The News Matrix: Saturday 01 November 2014

Second pilot held over alcohol levels

A second pilot in three days has been arrested over concerns about levels of alcohol in his body. Ian Jennings, 47, from Gosport, Hampshire, was held at Norwich Airport after landing a charter plane. A Flybe pilot was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving on Tuesday.

Police cautions to be scrapped

With Government plans to scrap cautions in England and Wales, police could be given powers to fine people up to £150 for minor offences or force offenders to pay for damage or write an apology. It follows criticism after a third of cases were not dealt with correctly.

Human remains found at site of crash

Investigators have recovered human remains from the site in eastern Ukraine where Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crashed, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. Access to the site has been hampered by ongoing fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

Doctor pleads guilty to child sex offences

A paediatrician has admitted a string of child sex offences. Raza Laskar, 32, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to 31 charges including sexual activity with a child and possessing extreme pornography. None of the charges relate to his work.

Man charged with murder of footballer

A suspect has been charged with the murder of Senzo Meyiwa, South Africa’s football captain. Zenokuhle Mbatha, 25, will be held in custody until a court appearance on 11 November. He also faces a charge of armed robbery, said a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority.

Labour foils Ukip in police vote

Labour candidate Alan Billings has won on the first round of counting in a by-election for a new Police and Crime Commissioner in South Yorkshire, followed in second place by Ukip. Dr Billings said: “It brings the Ukip advance to a shuddering halt in South Yorkshire.”

Protesters angered by slave reference

Thousands have signed a petition in protest at remarks by a HSBC board member likening Hong Kong’s protesters to American slaves and suggesting they should wait 107 years for their voting rights. Laura Cha is also a member of Hong Kong’s Executive Council.

Show museum given the boot

The Heritage Lottery Fund has denied funding to a museum run by Northampton Council after it lost accreditation from the Museum Association (MA). The MA said its £15.8m sale of an Egyptian sculpture, to raise money for an extension, violated its code of ethics.

Return home for last British serviceman

The last British serviceman to leave Camp Bastion has arrived in safely in the UK. Wing Commander Matt Radnall, 42 (pictured), returned to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday. “The adrenalin is still flowing. That is the highlight of 24 years with the RAF,” he said.

Rolf Harris loses first appeal bid

Rolf Harris has lost the first round of his bid to appeal against his convictions for indecent assaults. The Judicial Office confirmed yesterday that a judge has refused his application. The 84-year-old can renew the application before three judges at the Court of Appeal.

Human rights chief defends executions

Iran defended itself yesterday against Western accusations of repression and a rise in executions; one woman was hanged for killing a man she said tried to rape her. Human rights head Mohammad Javad Larijani blasted “attempts” to “impose your lifestyle under the banner of human rights”.

Unqualified still get teaching jobs

New figures show that more than 300 trainee teachers who failed to qualify for teacher status in 2012-13 were still able to get work in teaching, whereas 2,000 who did qualify could not find work within six months.

Wheelchair prank brings two-year ban

A woman has been handed a two-year driving ban after she was caught on camera repeatedly towing a friend in a wheelchair behind her car in a supermarket car park. Call centre worker Maria Adams’ prank ended up costing her more than £1,400 as well as her licence.

Shots fired after man feared castration

A Lebanese hospital came under gunfire this week after a man became irate when a doctor wanted to shave his body hair before surgery. The man, fearing he would be castrated, called his friends. They opened fire on the hospital in east Lebanon, the local Daily Star reported.

Drivers scramble for cash on highway

Drivers stopped their cars and scrambled to grab money flying around a Maryland highway after an armoured truck’s door burst open yesterday. A bag of cash fell on to the road and bills flew into the air. Maryland State Police said a lock on the truck had malfunctioned.

Royal role for Kristin Scott Thomas

Kristin Scott Thomas will play the Queen in the new version of the West End play The Audience, replacing Dame Helen Mirren. The show will include scenes with ‘Tony Blair’. Next year the West End will host a musical version of Bend It Like Beckham.