The News Matrix: Friday 11 July 2014

British head of Fifa partner ‘flees arrest’

Ray Whelan, the head of a World Cup hospitality firm, has fled to escape arrest in Rio, Brazilian police say. Police chief Fabio Barucke said Mr Whelan was officially considered a fugitive from justice. Mr Whelan was first detained on Monday, and his company Match Hospitality denied any wrongdoing by Mr Whelan and said he would co-operate with any investigation.

Appeal to find identity of amnesiac

A hospital has launched an appeal to try and discover the identity of a man in his twenties who has forgotten who he is. The man can’t remember his name, age, or where he is from, two months after being found in a park in Peterborough suffering from amnesia. MORE

Killer polar bear ‘had toothache’

An elderly polar bear which mauled a 17-year-old boy to death was suffering from toothache, an inquest revealed. Etonian Horatio Chapple, who was on an adventure holiday in Norway in August 2011, was killed by a polar bear with worn-down teeth, a cavity and swollen gums.

CIA official asked to leave due to ‘spying’

The German government has asked a CIA official to leave the country due to the dispute over alleged spying by the US. Another German intelligence official was arrested last week on suspicion of spying, escalating the dispute between the two countries. MORE

Taxpayer loses £1bn on privatisation

A committee of MPs has reported taxpayers lost £1bn over errors that occurred during the privatisation of Royal Mail. The Business Select Committee said the advice received on the sale was not up to standard and the Government had failed to get an adequate return on the sale.

Just a third of people are able to die at home

Only a third of people nearing the end of their lives who want to die at home are able to do so, new figures suggest. Around 35 per cent of people who had expressed a wish to die at home had their wishes fulfilled, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Gunman arrested after killing six

A Texan gunman has killed six people, including four children, after a suspected domestic dispute. He was taken into custody after a 30‑minute police pursuit that resulted in a stand-off. MORE

Green transport to get £440m boost

The government has announced that £440m will be spent on green transport schemes, including £64m of direct funding. Plans include better cycle networks across the country and upgraded transport interchanges. Local Enterprise partnerships are investing more than £100m into the schemes.

Chimps no smarter if raised by humans

Chimpanzees raised by humans are no smarter than those raised among other apes, new research claims. Genes are the main factor in determining intelligence and human intervention makes no difference to the intelligence of the animals, unlike humans, who are affected by environmental issues. MORE

Parrot still pining for the fjords

Monty Python’s “dead parrot” sketch has been named the most loved routine by the UK public, according to a new poll. The group, who are currently performing a number of reunion shows in London, were thought to be at the top of their game with the scene in which John Cleese tries to return a dead parrot to a shop.

Dead men are called up to the military

The Selective Service System, the agency that maintains lists on those eligible for military service, says a data glitch prompted it to send notices to several deceased men in Pennsylvania, ordering them to register for the nation’s military draft. At least two of the letters went to families of men born in the 1800s.

Snappy day: mayor marries crocodile

The mayor of a fishing town has “married” a crocodile in an elaborate ceremony in which guests danced with the bride, who wore white. By local tradition fishermen believe that the crocodile is a princess and that the symbolic ritual will boost catches of fish, shrimp and other seafood along the Pacific coast.

University gunning for ‘Duke’ copyright

John Wayne Enterprises has been subject to an attempted block from Duke University over use of the “Duke” trademark on their bourbon selection. Lawyers for Duke University have attempted similar legal action to the Wayne estate on several other occasions since 2005 due to similarity to the university logo. MORE