Real World News

20 December 2017 Image caption IMF chief Christine Largarde The IMF has downgraded its forecast for UK economic growth. The Fund expects growth of 1.6% this year, down slightly from its previous forecast of 1.7%. It expects growth to slow further next year, to 1.5%. IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the economy was being held back by rising inflation and stagnant wages, which are squeezing spending power. She also said uncertainty over the …

Metropolitan Police review of sex case evidence 20 December 2017 Image copyright PA The Metropolitan Police is launching a review of all ongoing sex crime investigations, after the collapse of two rape cases in a week. On Tuesday, prosecutors dropped a case against a man charged with raping a child under 16 due to police providing "relevant" evidence in recent days. Last …

UK 'Christmas terror plot': Police searches resume 20 December 2017 Image copyright PA Image caption Police and the bomb disposal unit were seen outside a property in Chesterfield, Derbyshire Counter-terror police are to resume searches of two properties after an alleged Islamist terror plot set to happen…

Arthur Collins jailed for Dalston club acid attack 19 December 2017 Image copyright PA Image caption Arthur Collins had denied knowing the substance he threw was acid A man who threw acid across a packed London nightclub injuring 22 peop…

Couple killed in Cameron House Hotel fire named 19 December 2017 Image copyright Facebook Image caption Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley were thought to be on a winter break in Scotland Two men who died when a fire tore through a luxury five-star hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond have been named. Simon M…

Couple killed in Cameron House Hotel fire named 19 December 2017 Image copyright Facebook Image caption Richard Dyson and Simon Midgley were thought to be on a winter break in Scotland Two men who died when a fire tore through a luxury five-star hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond have been named. Simon M…

'Extra £450m funding' for police in England and Wales 19 December 2017 A potential £450m in extra funding for police in England and Wales in the next financial year is to be announced by the Home Office, the BBC understands. Police and crime commissioners are to be given the power to raise the portion of council tax which goes towards policing by £12 per household annually. That would raise £270m while £130m for nat…

Terror raids: Four arrests as army bomb disposal called in 19 December 2017 Image caption One of the raids was in Shirebrook Road in the Meersbrook area of Sheffield An army bomb disposal team is at a house in Chesterfield after police arrested four men in terror raids across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire. A cordon has been set up and nearby homes …

Thousands hit as fog disrupts flights at London airports 19 December 2017 Image caption Fog grounded flights in Manchester on Monday Thousands of passengers have faced disruption after freezing fog grounded flights. Forty-nine British Airways flights from Heathrow and several from Gatwick and London City airports were cancelled. The Met Office has …

Cameron House Hotel fire investigations continue 19 December 2017 Image caption The top floor of the hotel has been extensively damaged Police and fire service investigations are continuing after two people died in a blaze at Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond. One person was pronounced dead at the hotel, near Balloch, while another die…

'Race bias' in justice system: Government to unveil action 19 December 2017 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The government is committed to exposing injustice, says David Lidington The justice secretary is to outline steps to tackle "race bias" in the criminal justice system in England and Wales…

'Race bias' in justice system: Government to unveil action 19 December 2017 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The government is committed to exposing injustice, says David Lidington The justice secretary is to outline steps to tackle "race bias" in the criminal justice system in England and Wales…

HMS Queen Elizabeth: Leak found on new aircraft carrier 19 December 2017 Image copyright PA Image caption HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into Portsmouth in August following preparations at the naval base The UK's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is leaking because of a faulty seal. The Royal Navy's…

HMS Queen Elizabeth: Leak found on new aircraft carrier 19 December 2017 Image copyright PA Image caption HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into Portsmouth in August following preparations at the naval base The UK's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is leaking because of a faulty seal. The Royal Navy's…

Liverpool jail: The worst conditions ever seen, says report By Michael Buchanan Social affairs correspondent, BBC News 18 December 2017 Image copyright HMIP Image caption Inspectors at Liverpool jail found filthy, leaking toilets and some areas so hazardous they could not be cleaned …