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The News Matrix: Thursday 6 February 2014

 

Thursday 06 February 2014 01:00 GMT
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Church ‘let priests molest children’: UN

The Vatican “systematically” adopted policies that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children over decades, a UN human rights committee has reported, urging the Holy See to open its files on paedophiles and bishops who concealed their crimes. MORE

London Tube strike enters second day

Commuters in London face further stress as the Underground strike enters its second day. David Cameron yesterday “condemned” the two-day strike, called by the RMT and TSSA unions to protest against job losses and plans to close manned ticket offices. MORE

Journos hacked off with Sochi hotels

Many might think a trip to cover the Winter Olympics, which start tomorrow, would be a journalist’s dream job, but it hasn’t stopped them complaining about the Black Sea resort. Many hotels are unfinished and one housing reporters tested its fire alarm at 6am.

Police chief says sorry to Mitchell

Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has apologised in person to senior Tory MP and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell before the sentencing of a police officer who lied about witnessing the so-called Plebgate row in Downing Street. PC Keith Wallis faces a possible prison sentence today after he admitted a charge of misconduct in public office.

Disgraced teacher killed himself

A former teacher is thought to have killed himself by jumping in front of a train two days before he was due to be sentenced for sex crimes. Hugh Henry, 82, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, who had pleaded guilty to offences of indecent assault and gross indecency, was to be sentenced today.

Complaints soar over Britain’s pet apes

An estimated 9,000 primates are being kept as pets in England and Wales, according to the RSPCA. Dr Ros Clubb said the number of complaints of captive monkeys rose by 73 per cent last year. MORE

Banking collapse trial gets underway

The trial of Sean FitzPatrick – the former head of Anglo Irish Bank, which required a €30bn bailout in 2008 that brought Ireland to the brink of collapse – began in Dublin yesterday. The trial, which is already one of the most complex financial hearings in European history, will hear from 800 witnesses. MORE

Film ‘will not upset Kercher family’

Director Michael Winterbottom has promised that his latest film, inspired by the murder of Meredith Kercher, would not upset her family. Filming for The Face of an Angel finished two weeks ago. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were convicted of Meredith’s murder for a second time last Thursday. MORE

Carrier-bag levy ‘a complete mess’

Ministers made a “complete mess” of introducing a 5p charge on carrier bags in England by making the scheme too complicated, MPs warned. The Environmental Audit Committee said plans to exclude biodegradable bags risk confusing consumers.

Woman tips three waitresses $15,000

Three Illinois waitresses stared in “disbelief” when a woman handed them cheques for $5,000 at the weekend. Amy Sabani, 25, Sarah Seckinger, 23, and Amber Kariolich, 28, were given the tips while working at the Boone County Family Restaurant.

New signing left on the (airport) bench

Bologna football club has suspended four staff after they forgot to pick up a new signing, Ibson, at the airport. Club president Albano Guaraldi was reportedly furious after the 31-year-old Brazilian was left stranded when he arrived on Sunday. He ended up taking a cab to his new home.

BBC 6 Music could overtake Radio 3

BBC 6 Music threatens to overtake Radio 3 after latest figures showed that the two stations are separated by just 30,000 listeners. 6 Music, the home of cutting-edge “alternative” music which the BBC wanted to close in 2010, has attracted a record weekly audience of 1.96 million.

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