The News Matrix: Monday 01 July 2013

Britons bask in a (short) golden glow

Britons got another glimmer of summer yesterday as temperatures climbed to 27 degrees in the South and 24 across central and eastern England. It was one of the hottest days of the year, but Met Office forecasters put a dampener on hopes for a prolonged sunny spell.

Pesticides found in Chinese remedies

Many Chinese herbal medicines sold in Western countries contain a “cocktail” of pesticides that exceed safe levels, research by Greenpeace suggests. Scientists tested products including wolfberry, honeysuckle and san qi, finding 32 contained residues of pesticides.

Kerry pushes on, but no peace talks yet

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, ended a marathon round of shuttle diplomacy between Israelis and Palestinians yesterday without an agreement on restarting peace talks. He said “we have had very positive discussions, very important discussions”. MORE

Las Vegas close to record temperature

A man died and another was in hospital in a serious condition as temperatures soared in the west of the country – reaching 46C (115F) in Las Vegas yesterday, two degrees short of the city’s record. Large areas of California also sweltered under extreme heat warnings. MORE

Fulfil Mandela’s legacy, says Obama

President Obama challenged young Africans to fulfil the legacy of South Africa’s former leader Nelson Mandela. His remarks came after a visit to the Robben Island prison where Mr Mandela spent 18 years. MORE

Warnings given on TB beef a decade ago

The Food Standards Agency was warned more than a decade ago that meat from cows with symptoms of bovine TB should be heat treated to safeguard consumers, it has emerged as reports confirmed infected cattle are being sold for human consumption without warning labels. A study warned of the potential risks of eating undercooked meat taken from animals with the disease. MORE

Putin signs ban on ‘gay propaganda’

President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a measure that stigmatises gay people and bans giving children any information about homosexuality. The ban on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” is part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values and has wide support among the public. MORE

Vaccine will keep 675,000 babies safe

A pioneering vaccination which will protect children from a highly infectious bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting will begin to be administered to all babies from today. Public Health England announced that the rotavirus vaccination programme will protect more than 675,000 babies from the infection.

J.Lo ‘was not aware of rights abuses’

Jennifer Lopez sang “Happy Birthday” to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the president of Turkmenistan, at a 56th birthday party on Saturday night. Human Rights Watch says the regime is “among the most repressive in the world”. MORE

Shoes that give you a spring in your step

Running shoes with bedsprings in the soles may sound like the stuff of fantasy, but scientists have created them in an attempt to reduce injuries. The shoes have a series of miniature springs designed to absorb the shock of hitting hard ground.

Teenager arrested for streak on a bike

Billy Buckley, 18, from Chickasha, Oklahoma has been arrested for riding his motorcycle naked. He rode without clothes for 20 minutes as part of a $50 (£33) bet with friends.

Flour people back 197-year-old mill

Campaigners in Brixton are trying to get a 197-year-old windmill making flour again. The Brixton Windmill needs funding of £20,000 to grind for the first time since 1934.