The News Matrix: Wednesday 31 July 2013

Ex-minister can take holiday before case

The former Labour minister Denis MacShane’s court case has been delayed until after his summer holiday, in a decision that magistrates say has left them “mystified”. The former Europe Minister has been charged with false accounting under the 1968 Theft Act over claims totalling £12,900.

Breivik applies to study at university

Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway two years ago, has applied to study political science at the University of Oslo, a move that has stoked anger among some teaching staff. MORE

Pryce stripped of government honour

Vicky Pryce, the disgraced ex-wife of former cabinet minister Chris Huhne, has been stripped of an honour she received for government service. She was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 2009 for her work as an economist. The Queen has now cancelled the title.

Top EU envoy meets ex-President Morsi

The Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, who has been detained since he was ousted by a military coup nearly a month ago, received his first visit from the outside world yesterday from Baroness Ashton, the EU’s top diplomat. The two discussed the deepening political crisis. MORE

Lawson and Saatchi to divorce today

The TV presenter Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi are to divorce today, a little over a month after pictures emerged which appeared to show the advertising and art collector’s hand around his wife’s neck.

Manning not guilty of aiding enemy

Bradley Manning, the US army private who leaked a huge cache of classified documents to whistleblowing website Wikileaks, has been found innocent of aiding the enemy – most serious charge against him – but guilty of 19 charges, including espionage. He had admitted giving classified material to Wikileaks. MORE

Increasing numbers of GPs leave Britain

Britain faces a “brain drain” of qualified GPs as an increasing number move abroad, the British Medical Association warned. The number requesting the appropriate certification to find work in other countries has risen by more than a third since 2008 from 521 to 722. MORE

Food-plant worker admits poisoning

A former food-plant worker confessed in court yesterday to poisoning frozen dumplings that caused 10 people in Japan in 2008 to fall ill. The scandal strained Beijing-Tokyo relations just months before China hosted the Olympic Games. A verdict is expected to be announced at a later date.

Happier Britons staying at home

National happiness levels have risen slightly over the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics, with 77 per cent of us rating life satisfaction at seven out of 10 or more. Yet Britons are also leaving the house less, with the average person making 954 trips away from home, compared to 1,086 between 1995 and 1997. MORE

Virtual currency declared illegal

A Bitcoin exchange in Thailand says it has suspended trading after officials declared the virtual currency illegal in a setback for efforts to bring it into the financial mainstream. The Thai central bank ruled that it is illegal to trade bitcoins, move them in or out of the country, or use them to buy or sell goods or services.

Richard Curtis calls time

Richard Curtis, the creative spark behind Four Weddings and a Funeral and a slew of romantic comedies, has hinted he is to stop directing films. The British filmmaker said that About Time, which will premiere on 8 August, is likely to be his swan song. “This probably will be the last film I will direct,” he said.

Firefighters’ families win compensation

The families of two firefighters killed tackling a blaze at a fireworks factory in East Sussex have won compensation. The High Court ruled that East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was guilty of negligence and exposing the men, who were “poorly resourced”, to unnecessary risk.

DJ Dave’s top 10 acts to watch

At last month’s G8 summit, David Cameron presented each world leader with a USB stick containing 10 tracks of up-and-coming British talent, compiled especially by the British Phonographic Institute. Here is DJ Dave’s ‘Best of British’ playlist:

1 TessellateAlt J (above)

2 Lightning Bolt Jake Bugg

3 Green Garden Laura Mvula

4 Is Your Love Big Enough? Lianne La Havas

5 Only LoveBen Howard

6 Home Gabrielle Aplin

7 Another Love Tom Odell

8 Feel The Love Rudimental

9 Birdy Skinny Love

10 Can’t Say No Conor Maynard

Readers want regulatory body

Newspapers that continue to speak out against press regulations do not reflect the views of their readers, a YouGov survey has found. The Sun, The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Daily Mirror are all backing a new regulatory body over a Parliament-approved Royal Charter. MORE