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A Maoist cult leader who ran a commune is found guilty of a string of sex assaults, cruelty to a child and false imprisonment.
BBC News – UK

A mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, that left 14 people dead, is being investigated as an act of terrorism, the FBI says.
BBC News – US & Canada

MIAMI – Thirty-seven times the lead changed hands on Thursday night, in addition to 11 ties.
Oklahoma City Thunder

China’s president announces $ 60bn (£40bn) of assistance and loans for Africa to help with the development of the continent at a summit in Johannesburg.
BBC News – Africa

Mark Canha and the A’s Community Fund hosted a holiday party at the Oakland Zoo on Thursday for 200 local elementary students, celebrating a season of spirit and giving.
OAK Homepage News

MIAMI – On the road, taking hold
Oklahoma City Thunder

The European Central Bank cuts its rate on bank overnight deposits, in an effort to encourage lending by banks, and extends its bond-buying stimulus programme.
BBC News – Business

Israeli authorities arrest several Israeli youths in connection with a fatal arson attack on a Palestinian family’s home in the West Bank in July.
BBC News – Middle East

Two Fifa vice-presidents are arrested at a Swiss hotel on suspicion of accepting millions of dollars of bribes.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

Russia’s President Putin castigates Turkey’s leaders, warning that they will regret shooting down a Russian Su-24 bomber in Syria.
BBC News – Europe

RAF Tornado jets carried out “successful” bombing of oil fields in Syria controlled by Islamic State militants, the Ministry of Defence says, shortly after MPs voted in favour of extending air strikes.
BBC News – UK

Two heavily armed suspects – a man and a woman – are killed by police after a mass shooting in California left 14 people dead.
BBC News – US & Canada

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of murder after a South African appeals court overturned an earlier manslaughter verdict.
BBC News – Africa

Mesa Solar Sox left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea of the Oakland Athletics was named Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Week following his standout performance in his start against the Scottsdale Scorpions on […]

MIAMI — From a physical standpoint and in terms of skill sets, the Thunder roster is filled with a variety of different
Oklahoma City Thunder

Five sponsors of football’s world governing body Fifa write to its executive committee to demand “independent oversight” of reforms.
BBC News – Business

The US is to deploy a specialised force to Iraq to build pressure on Islamic State militants, says US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter.
BBC News – Middle East

Cuba reinstates controls on doctors willing to travel abroad saying its health services have been “seriously affected” by the loss of specialists.
BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean

US President Barack Obama urges Turkey and Russia to calm tensions over the downing of a Russian warplane and to focus on fighting IS militants.
BBC News – Europe

MPs will decide later whether to authorise UK air strikes against Islamic State in Syria at the end of what is expected to be a mammoth 10-hour debate.
BBC News – UK