The News Matrix: Thursday 5 May 2011

Thursday 05 May 2011 00:00 BST
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Lecturer held over girl’s death in fall

A university lecturer arrested after the death of a 15-year-old girl in his home is believed to be in a serious condition after falling from a bridge. An inquest into the death of Isobel Jones-Reilly at Brian Dodgeon’s London home was adjourned. MORE

Tube workers to stage strikes – again

Commuters in London face two weeks of disruption after London Underground staff announced six days of strikes in protest at the sacking of two employees. Tube drivers will stage walkouts in May and June for three days each time.

Jamie’s TV show is getting the chop

ABC has announced it is pulling Jamie Oliver’s US TV show aimed at convincing the world’s fattest children to rein back on their burgers, pizza, and chocolate milkshakes. MORE

Police ‘assaulted terror suspect’

Four police officers assaulted a terror suspect in front of his wife and continued after he was handcuffed and restrained, a court heard yesterday. The officers sat in the dock as a jury heard a recording of their attack on Babar Ahmad in 2003. MORE

Surgeon held on ‘indecency’ charge

Joseph Nunoo-Mensah, a consultant colorectal surgeon at King’s College Hospital, London, has been detained in Dubai on a charge of “public indecency” after a row with a motorist. He is alleged to have made a rude gesture during the incident. MORE

Hamas and Fatah in reconciliation deal

The warring Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have reconciled in a pact that their leaders hope will draw a line under four years of bitter division. Most Palestinians see the deal as a crucial step towards achieving peace with Israel, but it is a risk, with Israel, the US and Britain regarding Hamas as a terrorist group. MORE

British gardener to tend Monet’s lilies

A British gardener is to take over one of the most venerated plots of ground in the world: the garden created more than a century ago by French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. James Priest is to become head gardener at Giverny in Normandy, inspiration for Monet’s water lily canvases. MORE

EU set to reimpose border controls

The EU is set to reimpose border checks as it seeks to solve the row between Italy and France over what to do about migrants fleeing turmoil in North Africa. European leaders yesterday signalled stricter entrypoint checks were on the way. MORE

Law sues Murdoch’s News Group empire

Jude Law and the high-profile solicitor who has represented him are the two latest alleged victims of phone-hacking by the News of the World to sue Rupert Murdoch’s News Group media empire for damages. MORE

World population to top 10 billion by 2100

The world’s population is expected to balloon from 7 billion this year to 9.3 billion in 2050 and to hit 10.1 billion by 2100 as people live longer and fertility rates remain high in poorer countries, the UN reports. MORE

Prince and President meet in Washington

Prince Charles was yesterday greeted by a crowd of American well-wishers still excited by the royal wedding last Friday. On the second day of his trip to Washington, the heir to the throne delivered a speech on farming at Georgetown University and later met President Barack Obama.

‘Marijuana grannies’ jailed following raid

Two women described by a prosecutor as “marijuana grannies” have been jailed on allegations that they were growing hundreds of pot plants in their California home. Aleen Lam, 72, and Virginia Chan Pon, 65, were arrested after police found 800 marijuana plants in their house.

Scottish rivals in race for Turner prize

Two Scots are racing to win this year’s Turner Prize, the controversial yet prestigious art award. The 2011 shortlist will be exhibited in the north-east of England, only the second time the award has left its traditional venue at Tate Britain, in London. MORE

Thieves return Superman plaque

It was the house where Superman was born, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in a Cleveland suburb in 1933. But last month, a bronze plaque marking the cultural milestone was stolen from the house. Luckily, the thieves then left the plaque outside a local fire station to be returned.

Giant cigar roller’s 268-foot smoke

A cigar almost the length of a football field is likely to win a place in the Guinness World Records after the Cuban roller, Jose Castelar Cairo, beat his own previously-held record. The British embassy in Havana verified the 268 foot, 4 inch cigar, which Mr Cairo and his assistants began rolling in April.

No Cannes do as cuts hit La Croisette

Party hosts at the Cannes Film Festival, which begins next Wednesday, are this year choosing not to hold lavish bashes – previously known as much for their celebrity excesses as they are for industry professionals hoping to strike a film deal. MORE

Death of Blue Peter rescue dog Mabel

Blue Peter presenters were mourning the loss of another of the show’s dogs, with the death of Mabel, who enjoyed a 14-year screen career. It comes a month after the death of her canine co-star Lucy. Border collie cross Mabel was the programme’s first rescue dog.

Man blames bath salts on goat killing

A man found wearing women’s underwear and standing over a dead goat blamed his crime on a designer drug marked as bath salts. Mark L. Thompson, 19, was charged with cruelty to animals after stabbing his neighbour’s goat.

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