Real World News

Elections to be held in Northern Ireland on 2 March 16 January 2017 From the section Northern Ireland Northern Ireland will go to the polls on 2 March to elect a new Assembly after the executive collapsed over a botched green energy scheme. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire was legally obliged to call the election after negotiations failed. Stormont was plunged into crisis after the resignation of Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister last week. The catalyst was the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which is likely to cos…

Tunisia attack: UK tourist inquests told of delayed response 16 January 2017 From the section UK The attack at a Tunisian beach resort that led to the deaths of 30 British tourists could have been stopped sooner, a UK coroner has heard. Islamist gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire near Sousse in June 2015, killing 38 holidaymakers in total. The counsel to the inquests into the British deaths said a Tunisian judge's report had identified failings by local security units before police arrived. It said they had "deliberately... slowed down to d…

Tunisia attack: UK tourist inquests told of delayed response 16 January 2017 From the section UK The attack at a Tunisian beach resort that led to the deaths of 30 British tourists could have been stopped sooner, a UK coroner has heard. Islamist gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire near Sousse in June 2015, killing 38 holidaymakers in total. The counsel to the inquests into the British deaths said a Tunisian judge's report had identified failings by local security units before police arrived. It said they had "deliberately... slowed down to d…

Tunisia attack: UK tourist inquests told of delayed response 16 January 2017 From the section UK The attack at a Tunisian beach resort that led to the deaths of 30 British tourists could have been stopped sooner, a UK coroner has heard. Islamist gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire near Sousse in June 2015, killing 38 holidaymakers in total. The counsel to the inquests into the British deaths said a Tunisian judge's report had identified failings by local security units before police arrived. It said they had "deliberately... slowed down to d…

CIA head John Brennan warns Trump to watch his tongue 15 January 2017 From the section US & Canada Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Brennan said he took umbrage at Mr Trump's references to Nazi Germany Outgoing CIA Director John Brennan has warned US President-elect Donald Trump to avoid off-the-cuff remarks once he takes office. He said spontaneity was not in the interests of national security. Mr Trump is known for regul…

Doctors warn over cancer op cancellations amid NHS "pressure" 15 January 2017 From the section Health Senior doctors say they are concerned about the number of cancer patients having their operations cancelled amid "tremendous pressure" facing the NHS in England this winter. Ian Eardley, from the Royal College of Surgeons, said a shortage of beds was one of the causes. Such surgery is usually protected under treatment time guidelines, he added. The NHS said it was "pulling out all the stops" to ensure patients receive surgery "as quickly as …

Doctors warn over cancer op cancellations amid NHS "pressure" 15 January 2017 From the section Health Senior doctors say they are concerned about the number of cancer patients having their operations cancelled amid "tremendous pressure" facing the NHS in England this winter. Ian Eardley, from the Royal College of Surgeons, said a shortage of beds was one of the causes. Such surgery is usually protected under treatment time guidelines, he added. The NHS said it was "pulling out all the stops" to ensure patients receive surgery "as quickly as …

Brexit: UK 'could change economic model' if single market access denied 15 January 2017 From the section UK Politics Image copyright EPA The UK may be forced to change its "economic model" if it is locked out of the single market after Brexit, Chancellor Philip Hammond has said. Mr Hammond said the government would not "lie down" and would "do whatever we have to do" to remain competitive. He had been asked by a German newspaper if the UK could become a "tax haven" by further lowering corporation t…

GPs being made scapegoats for A&E pressures, says BMA 14 January 2017 From the section Health Media captionDr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA: "It's an insult"The doctors' union, the BMA, has accused the government of making GPs in England scapegoats for the pressure on A&E departments. The government says GPs must try harder to stay open from 08:00 to 20:00, seven days a week, so fewer patients are forced to seek care at hospitals. It warned GPs risk losing extra funding if they fail to meet their commitments to longer surgery opening times. But the BMA and Labour said underfundin…

Storm surge: Severe flooding avoided in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk 14 January 2017 From the section England Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Jaywick was evacuated ahead of the storm surge Towns and villages along England's east coast appear to have escaped any significant flooding after a change in wind direction prevented a storm surge. More than 5,000 homes were evacuated in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, amid fears of a tid…

Storm surge: Severe flooding avoided in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk 14 January 2017 From the section England Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Jaywick was evacuated ahead of the storm surge Towns and villages along England's east coast appear to have escaped any significant flooding after a change in wind direction prevented a storm surge. More than 5,000 homes were evacuated in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, amid fears of a tid…

UK snow: Severe weather sweeps across country 12 January 2017 From the section UK Media captionDarren Bett: "The weather is much more straightforward across the northern half of the UK"A blast of freezing weather is sweeping across the UK, bringing disruption as commuters try to get home. Large parts of the UK have already been hit by heavy snow, which has now to started to affect southern areas, with warnings over snow and ice during this evening's rush hour. The army is helping evacuate thousands of people from England's east coast, where a tidal surge is expected. Earlier, f…

Flooding threat as winter storms set to continue 13 January 2017 From the section UK Image copyright PA Parts of eastern England are preparing for possible flooding, as winter storms are due to hit much of the UK later. Coastal communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are braced for large waves, and some people have been urged to evacuate their homes. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings covering much of the UK for combinations of high winds, snow and ice on Friday. Ea…

Flooding threat as winter storms set to continue 13 January 2017 From the section UK Image copyright PA Parts of eastern England are preparing for possible flooding, as winter storms are due to hit much of the UK later. Coastal communities in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are braced for large waves, and some people have been urged to evacuate their homes. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings covering much of the UK for combinations of high winds, snow and ice on Friday. Ea…