Real World News
This is a place to discuss things of a serious nature that aren't connected to policing. It can be news stories or subjects of interest unrelated to policing in this country or abroad.
9556 topics in this forum
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Earth, Wind & Fire soul band founder Maurice White dies 5 February 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Image copyright Getty Images Image caption In a career that stems back to the 1960s, Maurice White was a singer-songwriter, producer and Earth, Wind & Fire bandleader The founder of soul group Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, has die…
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Shameful and disgusting? No, it’s perfectly legal to park here, say parking bosses PARKING bosses have defended a traffic warden who parked in a spot marked “disabled”. A North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) warden was criticised by residents and shoppers for parking in the space in Clacton’s Colne Road on Friday afternoon. Facebook users blasted the parking warden for parking in the spot that was “clearly marked disabled”. Others called it “shameful” and “disgusting” and said the parking warden’s car should have been clamped. But the parking partnership, which is led by Colchester Council, said the space had been a “limited waiting bay” for many years…
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Hong Kong's missing booksellers and 'banned' Xi Jinping book By Juliana Liu Hong Kong correspondent, BBC News 4 February 2016 From the section China Media captionXi Nuo: "I'm responsible for this... the booksellers are innocent"A Chinese writer has told the BBC he is the co-author of a provocative book about China's leader Xi Jinping, that some believe sparked the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers. The US-based writer, who uses the pen name Xi Nuo, says he has publishe…
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End of the circumflex? Changes in French spelling cause uproar 4 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption Proposed changes in the French language have faced strong opposition Suggested new spellings for more than 2,000 French words have sparked controversy. The French Academy proposed changes in 1990, including the deletion of…
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Gallipoli badges 5 hours ago British Transport Police Elaine Higgins and PC Gez Cooper were on hand to return the lost items to Ian Domingo (right) Pin badges have been returned to a fallen Gallipoli soldier's grandson whose luggage was mistakenly taken from a train. Ian Domingo, from Dumfries, had been in London for a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the campaign in which his grandfather was killed. His suitbag, containing badges commemorating service, was taken from the Virgin service from Euston. Elaine Higgins, from Barrow-in-Furness, had picked up his bag by accident. She had attended the same remembrance ceremony and had travelled back in the same car…
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Burundi crisis: Allegations against Rwanda 'unfounded' 4 February 2016 From the section Africa Image copyright AFP Image caption The Burundi crisis began last April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term Rwanda has dismissed allegations in a leaked UN report that it is training Burundian refugees who want to overthrow Preside…
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Cologne tightens security for carnival after assaults 4 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption The first day of the carnival is traditionally a women's event - this year there is extra security Cologne has beefed up security for the city's annual carnival, after many women suffered sexual assaults and robberies there on New Yea…
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Shell confirms 10,000 job cuts and a steep profits fall 4 February 2016 From the section Business Image copyright AP Royal Dutch Shell has confirmed it is cutting 10,000 jobs amid its steepest fall in annual profits for 13 years. It made $1.8bn (£1.23bn) for the fourth quarter of the year, compared with a $4.2bn profit for the same period the year before. Full-year 2015 earnings were $3.8bn, compared with $19bn in 2014. Th…
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Top IS commanders 'taking refuge' in Libya By Gabriel Gatehouse BBC Newsnight 3 February 2016 From the section Africa Media caption"They view Libya as a safe haven": Ismail Shukri Several senior commanders from the so-called Islamic State have moved to Libya from Iraq and Syria in recent months, according to a top Libyan intelligence official. The official told BBC Newsnight that increasing numbers of foreign fighters had arrived in the city of Sirte. Representatives from 23 …
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South Africa's Jacob Zuma to repay Nkandla upgrade funds 3 February 2016 From the section Africa Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The government has said the upgrades were made to boost security South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has agreed to repay some of the $23m (£15m) the government controversially spent on upgrading his private rural home. I…
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Zika-linked condition: Rio Olympics 'to go ahead' despite virus 1 February 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AFP Image caption The Rio Olympics will be staged on 5-21 August There is no chance that the Rio Olympics will be cancelled because of a Zika virus outbreak, Brazil has said. The authorities said there was no risk to …
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EU referendum: PM to defend reforms package 3 February 2016 From the section EU Referendum Media captionPrime minister responds to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg's questionDavid Cameron is to attempt to persuade Conservative MPs to back a package of reforms he hopes will keep Britain in the European Union. The PM will field questions in the Commons about the draft deal paving the way for the UK's EU in-out referendum. He said it would deliver the "substantial change" he has been demanding to how the …
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Neymar investigated in Brazil over fraud allegations 3 February 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Neymar now faces legal proceedings in Brazil and Spain Prosecutors in Brazil are recommending that football star Neymar be charged over four counts of fraud in relation to a tax case prior to his transfer to Barcelona in 2013…
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Yahoo to cut its workforce by 15% 3 February 2016 From the section Business Image copyright Getty Images Yahoo is cutting 15% of its workforce as the company pursues an "aggressive strategic plan" to return to profitability. The job cuts will reduce the number of its employees to about 9,000 by the end of 2016. The announcement came as Yahoo reported a $4.3bn (£3bn) loss for the year. In a statement, chief executive Marissa…
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Allerton Bywater murders: Man's body found in Wales 2 February 2016 From the section Leeds & West Yorkshire Image copyright PA Image caption Forensic teams remain at the house in Allerton Bywater A man's body has been discovered in North Wales after a woman and two children were found dead at a house in Leeds. The woman was found downstairs, while the bo…
