News Headlines - 31 May 2013

▽Woolwich: Increased attacks on Muslims since killing - Scotsman.com

AN INTER-FAITH organisation dedicated to tackling extremism says there has been a sharp rise in the number of attacks on Muslims following the killing of Lee Rigby. Faith Matters said it had recorded 212 incidents since last Wednesday, up from the usual tally of between four and six per day.

▽Syria peace talks likely to be postponed as Russia plans to ship more weapons | The Guardian

Peace talks in Geneva between Syria's warring parties are almost certain to be postponed after further diplomatic setbacks on Friday, as Russia announced its intention to ship more weaponry to the Assad regime.

▽UK Tory MP Patrick Mercer resigns whip after lobbying allegations - FT.com

Patrick Mercer, a one-time Tory frontbencher, has resigned the party whip and announced he will step down as an MP in 2015 amid media claims that he has breached parliamentary rules.

▽BBC News - How the turtle got its unique hard shell

A turtle fossil 210 million years old had a fully developed shell similar to those today, but 10 million years earlier, a fossil discovered in China, named Odontochelys semitestac, had an incomplete top shell, called a carapace.

▽Asteroid 1998 QE2: Giant Rock Passes Earth

An asteroid that would flatten part of the planet has missed by 3.6 million miles, bringing its own moon along for the ride.