The News Matrix: Friday 18 April 2014

Bullying victims suffer for years

Victims of childhood bullying are more likely to suffer from depression, ill health and even joblessness, up to 40 years after the bullying took place, a new study has concluded. The impact of bullying on people’s wellbeing during their adult life appeared to be comparable to that experienced by adults who had been taken into care, the researchers said. MORE

Miliband hires Obama election guru

Barack Obama’s election guru has been hired to advise Labour on its 2015 campaign. David Axelrod, instrumental in securing two election victories for the US President, has joined Ed Miliband’s camp with the title of senior strategic adviser.

Mob opens fire on civilians in UN base

A mob of armed civilians pretending to be peaceful protesters delivering a petition to the United Nations in South Sudan forced their way into a UN base sheltering some 5,000 civilians yesterday and opened fire. Dozens were wounded in the attack on the base in Bor in Jonglei state.

Planet similar to Earth is found

A planet similar in size to Earth with surface temperatures suitable for water has been discovered orbiting a star in what is the strongest candidate yet for a habitable world outside the Solar System. Scientists said it was likely a rocky planet like Earth where life could exist. MORE

Erdogan gets party backing as president

Turkey’s ruling party would back Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s candidacy in the nation’s first presidential election, a move his opponents fear would feed his autocratic instincts. Mr Erdogan has said the popular vote will give the post more authority.

Easter travel chaos with Eurostar delaybukls

Hundreds of Channel Tunnel users were left waiting for hours at stations last night after a fatality near Lille, France, caused delays and a Eurostar train broke down. A total of six trains were cancelled. Eurostar spokesman Leigh Calder apologised for the delay.

Gabriel García Márquez dies at 87

Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez died at the age of 87 last night. The literary giant, considered one of the greatest Spanish-language authors, had spent nine days in hospital. MORE

MPs to vote on court to try guerrillas

Kosovo’s premier has summoned parliament to vote on creating an EU-backed special court to try ethnic Albanian ex-guerrillas accused of harvesting organs from murdered Serbs during the 1990s war, but criticised the plan as an insult.

Loach and Leigh to compete in Cannes

Cannes darlings Ken Loach and Mike Leigh will go head to head for the coveted Palme d’Or as the two British representatives at this year’s festival competition. Among the titles were Jimmy’s Hall, expected to be Loach’s last feature, as well as Leigh’s Mr Turner, about the life of landscape painter JMW Turner.

Police hunt the birdie on golf course

The hunt for an escaped South African rhea which can run at 40mph has been focused on a golf course near Royston in Hertfordshire. The RSPCA has advised people to stay “well away” and call the charity or the police if they spot the bird, which has been missing for more than a month.

Galaxy S5 hacked with wood glue

US researcher, Ben Schlabs, claims he fooled the fingerprint security system on Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 smartphone using wood glue and a picture of the original print. Mr Schlabs, who works for Security Research Labs GmbH, says the trick is identical to the one hackers used to unlock Apple’s iPhone 5 last year.

Chelsea Clinton expecting first baby

Chelsea Clinton has announced that she is expecting her first child later this year. Ms Clinton, 34, daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, said she hoped to be “as good” a mother as “my mom was to me”. Hillary Clinton said she was “really excited” to welcome her first granddaughter.

Missing boy found in arcade machine

A boy who went missing from his home in Nebraska has been found inside a toy claw machine filled with stuffed animals. The three-year-old made his way to a local bowling alley and managed to climb into the arcade machine. After being freed unharmed, he was reunited with his mother and allowed to keep one of the toys.