The News Matrix: Monday 2 February 2015

Climber dies after Highlands avalanche

A climber has died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands after bad weather hindered search teams looking for him. He was one of two men, believed to be from Suffolk, who were reported missing on Coireag Dubh Mor in the western Highlands on Friday.

Cameron should stay on as ‘caretaker PM’

David Cameron should stay on as a caretaker prime minister if Labour win the most seats but fail to secure a majority, MPs suggested today. A cross-party Commons committee said the “rules of the game” should be clarified urgently in the event of another hung parliament.

Jews angered by Hitler road sign

A Cornish village has angered the Jewish community after it agreed to reinstate a sign saying “Hitlers Walk”, that was removed in 2005 because it was considered inappropriate. Mevagissey Parish Council defended the decision, saying that is what local people call the park.

Al Jazeera journalist freed and deported

An Al Jazeera journalist imprisoned in Egypt was released yesterday. Australian Peter Greste was deported to Cyprus after spending more than six months behind bars for charges including spreading false news. Two other Al Jazeera journalists remain in prison.

Boy, 3, shoots parents with mother’s gun

A three-year-old boy found a pistol in his mother’s purse and fired a shot that wounded his parents at an Albuquerque motel on Saturday, police said. The toddler apparently reached for an iPod but found the loaded weapon. Police believe the shooting was accidental. AP

Death toll climbs as fighting intensifies

Thirteen government soldiers and at least as many civilians were killed in eastern Ukraine over the weekend as fighting intensified following the collapse of peace talks. The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels accused each other of sabotaging negotiations.

MP Maude to step down after election

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude will step down as an MP at the general election after 27 years in Parliament. Mr Maude said that he was “increasingly optimistic” that the Conservatives could win the election, but wished to “make way for a younger candidate”.

‘International aid budget must be kept’

The spending target for international aid must be kept in place, a Commons committee has said. Some MPs have said that grants for middle-income countries are becoming “less appropriate”, but the International Development committee, chaired by Sir Malcolm Bruce of the Lib Dems, said the 0.7 per cent of national income target should remain.

Landslip causes train delays of 90 minutes

A major landslip has blocked a railway line causing disruption to services between Banbury and Leamington Spa, adding 90 minutes to passengers’ journeys. Network Rail said it would stay shut for at least a week while 350,000 tonnes of material are removed.

Obama to unveil new tax on foreign profits

President Barack Obama will today unveil his budget for 2016, including new taxes on profits made by US companies overseas. He will also target a loophole that lets firms pay no tax on earnings held abroad, in plans certain to encounter stiff resistance from Republicans.

Man jailed for eating protected pythons

A Zimbabwean man has been jailed for nine years for eating pythons, a protected species, a Zimbabwe daily newspaper has reported. Archwell Maramba, 58, said he had been eating the snake meat for its medicinal value. Police found dried snake meat and skins in his home. AP

Teenager youngest mason in 700 years

Beth Elliot, 18, became her city’s youngest freeman in seven centuries when she was sworn in yesterday. She is the seventh generation of her family to join the Masons’ Company of Durham Freemen. The rules were changed to admit women in 2012.

Statues could be lost Michelangelos

New evidence has suggested that two metre-high bronze masterpieces are lost works of Michelangelo. Cambridge University researchers believe they have pinpointed the statues to the early output of the Renaissance master shortly after his completion of the marble David.

Farmer on the right track for snow

A farmer in Sweden has invested 100,000 kronor (around £8,000) on a Soviet-era tank to help him get around his snow-covered land. Jesper Lysell, 25, bought the 1960s, Bulgarian-made MT-LB because it was the same price as a snow-mobile, but can be driven even when there is no snow.