Real World News

UK flooding: Ferry stranded, roads closed, trains diverted 21 November 2016 From the section England Image copyright Lesley Hughes Image caption Nearly 160 people on board a ferry will spend the night at sea having been unable to dock at Fishguard Winter storms battering England and Wales have left a ferry stranded at sea, roads flooded and trains diverted. Great Western Railway users have been urged not to travel to the west of E…

Earthquake sparks Japan tsunami warning 21 November 2016 From the section Asia Media captionJapanese broadcaster NHK World reported that people should evacuate immediatelyA 6.9 magnitude earthquake off north-eastern Japan near Fukushima prefecture has prompted a tsunami warning of possible 3m (10ft) waves. The quake struck on Tuesday morning at about 06:00 local time (21:00 GMT, Monday), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The depth of the quake was estimated to be around 11km (7 miles). In 2011, a large tsunami caused by a quake destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant. …

Buckingham Palace to get £369m refurbishment 18 November 2016 From the section UK Image copyright AP Buckingham Place is to undergo a 10-year refurbishment costing the taxpayer £369m, the Treasury has announced. The Queen will remain in residence during the work, to begin next April. Ageing cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers will be replaced, many for the first time in 60 years, owing to fears about potential fire and water damage. Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Queen's Household, said pha…

Syria conflict: Almost one million living under siege - UN 21 November 2016 From the section Middle East Related Topics Syrian civil war Image copyright Reuters Image caption The rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma has been under government siege since 2013 The number of people living under siege in Syria has doubled this year to almost one million, the UN says. Eme…

Royal Navy 'woefully low' on warships 21 November 2016 From the section UK Image copyright AFP Image caption HMS Richmond is one of the Navy's fleet of Type 23 frigates Britain's defences are at risk amid uncertainty over plans to replace the "woefully low" number of Royal Navy warships, MPs have warned. The Royal Navy has 19 frigates and destroyers, but a Defence Select Committee report says that number could fall unless there is…

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, to seek fourth term 20 November 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in office since 2005 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will run for a fourth term in office. Speaking at the headquarters of her centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she confirmed reports that she would stand again for the position of party leader, a…

Syria war: Aleppo self-rule plan rejected by government 20 November 2016 From the section Middle East Related Topics Syrian civil war Image copyright SANA Image caption Children's backpacks can still be seen in this damaged classroom in a picture from SANA, the government news agency A UN proposal to end heavy fighting in the city of Aleppo has been rejected by the S…

Storm Angus batters southern England 20 November 2016 From the section UK Media captionStorm Angus updateThe first named storm of winter - Storm Angus - is battering the south coast of England, with high winds and rain. BBC Weather said a ship in the English Channel, 30 miles off Brighton, had recorded a gust of 97mph, while gusts reached 68mph at Berry Head, Devon. There are more than 25 flood warnings, mainly in the South West, including one severe warning in Devon. The Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex are set to see the strongest winds, with a Met Office amber warning in place.…

Scores killed as train derails near Kanpur, India 20 November 2016 From the section India Image copyright Krishna Keshav Image caption Rescuers are still working to free people from the wreckage At least 60 people have been killed after 14 carriages of an Indian express train derailed in northern Uttar Pradesh state, reports say. The incident took place on the Indore-Patna Express just after 03:00 local time on Sunday (21:30 GMT S…

Autumn Statement: £1.3bn to target congestion roads 20 November 2016 From the section UK Politics An extra £1.3bn is to be spent on improving Britain's roads, Chancellor Philip Hammond will say in his first Autumn Statement. Most of the money will be for cutting congestion and upgrades to local roads and public transport networks. The Treasury said investment in infrastructure and innovation to boost long-term economic growth would be "at the heart" of Wednesday's statement. But Labour said many schemes previously promised were yet to be buil…

Syria conflict: Aleppo hospitals 'knocked out by bombardment' 19 November 2016 From the section Middle East Related Topics Syrian civil war Image copyright AFP Image caption Civilians in eastern Aleppo have so far received basic care in makeshift hospitals Some of the heaviest bombardment so far on Aleppo has left rebel-held parts of the Syrian city virtually without…

Tram 'overturns' in 'serious incident' in Croydon 9 November 2016 From the section London Image copyright Met Police A tram has reportedly overturned in south London in what police say is a "serious incident". A Met Police spokesman could not confirm whether anyone had been injured in the accident in Croydon, at about 06:00 GMT. Emergency services are at the scene at the Sandilands stop on Addiscombe Road and people are being asked to avoid the area. London Fire Brigade said it had eight appliance…

Plans to ban pension cold calls By Kevin Peachey Personal finance reporter 19 November 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Cold calls offering exotic investment opportunities to people cashing in their pension pots will be banned under government plans. Ministers estimate eight scam calls are made every second to UK residents, leading to an annual loss of £19m. Advice services and legitimate companies said such calls had "plagued" the pensions world for y…

Turkey failed coup: Officers 'seeking Nato asylum' 18 November 2016 From the section Europe A number of Turkish officers posted to Nato have sought asylum since the country's failed military coup in July, Nato's secretary-general has said. Jens Stoltenberg said the officers had requested asylum in the countries where they had been posted but gave no names, numbers or reasons for the requests. The countries involved will consider the cases individually. Turkey has dismissed, suspended, detained or arrested tens of thousands of people since the July coup attempt. Many have been in the military, alt…