The News Matrix: Friday 13 January 2012

Processed meats raise cancer risk

The most fatal cancer, pancreatic, has been linked for the first time with the consumption of processed meat. A daily bacon sandwich with an average size of 50 grams is associated with a 19 per cent increase in risk, researchers say. Some 95 per cent of pancreatic cancer patients die within five years. MORE

UN to send nuclear team to Tehran

A UN nuclear agency team will visit Tehran on 28 January, with Iran saying it is ready to discuss allegations it was involved in secret nuclear weapons work. For three years, Tehran has blocked attempts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to follow up on intelligence.

WikiLeaks suspect 'should be tried'

Bradley Manning, the US private accused of supplying classified diplomatic cables to the WikiLeaks website, should be court martialled, an army hearing has concluded. If convicted he could be jailed for life.

David Cameron to meet King Abdullah

David Cameron today makes his first visit to Saudi Arabia as Prime Minister. He will meet King Abdullah and Crown Prince Nayif in talks, which Downing Street hopes will "broaden and deepen" the UK-Saudi relationship. The Government sees strong relations with the Saudis as vital.

Presidential race is still too close to call

A hundred days before France goes to the polls, the outcome of a tetchy presidential campaign defies all forecasts. Socialist François Hollande still leads in the opinion polls, but the sitting president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has closed the first round gap to only two points. MORE

Unlawful fines boost Revenue coffers

Tens of thousands of small firms who do not file their tax returns on time are being fined unlawfully as a "cash generating scheme". In a damning judgment, the Tax Tribunal has ruled that HM Revenue & Customs is "deliberately" waiting months before alerting businesses which have not filed their tax returns so late-payment fines stack up. MORE

Putin's website runs up against criticism

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin launched a website for his presidential campaign yesterday, only to see it flooded with comments from detractors demanding he not run. The negative responses illustrated the growing sense of discontent with Putin.

Oxford University professor found dead

A man found dead in a bungalow was an Oxford University professor, it has emerged. Steven Gregory Rawlings, 50, was discovered in Oxfordshire on Wednesday. He was Official Fellow and Tutor in Physics of St Peter's College. A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Conductor brrrrings the show to an end

Conductor Alan Gilbert stopped the New York Philharmonic orchestra mid-concert when someone's mobile rang. The New York Times said Mr Gilbert showed displeasure when the iPhone ring began during the final movement of Mahler's Ninth Symphony at Avery Fisher Hall. When it carried on, he stopped the orchestra.

Lucas's 20-year struggle with film

Given his status, George Lucas presumed studios would be falling over each other to produce his latest film. Instead, he claims to have struggled for more than 20 years to get Red Tails financed and made. The reason? Because, in his words, "it's an all-black movie". MORE

Ancient giant felled after rot sets in

A 160-year-old tree is being chopped down in Dorset after tests showed it was "rotten to the core". Residents bid farewell to the caucasian wingnut tree at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens – over 90ft (27.4m) tall it is believed to be the largest of its kind in Britain. The work will take tree surgeons six days to complete.

Kim Jong-il to get the Lenin treatment

Any North Koreans who hoped they had seen the back of their recently departed Dear Leader Kim Jong-il, had their hopes dashed yesterday, as the country said that his body would be embalmed and displayed for eternity. The body is likely to be exhibited in all its glory at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang. MORE

Selfridges to open pop-up library

Department store Selfridges is opening its own 15,000-book library. At a time when many around Britain are under threat from closure, the famous London shop has opened its own pop-up branch for the next seven weeks. Publishers Penguin, Taschen, Faber and Thames And Hudson are curating the new section.