The News Matrix: Wednesday 3 April 2013

Jobless figures hit 12 per cent

Unemployment across the 17 EU countries has struck 12 per cent for the first time since the currency was launched in 1999, figures released yesterday showed. Spain and Greece have mass unemployment and many other countries are seeing their numbers swell to high levels as governments across the region enact tough austerity measures to get a handle on their debts. MORE

Hollande condemns ex-minister who lied

French President François Hollande denounced an “unforgivable moral error” by his former budget minister, who has admitted in his blog to lying about a once-secret foreign bank account. Prosecutors filed preliminary charges against Jerome Cahuzac for alleged money laundering.

‘Injections’ tried for autistic children

A third of parents with an autistic child have tried unscientific methods to help their condition, a survey found. They included copper bracelets, injections and electronic plug-ins that release chemicals into the air. The poll of 1,000 parents found nine out of 10 worried about their child’s future. MORE

Pyongyang to restart nuclear reactor

North Korea said it will restart its plutonium reactor and increase production of nuclear weapons material, in its latest attempt to extract concessions. The announcement will boost concerns in the US about North Korea’s timetable for building a nuclear-tipped missile. MORE

Obama asks for $100m to map brain

Barack Obama asked Congress for $100m (£66m) to map the brain’s activity, as a step toward finding better ways to treat such conditions as Alzheimer’s, autism and stroke. Mr Obama told scientists the research has the potential to improve the lives of billions of people. MORE

Ovenden sexually assaulted children

An artist who painted nude portraits of child models has been convicted of six charges of indecency with a child and one indecent assault. Graham Ovenden, from Cornwall, was found guilty at Truro Crown Court.

SAS sniper’s lawyers challenge retrial

Lawyers for Danny Nightingale, the SAS sniper whose conviction for possessing a pistol and ammunition was quashed after a media campaign, are to mount a legal challenge over his retrial. Sgt Nightingale is expected to plead not guilty at the retrial.

Global arms control treaty approved

The UN General Assembly approved the first UN treaty regulating the multibillion-dollar international arms trade, a goal sought for more than a decade to try to keep illicit weapons out of the hands of terrorists, insurgent fighters and organised crime.

Teenager shot dead in ‘gang dispute’

A teenager has died after being shot in the chest in a suspected clash between London gangs. Mohammed Hussein, 19, was gunned down on Monday evening in Edmonton. Witnesses reported a loud dispute in a residential area. MORE

Pixar announces Finding Nemo sequel

Pixar has announced a long-awaited sequel to its blockbuster animated hit Finding Nemo. Finding Dory, which is scheduled for release in November 2015, will follow the blue tang fish voiced by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. The star said: “I read the script and it’s fantastic... it’s everything that you want it to be.”

Trump drops Maher ‘orangutan’ lawsuit

Donald Trump is withdrawing his lawsuit against television host and comedian Bill Maher seeking $5m (£3m) that Maher said he would give to charity, in a seemingly facetious offer, if Trump could prove he was not the son of an orangutan. Maher made the offer during an appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show.

Helmet smash mars world-record attempt

Chris Hopkinson’s attempt to set a new record for the fastest cycle journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back again was almost derailed at the starting line when the cyclist smashed his helmet. Hopkinson hopes to better the current time of five days, 21 hours and eight minutes, set in 2010.

Bieber has a month to reclaim monkey

Justin Bieber has been given four weeks by German officials to pick up his pet monkey or it will be placed in permanent care. The capuchin monkey was seized by customs on Thursday when the 19-year-old Canadian singer failed to produce customs documents after landing in Munich. Zoos have offered to give the monkey a home.