Real World News

BCC boss resigns over 'Brexit' support 6 March 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Image caption John Longworth said he had been speaking in a personal capacity The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, John Longworth, has resigned after being suspended for saying the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU. …

Nancy Reagan: Former US First Lady dies aged 94 6 March 2016 From the section US & Canada Media captionJames Cook looks back at the life of former first lady Nancy ReaganFormer First Lady Nancy Reagan has died at home in California at the age of 94. Mrs Reagan, who had been living in Bel Air, Los Angeles, died of congestive heart failure, the Reagan library said. Her 52-year marriage to Ronald Reagan was once described as the US presidency's greatest love affair. From 1981-89 she was one of the most in…

Npower to cut 2,500 jobs - a fifth of its UK workforce 6 March 2016 From the section Business Image copyright PA Energy firm Npower is to cut up to 2,500 jobs, more than a fifth of its UK workforce, with details to be announced this week. Npower, which is owned by the German energy giant RWE, employs 11,500 people in Britain and is one of the big six gas and electricity suppliers in the UK. The company has declined to comment…

EU deal gives UK special status, says PM 20 February 2016 From the section UK Politics Media captionDavid Cameron: "Britain will never be part of a European superstate"David Cameron says a deal struck with EU leaders will give the UK "special status" and he will campaign with his "heart and soul" to stay in the union. The PM said the agreement, reached late on Friday after two days of talks in Brussels, would include a seven-year "emergency brake" on welfare payments. He added the deal included changes to E…

Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani sentenced to death 6 March 2016 From the section Middle East Image caption Mr Zanjani has denied withholding oil revenue Iranian billionaire businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, justice officials say. He was arrested in December 2013 after accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue channelled through his companies. He denies th…

US election 2016: Trump and Cruz seek 'one-on-one' battle 6 March 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Media captionDonald Trump said he wanted to go "one on one" with Ted CruzUS Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has called for a "one-on-one" battle with Ted Cruz, urging other rivals to quit the nomination race. Mr Cruz also suggested it was time for other hopefuls, like Marco Rubio and John Kasich, to step aside. Mr Trump and Mr Cruz won two states each in Saturday's voting. In the Democ…

EU referendum: Boris Johnson condemns BCC boss suspension 6 March 2016 From the section EU Referendum Image copyright PA Boris Johnson says it is "scandalous" the British Chambers of Commerce has suspended its director-general for his comments on the EU referendum. John Longworth told the business group's annual conference on Thursday that the UK's long-term prospects could be "brighter" outside the EU. The London mayor, a Le…

US election 2016: Trump and Clinton look to cement leads 5 March 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright Reuters Image caption Donald Trump spent much of Friday campaigning in Louisiana The front-runners for the nominations in the US presidential race are aiming to extend their leads on Saturday. Republicans are holding caucuses or primaries i…

Zaman newspaper: Defiant last edition as Turkey police raid 5 March 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police are using tear gas against protesters outside the newspaper offices Turkey's biggest newspaper, Zaman, has condemned its takeover by the authorities in a defiant last edition published just before police raided it. Sat…

China growth target set at National People's Congress 5 March 2016 From the section Business Image copyright AFP Image caption Premier Li Keqiang said "China will face more and tougher problems and challenges" in 2016 China's National People's Congress has set the country's growth target for 2016 in a range of 6.5%-7%. Premier Li Keqiang made the announcemen…

Pensions: George Osborne to drop tax relief plans 5 March 2016 From the section UK Image copyright PA Image caption The chancellor was to announce the change on 16 March Chancellor George Osborne is to drop plans to change the system of tax relief on pensions. An Isa-style scheme would have ended tax relief on contributions, but made pension pot withdrawals …

Turkey police raid critical Zaman newspaper in Istanbul 5 March 2016 From the section Europe Media captionTurkish police fired tear gas to force their way past protestersTurkish police have raided the offices of the opposition Zaman newspaper, hours after a court ruling placed it under state control. Police entered the building in Istanbul late on Friday, firing tear gas at protesters who had gathered outside. Zaman is closely linked to the Hizmet movement of influential US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Tu…

Brazil Petrobras scandal: Former president Lula defiant 4 March 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AFP Image caption Lula insists he has nothing to hide Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vowed to fight allegations that he was involved in a huge bribery scheme run by oil giant Petrobras. "I fear nothing," he …

Brazil Petrobras scandal: Former president Lula detained 4 March 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Lula served two terms as president Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been detained as part of a huge fraud inquiry into the state oil company Petrobras. The former president's hou…