The News Matrix: Friday 25 April 2014

Mother charged with three murders

A mother was last night charged with murdering three of her children who were found dead at their home in south London. Tania Clarence, 42, will appear in court in Wimbledon today accused of murdering Olivia, four, and three-year-old twins Ben and Max. Her husband, Gary, who had been in South Africa with their eldest daughter, arrived back in Britain yesterday. MORE

Russian troops mass on border

The Russian army yesterday began new military manoeuvres close to the border with Ukraine, in response to an operation launched by Ukrainian forces yesterday to drive pro-Russia insurgents out of occupied buildings in Slovyansk in which two separatists died. MORE

Farmer says ‘killer’ bull wasn’t violent

A farmer accused of manslaughter after a walker was allegedly killed by his bull has denied the animal was aggressive. Paul Waterfall, 39, told jurors the bull had never shown any aggression. Prosecutors allege the bull fatally attacked walker Roger Freeman, 63 in Nottinghamshire.

Israel breaks off peace talks

Israel suspended peace talks with the Palestinians in response to President Mahmoud Abbas’s unexpected unity pact with Hamas. The negotiations had appeared to be heading nowhere even before Wednesday’s reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian groups. MORE

I’d welcome Boris back, says PM

David Cameron has said that Boris Johnson can continue as Mayor of London and stand for election to Parliament in 2015. He added that he would welcome Mr Johnson back as an MP if he decided to stand in next year’s general election and won a seat.

Help release missing girls, UN urged

A Nigerian rights group is urging the United Nations to help secure the release of some 230 schoolgirls abducted by extremists 10 days ago. More than 40 of the girls and young women kidnapped from a remote north-eastern school escaped but 230 still are missing.

Gherkin goes into receivership

The Gherkin, one of Britain’s most iconic skyscrapers, was yesterday placed into receivership after a series of defaults by the German company which co-owned it. MORE

Vigilantes hunt for cartel leader

Members of a self-defence group in western Mexico are searching a cave system in the hunt for the last fugitive leader of the Knights Templar drug cartel. Vigilante leader Estanislao Beltran said yesterday there are signs that the Knights Templars used the caves as a hideout.

New doping regime at Brazil World Cup

England’s footballers will be among the world’s first athletes to undergo new doping tests at the World Cup in Brazil. Players will have their blood and urine compared to samples taken in previous competitions to check whether there are any discrepancies.

Jellyfish sting like PMQs, says Cameron

David Cameron yesterday compared his holiday jellyfish sting to dealing with Labour MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions. Speaking to BBC Surrey, he said: “It was a Wednesday at the time and I’m used to dealing with slightly red invertebrates on a Wednesday lunchtime.”

Briton sent home for Buddha tattoo

Sri Lanka deported a British tourist for having a tattoo of Buddha on her arm, which a court said was an insult to the island’s main religion. Legally, there is no ban on a having a Buddha tattoo in Sri Lanka, but religion has proven to be a sensitive subject in the predominantly Buddhist country.

Mum refuses to pay son’s kidnap ‘ransom’

A man accused of staging his own kidnapping failed to execute his plan when his mother refused to pay the ransom. The 25-year-old man from Tennessee allegedly sent his mother text messages saying his drug dealer was going to kill him unless he paid $200. The man was caught when police set up a fake cash drop.