Craig Taylor

The rouble crashes to new record lows in Tuesday trading, hitting 79 roubles to the dollar, despite a dramatic rise in Russian interest rates.
BBC News – Europe

A long-running public inquiry into alleged abuse carried out by British soldiers in Iraq is due to report later.
BBC News – UK

Ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush, brother and son of US presidents, takes a step towards a run on the White House in 2016.
BBC News – US & Canada

Kenya deregisters more than 500 non-governmental organisations, including 15 accused of links with terrorism, an official tells the BBC.
BBC News – Africa

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec.
Oklahoma City Thunder

Telecoms giant BT is in exclusive talks to buy EE – Britain’s largest mobile network group – for £12.5bn.
BBC News – Business

Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria and allied rebel groups have taken control of two key army bases in the northern province of Idlib, activists say.
BBC News – Middle East

Mexican protesters demonstrating in support of a group of students who went missing in September clash with police in the city of Chilpancingo.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

A nationwide strike in Belgium has brought air, rail and road transport to a halt and forced many businesses to close.
BBC News – Europe

Ed Miliband says there can be no doubting how important an issue immigration is for Labour – as he dismisses leaked guidance advising its campaigners to talk about other policies.
BBC News – UK

Prosecutors in the Philippines charge a US marine with murder in connection with the death of a Filipino transgender woman.
BBC News – US & Canada

Nigeria’s two main oil workers’ unions begin a nationwide strike, threatening to hurt the output of Africa’s largest oil producer.
BBC News – Africa

Thanks to proper spacing, the lane was open for the Thunder all night, so ball-handlers took advantage and simply made plays.
Oklahoma City Thunder

As he was moving his feet, swinging his hips and trying to keep in loc
Oklahoma City Thunder

The government vows to improve helplines for people seeking tax advice as a Which? survey finds almost 30% of callers to two lines were cut off.
BBC News – Business

Several suspected al-Qaeda militants, disguised as fully veiled women, are reportedly shot dead by Yemeni security forces near the Saudi border.
BBC News – Middle East

Marches take place across Colombia to protest against a possible amnesty for Farc rebels in peace negotiations aimed at ending five decades of conflict.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

British airports are returning to normal, the day after a computer failure closed London’s airspace, Europe’s largest.
BBC News – Europe

The Civil Aviation Authority warned air traffic control body Nats four months ago its plans for dealing with technical faults were unclear, a report says.
BBC News – UK

Thousands of people march through the US capital to protest against recent killings of unarmed black people by police.
BBC News – US & Canada