Real World News

Somali plane 'was holed by bomb' 6 February 2016 From the section Africa A blast that punched a large hole in the fuselage of a passenger plane at Somalia's Mogadishu airport on Tuesday was caused by a bomb, officials say. "It was a bomb that exploded in the Daallo Airlines flight. It was meant to kill all aboard," Transport Minister Ali Ahmed Jamac said. One passenger was sucked out of the plane and died, and two other passengers were injured. The Djibouti-bound Airbu…

Austrian avalanche: Czech skiers killed in Alps 6 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene Up to five Czech skiers have been killed in an avalanche in the Austrian Alps that buried 12 people, local police say. A police spokesman told Reuters news agency that several people had also been…

Australia's offshore asylum policy ruled legal by High Court 3 February 2016 From the section Australia Image copyright Reuters Image caption Dozens of babies born in Australia to detainees are now expected to be deported from Australia Australia's High Court has ruled that the government's policy of detaining asylum seekers offshore is legal. The court re…

Syrian refugee numbers soar at Turkey border 6 February 2016 From the section Middle East The number of Syrians trying to cross into Turkey amid an upsurge of fighting in northern Syria has nearly doubled, a Turkish official says. The governor of the Turkish border town of Kilis said 35,000 refugees had reached the border area - up from an estimated 20,000 on Friday. Turkey says it is prepared to help the refugees but the frontier remains shut. They are fleeing a Syrian…

Deadly earthquake topples buildings in Taiwan city of Tainan 6 February 2016 From the section Asia Media captionThe earthquake has destroyed a number of buildingsAn earthquake has toppled a number of buildings in the south Taiwanese city of Tainan, killing at least two people. Rescue teams were trying to reach people trapped in rubble after the magnitude 6.4 quake struck early on Saturday as people were sleeping. Reports suggest at least four buildings have come down, including a high-rise residential build…

Charities' use of government grants curbed 6 February 2016 From the section UK Politics Image caption Charities can still use privately-raised funds to campaign as they like Organisations that are given government grants will be banned from using the money to try to persuade ministers to change the law or increase spending. A new clause will be added into all new and renewed grant agreements to ensure f…

Syria conflict: UN suspends peace talks in Geneva 3 February 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright AFP Image caption More than 250,000 people have died in the conflict The UN has suspended peace talks aimed at ending Syria's five-year civil war, the organisation's special envoy has said. Staffan de Mistura admitted there had been a lack of progre…

Edgar Mitchell, sixth man on the Moon, dies aged 85 6 February 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright NASA Image caption The Apollo 14 crew: Edgar Mitchell (left) with Alan Shepard (centre) and Stuart Roosa US astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who was the sixth man to walk on the Moon, has died aged 85. He passed away at a hospice in West Palm Beach, …

Zika virus pregnancy case confirmed in Spain - first in Europe 4 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Zika - a mosquito-borne virus - has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains Spain has confirmed that a pregnant woman has been diagnosed with the Zika virus - the first such case in Europe. The…

Julian Assange is being arbitrarily held, UN panel to say 4 February 2016 From the section UK Image copyright AFP A UN panel has ruled in favour of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange after he complained he was "arbitrarily detained", the BBC understands. Mr Assange claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies. The Met Police says Mr Assange would b…

New York crane collapses killing at least one person 5 February 2016 From the section US & Canada Media captionAt least one dead in New York City crane collapseA large construction crane has collapsed in lower Manhattan in New York City, killing one person and injuring at least two others. The Fire Department of New York confirmed the fatality and is on the scene responding to the accident. The collapse happened along West Broadway early on Friday morning in the Tribeca neighbourhood. The downed crane,…

Pope Francis set for historic Orthodox Patriarch meeting 5 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Reuters Image caption Pope Francis, seen here at the Vatican, will stop over in Cuba on his way to Mexico Pope Francis will hold a historic first meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russian Orthodox Church, in Cuba next week. The Russian Or…

Theatre hanging: Raphael Schumacher declared brain dead 5 February 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Image copyright Facebook Image caption Raphael Schumacher had been in a coma since the incident. Doctors had said his condition was "deteriorating" Raphael Schumacher, the Italian actor who was accidentally hanged during a live theatre performance…

Hospital bed-blocking 'costs' NHS England £900m a year 5 February 2016 From the section Health Image copyright PA Delays in transferring patients out of hospital after treatment could be costing the NHS in England £900m a year, an independent review has said. Labour peer Lord Carter's report on how the NHS could save cash said nearly one in 10 beds was occupied by someone who was medically fit to be released. Lord Carter also…

Rand Paul drops out of White House race 3 February 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Paul was seen was representing the Libertarian wing of the Republican party Republican Senator Rand Paul has dropped out for race for US president after a disappointing fifth place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Mr Paul often …