The News Matrix: Thursday 10 November 2011

Heads vote to strike over pensions cut

Head teachers have voted in favour of industrial action over plans to cut pensions, meaning they are likely to join fellow public sector workers on the picket line on 30 November. Turnout in the NAHT ballot was more than 50 per cent, with 75 per cent voting to strike. MORE

Mortuary officials 'lost body parts'

The US air force has disciplined three senior officials at its largest mortuary after finding that they repeatedly lost the body parts of deceased servicemen and in one instance removed a fallen soldier's arm without seeking his family's permission. MORE

Calls for tougher sanctions on Iran

Israel has used a report by the UN atomic watchdog to call for tougher sanctions against Iran's "pursuit of nuclear weapons". The comments are the latest step in an effort to force the international community's hand after last week's warning that Israel was contemplating military action.

Training flights called off after death

All training flights in aircraft fitted with the ejector seat that might have killed a Red Arrows pilot this week have been grounded. The Ministry of Defence took the decision after Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham was ejected from his Hawk T1 jet in Lincolnshire on Tuesday. MORE

Met urges Thurlbeck to turn supergrass

A former News of the World reporter was approached by Scotland Yard to give evidence in the hacking scandal against his former employer in return for possible immunity. Neville Thurlbeck told i he had rejected the deal.

City of Van hit by 5.7 earthquake

Weeks after a strong earthquake in eastern Turkey killed 600 people, a six-storey hotel was among the buildings to be brought down by a fresh 5.7 magnitude quake yesterday. Local media reports said that some people were trapped inside after the tremor. The hotel was being used by journalists and aid workers in the city of Van.

QC calls for tougher rules at faith schools

A top QC has called for tougher rules to protect faith pupils as he stripped monks of control at a school beset by revelations about sex abuse. St Benedict's School chiefs offered a "heartfelt apology for past failures" as Lord Carlile of Berriew detailed 21 attacks over 40 years.

Climbers' bodies found on Mont Blanc

A search for two French climbers missing on Mont Blanc has ended in tragedy after the duo's bodies were found on the mountain. Alpine guide Olivier Sourzac and his client Charlotte Demetz had been in touch with search parties by telephone, but lost contact a few days ago. MORE

Political donation reforms dashed

Plans to end big donations to parties have been dashed after a review failed to reach an agreement on proposed reforms. The Tories refused to sign the agreement and had already opposed a plan for a £10,000 cap on individual donations, preferring a £50,000 ceiling. MORE

Boost for Obama as Republican bills fail

Barack Obama received a boost when a Republican proposal to limit unions collective bargaining powers was struck down by voters in Ohio. Another Republican bill to define a fetus as a person from conception also failed in Mississippi. MORE

Ruling on property rights for co-habitees

A man who separated from his partner almost 20 years ago is entitled to just 10 per cent of the house they shared, the Supreme Court has ruled. Leonard Kernott, who had not paid the mortgage for 13 years, had been awarded an equal share. MORE

'Overworked' postie kept 30,000 items

A postman from Paignton who stashed 30,000 letters and parcels at home over three years has claimed he would have delivered them if he had time. Torquay magistrates' court ordered Paul Willicott, 44, to carry out 280 hours of unpaid work as recompense for the smuggled mail. MORE

Castro's daughter in Twitter dispute

Raul Castro's daughter has taken to Twitter – and immediately got in a row with a dissident. Mariela Castro Espin was criticised by Yoani Sanchez, who wrote: "Here no one can shut me up." Ms Castro Espin replied: "Your focus on tolerance reproduces the old mechanisms of power." MORE

Lichtenstein work sells for record £27m

An auction house in New York has sold a painting by Roy Lichtenstein for $43m (£27m), setting a new auction record for work by the pop artist. The price for I Can See The Whole Room! ... And There's Nobody In It! outstripped the previous top price for a Lichtenstein of $42.6m.

Hundreds pay tribute to Sir Jimmy Savile

A mass for Sir Jimmy Savile drew hundreds of mourners to the streets of Leeds yesterday. The Rt Rev Monsignor Kieran Heskin told a congregation including DJ Mike Read and boxer Frank Bruno that he hoped God would "fix" Sir Jimmy a place in heaven.

Family funeral for Ned Kelly

The family of the notorious 19th-century bushranger Ned Kelly have finally laid his body to rest 130 years after he was hanged. His remains were handed back to his descendants, who also plan a public memorial. MORE

Holy cow! New title for Prince Charles

Prince Charles, a man accustomed to being lionised with titles such as the Duke of Cornwall and the Earl of Chester, accepted a more humble honour in Tanzania yesterday. Members of the Maasai tribe named him The Helper of the Cows in a ceremony that saw the ritual slaughter of three bulls.

Robbers steal a tidy packet – of crisps

Robbers armed with a hammer and axe stole just a single packet of Monster Munch crisps from a newsagent's. The raiders entered the shop in Little Hulton, Greater Manchester, and demanded cash but left empty-handed. They then returned and made off with the crisps.

Man caught trying to smuggle tarantulas

Customs officials found a man at Zurich airport carrying a vast haul of endangered spiders in his luggage. The Swiss man, arriving from the Dominican Republic, had 261 Mexican red-kneed tarantulas in plastic bags which had been packed into boxes.