Real World News

Russia Turkey: Sukhoi jet black box 'damaged' 18 December 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption The black box was revealed at the Interstate Aviation Committee in Moscow The memory card in the flight recorder of a Russian fighter plane downed by Turkey on the Syrian border last month is damaged, Russian investigators say. The "black box" of …

Pope Francis recognises second Mother Teresa 'miracle' 18 December 2015 From the section India Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mother Teresa was awarded a Nobel Peace prize for her work with the poor in Kolkata Pope Francis has recognised a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa, clearing the way for the Roman Catholic nun to be made a saint next year.…

China smog: Beijing issues second ever pollution red alert 18 December 2015 From the section China Image copyright Reuters Image caption Beijing authorities have advised residents to avoid outdoor activity and for schools to stop classes Beijing has issued a second pollution red alert, little more than a week after the first ever such warning. The Chinese capital wi…

IMF chief Lagarde to stand negligence trial in France 17 December 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP Image caption Christine Lagarde denies wrongdoing in the Bernard Tapie compensation case IMF chief Christine Lagarde is to stand trial in France for alleged negligence over a €404m ($438m; £294m); payment to a businessman in 2008. She was finance minist…

17 December 2015 Last updated at 16:44 Chelsea have sacked manager Jose Mourinho seven months after he led them to the Premier League title. The 52-year-old Portuguese had been in his second spell at the club, taking charge in June 2013. Chelsea finished eight points clear last season and won the League Cup, but have lost nine of their 16 league games so far and are 16th in the table, one point above the re…

Brazil judge lifts WhatsApp suspension 17 December 2015 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright AP Image caption The service began working again after a suspension was lifted A judge in Brazil has ordered that a suspension of the popular messaging application WhatsApp be lifted. Judge Xavier de Souza said the service should be re-instated imme…

UN resolution seeks to curb Islamic State funding 17 December 2015 From the section Middle East Media captionWho is buying oil from Islamic State?Finance ministers from the 15 nations on the UN Security Council are expected to adopt a resolution aimed at starving the so-called Islamic State of funds. The draft resolution is based on one that was first passed in 1999 to target the rival jihadist group, al-Qaeda. It urges countries to "move vigorously and decisively to cut the flow of funds" to IS, such as by prevent…

Putin pours fresh scorn on Turkey for downing Russian jet 17 December 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption Mr Putin giving his news conference Russian President Vladimir Putin has used crude language in a furious new attack on Turkey over the downing of a Russian combat jet last month. The incident on the Syria-Turkey border was a "hostile…

Marine le Pen attacked for posting images of IS killings 17 December 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption The tweets appeared to have been written by Ms Le Pen herself The parents of an American journalist killed by the so-called Islamic State (IS) have criticised French National Front leader Marine le Pen for tweeting an image …

Brazil court orders WhatsApp messaging to be suspended 17 December 2015 From the section Latin America & Caribbean Image copyright Getty Images Image caption WhatsApp is used by millions of Brazilians who spend almost double the time on social media as Americans Mobile phone companies in Brazil have been ordered by a court to impose a block of the popular WhatsAp…

EU referendum: Cameron faces battle over benefit plans 17 December 2015 From the section EU Referendum Image copyright Getty Images David Cameron will attempt to convince sceptical EU leaders to accept his plans to limit benefits for migrants at talks in Brussels. The prime minister is thought to be sticking to the proposal despite warnings most EU nations, including France and Germany, are against it. It is the first time EU leaders…

Migrant crisis dominates as EU holds final summit of 2015 17 December 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright AP Image caption A proposal for EU members to accept migrants directly from Turkey is under consideration Germany and several other nations are to discuss with Turkey ways of settling thousands of Syrian refugees ahead of the final EU summit of the year.…

Fracking under national parks backed by MPs 16 December 2015 From the section UK Politics Media captionClaire Marshall explains how fracking could be done in national parksMPs have voted to allow fracking for shale gas 1,200m below national parks and other protected sites. The new regulations - which allow drilling from outside the protected areas - were approved by 298 to 261. Opposition parties and campaigners criticised the lack of a Commons debate - and accused ministers of a U-turn as they previously pledged a…

Shares climb on US Fed rate rise expectation 16 December 2015 From the section Business Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Federal Open Market Committee members including Janet Yellen are meeting to discuss monetary policy Shares and bond markets have risen as investors get ready for what is expected to be the first rise in US interest rates in nearly a decad…