The News Matrix: Tuesday 18 June 2013

Phones put children at risk on the roads

British schoolchildren are at a significant new risk of being killed or injured while using mobile phones on the way to school. A major road safety report found that there are almost 2,400 children a year involved in road accidents while using their phones. And the proportion of children aged under five is at its highest in a decade, according to the AXA RoadSafe report. MORE

Glass of wine a day ‘okay in pregnancy’

New research suggests drinking a small glass of wine a day while pregnant may do no harm to the brain development of unborn babies. The study looked at 7,000 10-year-olds’ ability to balance, against how much their expectant mothers drank. MORE

Court halts closure of state broadcaster

A Greek court has suspended an order to close the country’s state broadcaster ERT, a move which triggered mass protests in Athens last week. The top administrative court said ERT could resume transmission on a temporary basis, until a new national media body is set up.

Cuts ‘could destroy Olympic legacy’

Britain runs the risk of creating a “giant self-inflicted wound” with cuts that would throw away the Olympic legacy, says Christopher Rodrigues, chairman of Visit Britain. He pointed to official statistics showing that visitor numbers are beginning to tail off.

Mugabe agrees later date for elections

Robert Mugabe has agreed to push back the date of elections into August. The President’s rivals had accused him of pushing for early elections before key reforms could be completed. Following a regional summit, Mr Mugabe has asked the constitutional court to stage them later.

Prince Philip home after hospital visit

The Duke of Edinburgh was discharged from hospital after an 11-day stay recovering from an operation on his abdomen. Prince Philip, 92, walked unaided to a waiting vehicle and waved to bystanders. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Duke is in good condition and good spirits.”

British man survives 15-storey plummet

A British man has survived falling from the 15th floor of his apartment building in Auckland, New Zealand. Tom Stilwell fell from his neighbour’s balcony early Sunday morning, trying to lower himself onto his own balcony below. Friends described him as “a very lucky man”, despite some broken bones.

New claims on death of first man in space

Cosmonaut Alexey Leonov has claimed an “unauthorised” plane flying too close to Yuri Gagarin caused the air crash which killed him in March 1968. Gagarin, the first man to reach space, was killed when his MiG-15 crashed around 90km from Moscow, prompting a slew of conspiracy theories.

Stones and ‘Beatles’ to renew old rivalry

The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are to go head-to-head again, at the Glastonbury festival... well, nearly. Sir Mick Jagger and his cohorts will headline the festival’s Pyramid Stage and tribute band the Bootleg Beatles will appear in the Acoustic Tent on Saturday night, taking the stage 20 minutes after the Stones. MORE

New appointments at i and Independent

New editors have been appointed at i and The Independent newspapers. Oliver Duff, previously Executive Editor (News), becomes Editor of i, replacing Stefano Hatfield, who will oversee the group’s television channel London Live, scheduled to launch next spring.

Amol Rajan becomes Editor of The Independent – and the first non-white editor of a national newspaper. Chris Blackhurst is promoted to Group Content Director. Lisa Markwell is appointed Editor of The Independent on Sunday.

Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the titles, said: “A bold approach is needed for our industry. Today I am continuing this approach by appointing as editors two highly talented young journalists. Their energy, creativity and resourcefulness will invigorate both The Independent and i.”