Craig Taylor

Six passengers and crew are flown to hospital after a fire, believed to have been started by a passenger, broke out on a North Sea ferry off Yorkshire.
BBC News – UK

One million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, after US lawmakers failed to reach a deal on an extension of the federal aid plan.
BBC News – US & Canada

Thousands of youths loyal to South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar are marching on the strategic town of Bor, according to government sources.
BBC News – Africa

Japanese consumer prices rise at the fastest pace in five years, showing government policies to end its deflation problem may be taking effect.
BBC News – Business

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