The News Matrix: Monday 28 April 2014

Captive observers paraded to media

Eight European military observers held prisoner by pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine were marched out under armed guard to give public assurances that they were not being mistreated. One of the observers, a Swedish officer, was later released for medical reasons. MORE

Abbas: Holocaust ‘most heinous crime’

President Mahmoud Abbas called the Holocaust “the most heinous crime” of modern history, shortly before Israel held its annual memorial for victims of Nazi genocide. He appeared to be reaching out to Israeli public opinion, but was rebuffed by Israel’s Prime Minister. MORE

£6bn promised for research projects

British scientists are being asked to come up with the best ways of spending billions of pounds of public funds on the next big idea in their field of research. The Government has promised to spend nearly £6bn over the next five financial years on scientific proposals.

Prime Minister quits over ferry disaster

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won quit yesterday over the government response to the Sewol ferry disaster. More than 300 people, most of them students and teachers, are dead or missing. While the resignation was accepted by the president, it is not clear when Mr Chung will go.

Gaddafi son in court video-link

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi, appeared via video-link yesterday with 22 others to hear charges in a Tripoli court ranging from war crimes to corruption.

Tory rebellion on HS2 likely to fail

The Government faces a rebellion from as many as 40 Conservative MPs against the planned HS2 rail link as the legislation authorising the £50bn project goes through the Commons today. But with Labour now backing the plans, the rebels – some facing pressure from their constituencies on the proposed route – are not believed to have any realistic chance of victory.

Pregnancy tests for women pre-surgery

The NHS is to look at pregnancy tests for women of child-bearing age before surgery after a woman who did not know she was pregnant was forced to abort her baby following a minor operation. The NHS medical director for England said he will look at what changes needed to be made.

Footballer Jenas in a class of his own

Former England footballer Jermaine Jenas has a new goal – providing teachers for some of the country’s most disadvantaged schools. He is offering schools trained staff who can stand in for lessons – and tickets to football matches for truants who change their ways. MORE

Sikhs out in force for Vaisahki festival

The large Sikh communities in Birmingham and Leicester celebrated the festival of Vaisahki yesterday, marking the founding of the faith more than 500 years ago. About 90,000 attended an event in Birmingham’s Handsworth Park.

Dolly Parton to don heels at Glastonbury

Country queen Dolly Parton plans to wear high heels when she makes her Glastonbury debut – despite the festival’s mud. The singer, 68, said her childhood in a two-room cabin in Tennessee meant she had no qualms wading through the mire to a toilet.

Cricketers rack up a football score

A cricket team playing a league match managed to be bowled out for just three runs. The only run scored by Wirral CC against Haslington was by the No 11 batsman.

Skokholm gets back observatory status

Skokholm Island, off Pembrokeshire, has reclaimed its status as an important bird observatory. The island, the first bird observatory in 1933, lost its status in 1976.