The News Matrix: Saturday 9 March 2013

Public officials plead guilty to 'Sun' bribes

Two public officials have admitted taking bribes worth thousands of pounds from The Sun newspaper. At the Old Bailey in central London, former policeman Alan Tierney and prison officer Richard Trunkfield pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office. MORE

Man held over bus stabbing is sectioned

A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering a 16-year-old girl as she made her way to school was sectioned under the Mental Health Act last night. Detectives in Birmingham investigating the fatal stabbing of Christina Edkins appealed for information about the attack. MORE

Festival-goers claim moustache record

Organisers of a festival in Michigan claim to have broken the world record for the most people wearing fake moustaches. Gilda's LaughFest said that 1,544 people donned dark moustaches. If it sticks, the record would follow the claim for the most people wearing fake animal noses.

Accused pleads not guilty in Tia trial

A man accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp, his partner's granddaughter, has pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey. Stuart Hazell, 38, appeared via videolink from Belmarsh prison to deny murdering Tia last year. He was remanded in custody to face trial on 7 May.

Bieber lashes out at photographer

Justin Bieber's disastrous tour of the UK continued yesterday as the pop star lashed out at a photographer. The 19-year-old appeared to push the photographer out of the way as he left his hotel. The photographer then insulted the star, before Bieber said: “I'll f***ing beat the f*** out of you.”

Michael Caine given Freedom of London

Sir Michael Caine has been given the Freedom of the City of London. The ceremony took place at the Museum of London, where an exhibition has launched honouring his life and work. Curator Beverley Cook said: “He was the first actor to bring a London accent to the big screen.”

Batman's friend admits cheque fraud

The man who was handed over to police by a man dressed as Batman has admitted trying to cash a stolen cheque. Daniel Frayne appeared in court yesterday, two weeks after he was taken into a Bradford police station by a friend who was dressed as the superhero.

Vatican: Cardinals set date to elect new pope

Catholic leaders have set Tuesday as the starting date for the Vatican to elect the next pope. The conclave date was set yesterday during a vote by the College of Cardinals who have been meeting all week to discuss the church's problems and priorities and the qualities a new pope must possess.

Venezuela: World leaders attend Chavez funeral

Controversial figures including Cuban President Raul Castro and Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were among the mourners at the funeral of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas yesterday. The event was attended by hundreds of thousands of his supporters. MORE

United States: Osama bin Laden's son-in-law in court

A son-in-law of Osama bin Laden, who allegedly threatened that violence against the US would continue after the 9/11 attacks, pleaded not guilty in a New York court yesterday to conspiracy to kill Americans. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was a militant who appeared in videos for al-Qai'da. MORE

Europe: Plan to 'ban all porn' found in EU report

Members of the European Parliament are set to vote on proposals to ban on all forms of pornography, it has been claimed. Critics of the report see it as an an attack on freedom of expression that could lead to the draconian policing of the internet in Europe. MORE

Poland: Man has screwdriver removed from head

A 25-year-old Polish man has undergone a three-hour operation to remove a screwdriver lodged about two inches into his head. The man apparently fell and lost consciousness. When he came round he walked to his car, looked in a mirror and noticed the screwdriver, just above his right eye.