Real World News

Newspaper headlines: Russia 'threat' and Putin accused By BBC News Staff 16 December 2016 Image caption The Times says government officials have acknowledged for the first time that Russia is waging a "campaign" of propaganda and unconventional warfare against Britain. Senior Whitehall figures believe Moscow is behind a concerted drive to undermine the UK through espionage,…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Would you store valuables at a newsagent? 16 December 2016 Last updated at 22:38 GMT The left luggage industry has a new rival, as one start-up is trying to recruit small shops as "urban hotspots" for storage, which you can find on its app. It has signed up nearly 30 shops, mainly in London, but also in Oxford and Manchester. Video journalist Dougal Shaw checked out CityStasher. This is part of a series looking at how technology is changing the way we store valuables. You can follow Dougal Shaw on Twitter and Facebook. View the full article

100 Women: From prison to profit By Caroline Bayley Global Business 16 December 2016 From the section Business Image caption Janet Powell serviced six months in prison but now runs a florist The number of women in prisons around the world is growing rapidly - up by 50% since the year 2000, compared to a rise of just 18% for men. Re-offending rates are alarmingly high and the stigma of a custodial sentence can make finding a job impossible. But wom…

Have more famous people died in 2016? By Charlotte McDonald BBC News 16 December 2016 From the section Magazine Image copyright Getty Images It's been held up as a particularly gloomy year for celebrity deaths. But has the grim reaper really claimed the souls of more notable people than usual in 2016? David Bowie, Prince, Harper Lee, Alan Rickman, Nancy Reagan, Muhammad Ali, Sir George Martin, Victoria Wood, Leonard Cohen… For their admirers, 2016 has been a sad year.…

Man in pants calls 999 over Manchester club lock-in 16 December 2016 From the section Manchester A man dialled 999 after waking up locked in an empty nightclub dressed only in his underpants following a Christmas party. Police said the last thing the man remembered was leaving a bar in Manchester city centre at 01:00 GMT. He apparently woke up in a confused state before contacting Greater Manchester Police at about 15:00 GMT. Thousands of people are expected to celebrate the festive season in what has come to be known as Mad Friday. GMP tweeted about the man's nightclub ordeal, and said officers …

Marcin Porczynski pleads guilty to Nicola Cross killing 16 December 2016 From the section Beds, Herts & Bucks Image copyright JOHN O REILLY Image caption Danny Cross told the court a mindless ferocious knife attack had taken his "sickeningly perfect" wife Nicola from her family A man has admitted killing a woman whose last words and screams were heard over the phone by her husband. Marcin Porczynski broke into Nicola Cross's h…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Transport Secretary Chris Grayling knocks cyclist off bike 16 December 2016 Last updated at 18:48 GMT The transport secretary knocked cyclist Jaiqi Liu off his bike as he opened the door of his ministerial car in October. View the full article

Bird flu found in turkeys at Louth farm, Defra says 16 December 2016 From the section Lincolnshire Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Most of the 5,000 turkeys diagnosed with bird flu have died with the remaining due to be culled Bird flu has been found at a farm in Lincolnshire, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed. More than 5,000 turkeys at the farm in Louth have been diagnosed wi…

China 'seizes US vessel' in S China Sea 16 December 2016 From the section China Image copyright US Navy Image caption The USNS Bowditch was in the region to conduct research The US has issued a formal request to China to deliver an unmanned underwater drone that was seized in international waters, US officials say. The Chinese navy seized the US underwater research vessel in the South China Sea on Thursday, the US alleges. The in…

Tropical bird on Heathrow flight home for Christmas 16 December 2016 From the section Sussex Image copyright RSPCA Image caption Norman was nursed back to health ahead of his journey home A tropical bird that was found exhausted on a Sussex beach has had an easier journey home - on a 12-hour flight from Heathrow. Norman, a red-footed booby, was nursed back to health by the RSPCA and flown to the Cayman Islands by British Airways o…

Harriet Harman breaks record for long service as MP 16 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Media captionThe Daily Politics looked at some of the highlights of Harriet Harman's career in 2015Labour's Harriet Harman has become the longest continuously serving female MP, racking up 12,468 days in the Commons. Since Ms Harman was elected in a Peckham by-election in 1982, she has worked with seven different Labour leaders and been acting leader twice. Friday marks the day she surpasses Gwyneth Dunwoody's record, although the late Labour MP served longer overall in two separate…

RHI scandal: McGuinness calls on Foster to step aside 16 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland Image caption Breaking News image Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has called for Arlene Foster to "stand aside from the role as first minister" during an investigation into a controversial heating initiative. More to follow. View the full article

Airport staff in pre-Christmas strike 16 December 2016 From the section Business Image copyright Swissport Check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 UK airports plan 48-hour strike from 23 December in a pay row, the Unite Union says. More than 1,500 workers at Swissport, the world's largest ground and cargo handler, are staging the walkout following a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. Unite called on management to take part in "constructive talks". It said the action, whic…

Corrie Mckeague: Friends' hopes over missing RAF man 16 December 2016 From the section Suffolk Image caption Station commander Mick Smeath said everyone at RAF Honington was "desperate" to have Corrie Mckeague back Friends who were with an RAF serviceman when he went missing are "hoping it's not the last time they see him", a station commander said. Corrie Mckeague, 23, went missing after being separated from the group on a night out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Gp Capt Mick…

Media playback is unsupported on your device A paramotor pilot hits a power line in Gloucestershire 16 December 2016 Last updated at 16:07 GMT A paramotor pilot has been injured after hitting a power line. The man was part of a homecoming at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire for conservationist Sacha Dench, who has flown from the Russian arctic following migrating Bewick's swans. Ambulance service said the pilot received minor injuries. View the full article