The Saturday Matrix: Saturday 27 August 2011

Youth jails in crisis as record numbers held

Conditions inside young offenders’ institutions are deteriorating in the wake of the riots as the prison population reaches a new high. Relatives and solicitors of inmates told of attacks on suspected rioters, over-crowding and long periods of detention to separate riot prisoners from others. MORE

Government floats houseboats plan

The Government has unveiled its latest answer to the shortage of affordable homes: it wants more people to live on houseboats. Local authorities will be given financial incentives to allow more residential moorings on rivers and canals, while the public could get mooring benefits. MORE

Suicide carbomber kills 18 at UN offices

At least 18 people are dead after a car bomb attack on the United Nations offices in Nigeria’s capital Abuja. Eleven others were injured in the daytime attack, when a suicide bomber crashed a car into the main reception area and detonated the explosives. MORE

Online libel cases double over a year

Libel cases in which claimants say they have been defamed online have more than doubled in the space of a year, while defamation cases overall rose only slightly, from 83 to 86 in the 12 months to May. The growth of social media sites such as Facebook is said to have caused the surge. MORE

Son of assassinated politician abducted

Gunmen abducted the son of a liberal Pakistani politician murdered by an Islamist extremist earlier this year. Shahbaz Taseer was taken from his car in Lahore. His brother said the family had received threats from militants, and suspected extremists were behind the kidnapping. MORE

University asks: can you come back later?

A lack of accommodation has prompted Aberystwyth University to write to all non-UK European students who have been offered a place to ask if they can delay until September 2012. The university said it could not guarantee all of its students accommodation this year. MORE

Children orphaned after parents die

Four boys from Pensham near Worcestershire have been orphaned after their parents plunged to their deaths in separate incidents. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths of Roger and Mathilde Lamb, on holiday in Essaouria in Morocco, remain unknown. MORE

CIA seeks to gag critical book

The CIA is fighting to cut parts of a memoir written by a former FBI agent who fought for years against al- Qa’ida. The book reportedly criticises the CIA for withholding information about two future 9/11 hijackers living in San Diego, and for its use of harsh interrogation techniques.

All Nurofen Plus packets recalled

The makers of Nurofen Plus have recalled all packets of the painkillers and confirmed sabotage was suspected. A spokesman for the manufacturer, Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Ltd, said: “We are working with the police on a formal investigation to find the person or persons responsible.” MORE

Fishermen claim to catch killer shark

Seychelles fishermen believe they may have caught the shark that killed Ian Redmond from Lancashire while he was on honeymoon. He was attacked by a four metre-long Tiger Shark 20 yards from the shore. Fishermen have caught two similar sharks on the other side of the island.

Captain can stay on after bawdy videos

A US Navy panel has ruled that the captain of an aircraft carrier who produced bawdy videos with slurs against gays can remain in the service. Captain Owen Honors had been relieved of his command of the USS Enterprise in January and reassigned to administrative duties.

Channel 4 bids fond farewell to Friends

Repeats of hit US sitcom Friends will no longer be shown on E4 after the digital channel opted not to renew its rights to the show. Instead, E4 will air a mixture of shows set to include The InBetweeners and Made in Chelsea. Comedy Central will air episodes of Friends from autumn. MORE

Putin poses topless for the cameras again

It’s summer, so it must be time for Vladimir Putin to strip off. And fans of the Russian Prime Minister disappointed Putin has not yet been photographed bare-chested would have been happy to see television pictures of him stripped to the waist on a visit a doctor, for treatment for a judo injury.

Panda-monium after hacker’s street sign

A wave of “panda-monium” has swept through a northern Arizona city thanks to a mischievous street sign hacker who warned motorists of a “ROGUE PANDA ON RAMPAGE”. State transportation officials said Tuesday that a person was able to post the hoax warning by hacking into an electronic message board in Flagstaff, Arizona, over the weekend.

‘Royals’ to wed in federal republic

The marriage of Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia and Princess Sophie Johanna Maria of Isenburg, which takes place in Potsdam today, is being hailed as Germany’s own “royal” wedding despite the fact that Germany’s monarchy was scrapped more than 90 years ago.

Funeral home sued for losing dead body

An Alabama woman’s daughters sued the funeral home that handled her burial, saying it lost her body and couldn’t find it even after digging up graves. The three daughters of Jimmie Lee Scott told the Circuit Court of Montgomery County that their mother’s body was handed over to Ross-Clayton Funeral Home Inc.

Ugg goes upmarket to restore credibility

Australian footwear company Ugg, responsible for the sheepskin boot that became a high street sensation, is targeting a more expensive clientele with a range of shoes, boots and handbags. Executives hope to re-establish the brand’s credibility with the collection, which launches next month at Harvey Nichols. MORE