Real World News

Myanmar to begin new parliament session ending military-only rule 1 February 2016 From the section Asia Image copyright Reuters Image caption Aung San Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from becoming president Hundreds of MPs are gathering for a new session of Myanmar's parliament, set to choose its first democratically elected government in more than 50 year…

Kids Company: MPs say 'catalogue of failures' led to collapse 1 February 2016 From the section UK Image copyright AFP The collapse of the Kids Company charity was a result of an "extraordinary catalogue of failures", a committee of MPs has said. The Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) also criticised the charity's trustees and the Charity Commission. Kids Company closed in August after q…

Stricken cargo ship Modern Express heading for French coast 31 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption The ship is tilting at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees A stricken cargo ship is heading towards the French coast, maritime authorities say, but there are hopes it can be righted before it runs aground. The Panamanian-regi…

Sir Terry Wogan: Tributes paid to veteran broadcaster 31 January 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Media captionDavid Sillito looks back at Sir Terry Wogan's careerTributes have poured in for veteran BBC broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan who has died aged 77, after a short illness. BBC director general Tony Hall hailed him as "a broadcasting legend". Sir Terry, who hosted a long-running TV chat show in the 1980s and was the face of Children in Need, was best known as BBC Radio 2's breakfast show host…

'Youngest' conjoined sisters separated at Swiss hospital in Bern 31 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright EPA Image caption The twins underwent an operation to separate them in December Doctors in Switzerland say they have separated eight-day-old conjoined sisters, believed to be the youngest babies to be successfully parted. The twins, born i…

Storm Gertrude: Red warning issued as Scotland battered 29 January 2016 From the section Scotland Image copyright PA Image caption A number of lorries have overturned in high winds Severe weather warnings are in place for parts of Scotland as Storm Gertrude batters the country. A rare red warning, meaning danger to life, has been issued for Shetland from 12:…

Syria conflict: Dozens killed near Sayyida Zeinab shrine 31 January 2016 From the section Middle East Media caption"The destruction is huge": The BBC's Rami Ruhayem reports from the sceneAt least 45 people have been killed in blasts near the Shia shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, state media say. The Islamic State group said on social media it had carried out the attack. The shrine, which is highly revered by Shia Muslims, has been targeted before, most recently in February las…

Migrant crisis: More than 10,000 children 'missing' 31 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption About 26,000 child migrants arrived in Europe last year unaccompanied More than 10,000 migrant children may have disappeared after arriving in Europe over the past two years, the EU's police intelligence unit says. Europol sa…

Canada ex-mafia boss Rocco Zito shot dead in Toronto 31 January 2016 From the section US & Canada A former Mafia boss has been shot dead at his home in the Canadian city of Toronto. Rocco Zito, 87, had been a senior member of the notorious 'Ndrangheta, or Calabrian mafia, based in southern Italy, according to Canadian media. He was once one of Toronto's most powerful mafia leaders, the Toronto Sun reported. Zito's son-in-law, Domenico Scopelliti, has been charged w…

Rouhani in Europe: Italy covers nudes for Iran president 26 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption Plywood boxes concealed the nude statues at the museum in Rome Italian hospitality for the visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stretched to covering up nude statues. Mr Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spo…

Cardiff MP Jo Stevens calls for review of G4S-run prisons 2 hours ago From the sectionWales politics An MP has called for a review into all prisons run by operator G4S, following the death of an inmate at Parc Prison in Bridgend. Shadow justice minister and Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens said the 37-year-old had died because his epilepsy had not been diagnosed and the prison did not allow him medical assistance. Prisons minister Andrew Selous said the UK government had put more money into providing safer custody. G4S has been asked to comment. Justice Sec…

Councils could be fined £5,000 a day for unmanned roadworks 27 January 2016 From the section UK Image caption The measures are aimed at reducing congestion on roads managed by local authorities Councils and utility companies could be fined up to £5,000 a day for leaving roadworks unmanned at weekends, the Department for Transport has said. The proposal is among measures the government is considering to…

Barbie available in 'curvy, tall and petite' sizes 28 January 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright Mattel Barbie, the iconic plastic toy doll model, is getting three new body types this year. The US company behind the famous toy, Mattel, is adding "tall, curvy and petite" body shapes to its line-up of the fashion dolls. Several skin tones, eye colours and hair styles will also be added to the collection, the …

Screen Actors Guild awards: 'Diversity reigns' in ceremony 31 January 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption British actor Idris Elba was one of the big winners on the night The journalism drama Spotlight took home the main prize at the Screen Actors Guild awards, but the success of minority actors drew m…