Real World News

Zika: Olympics plans announced by Rio authorities 24 January 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AFP Image caption Rio de Janeiro's first Carnival street parades this year call for prevention against the Zika virus under the theme "Rio: The Olympics are here" The Rio de Janeiro authorities have announced plans to prevent the sp…

Labour election report branded 'whitewash' By Ellie Price BBC Sunday Politics 24 January 2016 From the section UK Politics Image caption Deborah Mattinson says she feels voters' opinions were not taken into consideration A former Labour pollster has told the BBC that a report into why Labour lost the 2015 election is a "whitewash and a massive missed opportunity". Deborah M…

North Face co-founder Douglas Tompkins' widow offers land to Chile 23 January 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AP Image caption Kristine McDivitt Tompkins (right), widow of late American conservationist Doug Tompkins, met Chile's President Michelle Bachelet Talks have begun between Chile and the widow of an American billiona…

Canada shootings: Murder charges over Saskatchewan deaths 23 January 2016 From the section US & Canada Image copyright AP Image caption Police are continuing their investigation at the scene of Friday's school shooting in La Loche A 17-year-old boy has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after shootings in Canada's western Saskatchewan pr…

Calais port delays after migrants board P&O ferry 23 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP/getty Image caption The ship was targeted after a demonstration in Calais in support of migrants The port of Calais was temporarily closed on Saturday and services were disrupted after a group of migrants briefly boarded a ship. It is understood …

US election: Michael Bloomberg 'ponders White House run' 23 January 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright Getty Images The billionaire former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is thinking about running for president as an independent candidate, US media report. Unnamed advisers told the New York Times the 73-year-old sees a gap and has instructed staff to draw up plans. Last year he commissioned a poll to…

US snowstorm: East coast struck by mammoth snowfall 23 January 2016 From the section US & Canada Media captionA look at the snowy scenes in several US statesParts of the eastern United States have received 71cm (28in) of snow fall in a huge blizzard that is sweeping across the region. Heavy snow began falling on Friday across more than 20 states, affecting some 85 million people. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio said the storm could be one of the worst ever to hit the city. All non-essential travel is…

Biden: US and Turkey prepared to seek Syria military solution 23 January 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright EPA Image caption The PKK "is a terror group plain and simple", Mr Biden said US Vice-President Joe Biden has said the US and Turkey are prepared to seek a military solution in Syria if a political agreement proves impossible. Mr Biden …

New Shepard: Bezos flight 'demonstrates reuse' By Jonathan Amos BBC Science Correspondent 23 January 2016 From the section Science & Environment Image copyright BLUE ORIGIN Image caption This test flight used the exact same hardware launched and recovered back in November US entrepreneur Jeff Bezos has reflown his New Shepard…

Google tax labelled 'derisory' by Labour's John McDonnell 23 January 2016 From the section UK Image copyright AP An agreement for US firm Google to pay £130m in UK back taxes has been criticised as "derisory" and labelled a "sweetheart deal" by critics. The payment covers money owed since 2005 and follows a six-year inquiry by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Google is one of several multinational companies accused of avoid…

Canada shootings: Four killed in Saskatchewan 23 January 2016 From the section US & Canada Media caption'Every parent's worst nightmare' - Canada PM Justin TrudeauFour people have been killed and several injured in shootings in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan, police say. They say a male suspect is now in custody and children have been moved to safety after the shootings at La Loche Community School and another location. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said earlier that five people had been kil…

Zika virus triggers pregnancy delay calls 23 January 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AFP Image caption In El Salvador houses have been fumigated against mosquitoes Officials in four Latin American and Caribbean nations have warned women to avoid pregnancy amid concerns over an illness causing severe birth defects. Colombia…

Syria conflict: 'US expanding air strip' in Kurdish north 22 January 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright Stratfor/Landsat Image caption The satellite image dates from 28 December Satellite imagery appearing to show the US expanding a formerly disused air strip in Kurdish-controlled northern Syria have been seen by the BBC. The images, from the …

Migrant crisis: Dozens drown in shipwrecks off Greece 22 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption Survivors of Friday's boat sinking off Kalolimnos change clothes on Kalymnos island A total of 42 migrants are reported to have drowned overnight in two separate shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea. One boat went down off the coast of the s…