Craig Taylor

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

LOS ANGELES – Other than learning from it for specific game planning purposes, last Saturday’s 40-point win means nothin
Oklahoma City Thunder

The A’s, having already welcomed a new first baseman in Yonder Alonso earlier in the day, officially non-tendered Ike Davis ahead of Wednesday’s 9 p.m. PT deadline, making him a free agent.
OAK Homepage News

Kristin Minnis and her two adopted teenage sons w
Oklahoma City Thunder

Broadband adverts have been criticised by Citizens Advice for misleading potential customers.
BBC News – Business

The battle to drive Islamic State fighters out of central Ramadi enters its second day as Iraqi special forces fight the militants street by street.
BBC News – Middle East

Panama’s highest court orders the detention of Ricardo Martinelli, who governed the country from 2009 to 2014, over allegations of illegal wiretaps.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean