The News Matrix: Wednesday 14 May 2014

Children at risk from ‘toxic’ focus on grades

Schools in England are neglecting, or even actively harming, the physical and mental health of their pupils, experts have claimed. Senior academics from leading institutions said children’s health was being ignored amid an ever-increasing focus on “maximising students’ academic attainment”, which could lead to stress, drug-taking and violence.

French journalist is murdered

A French journalist has been found murdered in the Central African Republic. Camille Lepage, 26, from Angers in western France, was discovered by French troops in the west of the country in a vehicle driven by militia from the Christian anti-balaka group.

Peaches Geldof’s home broken into

Thieves have targeted the home of the late TV presenter Peaches Geldof. Detectives in Kent are investigating two break-ins at the property in Wrotham. A lawnmower was taken in mid-April, while in a second raid on Friday nothing was taken. Geldof died on 7 April. MORE

UK may act if Assad used chemical arms

The UK and its allies may need to take “further steps” against Bashar al-Assad’s regime if it is proved chemical weapons have continued to be used in the civil war, David Cameron said. The Prime Minister told MPs that reports chlorine had been used were “extremely disturbing”.

Comic Aherne being treated for cancer

Comic Caroline Aherne, who starred in the The Royle Family, has said she intends to carry on working following her treatment for lung cancer. Details of the star’s illness emerged as she led a new £3.4m campaign to improve care for patients in Manchester. MORE

Only four missing girls identified

Relatives of almost 300 abducted schoolgirls in Nigeria have only identified four of the young women in a propaganda video published by their captors, Boko Haram. The video showed more than 100 young women in black and grey veils chanting Koranic verses. MORE

Asian UKIP member quits ‘racist’ party

A leading British Asian supporter of UKIP is to leave the party, saying the movement is a “form of racist populism”. Sanya-Jeet Thandi (left with Nigel Farage) recently defended UKIP on Channel 4 News.

Picasso museum chief axed in revolt

The head of the Paris Picasso museum, Anne Baldassari, was sacked yesterday by the Culture Minister, Aurelie Filippetti, as a looming staff revolt threatened the long-delayed reopening of the world’s largest collection of the Spanish artist’s works.

‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ revived

Whose Line Is It Anyway? is being revived as a live show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, 16 years after being canned by Channel 4, amid declining ratings. Clive Anderson, the original host, will be chairing proceedings, while Greg Proops, Josie Lawrence and Stephen Frost are said to be on board. MORE

Charlotte Rampling joins ‘Broadchurch’

Charlotte Rampling will be joining the cast of Broadchurch for its second series. ITV said the actress, whose roles include appearances in The Night Porter and The Duchess, would “take a lead role” in the show but gave no details. The show’s creator, Chris Chibnall, said it had been “agony” keeping the news secret.

Rothko’s return after £200,000 refurb

The Mark Rothko painting Black on Maroon which was vandalised with graffiti is back on public display at the Tate Modern gallery following an 18-month £200,000 restoration operation which removed virtually any visible trace of the attack. Wlodzimierz Umaniec was jailed for two years for the crime. MORE

Radiation leak could be due to kitty litter

A mysterious radiation release that closed the US government’s only permanent nuclear-waste dump may have been caused by kitty litter. Officials are following up a theory that the leak, at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, was caused by a switch in the type of cat litter that is mixed with the toxic waste.

‘Belligerent’ actor Baldwin arrested

Alec Baldwin was arrested and issued two summonses after allegedly acting belligerently towards two officers who had stopped him for riding his bicycle the wrong way down a New York street, police said yesterday. The 56-year-old actor was riding his bike in the wrong direction at 16th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.