The News Matrix: Thursday 23 April 2015

Calls to charge Lord Janner with abuse

The Director of Public Prosecutions was urged to rethink her decision not to charge Lord Janner over alleged child abuse. Boris Johnson said: “It may be that Alison Saunders can think of some approach that would allow the facts to be tested without putting him on trial.”

University cancels ‘Charlie Hebdo’ talks

Academics have criticised Queen’s University in Belfast for cancelling a conference about the Charlie Hebdo massacre, planned for June. The university said it was for health and safety reasons. Professor Max Silverman said: “It is deeply ironic that what was going on in Paris is being replicated by the university.”

Italy suggests military action

Italy pressed the EU to devise concrete steps to stop the deadly tide of migrants on smugglers’ boats in the Mediterranean, including considering military intervention against traffickers, ahead of a meeting today. David Cameron backed an increase in search and rescue missions in the area.

New Forest killer’s girlfriend jailed

The girlfriend of contract killer Justin Robertson, who was jailed for life for killing Pennie Davis in the New Forest last year, has been sentenced for perverting the course of justice. Lian Doyle, 24, was given 10 months yesterday after she pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire.

Forces invade Boko Haram stronghold

Nigerian forces backed by warplanes invaded the Islamist group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold, the Sambisa Forest, yesterday, in an effort to defeat their six-year insurgency, according to reports. The forest is near the village where Boko Haram abducted 200 secondary school girls a year ago.

Wily coyote evades New York police

A coyote spotted in an exclusive neighbourhood on New York City led to a massive police hunt yesterday, but the animal was still at large last night. Officers scoured Riverside Park with helicopters and ground units for several hours, but the search was eventually called off.

Get me to a nunnery: 45 women take vows

The number of women becoming nuns in England and Wales has risen sixfold in the past decade and is at its highest for 25 years. But despite growing dissatisfaction with modern society – one of the reasons cited for the increase – only 45 women chose to become nuns last year.

Ban on rifle that’s not a straight-shooter

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has banned the use of an assault rifle amid claims that it does not shoot straight in warm temperatures. The Heckler & Koch G36 was reported to be inaccurate in temperatures above 30C (86F). The maker rejects the accusations.

Champion pilot killed at airshow

A champion aerobatic pilot was killed in a flying demonstration at Old Buckenham Airshow, in Norfolk. David Jenkins, who was in his 50s, was operating an Edge 360 plane when he experienced problems. He was a two-time British Advanced Aerobatics champion, described by friends as “highly skilled”.

Researchers tell a waggy dog story

Scientists want dog owners whose pets do not chase their tails to take part in a study. They want to work out whether dogs that spin round in the fruitless task suffer from anxiety or frustration.

May the Force be with jewels

Darth Vader, the villain in the Star Wars films, has had a makeover. Japanese jeweller Ginza Tanaka unveiled a gold Darth Vader mask yesterday. While the gold-plated mask is not for sale, commemorative gold coins engraved with Darth Vader or his stormtroopers will be from next month.

The fat lady sings... at a cheaper price

The English National Opera will be cutting the prices for 50 per cent of its tickets for its 2015-16 programme, in an effort to improve its business model. Artistic director John Berry said: “We lost 30 per cent of our Arts Council grant and there are huge financial challenges... one has to cut our cloth accordingly.”

A light lunch… for just £382,000

A lunch proved rather more expensive than a customer expected when a credit card error meant he was charged 125,000 times. A rice dish and a small piece of cake that should have cost 32 kroner (£3) ended up costing Kasper Harboe four million kroner (£382,000) at a snack bar in Denmark.

Lollipop man halted fire engine on call

A lollipop man has been suspended after claims he stopped a fire engine on its way to a 999 call so children could continue crossing the road. Luton Council has suspended the man and launched an investigation into the incident, which took place as children were leaving the town’s William Austin Junior School for the day on 13 April.