Real World News

Trade Union Bill: Labour Party fears £6m income fall 11 January 2016 From the section UK Politics Image copyright Getty Images The Labour Party fears its annual income could fall by £6m as a result of legal changes to the way it gets funds from the unions, documents suggest. The Trade Union Bill, being debated in the Lords on Monday, would require Labour-affiliated union members to "opt in" to paying a levy to the party. Labour bel…

Madaya: UN aid convoy to leave for besieged Syrian town 11 January 2016 From the section Middle East Media captionThe BBC's Lyse Doucet reports from Syria's border with Lebanon: ''In Syria, food is a weapon of war''An aid convoy is expected to leave for Madaya, a Syrian town under government siege, where people are reported to have been starving to death. "We are pretty confident," UN refugee agency spokesperson Melissa Fleming told the BBC. A convoy which had been due to reach the rebel-held town on Sunday was de…

Spain's Princess Cristina to go on trial for fraud 11 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption The princess married Inaki Urdangarin (left) in 1997 - they lost their titles of duke and duchess of Palma last year Spain's Princess Cristina is due to appear in court on fraud charges - the first member of the country's royal family to be put…

Jihadis 'may be in Calais camp', ex police terror chief claims 11 January 2016 From the section England Image caption Kevin Hurley said it was not possible for refugees to be subjected to detailed checks The so-called jungle camp in Calais may be a refuge for returning jihadis to "hide in plain sight" before "smuggling themselves" into the UK, a former head of police counter-terrorism has said. During a visit t…

New Catalonia leader pledges secession within 18 months 10 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Puigdemont has said that that he wants to attract more supporters to the independence cause The new leader of the government in the Spanish region of Catalonia has pledged to continue his predecessor Artur Mas's plans to secede within 1…

Cologne sex attacks: Germany's De Maiziere criticises police 6 January 2016 From the section Europe Media captionOne woman described how a firecracker put in her hood has left her scarred for lifeGerman Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has strongly criticised police handling of gang sex attacks on women and girls in Cologne on New Year's Eve. "The police shouldn't work like this," he said, as it emerged that three suspects had been identified. More than 100 victims have complained of being attacked by gangs of …

'El Chapo': Sean Penn interviewed Guzman before recapture 10 January 2016 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright EPA Image caption The meeting took place in October Hollywood actor Sean Penn interviewed Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman at a secret location soon after his jail break. The interview, conducted in October in the Mex…

Poland summons German ambassador over politicians' comments 10 January 2016 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption Poland has been criticised internationally for its new media law The Polish foreign ministry has criticised German politicians for what it calls "anti-Polish" comments but has given no details of which ones. However, both the German p…

Yemen crisis: MSF-backed hospital 'hit by missile' 10 January 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption A Saudi-led coalition has been battling Houthi rebels in Yemen At least four people were killed when a missile hit a hospital supported by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in northern Yemen, the aid agency says. MSF said the st…

EU referendum: David Cameron 'hopeful' of February deal 10 January 2016 From the section EU Referendum Media captionDavid Cameron: "My policy is to hold a renegotiation and a referendum... and abide by what the British public say"David Cameron says he is "hopeful" of reaching a deal with European leaders in February that will allow him to hold the UK's EU referendum. The prime minister said the in-out vote "would follow" if agreement was reached on his reforms at next month's summit. He also said he would stay on a…

France remembers victims of Charlie attacks 10 January 2016 From the section Europe Media captionPresident Hollande and PM Manuel Valls were among those in the Place de la RepubliqueA ceremony has taken place in central Paris to remember those killed in the Charlie Hebdo attacks a year ago. President Hollande laid a wreath in the Place de la Republique, where a commemorative oak tree was unveiled, and a minute's silence was observed. In the attacks, jihadist gunmen killed 12 people at the satirical Charlie Hebdo …

US flies B-52 bomber over South Korea amid North tensions 10 January 2016 From the section Asia Media captionThe B-52 bomber was flanked by US and South Korean fighter jetsThe US has flown a B-52 bomber over South Korea in a show of force after North Korea said it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. The B-52 swooped over an air base close to the North-South border. Pyongyang said it detonated an underground device earlier this week to widespread condemnation, but experts remain sceptical about the claim. North Ko…

Lemmy of Motorhead: Singer's funeral held in Los Angeles 10 January 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts Media captionFoo Fighters' Dave Grohl was one of the stars to pay tribute to LemmyFamily and fellow rock stars paid tribute to Motorhead frontman and "free spirit" Lemmy at his funeral in LA. The British musician, who was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, died on 28 December, aged 70, just two days after discovering he had an "extremely aggressive cancer". Motorhead drummer Mikkey D…

Trump urged to apologise to Muslim protester ejected from rally 10 January 2016 From the section Europe Media captionThe woman was ejected from a rally in South CarolinaThe Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has urged Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to apologise to a Muslim protester ejected from one of his rallies. CAIR said Rose Hamid's eviction from the rally in South Carolina sent a "chilling message to American Muslims". Ms Hamid was removed after making a silent protest on Friday. Mr T…

Housing estate 'turnaround' pledged by David Cameron 10 January 2016 From the section UK Politics Proposals to improve more than 100 of England's worst council estates are to be outlined by the prime minister. Writing in the Sunday Times, David Cameron said "brutal high-rise towers" and bleak housing will be torn down in a bid to tackle "decades of neglect" that contributed to crime. The initiative will be headed by Lord Heseltine, who oversaw regeneration in Liverpool and Londo…