The News Matrix: Friday 9 November 2012

EU protects Isle of Man scallops by law

The Isle of Man's famous queen scallops have been added to an EU list of more than 1,000 products whose names are protected by law. Last year the island's "Queenie" won the UK Sustainable Seafood award after years in which Manx fishermen worked with the island government to protect the marine environment.

MP in bid to destroy Hitler's home

A Russian MP has waded into the political row over the future of Adolf Hitler's birthplace by saying he will buy then demolish the Austrian house where the Nazi leader was born. Frantz Klintsevich is trying to raise €2m (£1.59m) to buy the former public house – Gasthaus zum Pommer – in Braunau am Inn.  MORE

Empire ended by a lack of water

One of the world's great civilisations could have been forced into terminal decline by a succession of dry periods that culminated in a prolonged drought, according to a new study that throws fresh light on the mysterious disappearance of the Maya in Central America around AD1100. MORE

MP 'claimed £22,500 on improving home'

Former Labour MP Margaret Moran claimed nearly her entire annual allowance in one bogus expense entry, a jury heard. The 57-year-old submitted an invoice for £22,500 in August 2008 to fund "home improvements", the court heard. She is accused of 15 charges, but is too unwell to stand trial in person. MORE

Female version of 'Inbetweeners' out

The team behind hit teen comedy The Inbetweeners are launching a female version of the show. The show, called Drifters, features three of the stars of the spin-off movie – Lydia Rose Bewley and Jessica Knappett (pictured), who played clubbers Jane and Lisa, and Lauren O'Rourke, who played Neil's girlfriend.

Parents of fire death children in court

The parents of six children who died when a fire ripped through their home wept in court yesterday as they pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder. Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, along with Paul Mosley, charged with murdering Jade Philpott and her brothers John, Jack, Jesse, Jayden, and Duwayne. They were remanded into custody.

Calculators to be barred in primaries

Children are to be barred from using calculators in the maths national curriculum tests for 11-year-olds. The Schools Minister, Elizabeth Truss, will announce the move today in a bid to encourage pupils to master mental arithmetic skills while still at primary school.

New storm leaves thousands in dark

Thousands of people in New Jersey and New York have been plunged back into the dark by wind, rain and snow. The weather has complicated the clean-up and compounded distress in communities that are still recovering from Superstorm Sandy.  MORE

Manning to admit guilt to offences

Bradley Manning, the US soldier said to have passed thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, is ready to admit guilt for several offences. His lawyer, David Coombs, said that his client would plead guilty to elements of some of the 22 charges against him. MORE

Judge awards jilted 'lady of manor' £9m

A "lady of the manor" has been awarded nearly £9m by a High Court judge after her 26-year marriage to a member of the landed gentry ended. Mrs Justice Baron said the woman's husband – who owns a £35m estate – became "very enamoured" with a "young artist/singer".

Now Dorries may face standards probe

Nadine Dorries, the Mid Bedfordshire MP who is in Australia to appear on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, is facing a potential investigation by John Lyon, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

Giffords faces man who shot her

The former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords came face to face yesterday with the man who tried to kill her. Her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, told Jared Lee Loughner, 24, how his deadly rampage at a political meeting in 2011 upended her life. "Mr Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and her commitment to make the world a better place," Mr Kelly said at the sentencing hearing.