The News Matrix: Tuesday 17 June 2014

McCanns furious at libel trial delay

Madeleine McCann’s parents expressed exasperation at the latest delay in their libel case against former Portuguese police chief Gonçalo Amaral, describing his decision to sack his legal team as a “cynical” attempt to hold up the trial. Kate and Gerry McCann are suing Mr Amaral’s book The Truth Of The Lie, which claims they hid Madeleine’s body after she died in an accident.

Gove gets tough on deep-fried food

A crackdown on fatty and sweet foods is being launched as part of new standards on school meals unveiled today. Pupils will be offered only two portions of deep-fried, battered and bread-crumb coated foods a week under rules outlined by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

World Cup fans killed by terrorists

Al-Shabaab, the Somali terror group, yesterday claimed responsibility for an assault on Mpeketoni, a Kenyan coastal town in which at least 50 people were killed, many while watching a World Cup tie. Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku promised to hunt down the killers. MORE

British tourist falls 100ft to her death

A British woman has plunged nearly 100ft to her death while walking with a tour group in a remote canyon in central Australia. Local police said the 23-year-old fell from the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon yesterday afternoon. She was treated at the scene but died a short time later.

GM banana ‘could save lives in Africa’

A genetically modified banana enriched with vitamin A could help prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children across Africa, it is claimed. The GM crop, which is designed to combat a nutritional deficiency, is to undergo its first human trials. MORE

‘Schools could learn from supermarkets’

Schools should mimic supermarket chains to improve standards, an ally of the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has said. Dominic Cummings suggested that under a future Conservative government schools will increasingly be run in “chains”, possibly by the private sector.

Murray’s mum slams sexist ‘pushy’ sneers

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray’s mother says she has been dubbed a pushy parent because she is a woman. Judy Murray (left), 54, said if she had been a father, her presence would not have caused such a negative response.

General to head Bergdahl inquiry

The US Army has appointed a two-star general to head an investigation into the facts surrounding the capture of Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan in 2009. The soldier was recently released after five years in captivity. No timeline has been set for completing the investigation.

Court hands Sherlock back to the public

Fifty Sherlock Holmes works published before 1923 by Arthur Conan Doyle are in the public domain, a court in Chicago said yesterday, and others may refer to them freely without paying fees to the writer’s estate. Judge Richard Posner said there was no basis to extend US copyrights beyond their expiration.

BBC launches its own music awards

The first BBC Music Awards, presented by Chris Evans and Fearne Cotton, will take place at Earls Court on 11 December as part of the corporation’s new music strategy, it was announced yesterday. Executives claimed the show was not intended to compete with ITV’s Brit Awards. MORE

Danger Mouse set for a comeback

TV hero Danger Mouse is to make a comeback. The cartoon series, which ran for more than a decade until 1992, will return next year when it is screened by CBBC. The white-clad rodent who wore a patch over one eye was voiced by Sir David Jason, while his sidekick Penfold was played by the late Terry Scott.