The News Matrix: Tuesday 11 October 2011

One million young people out of work

Youth unemployment figures released tomorrow are expected to show that the number of under-24s out of work has passed the one million mark for the first time since 1993. The Office for National Statistics puts the current figure at 973,000, but experts say it could have risen by 90,000. MORE

Rebels aim to claim victory once city falls

Anti-Gaddafi forces inched closer to taking the last major stronghold still held by forces loyal to the former Libyan leader yesterday, amid fierce fighting in the city of Sirte. The rebel leadership, the National Transitional Council, said it will declare victory in the civil war once Sirte falls. MORE

Christians call for days of mourning

Coptic leaders have called for three days of mourning in response to the deaths on Sunday night of 26 people in protests against the country’s military regime and its treatment of the minority Christian group.

‘Fake Sheikh’ at cricketers’ trial

Former News of the World reporter Mazher Mahmood – known as the Fake Sheikh – gave evidence yesterday in the trial of two Pakistani cricketers accused of match fixing. Mr Mahmood appeared behind a screen as he testified against the men he set up for a front-page story. MORE

Surgeons support NHS reform rethink

More than 60 leading medical consultants, surgeons and psychiatrists have written to i’s sister paper, The Independent, demanding that the Government’s “unpopular and undemocratic” health overhaul plans be either scrapped or heavily rewritten. MORE

Ship’s oil washes up in Bay of Plenty

Fist-sized balls of oil have begun washing up on beaches in New Zealand after a tanker ran aground. It continues to spill its fuel despite the efforts of conservationists to free the vessel from a reef. The Liberian registered ship’s owners say that they are co-operating with the local authorities, but have been criticised after the ship got into trouble in well-chartered waters. MORE

PM Tusk wins back-to-back elections

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk began building a new government yesterday after his party became the first to win back-to-back elections since the collapse of communism in 1989. It is expected that Mr Tusk will continue the country’s pro-European programme.

Californian minors face tanning ban

Getting a tan in the sunshine state has become more difficult for teenagers after California’s governor approved a bill to ban under-18s from using tanning salons. The ban, due to start on 1 January, comes after pressure groups argued that salons increase the risk of skin cancer.

The Yeti exists... say the Yeti experts

The Yeti exists. At least that is the opinion of 95 per cent of scientific experts meeting in Siberia, who spent the weekend swapping evidence of Yeti sightings. Reports of Yeti sightings have increased by 300 per cent in the last two decades in the eastern Russian region. MORE

New rule to regulate the regulators

California business groups have applauded Governor Jerry Brown for signing legislation for a new layer of government regulation to lessen the burdens imposed by future regulations. It orders the Department of Finance to set a uniform way of measuring economic consequences of regulations by other state agencies.

Wasted meals costs NHS £22m a year

One in 12 hospital meals is returned uneaten, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has found. The nine million wasted meals cost the NHS £22m a year and seven trusts have 20 per cent of their dishes returned untouched. Another CQC report to be published on Thursday will warn of poor NHS nutrition for the elderly.

Drink driving leads to alcolocks

Dutch drivers caught operating a car while well over the legal alcohol limit will be forced to fit their cars with “alcolocks” that disable the engine if the driver is over the limit. Convicted drink drivers caught behind the wheel with blood-alcohol levels more than six times the legal limit of 0.2 mg/dl will have to install alcolocks.

Dessert, sir? That’ll be £22,000 please

A chef in Cumbria has concocted the world’s most expensive dessert. The £22,000 chocolate pudding is styled in the manner of a Fabergé egg, and contains ingredients including gold, champagne caviar and a two-carat diamond. Its creator, Marc Guibert, is head chef at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere.