The News Matrix: Tuesday 28 August 2012

House prices face further squeeze

House prices are likely to come under further downward pressure for the rest of 2012 as growth in the number of homes for sale outstrips potential buyers. Property analyst Hometrack said demand went up by 10 per cent in the last year while supply grew by almost a fifth.

Public 'ignored' over lobbying reforms

The Government stands accused of ignoring the views of more than 1,000 people who responded to a public consultation on lobbying reforms after identifying just 79 respondents in its analysis. Unlock Democracy said this gave a "fundamentally flawed view of the consultation". MORE

Global trade in guns doubles to $8.5bn

The annual authorised global trade in small arms has more than doubled in the past six years to $8.5bn, driven by Americans buying more guns and big military purchases for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Small Arms Survey also named Britain as one of the largest importers.

Internet 'squatters' hit record high

Disputes over internet domain names have hit a record high over the past year. The disputes occur when brands, find a "squatter" using their trademark in a website name. Legal information provider Sweet & Maxwell said such disputes hit 2,944, a six per cent increase since last year.

Storm overshadows Romney convention

Forget the music, cheering and funny hats. Delegates at Mitt Romney's Republican convention in Florida are wary excess enthusiasm could strike the wrong note as Tropical Storm Isaac heads for New Orleans. MORE

Police vans to be fitted with CCTV

Hundreds of police vans in London are to be fitted with closed-circuit television cameras to address concerns about "hidden" abuse of suspects. The £4m refit comes after Scotland Yard Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe met with the family of Sean Rigg, a mentally ill man who died in controversial circumstances in police custody in August 2008. MORE

Morsi appoints two Christian advisers

President Mohammed Morsi has named a team of 21 advisers and aides, which includes three women and two Christians. However, the appointments fall short of Morsi's promises during his election campaign to name a woman and a Christian as vice-presidents.

Algerian guilty of funding terrorism

An Algerian living in Scotland who was found guilty of funding terrorism, following a suicide bombing in Stockholm, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Nasserdine Menni was convicted of transferring money to Taimour Abdulwahab, who later blew himself up. MORE

Attacks reveal Taliban resilience

Afghanistan's bloody toll rose yet again as two American soldiers, ten Afghan troops and 17 civilians were killed by Taliban militants over the weekend. It underscores the fragility of Nato's exit strategy and the enduring power of the insurgency more than a decade after the Taliban regime was swept from power. MORE

Residents get their taste of America

Baghdad's embattled residents can finally get their milkshakes, chili-cheese dogs and buckets of crispy fried chicken thanks to a wave of American-style restaurants spreading across the Iraqi capital, enticing customers hungry for alternatives to traditional offerings like lamb kebabs and fire-roasted carp. MORE

Take off on Tuesday to land a bargain

For cheap flights to Europe, travel on a Tuesday, says Which? Travel. In a study of more than 1,000 flights, the magazine found flying from Gatwick to Alicante on easyJet saved at least 25 per cent compared with Friday. Inbound fares were highest at weekends. Sunday departures were most expensive.  MORE

'Springsteen is the Boss of economics'

Anyone looking for early signs of distress in an economy should forget John Maynard Keynes or Milton Friedman and listen to Bruce Springsteen. That's the message from Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan, who on Wednesday cited the American rocker, known as The Boss, as one of his economic heroes.

Dragon wises up to glass ceiling

Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey says she now accepts that women face obstacles at work. The entrepreneur, 55, has long denied there is a "glass ceiling". But she told the Radio Times that making a BBC2 show, Women At The Top, made her think again. Devey said: "I had not appreciated the scale of sacrifices that they have to make."