The News Matrix: Saturday 7 June 2014

Vodafone: how states listen to calls

Government agencies in six unidentified countries use Vodafone’s network to intercept private calls, the service provider has revealed. Laws in a “small number” of countries allow authorities to bypass legal controls and listen in to private conservations. MORE

Games CEO steps up to head Federation

The chief executive of this year’s Commonwealth Games has been appointed head of the whole movement. David Grevemberg will take up the post of chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in November, taking over from Mike Hooper.

Bride survives ‘honour killing’

A teenage bride was shot twice and thrown in a canal by her family in Pakistan for marrying the man she loved. However Saba Maqsood, 18, survived and is now under police guard in hospital. “I fear that my family will try to kill me and my husband,” she said. MORE

Hachette refuses to sign Amazon deal

Publishers in Britain and America are challenging the dominance of Amazon. After years of complaining from the industry of heavy-handed negotiation tactics from the market-leader, Hachette, one of the biggest publishers, has refused to sign a new contract in a pricing row. MORE

Police warn activists over political blogs

Thai police have warned online critics of the military junta that they will “come get you” for posting political views that could lead to unrest. “Any expressions of political views online must be done in a way that will neither incite divisiveness or violence,” police said.

A hard choice yet to be made by Clinton

Hillary Clinton’s new memoir, Hard Choices, describes Russian President Vladimir Putin as “thin-skinned and autocratic”. The former Secretary of State remains coy about the big question. “Will I run for president in 2016? The answer is, I haven’t decided yet.” MORE

Pope sacks board of financial watchdog

The board of the Vatican’s financial watchdog has been sacked and replaced by outsiders as Pope Francis struggles to clean up the Vatican bank, which has been hit by a series of scandals. A Vatican source said Francis had “sent the old-boy network packing”. MORE

Election frontrunner survives bombing

The leading contender to become the next president of Afghanistan has survived an apparent assassination attempt. However six people were killed when two bombs went off near Abdullah Abdullah’s convoy. He is expected to win the final round of voting next week. MORE

Pickles accused on Traveller sites

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is to be accused of acting illegally in his department’s efforts to prevent the creation of Traveller sites in the UK. If he loses, it could prompt a flood of fresh appeals from Gypsies and Travellers demanding the right to settle on green belt land. MORE

Pensioner was there when it all kicked off

A 96-year-old from Sheffield is preparing for the kick-off on Thursday – 84 years after she saw Uruguay beat Argentina in the final of the first tournament. Tanya Schmoller says she is confident she’s the only person still alive in England who attended the 1930 final.

Convicted terrorist caught at Stansted

A convicted terrorist was back behind bars for trying to flee abroad with a false passport while on licence. Nabeel Hussain, 30, was jailed for eight years and released on 20 February 2012. He was caught at Stansted Airport attempting to board a flight to Turkey on 23 September last year.

Geldof: ‘I will finally sleep well tonight’

Sir Bob Geldof has spoken out about the difficulties he’s faced since the death of his daughter Peaches, and the solace he’s found in performing live. The Boomtown Rats singer said: “I will sleep well tonight, which will be the first time in weeks I’ve slept well.” MORE