The News Matrix: Monday 9 March 2015

Anti-riot gear sold to suspect regimes

Export licences for anti-riot equipment worth almost £16m have been approved by the Government, according to Home Office figures seen by the i. While much goes to the UK’s allies, the data shows Libya and Saudi Arabia were among a number of countries with questionable human rights records to be approved.

Rescuers abandon search for snorkeller

Authorities in the Cayman Islands have called off the search for an American comic book artist who vanished while snorkelling with his wife. Norman Lee, 47, of Massachusetts, was in waters about 250 yards off Grand Cayman. Boats, divers and a helicopter crew searched for Lee but found no sign of him.

Television protest over rape film ban

India’s NDTV has halted programming in protest at the banning of the BBC documentary India’s Daughter. The network ran an image referring to the film’s title during the hour-long slot when it should have aired last night. The film features an interview with one of the men convicted of the Delhi bus rape.

Saturday night’s alright for sleeping

Research suggests that more than 58.2 million hours of sleep were lost across the nation last night due to worries about the week ahead. Almost a third of the UK population loses the most sleep on a Sunday, followed by Monday nights. Saturday offers the best night’s sleep, a survey by Time4Sleep.co.uk found.

Hunt accused over delayed NHS report

Jeremy Hunt has been accused of attempting to delay a critical report into the Government’s handling of the NHS. The document was expected to be released before the election, but the Department of Health said “further work” on it was now required. page 18

Al Jazeera pair’s retrial postponed

The retrial of two Al Jazeera journalists was postponed yesterday until 19 March. The TV channel’s acting bureau chief, Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian citizen, and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed were freed last month awaiting trial, although they have had to check in with police daily.

Government acts to stop food hoarding

Venezuela is to begin installing fingerprint scanners at supermarkets in a bid to stamp out hoarding and panic-buying, which the government blames for widespread shortages of basic goods. The country has been rolling out the rationing system at state-run supermarkets.

Pop star denies he fought with Isis

A former Lebanese pop star denied in an interview that he took part in deadly clashes with Isis and said he wants to return to his “normal, natural life” with his friends and family. Fadel Shaker has been on the run since June 2013 and faces charges of crimes against the military.

Seventeen arrested at FA Cup match

Seventeen people were arrested at Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final match between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion. The FA has confirmed it will launch a “thorough” investigation into the crowd problems that marred Aston Villa’s 2-0 win.

Toddler survives freezing river ordeal

An 18-month-old girl was in a critical condition in hospital after surviving 14 hours in an overturned car in a freezing river near Provo, Utah. Her mother, 25, was found dead beside her. The toddler was hanging in her car seat just above the water level.

Granite plinth had a much grander past

A pink granite plinth at Rufford Abbey country park in Nottinghamshire has been identified as a Roman artefact from 150AD which once supported a portico at the home of Emperor Antoninus Pius near Rome.

Shirt-maker: sorry for sexist label

An Indonesian clothing company was forced to issue a protracted apology after it printed washing labels advising owners to “Give this shirt to your woman. It’s her job”. Salvo Sports created the clothing for a football team.