Real World News

Deadly Beirut blasts hit Hezbollah stronghold 12 November 2015 From the section Middle East Image copyright Reuters Image caption Footage from the scene showed casualties being carried away after the blasts At least 37 people have been killed and 181 injured in two explosions in the Lebanese capital Beirut, officials say. The blasts hit the southern suburb of Burj e…

'Suicides' over Ashley Madison hack 24 August 2015 From the section Technology Two Ashley Madison clients reported to have taken their lives after hackers published their details according to police in Canada. "Today I can confirm that Avid Life Media is offering a $500,000 reward to anyone providing information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the leak of the Ashley Madison database," said acting staff superintendent Bryce Evans. The announcement was made at a news con…

Krekar 'jihadist network' targeted in Europe terror raids 12 November 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mullah Krekar is in prison in Norway Police have targeted 17 people in raids in several European countries connected to a suspected jihadist network. Among those arrested were six suspects in Italy, four in Britain, and three …

Russia reveals giant nuclear torpedo in state TV 'leak' 12 November 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright Russian state TV Image caption Technical details of the torpedo were clearly visible in the brief shot on state TV The Kremlin says secret plans for a Russian long-range nuclear torpedo - called "Status-6" - should not have appeared on Russian TV news. Th…

Indian PM Modi arrives in UK for three-day visit 12 November 2015 From the section UK Image copyright PA India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the UK for a three-day visit as a guest of his British counterpart, David Cameron. The first day of the visit will be marked by a Red Arrows flypast before Mr Modi makes a speech to Parliament. Also during the trip, he will meet the Queen, visit a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and add…

Migrant crisis: Swedish border checks introduced 12 November 2015 From the section Europe Media captionKatya Adler reports from Sweden on changing attitudes towards immigrationSweden has announced the introduction of temporary border checks to control the flow of migrants into the country. It said it took the step because a surge in new arrivals had resulted in a threat to public order. The controls will come into effect from midday local time on Thursday and will last initially for 10 days. At a summit in Malta, …

Sinjar battle: Kurds in offensive to retake Iraq town from IS 12 November 2015 From the section Middle East Media captionThe BBC's Jim Muir is on the front line with Kurdish forces as they attempt to retake the town of SinjarKurdish forces in northern Iraq have launched an offensive to retake Sinjar, a strategic town near the Syrian border, from Islamic State militants. The campaign is supported by air strikes by the US-led coalition. Recapturing Sinjar would effectively cut off the supply line between the IS stro…

Armistice Day: Nation remembers war dead 11 November 2015 From the section UK Media captionLive: A two-minute silence has been held across the UK to remember those who died in warA two-minute silence has been observed across the UK to remember the nation's war dead. It began at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - the time in 1918 when the guns finally fell silent along the Western Front in Europe. Veterans joined armed forces personnel at the Cenotaph in London. And services are being held at the Nat…

Spain's top court suspends Catalonia's secession bid 11 November 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Opinion polls suggest Catalans are evenly divided on secession from Spain Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended a motion passed in the Catalan parliament earlier this week, which backs independence from Spain. The court agreed…

Montreal begins massive sewage dump into St Lawrence river 11 November 2015 From the section US & Canada Image copyright AP Montreal has begun a controversial dump of 8bn litres (2.1bn gallons) of raw sewage into the St Lawrence River. Officials in the Canadian city say that the project is necessary in order to replace old infrastructure in the sewage treatment system. The operation has drawn the ire of people in Canada and in th…

Migrant crisis: More drown as EU leaders meet in Malta 11 November 2015 From the section Europe Media captionMore than 60 leaders are meeting to discuss the mass movement of people, Gavin Lee reports.Fourteen migrants have drowned in the latest boat sinking as European Union and African leaders gathered in Malta to discuss measures to stem the flow of people into Europe. Seven of those who died when a wooden boat sank between Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos were children. Coastguards rescued 27 survivors. Th…

Spanish PM Rajoy challenges Catalan secession bid 11 November 2015 From the section Europe Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Opinion polls suggest Catalans are evenly divided on secession from Spain The Spanish government is fighting in the country's top court a motion passed in the Catalan parliament backing independence from Spain. Prime Minister Mariano …

Pair guilty of Becky Watts killing 11 November 2015 From the section England Image caption Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare (right) have been found guilty of killing Becky Watts (left) The man accused of murdering teenager Becky Watts and dismembering her body has been found guilty. Nathan Matthews, 28, had admitted killing his step-sister but denied it was murder. His girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, has been ac…

Myanmar election: President congratulates Suu Kyi 11 November 2015 From the section Asia Media captionAung San Suu Kyi says people are "far more politicised" nowMyanmar President Thein Sein has congratulated Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party on its success in polls, a spokesman told the BBC. With about 40% of seats declared, the National League for Democracy (NLD) has taken nearly 90% of the vote. Ms Suu Kyi has written to the leadership requesting talks on national reconciliation. But spokesman U Ye Htut said s…

Republican debate: Trump's immigration plan savaged by rivals 11 November 2015 From the section US & Canada comments Media captionBBC correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says there was no clear winner from the debateRepublican Donald Trump's plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants from the US has been savaged by his party rivals in a TV debate. His hardline proposal was attacked as impractical and divisive by John Kasich and Jeb Bush, who are also running for the Republican presidential nomination. M…