The News Matrix: Saturday 14 April 2012

Man admits gouging out girlfriend's eyes

A woman whose eyes were gouged by her partner in a "premeditated, sustained, vicious attack" has spoken of her pain. Tina Nash, 32, said: "I feel like a ghost. I can't even see my kids' faces." Shane Jenkin, 33, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent at Truro Crown Court yesterday. MORE

Lockerbie bomber to undergo transfusion

The Lockerbie bomber has been admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion, it has been reported. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's health is said to have "deteriorated quickly". His brother Abdulhakim told Reuters news agency yesterday that he had been taken to a private hospital.

Security forces fire on protesters

Activists said security forces fired upon protesters in many Syrian cities yesterday as soldiers sought to prevent people from forming rallies against President Assad, even though the government should have pulled its troops back under a UN ceasefire plan. MORE

Sarkozy campaign suffers poll setback

President Nicolas Sarkozy's team encountered further strife yesterday, with a week to go before the first round of the elections. Opinion polls showed Sarkozy is failing to secure the support he had achieved in recent weeks against his main rival, the Socialist François Hollande. MORE

IPCC investigates teenager death fall

The death of a teenager who fell from the 17th floor of a London tower block in an apparent effort to escape officers is being probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It is assessing why officers allowed Shanice-Paris Goff, 18, of Woolwich, to be left alone in her bedroom.

Charity tax threat to medical research

George Osborne's move to limit tax relief on large charity donations could leave a new medical research centre short of funds. The £650m Francis Crick Institute in London, which will investigate cures for debilitating diseases, may have to find an extra £100m. MORE

UN 'deplores' failed satellite launch

The UN Security Council deplored North Korea's rocket launch yesterday, saying it violates two Security Council resolutions. The satellite launch ended in failure when it disintegrated over the sea. Western nations said the launch was a cover for testing of a long-range missile. MORE

Tanker drivers reach deal to avoid strike

Tanker drivers and oil company bosses reached a deal last night to avert strikes. Union leaders from Unite held talks all week with officials from six distribution companies, facilitated by the conciliation service Acas. Unite officials will decide next week whether to accept the proposals.

Shining Path kills police woman

Shining Path terrorists have killed a police captain as she participated in an attempt to rescue dozens of hostages seized by rebels this week. Nancy Flores Paucar, 32, was hit by a sniper as a helicopter she was co-piloting tried to land in the Amazon region to drop off armed officers.

People's Party on course for power

Spain's opposition centre-right People's Party is on course to sweep to power in next weekend's general election, after polls yesterday indicated it had maintained its strong lead over the ruling Socialists. Polls blamed the Socialists for doing little to improve the feeble economic position.

Don't bother with the bargains, expert says

Bargain wines sold at supermarkets "all taste the same" and lack "identity and soul", according to Graham Mitchell, a former director of the El Vino Company. He said most of the cost is composed of tax, bottling and transportation and urged spending at least £9.99 to get the best deal. MORE

Emperor penguin numbers flourishing

Antarctica contains nearly double the number of emperor penguins than previously thought, a satellite survey has revealed. High-resolution photos of 44 colonies around the Antarctic continent showed there were 595,000 birds – the previous estimate was 350,000.

Midwife is found guilty of misconduct

Midwife Diana Warwick, 56, who dropped a baby on to the floor of a maternity unit and used an electric monitor in a birthing pool was yesterday found guilty of a lack of competence and misconduct. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will decide in June what sanctions to impose.

Hot-air balloon grounds aircraft

Flights were temporarily disrupted yesterday morning after a hot-air balloon flew into UK airspace. Gatwick airport said all departures were temporarily suspended just after 9am for safety reasons when the balloon was spotted.

Intruder breaks into 'Diddy' mansion

A man has been charged with breaking into the East Hampton mansion of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, where he allegedly tried on the star's clothes and helped himself to food and drink. Unemployed Quamine Taylor, 30, from New York, has been remanded in jail as he is unable to raise $2,000 bail.

Man loses badger battle to halt homes

A man who claimed a £3m luxury housing development in Essex would harm badgers has lost his High Court fight. Ralph Patmore has spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to overturn a council decision to allow the building of two six-bedroom houses near his Brentwood home.

Gouda is worth its weight in gold

A gouda-style cheese has won the World Championship Cheese Contest after being sold at auction for $8,400 (£5,270). The wheel of Vermeer, a low-fat orange cheese from Holland, was valued at $350 per pound by its buyer, an American dairy named Hoogwegt US.