Real World News

Iraqi forces 'enter Islamic State Ramadi stronghold' 27 December 2015 From the section Middle East Image copyright AFP Image caption The operation to retake Ramadi is proceeding cautiously amid fear of booby traps Iraqi forces have entered a former government compound in Ramadi, from where Islamic State (IS) group militants have been resisting an army offensive, sour…

Texas tornadoes: 'Eight killed' in Dallas suburbs 27 December 2015 From the section US & Canada Media captionDallas Sheriff's office Melinda Urbina describes the devastation left by the tornado that passed through Garland and RowlettEight people are reported to have been killed in Texas after new tornadoes, raising the death toll to 26 in a week of storms in several US states. Local media said five people in cars were probably blown off a motorway in Garland, near Dallas. Another three bodies were found in nearb…

UK floods: Homes evacuated as flooding persists 27 December 2015 From the section UK Image copyright Getty Images Image caption There are hundreds of flood warnings and alerts in place in England and Wales Emergency teams have worked overnight to evacuate people from homes in York, as flooding continues to hit many parts of northern England. Some 2,200 homes in York…

Flooding 'worst in 50 years', as 150,000 flee in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay 27 December 2015 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Media captionStreets and homes have been completely submerged in the city of Concordia in ArgentinaVast areas in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil are being hit by the worst flooding in 50 years, forcing the evacuation of more than 150,000 people. Days of heavy rains brought on by El Nino have caused three major rivers to swell, and authorities have reported a…

Argentina activist reunited with 'wrong granddaughter' 27 December 2015 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AFP Image caption Maria "Chicha" Mariani (left) met the woman mistakenly identified as Clara Anahi Mariani Teruggi (right) on Thursday A 92-year-old Argentine activist who spent nearly half of her life looking for her missing granddau…

Benin PM Lionel Zinsou escapes from helicopter crash 26 December 2015 From the section Africa Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Lionel Zinsou was appointed prime minister in June Benin's Prime Minister walked away unscathed after the helicopter in which he was travelling crashed in the country's northwest, his daughter said. It is unclear why the helicopter…

Syria war: Yarmouk camp evacuation 'on hold' 26 December 2015 From the section Middle East Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Yarmouk has seen fierce clashes, bombardment and siege since early in the war The expected evacuation of thousands of rebels from in and around Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus has been put on hold, reports say. Safety issues…

China 'expels' French journalist over Uighur article 26 December 2015 From the section China Image copyright AP Image caption Ursula Gauthier will have to leave China by the end of the year if her press card is not renewed China has effectively expelled a French journalist over an article she wrote that was critical of Beijing's policy towards Muslim Uighers in Xinji…

Severe flood warnings issued for northern England 26 December 2015 From the section UK Image copyright MOD Image caption The Army was called in to support efforts to protect parts of Cumbria against further flooding Residents have been urged to take action after five severe flood warnings were issued for northern England. The Environment Agency said flooding was exp…

Christmas blaze guts Australia homes 26 December 2015 From the section Australia Media captionPhil Mercer says fire fighters have struggled to control the blaze.A Christmas Day bushfire in Australia has destroyed at least 53 homes in Victoria state, officials say. Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria's south-west on Friday. A change to cooler weather and rain has greatly reduced the threat, but some emergency warnings remain in place. No injuries or deaths have bee…

Northern Afghanistan hit by 6.3-magnitude earthquake 25 December 2015 From the section Asia Image copyright EPA Image caption The injured were rushed to hospital in the Pakistani city of Peshawar A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck northern Afghanistan, with tremors felt as far away as India. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake's epicentre wa…

Syrian rebel leaders die in air strike 25 December 2015 From the section Middle East Image copyright AFP Image caption Zahroun Alloush founded Jaysh al-Islam The head and several leaders of one of Syria's most powerful rebel groups, Jaysh al-Islam, have been killed in an air strike east of Damascus. Founder Zahroun Alloush, 44, was among those killed when rockets hi…

Nigeria gas plant explosion: 'Tens' dead, says Buhari 25 December 2015 From the section Africa Image copyright Nigerian Red Cross Image caption A witness said the blast occurred when a truck began discharging cooking gas A huge explosion on Thursday at a butane gas depot in south-eastern Nigeria left "tens" of people dead, Nigeria's president says. The fire raged fo…

Pope Francis backs peace efforts in Christmas Day message 25 December 2015 From the section Europe Media caption"To our brothers and sisters, who in many parts of the world are being persecuted for their faith, may the child Jesus grant consolation and strength"Pope Francis tackled war, terrorism and the migrant crisis in a wide-ranging Christmas message, calling for peace and reconciliation around the world. The pontiff said he prayed for the success of recent UN resolutions for peace in Syria and Libya. The Pope …

India PM Modi in surprise Pakistan visit 25 December 2015 From the section Asia Image copyright AFP Image caption Narendra Modi visited Moscow and Afghanistan before stopping in Pakistan Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Pakistan on a surprise visit in which he will meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Mr Modi was on his way back to India fro…