Real World News

Brexit trade deal could take 10 years, says UK's ambassador 15 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Image copyright PA A post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal might take 10 years to finalise and still fail, Britain's ambassador to the EU has privately told the government. The BBC understands Sir Ivan Rogers warned ministers that the European consensus was that a deal might not be done until the early to mid-2020s. He also cautioned that an agreement could be rejected ultimately by other EU members' na…

Faux fur or real - do you know what you're wearing? By Marie Jackson BBC News 15 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Humane Scoiety International/UK Image caption This £30 jumper, made of 80% viscose and 20% elastane according to the label, is adorned with mink pom-poms, laboratory tests suggest Fashion's obsession with fur means it's everywhere - luxuriously soft pom-poms perching on top…

University to lower entry grades for poor By Sean Coughlan Education correspondent 15 December 2016 From the section Education & Family Image caption The university wants to force the pace on widening access A leading university is to increase its intake of disadvantaged students by offering places with reduced grades. The University of Bristol is to accept lower exam grades from disadvantaged local pupils and applicants from schools with poo…

'Three-person baby' decision awaited By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News website 15 December 2016 From the section Health Image copyright Thinkstock The UK's fertility regulator is about to make a historic decision on whether to allow the creation of babies from three people. The technique prevents babies being born with deadly genetic diseases. Three-person IVF has been backed by MPs and peers, got ethical approval and has been shown to be scienti…

Fleet service station fire shuts part of M3 15 December 2016 From the section Hampshire & Isle of Wight Image copyright Hampshire Fire and Rescue Image caption Images from the fire service showed a building engulfed in flames A large fire has broken out at a motorway service station in Hampshire. The blaze erupted at Fleet services on the M3, leading police to temporarily close the southbound carriageway. Pictures appear to s…

More than 1,700 calls to football abuse helpline 15 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Thinkstock More than 1,700 calls have now been made to a hotline set up in the wake of claims of sexual abuse in football, the NSPCC has said. The line, supported by the FA, was set up after ex-Crewe Alexandra player Andy Woodward revealed he had been a victim of sexual abuse as a young footballer. The NSPCC said 75% of the calls that resulted in a referral to police or other agencies came from abu…

QPR coach Chris Gieler 'kept on after 1980s investigation' By Jim Reed, Louis Lee Ray and Jo Adnitt BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme 15 December 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Getty Images Queens Park Rangers continued to employ youth officer Chris Gieler after carrying out an internal investigation into his behaviour in the 1980s, the Victoria Derbyshire show has learned. Four youth players were questioned by senior management in the investigation, though …

Brexit: EU leaders to discuss UK's exit without Theresa May 15 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Image copyright AFP Image caption Mrs May says the UK won't begin formal EU talks until March at the latest The EU's 27 other leaders will meet without British Prime Minister Theresa May later to discuss their plans for the upcoming Brexit negotiations. They will have dinner at the European Council summit in Brussels amid tens…

Southern warns of 'severe' rail disruption after strike 15 December 2016 From the section England Image copyright EPA Image caption A two-day walk out by train drivers ended at midnight Services on the Southern rail network will see widespread disruption following a 48-hour strike by train drivers, the rail operator has warned. The two-day walkout ended at midnight, but services will be severely impacted on Thursday, the company s…

'Wrong baby' security fears at Royal London Hospital 15 December 2016 From the section England Image caption Some babies at The Royal London Hospital were given no name tags. A maternity unit has been ordered to improve security due to fears parents could "leave with the wrong baby". The Royal London Hospital has been told by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that "lax" checking of name bands left babies and families at risk. A total of 4,645 babies were born at the Whitecha…

HMRC claws back celebrities' tax profit on empty data centres By Francesca Williams BBC News 15 December 2016 From the section Tyne & Wear Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Investors and former investors in Cobalt Data Centres 2 and 3 included a number of celebrities and household names Millions of pounds in tax relief given to celebrities via a scheme to start economic growth in deprived …

Lottery windfall for German PoW camp village 15 December 2016 From the section Tayside and Central Scotland Image copyright Comrie Development Trust Image caption The huts will be converted into self-catering accommodation A Perthshire village has received £638,900 in lottery funding, days after a former German prisoner of war left it his entire estate. Comrie Development Trust has been awarded the Heritage Lottery Funding to rest…

Media playback is unsupported on your device Cub scout 100th anniversary: Kate Middleton takes her oath 15 December 2016 Last updated at 00:00 GMT The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton was wrapped in a sling and took her cub scout promise at a party in Norfolk to celebrate a century of the youth movement. View the full article

Media playback is unsupported on your device Man dances to BBC jingle in Leicester Square 14 December 2016 Last updated at 23:58 GMT The BBC news jingle seems to have inspired some funky shapes for one performer in Leicester Square. A correspondent for the Polish Press Agency Jakub Krupa filmed this enthusiastic dancer. View the full article

Newspaper headlines: Brexit 'red lines' and all-out 'war' on sepsis By UK staff BBC News 14 December 2016 Image caption The Daily Express leads on Brexit minister David Davis vowing the UK will not compromise in negotiations on EU immigration - the minister says voters want a deal "done soon". His remarks are a clear rejection of calls for a "soft" Brexit, says the paper. …