The News Matrix: Thursday 19 March 2015

Match police chief admits inexperience

Former police chief David Duckenfield, 70, yesterday told the inquests into the deaths of 96 people at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that he was “a new and inexperienced match commander” at the time. He said he was faced with “unimaginably difficult circumstances”.

Suspects in 1995 massacre arrested

Seven men suspected of taking part in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre have been arrested by authorities. Their trial will be the first in relation to the atrocity to be heard within Serbia. The men are accused of killing more than 1,000 Muslims.

Third of Russian diplomats ‘are spies’

Russia was accused yesterday of using up to a third of its diplomatic staff in Sweden for clandestine intelligence gathering. Security service chief analyst Wilhelm Unge described the spies as “highly educated and often younger than during the Soviet era”.

Summit gives Greece late opportunity

European Union leaders will meet in Brussels today with diplomats warning it may be a matter of weeks before Greece runs out of money. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is hoping the summit will enable him to convince other leaders to allow Greece access to funding.

Cystic fibrosis total to double by 2025

By 2025, the number of adults who are living with cystic fibrosis will double, leaving researchers concerned that there will not be enough specialist care in the future to cope with demand. In 2013, more than 10,000 people were known to have the condition.

Wet wipes threat to ocean wildlife

“Unflushable” wet wipes are ending up on our beaches, threatening our marine wildlife. Charlotte Coombes, of the Marine Conservation Society, said: “They don’t disintegrate and they typically contain plastic, so once they reach the sea, they last for a very long time.”

Former president’s jail term criticised

The UN human rights chief has voiced concern over the “rushed” trial that led to a terrorism conviction and 13-year jail term for the Maldives’ former president, Mohamed Nasheed. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said “irregularities” could be rectified in the appeals process.

Man arrested after knife massacre

An 18-year-old knifeman attacked a Burmese family and stabbed to death three young brothers age 12, five and one, police said. The boys’ mother and 14-year-old sister were also wounded. Eh Lar Doh Htoo, who was arrested, lived near the family in New Bern, North Carolina.

Dieudonné guilty of condoning terrorism

The French comic Dieudonné M’bala M’bala was found guilty of condoning terrorism. He had posted on Facebook “I feel like Charlie Coulibaly” just days after the Paris attacks in January. He was given a two-month suspended sentence by the Paris court.

South Pole scientist jailed for three years

Simon Rouen, 36, a scientist from Cornwall, has been jailed for three years by Southwark Crown Court for committing child sex offences. He was arrested after exchanging emails with Kent Police’s paedophile online investigation team, while working at the South Pole.

Chicago approves land for library bid

Chicago City Council, hoping to land President Barack Obama’s presidential library for his home town, unanimously approved the use of land in two parks near the President’s home for it. The land is also near the university where Mr Obama was a law professor.

Williams bows out of Spielberg film score

The next Steven Spielberg film will be the first in three decades not to be scored by John Williams. DreamWorks Pictures announced yesterday that Spielberg’s upcoming Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies will be scored by Thomas Newman. Williams bowed out because of a “minor health issue”.

Teenager’s design goes on new £1 coin

A teenager from Walsall has designed the “tails” side of the new 12-sided £1 coin, which was unveiled yesterday and will be introduced in 2017. David Pearce, 15, created a design which incorporates a symbol from each of the UK’s nations: a rose, a leek, a thistle and a shamrock.

‘Empire’ soundtrack pips Madonna to No 1

Empire, the Fox hip-hop drama that became a hit in its first season, has also made its mark with music fans. The show’s soundtrack debuted at No 1 in the weekly US Billboard 200 album chart yesterday, with 130,000 sales units, beating the 121,000 sales of Madonna’s new studio album, Rebel Heart.

President cuts term to ‘set an example’

President Macky Sall wants to shorten his term in office to “set an example” for other African countries. The move is in marked contrast to those of African leaders who have pushed to eliminate term limits or flouted them. Mr Sall will hold a referendum next year on a cut to the term from seven to five years.