The News Matrix: Wednesday 16 October 2013

Pressure on police over ‘Plebgate’ affair

The chief constables of West Midlands, West Mercia and Warwickshire police are under pressure to reopen their investigations into the “Plebgate” affair. Home Secretary Theresa May said it was “troubling” they decided not to pursue misconduct cases against officers accused of lying about Andrew Mitchell MP, who was wrongly claimed to have called a officer a “pleb”. MORE

Microphone bomb kills Governor

A bomb planted inside a mosque microphone killed the Governor of Logar province as he was delivering a speech to worshippers yesterday morning to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The explosion in Puli Alam killed Governor Arsallah Jamal and wounded 15 people. MORE

Ahrendts sheds Burberry for Apple

Angela Ahrendts, CEO of fashion house Burberry and the highest- paid boss in the FTSE 100, is quitting fashion to join Apple. She will become the tech firm’s new senior vice-president. The move appears to confirm rumours Apple is expanding into “wearable” technologies. MORE

Fighting continues on Muslim holiday

Syrian warplanes bombed several rebel-held areas yesterday and opposition fighters fired mortar rounds and homemade rockets at Damascus on the first day of Eid al-Adha, activists said. Previously, combatants occasionally attempted to observe holiday ceasefires.

Savile boasted about police protection

Jimmy Savile boasted he had police protection in an interview with Surrey police in 2009. “There is a group of people who just like causing trouble. That’s why I have up in Yorkshire... senior police persons, who come to see me socially. I give them all the weirdo letters.” MORE

Duggan ‘was holding gun when shot’

Mark Duggan, the man whose death sparked nationwide riots in 2011, was holding a handgun when he was shot dead, a police marksman told an inquest yesterday. The marksman said he had no idea how the weapon ended up more than 10ft away behind a fence after Duggan was killed. MORE

Youngest winner of the Booker Prize

Eleanor Catton (pictured) has won the Man Booker Prize for her novel The Luminaries, the youngest winner at 27. The New Zealander received the award and a £50,000 cheque from the Duchess of Cornwall. MORE

Number 2 in Rome replaced by Pope

The cardinal widely blamed for failing to prevent a series of ethical and financial scandals during the reign of former Pope Benedict stepped down yesterday. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78, left his post as secretary of state, the number two in the Vatican hierarchy. MORE

Judge gives warning over legal aid cuts

Britain’s most senior judge has warned that proposed Government cuts to legal aid could lead to “a rank denial of justice” for the most vulnerable. Lord Neuberger said the cuts would deprive “the very people who most need protection of the courts” the ability to gain representation.

Polonium-210 found on Arafat’s clothing

Traces of polonium-210 have been found on clothing used by Yasser Arafat, supporting the theory he was assassinated. The existence of the substance on Arafat’s effects was first reported last year, leading to the exhumation of his corpse.

Libyan terror suspect in court

A Libyan charged in the 1998 al-Qa’ida bombings of US embassies in Africa has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in New York. Abu Anas al-Libi was captured during a military raid in Libya on 5 October. He is charged with bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

Man tries to donate drugs to relief centre

A man who was high on drugs was arrested after trying to donate 11 methamphetamine tablets for flood victims at a relief centre. Jakrit Mukpradab, 39, put the drugs in a bag and handed them in at a donation tent in Sattahip in Chonburi on Monday. He was arrested by police.

UK’s only female panda loses foetus

The UK’s only female giant panda has lost her foetus at late term, zoo keepers have said. Edinburgh’s Tian Tian had been successfully inseminated in April, with signs of fertilisation being observed in August by experts. It was hoped the cub would have been born by September.

US airlines squeeze in slimline seats

Passengers on US planes are finding themselves in a tighter squeeze as airlines install new slimline seats that take up less space from front to back, allowing for five or six more seats on each plane. The changes also give a smaller fuel bill because the seats are slightly lighter.

Stuntman stabbed on Brad Pitt film set

A British stuntman has been stabbed in the shoulder with a bayonet during a fight scene on the set of Fury, a new Second World War film starring Brad Pitt. Police have said the incident in Oxfordshire is not being treated as a crime and added that “no one famous” was injured.

Eleven elephants found dead in park

Wildlife officials have found another 11 carcasses of elephants killed by cyanide poisoning – bringing to 102 the number of pachyderms poisoned for their tusks. The National Parks and Wildlife Authority said the elephants were discovered at a waterhole in western Hwange National Park.

Haribo boss dies, aged 90 years old

Hans Riegel, the driving force of Haribo’s huge success has died aged 90. After his father founded the company in 1920, Riegel spent almost 70 years leading confectionary giant, creating the “kids and adults love it so” slogan and building Haribo into a world famous brand.

Hopkins inspired by ‘Breaking Bad’ acting

Walter White has been getting fan mail – from Hannibal Lecter. In a letter to Bryan Cranston and the cast of Breaking Bad, Sir Anthony Hopkins has described Cranston’s “absolutely stunning” performance in the AMC drama as “the best acting I have seen – ever”.