptian police have arrested Hisham Qandil, the former prime minister who served under ousted President Mohammed Morsi, the interior ministry says.
BBC News – Middle East

A British man arrested by Russia over Greenpeace protests in the Arctic has charges dropped, with the others expected to be freed soon.
BBC News – Europe

Stormy weather leaves angry passengers stranded at Gatwick, while thousands face Christmas without power and flood warnings force residents to leave their homes.
BBC News – UK

The US government offers help to anyone who misses the latest – 24 December deadline – to enrol for President Obama’s health insurance scheme.
BBC News – US & Canada

Thousands of people must have been killed in the past week of violence in South Sudan, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator there tells the BBC.
BBC News – Africa

Rail fares are to rise by an average of 2.8% from 2 January, after Chancellor George Osborne said regulated fares must stay in line with July’s RPI inflation figure.
BBC News – Business