Real World News

China replaces securities regulator Xiao Gang 20 February 2016 From the section China Image copyright Reuters Image caption Liu Shiyu (file photo) is the new chairman China has removed the head of its securities regulator as it tries to tackle major volatility in its stock markets. Xiao Gang was replaced by Liu Shiyu as the chairman of the China Securities R…

Albert Woodfox freed after 43 years in US solitary prison 20 February 2016 From the section US & Canada Media captionAlbert Woodfox leaves prison after 43 years in solitary confinementThe longest-serving prisoner to be held in solitary confinement in US history, Albert Woodfox, has walked free in Louisiana after 43 years. Woodfox was the last of a group known as the "Angola Three" for their decades-long stays in isolation. He had been there since April 1972 for the murder of a prison guard. Maintaini…

France 'Jungle': Eviction order for Calais migrants 20 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Reuters Image caption As many as 1,000 migrants could be affected by the eviction order, French officials say Hundreds of migrants living in part of a camp in the French port of Calais known as the Jungle have been ordered to leave or face eviction. T…

Yosemite 'firefall' has hikers transfixed 19 February 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright Sangeeta Dey Photography Image caption Sangeeta Dey said she was touched and overwhelmed by how much attention her photo had received A rare phenomenon known as "firefall" has drawn visitors and photographers to Yosemite National Park in California. Th…

Islamic State camp in Libya attacked by US planes 19 February 2016 From the section Africa US warplanes have carried out attacks on militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Libya, killing at least 30 people. The strikes hit an IS training camp and "likely" killed a senior Tunisian extremist leader, US officials said. Noureddine Chouchane is linked to two attacks in Tunisia last year, including an attack that killed 30 Britons. The IS group has operated in Liby…

Kenya lion escape: Nairobi on alert 19 February 2016 From the section Africa Image copyright AFP Image caption Nairobi National Park is on the southern edge of Kenya's capital Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is on alert after several lions escaped from a nearby national park overnight and strayed into the city. One lioness and her two cubs have been recaptured, an…

EU referendum: Cameron deal talks continue through night 19 February 2016 From the section EU Referendum Image copyright AP Image caption Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and David Cameron held talks in the early hours on Friday Talks on reform of the UK's place in the EU continued in the early hours after Downing Street said there was "real hard work to do o…

Donald Trump praises Pope Francis after US-Mexico wall row 19 February 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Donald Trump leads the polls in South Carolina Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has heaped praise on Pope Francis, hours after the pontiff questioned his Christian faith. The Pope had said Mr T…

Migrant crisis: EU and Turkey to hold special summit in March 19 February 2016 From the section Europe Media captionDonald Tusk said an EU action plan on the migration crisis was a "priority"The EU is to hold a special summit with Turkey on the migration crisis in early March, officials have announced. "The EU-Turkey action plan is our priority," European Council President Donald Tusk said after late-night talks at an EU gathering in Brussels. The EU has pledged €3bn (£2.3bn; $3.3bn) to Turkey in return for…

Uber car-hire app losing $1bn in China every year, says CEO 19 February 2016 From the section Business Image copyright Getty Images Image caption US transport firm Uber is available in 380 cities around the world App-based car-hire service Uber is losing more than $1bn (£699m) a year in China, as it struggles against what it called a "fierce competitor". Ube…

Barack Obama imposes new North Korea sanctions 18 February 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright AP Image caption The legislation hits North Korea with more stringent sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme President Obama has signed new expanded sanctions on North Korea, after the country fired a test missile earlier this month. The cou…

Donald Trump will not be president, says Barack Obama 17 February 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright AP Republican Donald Trump will not be president because it's a "serious job", President Barack Obama has said. "I continue to believe that Mr Trump will not be president. And the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people," said Mr Obama. Mr Trump, a billionaire businessman, is the fron…

IS Camp Speicher massacre: Iraq sentences 40 to death 18 February 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright AFP Image caption Mass graves were discovered near Camp Speicher after Iraqi government forces recaptured the area Iraq has sentenced 40 men to death over the killing of up to 1,700 military recruits at a former US base in 2014. The Camp Speich…

Lech Walesa 'was paid Communist informant' 18 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption Lech Walesa was president of Poland from 1990 to 1995 Poland's history institute says that newly seized documents suggest former president and Solidarity hero Lech Walesa was an informer. The documents were taken earlier this week from the hom…

Ankara blast: Turkey PM says Syria Kurds to blame 18 February 2016 From the section Europe Turkey's prime minister says the deadly bombing in Ankara was carried out by Kurdish YPG militia based in Syria, and nine people have been arrested. Ahmet Davutoglu said the fighters worked in co-operation with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey. Turkey carried out strikes on PKK forces in north Iraq late on Wednesday, reportedly targeting some 70 m…