The News Matrix: Wednesday 5 November

Cornwall arrest ‘linked to Syria’

A 26-year-old man has been arrested at a curry house in Cornwall on suspicion of a terrorism offence linked to Syria. The Bangladeshi national was being questioned last night after counter-terrorism officers raided the restaurant in the seaside town of Hayle. A police spokesman said the arrest was related to “internet activity around the conflict in Syria”.

Republicans poised to take Senate

Voters took to the polls yesterday, casting ballots in midterm elections where Republicans are poised to recapture control of the US Senate. They need to gain six seats to control the 100-member chamber. Results were expected to start coming in overnight.

Changes to HS2 ‘can’t be ruled out’

Changes to the route of phase two of the £50bn HS2 high-speed rail project cannot be ruled out, the Government has announced. Changes could even include the section from Fradley in Staffordshire to Crewe in Cheshire, which was recommended last week.

More troops to defend cities in east

President Petro Poroshenko says additional troops are being deployed to the east, where fighting continues to rage between government forces and pro-Russian separatist fighters. The units would defend cities still under government control against incursions.

MPs vote to ban sex selection abortions

MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion declaring that sex-selection abortion should be illegal. They voted 181 to 1 for the motion proposed by a cross-party alliance of MPs to make it explicitly illegal for doctors to abort foetuses on grounds of gender alone.

Family loses three sons in conflict

As the war continues to rage in Syria, one family has spoken out about the loss of three sons in the conflict. It is a tale familiar to many in the villages and towns around the country, with scores waiting for the return of the bodies of their loved ones.

Police check racist tweets to Yaya Touré

Greater Manchester Police is investigating “a number of complaints” regarding racist tweets directed at Manchester City footballer Yaya Touré within hours of his reactivating his Twitter account on Monday.

Bereaved family call for death penalty

The family of one of two Indonesian women found murdered in the Hong Kong flat of a British investment banker has called for their killer to be given the death penalty. Rurik Jutting was charged on Monday with the murders of Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Jesse Lorena, 29.

Wanted: a lucky Liz who likes travelling

A round-the-world trip is yours for the taking – providing your name is Elizabeth Gallagher. Canadian Jordan Axan, 27, booked the flights with his girlfriend earlier this year. But the couple broke up and he is unable to change the name on the ticket. Now he is looking for someone with the same name to accompany him.

The Sun shown red card for Page 3 prize

A “sexist and offensive” advert for The Sun newspaper’s Dream Team fantasy-football competition has been banned for offering readers a date with a Page 3 model as a prize. The Advertising Standards Authority received 1,036 complaints from members of the public.

Jolie considering new role in politics

Angelina Jolie is “open” to pursuing a life in politics, diplomacy or public service, she has told Vanity Fair magazine. Jolie, a special envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees did, however, say that she was “conscious of what I do for a living, and that (could) make it less possible” .

Atheists ‘more likely’ to be good people

More than half of Britons believe religion does more harm than good, with fewer than a quarter believing faith is a positive force, according to a new survey. The study, for the Huffington Post UK, revealed that more people believe being an atheist is likely to make you a good person than being religious.

Do you take this… monkey?

A monkey wedding has taken place in the Bettiah area of Bihar state. It was organised by the monkeys’ owner and more than 200 people attended the elaborate nuptials. India has a history of monkey weddings, as the animal is sacred to Hindus. In 2008 more than 3,000 people attended a similar wedding in Orissa state.