Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The News Matrix: Tuesday 27 November 2012

 

Tuesday 27 November 2012 01:01 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Work scheme only finds job for 1 in 3

Private firms running Government schemes to help the jobless find work need to "raise their game", ministers will warn today. Official figures show only one in three people starting the £5bn Work Programme has found a job. MORE

Manhunt under way after sex attack

Police have launched a nationwide hunt for a convicted sex offender over fears he may have struck again. Dean Goodwin, 32, who has served prison terms for abusing women and children, is wanted for questioning after a woman in her 20s was sexually assaulted in Poole, Dorset, on Friday.

Baby 'bled to death after circumcision'

A four-week-old boy bled to death after he was circumcised by a nurse using only a pair of scissors, forceps and olive oil, a court heard yesterday. Nurse Grace Adeleye, 66, denies manslaughter by gross negligence after Goodluck Caubergs died.

Half lay opposition came from women

Almost half the lay members of the Church of England General Synod who opposed female bishops were women – 33 of the 74 who voted against the move. Last week's controversial ballot threw the Church into a "major constitutional crisis", according to an internal memo.

Warning on taking pills with grapefruits

Eating grapefuits while taking some prescription drugs could be deadly, experts have warned. The fruit's chemicals can interact with certain drugs and, according to the Canadian Medical Association, cause acute kidney failure, respiratory failure and sudden death. MORE

DNA victory for dead soldier's fiancée

A woman has won her fight against the Ministry of Defence to get compensation for her daughter whose father was killed in Afghanistan. Emma Hickman, 19, won access to her fiancé Private Daniel Wade's DNA, which proved he was the father of five-month-old Lexie-Mai. MORE

Olympians fill BBC poll shortlist

The race to become BBC Sports Personality of the Year has begun, with the shortlist including Sir Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis, Nicola Adams, Bradley Wiggins, above, Ellie Simmonds and Mo Farah. Rory McIlroy is the only non-Olympian to be in contention for the prize. MORE

Leveson could be head of judiciary

Lord Justice Leveson will apply to be head of the judiciary, senior colleagues believe. The post of Lord Chief Justice is currently held by Igor Judge, who announced last week that he is to retire early. The position will be officially advertised either later this year or early in 2013. Lord Justice Leveson will deliver his verdict on the future regulation of the press on Thursday. MORE

Oliver: Gove 'doesn't understand food'

TV chef Jamie Oliver has criticised the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, on the issue of school meals. Oliver told the Radio Times: "Gove does not understand food in schools. Taking away those nutritional standards [from academies] is an incredible abuse of policy."

Popemobile hired out for stag parties

A Popemobile used by John Paul II on his 1979 visit to Ireland can now be hired by stag and hen parties for €250 (£202) an hour. The Ford Transit van, which can accommodate up to 15 partygoers, has been given a €60,000 upgrade by Irish businessman Paddy Dunning.

Austerity hits Hirst as value plummets

Artworks produced by Damien Hirst between 2005 and 2008 have resold for nearly 30 per cent less than their original purchase price, Artnet has claimed. However, this year's Hirst retrospective at the Tate Modern was the most visited solo show ever staged there. MORE

Heathrow departure date for new Boeing

The latest Boeing aircraft will make its first scheduled departure from Heathrow next month, Qatar Airways will announce today. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, dubbed the world's most advanced plane, will set off on 14 December. The 787 promises more space and bigger windows.

Bahrain: Anti-government protesters attacked

Protesters were hit with tear gas and stun grenades as they tried to reach a heavily guarded square that once acted as the hub of their anti-government uprising. Yesterday's clashes were the largest since February 2011, when marchers called for more control in the Sunni-ruled state.

Egypt: Morsi talks to judges about power grab

The Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was in critical talks with leading judges last night as he tried to avoid conflict over his power grab last week. Tens of thousands of protesters are due to stage a mass rally against Mr Morsi in Cairo's Tahrir Square today. MORE

Germany: Fire at charity workshop kills 14

Fourteen disabled workers have died in a fire and subsequent explosion at a charity workshop in south-west Germany's Black Forest. Police said the victims died from burns and smoke inhalation in the blaze at the workshop, which has more than 100 employees. MORE

Syria: Ten children killed by cluster bomb

Ten children have died in a cluster bomb attack on a school playground just outside the Syrian capital Damascus. The strike on the village of Deir al-Asafir came just hours after rebels seized a military airbase, prompting speculation that it was an act of retribution by the government. MORE

France: Bruni supports gay marriage

The former first lady of France, Carla Bruni, has said she and her husband Nicolas Sarkozy have different opinions on gay marriage and adoption. The ex-model told Vogue: "I'm rather in favour because I have a lot of friends – men and women – who are in this situation and I see nothing unstable or perverse in families with gay parents."

South Korea: Poison pen mightier than North's sword

Investigators in South Korea have revealed deadly gadgets they say are being used by the North in assassination attempts. Among the weapons are a bullet-filled torch and a "poison pen" that releases a fatal toxin. The weapons were found on a failed Pyongyang assassin last year. MORE

USA: Woman discovers hidden JFK portrait

A woman in Arizona who bought a picture of a mule for $5 at a garage sale peeled back the drawing to find an altogether more valuable artwork underneath. Hidden at the back was a portrait of John F Kennedy signed by infamous forger Carmelo Soraci. The drawing could be worth up to $5,000.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in