The News Matrix: Wednesday 18 September 2013

Teenager charged with man’s murder

A man has been charged with the murder of Antoin Akpom, whose killing detectives believe may be linked to the deaths of a mother and her three teenage children in a house fire. Leicestershire Police said a 19-year-old is due to appear in court today charged with murdering Akpom on 12 September. Two other men are being held in connection with the fire deaths.

Suicides increase in financial crisis

The global financial crisis is responsible for thousands of suicides, with rates spiking in countries suffering badly from austerity. British Medical Journal research found around 5,000 more suicides in Europe and North America in 2009 – the first year after the crisis – than usual. MORE

Soul-searching begins over shooting

The soul-searching began on Capitol Hill yesterday as the US came to terms with yet another mass shooting. Police in Washington confirmed Aaron Alexis, killed during the attack at the Navy Yard, was the only suspect after reports circulated that another gunman was at large.

Hawking in favour of assisted suicide

Professor Stephen Hawking has spoken out in favour of assisted suicide for people with terminal diseases. Previously less supportive of the right to die, Prof Hawking, who has motor neurone disease (MND), told the BBC: “We don’t let animals suffer, so why humans?” MORE

Fracking poses risk to livestock

A professor has warned that fracking poses such a threat to livestock that a moratorium should be placed on the practice until its effect on food safety can be assessed. Professor Robert Oswald says he found alarming rates of death and deformity in affected American livestock. MORE

Ruling party gains landslide victory

Rwanda’s ruling party held on to power with a widely-expected landslide victory in parliamentary elections, provisional results showed last night, reinforcing President Paul Kagame’s grip on the country. Mr Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front won 76.2 per cent of the vote.

President postpones White House visit

The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has postponed a state visit to the White House on 23 October in a protest against US surveillance programmes, the White House confirmed yesterday.

Ministers reject calls for new law

Ministers and experts yesterday rejected calls for a new law compelling professionals to report concerns over suspected child abuse. Since the death of four-year-old Daniel Pelka, 50,000 people have signed a petition calling for legislation to prevent another tragedy. MORE

Madonna’s one-time religious guru dies

Philip Berg, the man who founded the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles and was responsible for drawing a number of celebrities to his new age brand of ancient Jewish mysticism, has died. Madonna, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were among the faith’s followers. MORE

Pension pessimism highest in UK

UK workers are the most downbeat about being able to survive on their pensions, a survey of 15 countries has found. Workers living in the UK typically expect to spend 19 years in retirement but only have enough savings to last seven years.

Man charged with killing ex-policeman

A 49-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a retired police officer. Stephen Cowdrey, of Southsea, is accused of killing Stanley Carter in Portsmouth, between September 11 and 16. He will appear at Portsmouth magistrates’ court today.