The Saturday Matrix: Saturday 2 July 2011

Call to drop charges for store protest

Pressure is mounting for prosecutors to drop charges against of members of the anti-cuts group, UK Uncut, who occupied the Fortnum & Mason department store in March. MORE

Police warning over Orange parades

Police warned that they will show zero tolerance towards sectarian behaviour during Glasgow’s main Orange Order parade today, following heightened tensions between Celtic and Rangers fans. MORE

Record number of marchers defy Assad

The Syrian regime looked increasingly isolated as hundreds of thousands of protesters joined in some of the largest rallies of the uprising, despite an attempt by President Assad to reach out to opponents. MORE

Stars celebrate at Kate Moss marriage

Kate Moss married her boyfriend Jamie Hince yesterday in the Oxfordshire village of Southrop. It marked the beginning of star-studded celebrations at the supermodel’s Cotswolds mansion. MORE

Duncan Smith’s jobs plea under fire

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith came under fire yesterday for urging employers to give jobs to young Britons instead of migrant workers. Critics said firms risked discrimination claims. MORE

Smokers heed new cigarette warnings

US cigarette warning labels may be having an effect before being printed on packets. Calls to the Quit Now phone line passed 4,800 on the day warning labels were released to the media, versus the usual 2,000 calls.

Countryside draws 2.5bn visits a year

Almost 2.5 billion visits were made to the English countryside, coast and open spaces last year, according to research by government agency Natural England. It surveyed 46,000 English people.

Pair in court for Lawrence murder

Two men appeared in court yesterday accused of the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993. Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Chavez tells nation he has cancer

Venezuela was on the brink of political chaos after President Hugo Chavez admitted in a televised address that he has cancer. Mr Chavez has been treated in Cuba for three weeks. MORE

Author says sorry over ‘posh deaths’

A journalist and author has had to apologise after saying on Twitter that she smiled when she saw that three UK men who died on gapyear trips in Thailand were posh.

Split up in 48 hours at Heartbreak Hotel

A Dutch agency called “Heartbreak Hotel” is offering couples a 48-hour divorce service. Spouses pay €2,500 (£2,257) and experts finalise their separation to the last detail. MORE