The News Matrix: Tuesday 19 June 2012

PIP implants are not toxic, say experts

There are no lasting adverse health effects from the rupture of a PIP breast implant, an NHS expert report found yesterday. The news will come as a relief to the 47,000 British women with implants from the French company, which contain non-medical grade silicone.

Defence Minister is new crown prince

Defence Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, 76, was named as Saudi Arabia's new crown prince yesterday, in an expected move which leaves power within the aging and diminishing circle of leaders in the country. The news came a day after the burial of the late heir to the throne, Prince Nayef.

Newspaper vendor 'shoved gratuitously'

A police officer hit homeless newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson in a "gratuitous act of aggression" during the G20 protests, a manslaughter trial heard yesterday. Pc Simon Harwood was accused of striking Mr Tomlinson, 47, and shoving him in the back in a "rush of blood".

Generals accused of mounting 'soft coup'

Egypt's ruling generals were yesterday accused of mounting a "soft coup" as they assumed sweeping new political powers over the country, even as the Muslim Brotherhood political party claimed a dramatic victory in the weekend's presidential run-off. MORE

Craft docking is one giant leap for China

The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft docked in orbit yesterday in preparation for manning a permanent space station – a first for China in its mission to match US and Russian expertise in space. The capsule was carrying three astronauts including 33-year-old Liu Yang, a pilot and China's first woman in space.

Give up Oxbridge obsession, says MP

A government education minister should "give up his obsession" with Oxbridge and the elite universities, a Labour MP has said. Addressing Schools Minister Nick Gibb, Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, said the country had 130 "fantastic" universities with departments of note.

Tymoshenko has little to cheer about

If Yulia Tymoshenko had won a poll two years ago, she might have viewed Ukraine's Euro 2012 football match with England tonight. But she's locked up in a grim hospital as her case continues to cause controversy. MORE

Staff face the sack if caught 'coasting'

Government sources have denied that plans to sack under-performing civil servants are politically-motivated. The idea forms part of plans to shake up Whitehall, announced today, which could also see staff taking a 10 per cent pay cut if they do not meet performance targets. MORE

Law urged to make Brits overseas vote

The Government has been urged to introduce changes to the law to encourage more Britons living overseas to vote in general elections. During a discussion of the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill yesterday, the Commons heard from Tory MP Geoffery Clifton-Brown how fewer than 24,000 overseas Brits were on the electoral register despite four million being eligible to vote.

Children had 'perfect holiday' before death

A mother who suffocated her young son and daughter in a Spanish hotel said she had given them a "perfect holiday" before killing them, a court heard. Lianne Smith, 45, went on trial yesterday in Girona, Spain. She has admitted to smothering Rebecca Smith, five, and 11-month-old Daniel.

Scientists warn of obesity epidemic

The global population is in danger of running out of food if the obesity epidemic is not tackled, scientists warned in a study published yesterday. Populations that are increasingly overweight could demand the same amount of food supplies as an extra billion people would require.

Expats' MP is elected to Kensington

French expatriates have elected their first ever "MP for South Kensington". Axelle Lemaire won this weekend's second-round run-off and was elected to the Northern Europe seat. She will represent all French expats in 10 countries in the UK, Scandinavia and the Baltic.

Pack of wolves tears zoo worker to death

A pack of wolves killed a worker in their enclosure at a popular wildlife park at the weekend. Police told the Associated Press they did not know what had triggered the attack on the 30-year-old woman. "She was so badly hurt in the attack that she died of her injuries," a police spokesman said.

Poor sales pull plug on The Voice tour

The Voice tour has been cancelled after poor ticket sales. The 11-date tour, which was to have featured performances from the BBC1 talent show's finalists, included concerts in Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester. Customers have been told to contact their point of purchase for refunds.

Punjab police must get fit or get lost

Overweight police officers in Pakistan must slim their waistlines to less than 38 inches by the end of the month, or face being removed from street duty. Punjab police spokeswoman Nabila Ghazanfar said the province's police chief was determined to "turn the force into a fit one".

Kitchen honours blogger Martha, 9

A school's new kitchen is to be named in honour of blogger Martha Payne, nine. who made headlines after Argyll and Bute council banned her from posting photos of her school lunches. The ban was revoked after protests, and Martha has had five million hits on her NeverSeconds blog, with donors giving £85,000 to the Mary's Meals charity. The kitchen will be built in Blantyre.

Outrage over artist's painting with breasts

The television programme Thailand's Got Talent has sparked moral outrage after a contestant painted a canvas using her bare breasts. Thailand's Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday that nudity on television is not appropriate in Thai society and called the stunt "shocking".

Cheaper stays to return after Games

If you want to see London without the crowds, head to the capital just after the Olympics. Research by i has found hotel prices dropping in the days after the closing ceremony at London 2012. Tourism experts are predicting it will be ghost town after the influx of visitors for the Games. MORE

Beach hut without water sells for £170K

A Dorset beach hut has sold for £170,000 just two days after going on the market. The wooden structure on an isolated spit has no running water but still sold for the same price as a three-bedroom house in Glasgow. The Mudeford Sandbanks have the most expensive huts in the country.

Korean Air causes flap over comments

A notice on the website of Korean Air has drawn sharp criticism from bloggers because it described Kenyans as indigenous people full of "primitive energy". The text had announced the start of flights from South Korea to Kenya. The notice was later removed; the airline blamed a translation error.