Real World News

Woman guilty of Letchworth casserole dish murder 19 December 2016 From the section Beds, Herts & Bucks Image copyright Family photo Image caption Nikki Collingbourne was attacked with a ceramic kitchen pot A woman who killed her half-sister with a chicken-shaped casserole dish while disguised in a goatee beard and wig has been found guilty of murder. Nikki Collingbourne, 26, was found dead in her underwear at her flat in Hertf…

Jediism not a religion Charity Commission rules 19 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Jediism stems from the mythology of the Star Wars films Jediism, the worship of the mythology of the Star Wars films, is not a religion, the Charity Commission has ruled. The commission rejected an application to grant charitable status to The Temple of the Jedi Order. It said Jediism did not "promote mo…

Fifa has fined all four home nations for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers around Armistice Day. England and Scotland players wore armbands featuring the symbol when they met at Wembley on 11 November. Wales and Northern Ireland's respective games featured displays to mark the event on the pitch or in the stands. England have been fined 45,000 Swiss francs (£35,311), Scotland and Wales 20,000 Sfr (£15,694) and Northern Ireland 15,000 Sfr (£11,770). More to follow. View the full article

Nicola Cross killing: Marcin Porczynski sent to secure hospital 19 December 2016 From the section Beds, Herts & Bucks Image copyright SBNA Image caption Mr Cross said he still hears the last phone call with his wife, which he plays "over and over" in his head A man sent to a secure hospital for killing a mother-of-two told doctors he had to sacrifice her to save his own family, a court has heard. Marcin Porczynski admitted sta…

Man admits double murder of Cardiff Matalan shop workers 19 December 2016 From the section South East Wales Image copyright Facebook Image caption Lee Simmons and Zoe Morgan were found dead near Matalan on Cardiff's Queen Street A man has admitted the murder of a couple found stabbed on a street near their workplace in Cardiff. Matalan workers Zoe Morgan, 21, and Lee Simmons, 33, were found dead near the Queen Street store in Sept…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Suicide: We must end isolation, says campaigner 19 December 2016 Last updated at 10:05 GMT Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under the age of 49 - and MPs from the Health Select Committee say more should be done to support those at risk. They say a government prevention strategy for England in 2012 did not result in any improvements. Meanwhile the Department of Health says it is investing almost £1bn in providing mental health support in A&E and home-based crisis care, and is in the process of updating its suicide prevention strategy. Hugh Pym reports. …

How to dodge food poisoning this Christmas By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News website 19 December 2016 From the section Health Image copyright Thinkstock Turkey, roast potatoes and yes - even Brussel sprouts are about to take centre-stage on the nation's dining tables. But with fridges bursting and a never-ending supply of leftovers to use up, how do you avoid the unwelcome guest of food poisoning making an appearance? 1. Keep cool It's party tim…

Teenager shot in both legs in west Belfast 19 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland A 16-year-old has been shot in both legs in a paramilitary-style attack in west Belfast. It happened in Aitnamona Crescent at 20:50 GMT on Sunday. He was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are not thought to be life threatening. Ch Insp Norman Hanslet said: "To shoot anyone is bad enough but this is blatant child abuse and there should be no place for the shooting of a child in today's society." "I know that the local community abhor this type of behaviour and I would ask people to su…

Thousands of workers set to strike in Christmas week 19 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Thousands of workers will launch a wave of strikes this week, hitting postal services, rail companies and airlines in the run-up to Christmas. About 3,000 staff at hundreds of Crown post offices will walk out on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. The action marks a major escalation of their dispute over pension changes, job security and closures. They will be joined on Wednesday and Thursda…

Burial at sea: Seven things you might not know By Bethan Bell BBC News 19 December 2016 From the section England Image copyright Clowes Family Image caption Bryan Clowes was a veteran of the Arctic Convoy A 101-year-old Royal Navy sailor was recently laid to rest at sea. Bryan Clowes, a former Petty Officer and veteran of the Arctic Convoy, took his final voyage aboard East Sussex 1, an ex-naval Kiwi c…

Child abuse 'affects health decades later' By Hannah Richardson BBC News education and social affairs reporter 19 December 2016 From the section Education & Family Image caption The effects of abuse can last for decades, say researchers People who were maltreated as children are more likely to have poor health and living standards decades later, a study suggests. The researchers tracked 8,076 people born in 1958 until the age of 50. Those w…

Scale of suicide unacceptable, say MPs 19 December 2016 From the section Health Image copyright Thinkstock The number of people taking their own lives in England is unacceptably high, according to a report by the Health Select Committee. The group of MPs is putting pressure on the government ahead of its new plan for preventing suicides, which is expected in the New Year. The number of deaths by suicide was 4,820 in England in 2015 - part of a UK-wide figure of 6,188. The committee said support ne…

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story takes $290m on first weekend By Chris Johnston Business reporter 18 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Image caption Felicity Jones stars in Rogue One Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has taken $290.5m (£232.8m) globally on its opening weekend. The US accounted for about half of the first Star Wars spinoff's total, making $155m, according to box office …

Andy Murray has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time. Murray, the 2013 and 2015 winner, took Olympic gold, claimed his second Wimbledon title and became tennis' world number one in a remarkable 2016. Triathlete Alistair Brownlee was second and show jumper Nick Skelton third. "It's been a great year for British sport and I am so proud to have been a part of it," said 29-year-old Murray as he accepted the award from Miami. As he took the prize from former British boxing world champion Lennox Lewis and gathered members of his training team around him, Murray added: "I'd like to thank everyone who voted - I really appreciate your su…

Joint call for EU citizens to stay in UK By Chris Johnston Business reporter 18 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Image caption Doubt about the status of European workers in the UK threatens the NHS, according to the TUC Businesses and trade unions have called on Theresa May to guarantee immediately the right of EU citizens to stay in the UK after Brexit. The British Chambers …