The News Matrix: Thursday 1 August 2013

Police told to break up pro-Morsi sit-ins

Cairo was braced for violence last night after the military-backed government ordered police to end sit-ins by supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in the capital. “The cabinet has decided to take all measures necessary to confront these risks and put an end to them,” an official said in a televised statement, calling the rallies a “national security threat”. MORE

Mother guilty of murdering son, 4

A couple who battered a four-year-old boy and left him to die in a locked, unheated box room were yesterday convicted of murder. Daniel Pelka’s mother and her partner starved him for months and force-fed him salt during a campaign of physical abuse. MORE

Settlement plans thwart peace talks

Talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been dealt a serious blow by the revelation Israel could be about to embark on the construction of thousands of homes on the West Bank. The report comes a day after the US Secretary of State announced peace talks were back on track. MORE

Man charged after care homes probe

A 71-year-old man has become the first to be charged in connection with the North Wales sex child abuse scandal. John Allen, from Ipswich, Suffolk, is accused of committing 22 indecent assaults, one offence of gross indecency and nine offences of buggery between 1968 and 1989.

Bradley Manning sentence discussed

Hearings began yesterday to determine sentencing for US soldier Bradley Manning, who passed confidential documents to WikiLeaks in 2010. Though acquitted of the charge of aiding the enemy, he faces a possible 136 years in prison on 19 other charges. MORE

J K Rowling’s law firm to pay damages

The law firm that revealed Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, left, penned a crime novel under the alias Robert Galbraith has been ordered to pay a substantial donation to charity by the High Court. MORE

Councils clocking up cash for fines

The councils making the most money from parking – fines, permits and meters – have been revealed by the RAC Foundation. Eight out of 10 are in London, with only Brighton and Cornwall challenging for space on the list.

1 Westminster £41.6m

2 Kensington & Chelsea £28.1m

3 Camden (north London) £25m

4 Hammersmith and Fulham (west London) £19.5m

5 Wandsworth (south-west London) £16.1m

6 Brighton and Hove £14.4m

7 Islington (north London) £10.9m

8 Cornwall £7.9m

9 Newham (east London) £7.3m

10 Hounslow (west London) £7.3m

Temperatures reach highest in 140 years

The China Meteorological ~ Association issued a high temperature warning for several eastern and central provinces yesterday, saying temperatures could reach 41C. More than 10 people have died in Shanghai due to the heat, as the city grapples with its highest temperatures in 140 years. The victims succumbed to heat-stroke, health officials said.

Boris rules out swift Commons return

Boris Johnson has reassured David Cameron’s closest allies that he will not try to return to the Commons at the 2015 general election, according to reports. The Mayor of London, whose term of office runs out in three years’ time, is said to have ruled out standing as a Tory candidate in any by-election before 2015.

Tuskmaster’s viral ad inspires movie

A Gumtree advert that went viral, appealing for a lodger to dress as a walrus and eat fish in Brighton in return for accommodation, is to be turned into a Hollywood film. Director Kevin Smith, of Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy fame, hopes the film, called Tusk, will be ready for next year’s Sundance film festival.

Live ‘tortoise burger’ caught at airport

A passenger at an airport in China has been caught trying to sneak a tortoise through security checks by hiding it in a KFC burger, according to state media. Security staff at Baiyun airport in Guangzhou acted after they saw “suspicious corners” on X-ray images of a bag passing through security.

Another de luxe robbery in Cannes

A luxury watch store has been robbed on the exclusive promenade in Cannes where a gunman made off with $136m in diamonds this week.

Tweet yourself to a sunshine hotel stay

The world’s first Twitter hotel has opened in Majorca. The 184-bedroom @SolWaveHouse offers guests a virtual community called #SocialWave.