Real World News

Mother Diana Lank cleared of plot to find murder witness 13 December 2016 From the section UK A 61-year-old mother who got classified information from a police computer in an attempt to assist her jailed son has been cleared of misconduct charges. Diana Lank wanted to find the identity of an anonymous witness whose evidence helped to convict her son of murder. Ms Lank was formally acquitted at the Old Bailey after a jury at her re-trial could not reach a verdict. Two police staff who obtained the information for her were found guilty of misco…

Media playback is unsupported on your device When was the last time you used a phone box? 13 December 2016 Last updated at 17:02 GMT There are more than 45,000 phone boxes in the UK but BT is planning to remove a third of them. But it's not just phone calls that these red boxes are used for. View the full article

Talks to halt Southern strike announced 13 December 2016 From the section England Rail bosses and union chiefs have agreed to hold formal talks in a bid to resolve the long-running Southern rail dispute. The Aslef union announced the move on the first day of a 48-hour walkout by its train driver members. It is hoped the talks at conciliation service Acas will yield a breakthrough in a row over driver-only trains. Wednesday's strike and a further 24-hour stoppage on Friday are still due to go ahead. View the full article

Talks to halt Southern strike announced 13 December 2016 From the section England Rail bosses and union chiefs have agreed to hold formal talks in a bid to resolve the long-running Southern rail dispute. The Aslef union announced the move on the first day of a 48-hour walkout by its train driver members. Wednesday's strike and a further 24-hour stoppage on Friday are still due to go ahead. View the full article

'Inspirational' bucket list student Matt Greenwood dies of cancer 13 December 2016 From the section Birmingham & Black Country Image copyright Matt Greenwood Image caption Matt Greenwood underwent two unsuccessful cycles of chemotherapy and had his leg amputated following the cancer diagnosis A 21-year-old student with bone cancer whose friends raised more than £56,000 for him to complete his bucket list has died. Matt Greenwo…

'Inspirational' bucket list student Matt Greenwood dies of cancer 13 December 2016 From the section Birmingham & Black Country Image copyright Matt Greenwood Image caption Matt Greenwood underwent two unsuccessful cycles of chemotherapy and had his leg amputated following the cancer diagnosis A 21-year-old student with bone cancer whose friends raised more than £56,000 for him to complete his bucket list has died. Matt Greenwo…

SFA to establish football abuse 'review' 13 December 2016 From the section Scotland The Scottish Football Association is to set up an "independent review" of child abuse allegations in football. Several former players have come forward to say they were abused by people in positions of authority. The SFA said it wanted to reassure people that football was a "safe and enjoyable environment for children". It said the review would focus on "processes and procedures" in place both currently and historically in Scottish football. Police forces acr…

Beedle the Bard: Rare Harry Potter book fetches £370,000 at auction 13 December 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Media captionThe book was handwritten by JK RowlingA one-off copy of a Harry Potter spin-off book that was handwritten by JK Rowling has sold for almost £370,000. The bejewelled copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard had been owned by Barry Cunningham, the publisher who first signed Rowling. It was one of six copies the author had given to people who were most closely involved in the Harry Potter books. Mr Cunningham has sold it with her blessing and sai…

Mother's Christmas present mountain gets even bigger 13 December 2016 From the section Isle Of Man / Ellan Vannin Image copyright Emma Tapping Image caption Ms Tapping said "the haters will hate but nothing and no-one will change how I do Christmas" A mother who saw her picture of a mountain of presents for her children go viral last Christmas has shared an image of an even bigger pile. About 300 gifts, which Emma Tapping has been…

Mother's Christmas present mountain gets even bigger 13 December 2016 From the section Isle Of Man / Ellan Vannin Image copyright Emma Tapping Image caption Ms Tapping said "the haters will hate but nothing and no-one will change how I do Christmas" A mother who saw her picture of a mountain of presents for her children go viral last Christmas has shared an image of an even bigger pile. About 300 gifts, which Emma Tapping has been…

Bereaved unmarried mother loses benefits test case 13 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland Image caption The case was taken by Siobhan McLaughlin, an unmarried mother from County Antrim, who was left as the sole provider for her four children after the death of their father A "groundbreaking" ruling which gave an unmarried mother entitlement to a widowed parent's allowance after her partner's death has been overturned. Siobhan McLaughlin, from County Antrim, lived …

Bereaved unmarried mother loses benefits test case 13 December 2016 From the section Northern Ireland Image caption The case was taken by Siobhan McLaughlin, an unmarried mother from County Antrim, who was left as the sole provider for her four children after the death of their father A "groundbreaking" ruling which gave an unmarried mother entitlement to a widowed parent's allowance after her partner's death has been overturned. Siobhan McLaughlin, from County Antrim, lived …

TalkTalk hacker, 19, pleads guilty at the Old Bailey 13 December 2016 From the section Technology Image copyright Getty Images Image caption TalkTalk was hit by a data breach that affected thousands of customers last year A 19-year-old man has pleaded guilty to involvement in the major hack attack of the telecoms firm TalkTalk last year. Daniel Kelley, from Wales, made his plea at the Old Bailey in London. Personal data belonging…

Aleppo: George Osborne attacks 'vacuum' of Western leadership 13 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Related Topics Syrian civil war Media captionGeorge Osborne: We share responsibility for what is happening in SyriaGeorge Osborne has told MPs they are deceiving themselves if they think they do not share some responsibility for what has happened in Syria. The former chancellor, speaking in the Commons, said the tragedy in Aleppo had not "come out of a vacuum" but was due to "a vacuum of Western leadership". Parlia…

Aleppo: George Osborne attacks 'vacuum' of Western leadership 13 December 2016 From the section UK Politics Related Topics Syrian civil war Media captionGeorge Osborne: We share responsibility for what is happening in SyriaGeorge Osborne has told MPs they are deceiving themselves if they think they do not share some responsibility for what has happened in Syria. The former chancellor, speaking in the Commons, said the tragedy in Aleppo had not "come out of a vacuum" but was due to "a vacuum of Western leadership". Parlia…