Real World News

Big Ben: BBC editor thanks girl for offer to replace 'bongs' 17 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA/Jon Hanson A girl who offered to replace Big Ben's chimes on BBC radio has been let down gently after an editor warned her of the long hours that would be involved. Eight year-old Phoebe Hanson wrote to BBC Radio 4's PM saying she worried how the "bongs" would be replaced while Big Ben is being repaired next year. PM's editor, Roger Sawyer, told Phoebe: "It would be quite a task." A…

War photographer returns to Syria with People's Convoy 17 December 2016 From the section London Related Topics Syrian civil war Image copyright PA Image caption London doctors have joined the convoy to build a children's hospital near Aleppo A war photographer who survived a deadly blast in Syria has joined a convoy taking London doctors to the embattled country. It is the…

China accuses US of 'hyping-up' seizure of underwater drone 17 December 2016 From the section China Image copyright US Navy Image caption The USNS Bowditch was in the region to conduct research China has accused the US of "hyping-up" an incident in which its navy seized a US underwater drone in international waters in the South China Sea. The Pentagon said it was being used to carry out scientific research and must be returned - a…

Borrowash murder and M1 death victims 'related' 17 December 2016 From the section Derby Image caption A woman who was found with serious injuries in a house in Charnwood Avenue later died Police investigating a woman's murder, a seriously injured man and the death of a man on the M1 have said all three people were related to each other. Officers were called to a house in Borrowash, Derbyshire, on Friday morning after a 22-year-old man with head injuries raised the alarm. The…

Talks planned to avert pre-Christmas airports staff strike 17 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright Swissport Talks aimed at preventing strikes by check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at UK airports are set to be held on Tuesday, it has been confirmed. Officials from Unite union and Swissport, the world's largest ground and cargo handler, will meet at Acas, the conciliation service announced. More than 1,500 workers are set to strike for 48 hours on Friday in a dispute …

PayAsUGym user details compromised in hack attack 17 December 2016 From the section Technology Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption The fitness website said 300,000 email addresses and passwords were accessed Fitness website PayAsUGym has confirmed one of its servers has been hacked. The company, which sells passes for gyms around the UK, acknowledged that 300,000 email addresses and passwords of its members had bee…

Flights disrupted as fog descends on London's airports 17 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA Image caption The flight cancellations come days before planned strikes over pay and conditions Fog is affecting travel in southern England with some flights cancelled due to poor visibility at London airports. London City airport diverted all inbound flights on Saturday while Heathrow and Gatwick have also reported disru…

Muhammad Ali letter to Nelson Mandela sold for £7,200 17 December 2016 From the section Wiltshire Image copyright PA Image caption The letter was typed a personal assistant who spelt the boxing legend's name incorrectly A signed letter from Muhammad Ali to Nelson Mandela offering his condolences on the death of an anti-apartheid leader has sold for £7,200. The typed letter, signed by the boxing legend on "Muhammad Ali in South Afr…

Cold cases: The detectives on the trail of undiscovered killers By Danny Shaw Home affairs correspondent 17 December 2016 From the section UK Image caption The murders of Sally Shepherd (left) and Margaret Lightfoot remain unsolved A dedicated team of British detectives is working to solve cold case murders. And with advances in forensic science, they are hoping to bring some of the killers to justice. At midday, on 24 November 1975, Margaret Lig…

Omar Hutson charged with Fulham murder of Salim Coulter 17 December 2016 From the section London Image copyright Metropolitan Police Image caption Salim Coulter was killed as he left a restaurant in Walham Grove, Fulham A man has been charged with murder following an alleged "ambush" killing in west London. Omar Hutson, 29, of no fixed address, is accused of shooting Salim Coulter, 24, in the head in Walham Grove, Fulham, on 5 Dec…

Michael Nicholson: Veteran ITN war correspondent dies 17 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright ITN Image caption Michael Nicholson covered conflicts around the world Veteran ITN war correspondent Michael Nicholson, whose career spanned more than five decades, has died aged 79. Nicholson reported on the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Falklands War, the Balkans conflict, the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Nicholso…

All new police officers in England and Wales to have degrees 15 December 2016 From the section UK All new police officers in England and Wales will have to be educated to degree level from next year, the College of Policing has announced. Under significant changes, prospective officers already with a degree can do a funded post-graduate conversion course. Alternatively, they can do an unfunded degree in policing or complete a paid three-year "degree apprenticeship". The Police Federation, representing the rank and file, said it was glad no mi…

Obama orders review into 'Russian hacking' before US election 9 December 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright AP Image caption Voter data in Illinois was breached President Barack Obama has ordered an investigation into a series of cyber-attacks, blamed on Russia, that shook the US election season. The hacks targeted emails at the Democratic Party and a key aide to presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In October…

UK fishing industry 'will need EU market access' post Brexit By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent 17 December 2016 From the section Science & Environment Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The House of Lords report says that it fears the UK fishing industry might be marginalised in Brexit negotiations The UK fishing industry will need continued access to EU markets if it is to thrive a…

Pioneering surgeons recall first triple transplant operation By Helen Burchell and Katy Prickett BBC News Online 17 December 2016 From the section Cambridgeshire Image copyright PA Image caption Davina Thompson pictured with her husband Peter about a month after her operation Thirty years ago Davina Thompson became the world's first patient to receive a heart, lung and liver transplant. The groundbreak…