The Nightowl Newswrap

By BG & YD

• This doesn't lend credence to the military's claims that they will step down after the election. "At least one person has been killed and 373 others injured in the Egyptian capital, the health ministry says, after armed forces used water cannon, tear gas and rocks to disperse protesters trying to reach the defence ministry."

• We're sure the vicious fuckers are thoroughly pissed at losing this one. Well done, Madame Secretary. "China has agreed to let Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese dissident at the centre of a diplomatic crisis, and his family leave the country soon, according to the US state department."

• Of the many dangers present at modern political rallies, this is a new one on us. "At least 144 have taken to the hospital with burns after clusters of balloons exploded in Armenia. Friday's explosion took place in the central square of the Armenian capital, Yerevan, during an election rally by the ruling party two days before a parliamentary election. "All the victims had either medium or light injuries. Now doctors are trying to revive them from shock," Health Minister Harutiun Kushkian told reporters. The emergencies ministry said the explosion was caused by a smoker who had lit a cigarette near the balloons."

And finally...

• One of us trained in classical piano, and we are glad to see this true master of it honored. "Pianist Dame Mitsuko Uchida is to receive the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Gold Medal, one of the highest honours in classical music. Celebrated for her performances of Mozart and Schubert, she was described as a "peerless musician" by the RPS. Dame Mitsuko will join modern-day gold medallists including Alfred Brendel, Pierre Boulez, Sir Simon Rattle, Placido Domingo and Daniel Barenboim. She will be presented with the medal at the RPS Awards in London on 8 May. The 63-year-old was born in Japan and moved to Vienna at the age of 12 with her diplomat father. She has lived in London for more than 35 years and was made a Dame in 2009. Her previous honours include a Grammy Award in 2010 for best instrumental soloist. The Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal was launched in 1870 to mark the centenary of Beethoven's birth and has been given to figures including Brahms, Elgar, Stravinsky, Britten and Bernstein."

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