The News Matrix: Tuesday 27 August 2013

GPs charge for ‘fitness for work’

Family doctors are charging sick and disabled people up to £130 for medical evidence to appeal decisions about their fitness to work, i has learnt. NHS GPs are telling patients they will only provide the necessary details to challenge controversial Work Capability Assessments if they pay. Others are refusing to help at all. MORE

Gove attacks Miliband leadership

Michael Gove will today lead a renewed attack on Ed Miliband, claiming he is a weaker Labour leader than Neil Kinnock, who has allowed his party to be recaptured by union-vested interests. The Education Secretary will warn of a return to the politics of the 1970s.

Prosecutors demand no leniency for Bo

The trial of former top Chinese politician Bo Xilai ended yesterday after five days of testimony, culminating with prosecutors saying he should be shown no leniency because he has shown no remorse. Mr Bo has denied charges of bribery, corruption and abuse of power. MORE

Cameron warned over press freedom

The Government’s attempt to destroy sensitive documents related to mass surveillance is “intimidation”, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers has told David Cameron. They wrote to him over the information leaked by Edward Snowden.

Peace talks off after West Bank killings

Three Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Qalandia refugee camp in the West Bank yesterday, prompting Palestinian officials to say they would suspend the day’s peace talks. Israeli officials said a crowd attacked police with stones during an arrest operation. MORE

Ex-British soldier’s killers sought

Kenyan police claimed yesterday they were closing in on an armed gang that murdered a former British Army officer, David Parkinson, 58, during a machete attack after they broke into his home. MORE

Government takes over Fukushima

The government has said it will take over the handling of the renewed crisis at Japan’s stricken Fukushima plant, a week after Tokyo Electric Power Company admitted that as much as 300 tons of radioactive water could have been leaking into the sea every day since the March 2011 meltdown.

Thorough crash inquiry promised

A “painstaking investigation” has been promised into the Shetlands helicopter crash which killed four people, by Duncan Trapp of CHC Helicopter, which operated the Super Puma AS332 L2. The helicopter, carrying 18 people, crashed close to land as it flew to Sumburgh airport in Shetland on Friday.

Tea shop in horror cockroach attack

The owners of a tea shop in Berkshire were forced to close to the public after 50 cockroaches were put through their letterbox. Diane Bryant and her business partner Magda Wencel were horrified to discover a swarm of bright red cockroaches on the floor on their arrival to work.

‘Disneyland in Africa’ is planned

Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality minister, has told the country’s official news agency the government is planning a £193m theme park near Victoria Falls, the country’s top tourist attraction. He was quoted by New Ziana as saying the resort would be a “Disneyland in Africa” and would feature casinos.

Monks held captive by treasure hunters

Police have arrested three armed men who allegedly broke into a Greek monastery, tied up monks and planned to search for treasure with a mechanical digger. According to the Associated Press, they were caught on Sunday when a friar who avoided capture phoned police near Aliartos, north-west of Athens.

Virgin ‘scared my horse to death’

Virgin has been accused of scaring a horse to death after one of their hot-air balloons flew too low. The roar of the burners caused 18-year-old mare Della to flee and she fell down, seriously injuring herself. The distraught owner Liz Jones called a vet who was forced to humanely destroy the horse.

Tax exile film star throws house party

French film star Gerard Depardieu has thrown a Gatsby-esque housewarming party to celebrate his new home in Belgium. The tax exile invited 200 guests to the chateau he bought in Nechin after France’s Socialist government proposed a 75 per cent tax rate on high incomes. MORE