Craig

The UN says it has evidence Burundi’s security forces gang-raped women, as the country’s Supreme Court sentences four coup plotters to life in prison.
BBC News – Africa

The A’s on Thursday avoided arbitration with Danny Valencia — one of the club’s three arbitration-eligible players — by agreeing to a one-year deal for the 2016 season.
OAK Homepage News

Inside the basket was a collection of fresh baby carrots, baby turnips, baby radishes and microgreens with a neatly placed thank-you card
Oklahoma City Thunder

Tesco shares jump more than 7% after the UK’s largest supermarket says Christmas trading was “strong”.
BBC News – Business

A second convoy of aid lorries in a week sets off for the besieged rebel-held Syrian town of Madaya from Damascus, reports say.
BBC News – Middle East

Three opposition politicians in Venezuela agree to give up their seats in the National Assembly to break a political deadlock.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

A car-bomb attack on a police HQ in Turkey’s majority-Kurdish province of Diyarbakir kills six people and wounds dozens, local media say.
BBC News – Europe

An extra 600 armed officers are to be trained to help counter the threat of a Paris-style terror attack in London, the Metropolitan Police says.
BBC News – UK

The US wants United Nations help in dealing with thousands of migrants fleeing to the US to escape violence in Central America.
BBC News – US & Canada

Liberia is declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization, effectively putting an end to the world’s worst outbreak of the deadly disease.
BBC News – Africa

Of the ten men on the court, the Thunder had more talent, but the takeaway from the team’s home win on Wednesday night was that it didn’t
Oklahoma City Thunder

A multi-part Around the Horn series, which features a position-by-position look at Oakland’s projected starters and backup options heading into the season, turns its focus to third base after covering second base, […]

MINNEAPOLIS– Kevin Durant settled in on the right wing, with the emerging Minnesota Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins squ
Oklahoma City Thunder

Oakland’s four remaining arbitration-eligible players — first baseman Yonder Alonso, outfielder Josh Reddick, relief pitcher Fernando Rodriguez and third baseman Danny Valencia — filed for arbitration Tuesday, […]

US regulators reject Volkswagen’s recall plan for diesel cars equipped with emissions ‘cheat’ devices.
BBC News – Business

A senior UN official says the suffering in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya is the worst he has witnessed during the country’s brutal civil war.
BBC News – Middle East

Mexican officials say the meeting between actor Sean Penn and cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was an “essential element” in Guzman’s capture.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

A suicide bomber suspected to be a member of so-called Islamic State kills 10 people, at least eight of them German tourists, in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
BBC News – Europe

Junior doctors are urged to return to the negotiating table by the health secretary, as their union says the strike is sending a “clear message” to government.
BBC News – UK

Iran has detained several US sailors after their vessels were stopped in the Gulf, a US official told the BBC.
BBC News – US & Canada