The News Matrix: Saturday 9 June 2012

Met to review 63 sex crime investigations

Scotland Yard is reviewing 63 sex crime investigations after a detective constable from its rape team was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. The Met said the officer's work records are being looked over, and there was "potential for unsafe convictions". MORE

Woman abused on Facebook wins case

A woman who suffered "vicious and depraved" abuse on Facebook after posting a message of support for the X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza has won a landmark High Court case. The court ordered Facebook to reveal the IP addresses of hertormentors. MORE

UN finds body parts at site of massacre

UN monitors in Mazraat al-Qubeir, where 78 people were massacred on Wednesday, found body parts and the the smell of burnt flesh in the air yesterday. Their visit came as the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and envoy Kofi Annan discussed how to salvage the UN peace plan. MORE

Solo rower rescued from Pacific storm

A British woman who attempted to row solo around the world is "lucky to be alive" after her boat capsized in a tropical storm. Sarah Outen, who blogs for The Independent, was plucked from the Pacific Ocean by a coastguard vessel around 560 miles from Japan's north-east coast.

Bomb on bus in Taliban area kills 19

A bomb tore through a bus carrying government employees and other civilians in north-west Pakistan yesterday, killing 19 people. The bus was near Peshawar city when the bomb went off. Peshawar is near Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal region, the main sanctuary for Taliban militants.

NHS pays £75,000 to 'ghost consultancy'

A consultancy paid £75,000 by NHS Lothian to help cut the trust's long waiting lists seems to have vanished after the Scottish Health Secretary expressed concerns that the contract was awarded improperly. Nicola Sturgeon ordered an inquiry into the contract for HD Partners. MORE

Concern as Soca gives Russians data

The Serious Organised Crime Agency passed on confidential details to Russian investigators implicated in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, leading to accusations that the agency endangered the lives of British residents. Mr Magnitsky was hired to investigate a £144m tax scam.

Spain said to be set to ask for financial help

It is strongly rumoured that Spain will seek outside help from the eurozone's stability fund in bailing out its banks today in a meeting of the Continent's finance ministers. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday insisted Spain hasn't asked for help from its monetary partners. MORE

Legislation won't work, says victim

A Labour councillor who was forced into marriage in Pakistan at 13 says legislation to criminalise it would stop victims coming forward. Sameem Ali, who represents Moss Side in Manchester, said making forced marriage a crime would mean children having to shop their own parents.

Police hunt for last gas attack suspect

Thousands of police are hunting for the last suspect wanted over a doomsday cult's nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway 17 years ago. Katsuya Takahashi is suspected of killing 13 people and injuring 6,000. The search advanced with the arrest of another fugitive last weekend.

Argentina offers an olive branch to UK

A British diplomat has been invited to Buenos Aires on his way to the Falklands next week. Jeremy Browne is flying out to mark the 30th anniversary of the war that ended Argentina's military occupation. Hector Timerman, the Foreign Minister, said it took courage "to sit down and listen".

Princes visit Philip in hospital

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have made a "short private visit" to their grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in hospital. Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII hospital in London with a bladder infection on Monday. The Queen's husband will be 91 on Sunday.

Parents confess to hiding dead son, 2

The parents of a two-year-old whose body was found in their house have admitted concealing his death. Neighbours stormed Alphonso and Stephanie Warren's home in Kingston to look for the boy after not seeing him for months. Police found the mummified remains in a suitcase.

Bad weather doesn't fit bill for organisers

The weather in Northamptonshire has been so bad that the annual Burton Latimer Duck Race has been postponed. Organisers said the water level was too high, "making it too dangerous for those people letting off the ducks".

Minister is carpeted over unpaid duty

The overseas aid minister, Dirk Niebel, received a big customs bill and a slap on the wrist for getting Germany's top spy to fly home a rug from Afghanistan for him without declaring it. Mr Niebel bought the carpet on a trip to Kabul.

Great future predicted for pig

Two years after Paul the Octopus correctly predicted eight matches at the World Cup in South Africa, A beer-loving pig named Khryak is competing for his mantle.

Praise the Lord (and pass the earplugs)

A Tennessee woman said she was praising the Lord when she was accused of violating the city's noise ordinance. Betty Jones, 54, said she spends five hours on Sundays praying and dancing, to country music.

An austerity diary for Adrian Mole

Sue Townsend is writing her tenth Adrian Mole novel. The writer told an audience at the Hay literary festival that the new instalment will begin on Mole's 45th birthday. She said: "It will be about the new austerity."