The News Matrix: Friday 24 April 2015

Clinton to answer for US Benghazi deaths

Hillary Clinton has been called to testify before a Congressional committee investigating the 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi, Libya, setting up a showdown with Republicans over her record as Secretary of State weeks after she launched her presidential campaign.

Top Gear producer quits the BBC

The executive producer of BBC’s Top Gear, Andy Wilman, has reportedly resigned from the Corporation after he was spotted out with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – the first time the trio had been seen together publicly since Clarkson’s exit from the show. The news came on the same day that May said he would not return to the show with a “surrogate Jeremy” as it would be “lame”.

Iranian cargo ships ‘were to arm rebels’

Iranian cargo ships that were heading towards war-torn Yemen, possibly with advanced weaponry for Houthi rebels, have reversed their direction, at least temporarily, according to the Pentagon. An American official said it was unclear where the nine-ship convoy may be headed now, but last night it was no longer moving in the direction of the Yemeni port of Aden.

President wants to limit his own power

President Maithripala Sirisena has appealed for support for legislation to check the enormous powers of the presidency, one of his main election pledges. In a televised address to the nation as his government marked 100 days in power he asked MPs to “become a partner to strengthen the freedom and democracy of the people”. The minority government needs two-thirds of the votes in parliament to pass it.

Mayor loses post after fraud findings

The mayor of one of London’s most diverse boroughs was found to have “cynically perverted” his Bangladeshi voters and used his position of power to manipulate the Muslim community of Tower Hamlets, a High Court judge said in a damning speech yesterday. Lutfur Rahman, who the judge said played the “race card” to his critics, has been found guilty of electoral fraud and corruption offences.

British boy charged with Anzac Day plot

A 14-year-old boy from Blackburn has been charged by UK prosecutors with inciting terrorism in Australia in March. He is accused of inciting a person to behead someone, and another to carry out an attack at an event on Anzac Day, which commemorates Australian and New Zealand war heroes. He could be the youngest person charged with terror offences in the UK.

Lawrence suspects released on bail

Three men arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murdering University of York chef Claudia Lawrence have been released on bail. The men, all in their 50s, have been bailed to allow detectives to follow up lines of inquiry, North Yorkshire police said. A fourth man, also in his 50s, who was arrested in March, remains on bail. Lawrence went missing in 2009. Her body has never been found.

Military presence on Ukraine border rises

The Secretary-General of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, reported a sizeable Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine that he said would enable pro-Moscow separatists to launch a new offensive with little warning. Nato said Russia has substantially stepped up supplies to the rebels, as well as providing them with advanced training and equipment such as drones, despite a ceasefire.

Fans on CCTV asked to come forward

An appeal has been launched by investigators into the Hillsborough football disaster of 1989 to find a number of people who were on the pitch and assisted some of the 96 Liverpool fans who died that day. One man has already come forward after identifying himself from one of the new CCTV images that have been released, and investigators are keen to trace the other people in the pictures.

Mammoths’ DNA shows inbreeding

The world’s last woolly mammoths suffered from a loss of genetic diversity probably caused by inbreeding. Researchers studied the first complete genome sequences of two ancient mammoth specimens: one which lived about 4,300 years ago, and the other, from Siberia, which is about 44,800 years old.

Celeb bull running show spiked

Spain’s state television channel had to axe plans to stage a reality show which would have seen celebrities pitted against each other as they ran through the streets of Pamplona, chased by fighting bulls. The proposed series enraged the Pamplona Peñas – the bullfighting supporters’ club.

Time capsule turns out to be damp squib

Excitement was tinged with frustration yesterday as a 176-year-old time capsule was opened to reveal a rolled parchment too wet to unfurl. The 1839 lead container unearthed in the foundations of a former orphanage in Londonderry was opened in front of an audience in the city’s Tower Museum.

Lady Gaga honoured for her songwriting

Lady Gaga is to be awarded the inaugural Contemporary Icon Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York, in honour of the 29-year-old entertainer’s “iconic status in pop culture”, according to a statement from the hall. Lady Gaga has had a hand in writing many of her hits.