The News Matrix: Saturday 21 February 2015

Metal thefts falling by one-third

Following legislation to ensure metal dealers hold a licence to trade in 2013, metal thefts – including that of electricity cables, war memorials and road signs – have fallen by one third in England and Wales in 2013-14. The thefts were costing the country £770m a year.

Gay murderers set to marry in prison

The UK’s first jail gay wedding could be on the cards after two convicted murderers are reported to be getting married next month at the Full Sutton prison near York. Mikhail Gallatinov, 40, and Marc Goodwin, 31, are both serving life sentences.

Mayor investigated over misconduct

A Rio de Janeiro prosecutor has opened an inquiry into alleged misconduct by Mayor Eduardo Paes over the construction of the golf course for the 2016 Olympics in a nature reserve. An activist group alleges the city harmed taxpayers by allowing a developer to build the golf course to great financial gain.

Insect-repellent wristband under fire

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is filing a complaint against a firm that makes wrist bands to repel insects, saying there is no evidence they work and claims its marketing is deceptive. Online listings say the Viatek Bugband10 repels mosquitoes and other pests for up to five days.

Balls: you don’t need receipts... but I do

Ed Balls has said his position as shadow chancellor makes him feel the need to obtain receipts, after his comments that voters should do the same were mocked. He told BBC Radio Leeds: “I never said everybody has got to get a receipt. That would be a silly thing to say."

American Sniper killer ‘is sane’

Prosecutors yesterday argued that Eddie Ray Routh, accused of shooting dead “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle, was sane, as the trial which has gripped America nears its end. Defence lawyers have rested their case and are pursuing an insanity defence.

DPP decides not to prosecute... himself

Zambia’s top prosecutor yesterday announced that he would not prosecute himself on charges of abuse of office and declared himself free. “I am the Director of Public Prosecution ... and I have decided to enter a nolle prosequi against all the charges,” Mutembo Nchito said.

£300m to be spent on dementia research

David Cameron has announced that the Government is set to spend more than £300m on dementia research and that an international dementia institute will be established in England over the next five years, with training for a million NHS workers.

Brown urges release of kidnapped girls

In his role as a UN envoy, Gordon Brown urged the militant group Boko Haram yesterday to free the more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls it has held for 10 months. His appeal came after the reported release this week of women and girls kidnapped by the Islamist group in December.

Mafia boss must be extradited

A judge has ruled that convicted Mafia boss Domenico Rancadore, 65, must be extradited to Italy after living in London for 20 years under the alias of Marc Skinner. Rancadore was convicted in 1999 for being part of a criminal organisation and sentenced to seven years.

Surrogacy banned in bid to stem scandals

Thailand’s military government has criminalised surrogacy, aimed at stopping foreigners paying women to carry babies. The country was hit by scandals last year, including that of a Japanese man who fathered at least at least 16 babies in what media called the “baby factory”.

Monitoring bodies ‘stole’ Sim card keys

Leaked documents from whistle blower Edward Snowden reported by a website show that GCHQ and the NSA stalked the emails of multinational firm Gemalto to steal Sim card encryption keys, allowing them to potentially hack into millions of mobile phones.

Debate gunner’s funeral draws crowd

Scores of men have attended the burial of the 22-year-old Danish Muslim gunman who killed two people and wounded five others at a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen last weekend. Denmark’s TV2 said many came out of respect for his family.

Dapper Laughs ‘killed by bullying’

Daniel O’Reilly, aka Dapper Laughs, says he was bullied into killing off the character. His ITV2 show was cancelled after one series last November following a video that showed him telling an audience member that she was “gagging for a rape”. O’Reilly claimed he was repeating someone else’s comments.

Protest against Modi visit to disputed area

China said yesterday it had lodged an official protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to a border region claimed by both countries. China disputes the entire territory of the north-east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it south Tibet.

Death cert sought for Billy the Kid

An academic is asking a New Mexico court to order a death certificate for Billy the Kid to settle questions about whether the outlaw was actually killed in 1881. Some claim Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett shot someone else, and Billy took up ranching or escaped to Texas.

Five-legged sheep gives birth to twins

A sheep that was born with five legs in 2013 has given birth to twins Susie and Sofie in Morpeth, Northumberland. General manager at Whitehouse Farm Centre, Karen Lovatt, said the farm was “delighted”. Quinto’s fifth leg was removed as it was a hinderance.

Enigma machines on display at museum

A war museum outside Boston is giving visitors a chance to use the Enigma coding machines at the centre of the Oscar-nominated film The Imitation Game. The Museum of World War II says its new exhibit is the largest public display of the Nazi encryption machines.