The News Matrix: Thursday 24 February 2011

Two teenagers held after shooting 11

Police have detained two male teenagers after 11 youngsters were injured in an airgun attack. No one was seriously hurt in the incident in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, yesterday. Five girls and six boys between the ages of 12 and 16 were struck by pellets. MORE

Berezovsky gets nod to sue Abramovich

The Court of Appeal has given the go-ahead for Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky to sue former associate Roman Abramovich. Berezovsky’s £2bn lawsuit claims Abramovich used “threats and intimidation” to force him to sell shares in oil company Sibneft at a fraction of their value.

Youth jobless level could hit 20 per cent

The recession could result in permanent youth unemployment levels of more than 20 per cent – even after the economy recovers, a think-tank warns today. Figures published last week showed 965,000 16 to 24-year olds are unemployed. MORE

East End legend’s innocence argued

Armed robber George Davis’s innocence was finally considered in the Court of Appeal yesterday. His supporters have included as The Who’s Roger Daltrey. MORE

Athens protest over cuts turns violent

Youths wearing ski masks hurled chunks of marble and firebombs at riot police as clashes broke out in Athens during a mass rally against austerity measures. The protests were part of a general strike that crippled services and public transport around Greece.

Assange faces his day of destiny

Julian Assange will today learn if he is to be extradited to Sweden to face rape and sexual assault allegations. The WikiLeaks founder’s legal team has already started preparing an appeal in case it happens. MORE

No2AV campaign ‘peddled lies’

The row between the Yes and No camps on the referendum for alternative voting is heating up. The No2AV campaign has been reported to the Advertising Standards Authority for “lies” about risks associated with changing systems. MORE

Woman sentenced to death for killings

A jury has sentenced the leader of an anti-immigrant group to death for the murder of a girl and her father, in what prosecutors said was an attempt to steal drug money to fund the group’s activities. Shawna Forde, 43, has become the third woman on death row in the state of Arizona.

Emanuel elected Chicago mayor

The former White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, has been elected mayor of Chicago. Mr Emanuel, 51, trounced his five rivals with 55 per cent of the vote – a margin that allowed him to avoid a run-off in April. Mr Emanuel called the victory “humbling”. MORE

Callow biography wins Morley award

Actor Simon Callow has been named winner of the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography for My Life in Pieces. Actress Sian Phillips, who was one of the judges, said it “makes you realise how great it is to be there on the first night”.

Time’s up: ‘Withnail’ pub gets wrecked

A west London pub that featured in the cult film Withnail and I has been demolished to make way for a block of flats. The Mother Black Cap pub in the film was actually the Tavistock Arms in Westbourne Green. A commemorative plaque may be put up when the flats are finished.

Owner of lost python gets £400 subway bill

A woman whose snake slithered away from her in a Boston subway train and hid there for nearly a month has received a hefty cleaning bill for $650 (£400). Melissa Moorhouse had travelled with the snake around her neck and lost it between stations on 6 January.

Alligator washed into family home

Brazilian firefighters removed a 5ft long alligator which was hiding behind a couch after floodwaters washed it into a home in northern Brazil. When the flood waters receded, a woman saw her three-year-old son petting the animal behind the couch – until she whisked him to safety.

Sir Anthony forsakes Hannibal for music

He is better known for the big screen and particularly his turn as Hannibal Lecter, but music written by Sir Anthony Hopkins will be performed in his Welsh homeland this summer. St David’s Hall in Cardiff will host a series of concerts of music composed by the Oscar-winning star.

Marathoner’s wife drops claim

Kenya’s Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru heaved a sigh of relief when his wife Triza Njeri withdrew her accusation of attempted murder against him. Ms Njeri said she had resolved differences with her husband, a former London and Chicago marathon winner. MORE