The News Matrix: Tuesday 14 April 2015

Dementia research is underfunded

Funding for dementia and stroke research in the UK is too low, according to a study led by the University of Oxford. Of £855m of government funding, just 17 per cent went towards dementia and stroke research, while 64 per cent was allocated to cancer research.

US criticised for not prosecuting ex-Nazi

A Nazi-hunting group criticised the US over its failure to prosecute a member of a Nazi unit who lived in Minnesota for decades in its annual report. Efraim Zuroff, of the Wiesenthal Centre, said the US took no action against Michael Karkoc, a commander of a Nazi SS-led unit accused of atrocities.

Economy damaged by drink-drive limit

Scotland’s economic growth is being damaged because of a new drink-driving law, which saw the limit reduce from 80mg in every 100ml of blood to 50mg. Donald MacRae, chief economist at Bank of Scotland, said that “service businesses in hospitality are seeing a changing pattern of spending”.

Soldier accused of spying for settlers

An Israeli soldier has been indicted on spying charges for relaying classified military information to extremist West Bank settlers suspected of involvement in attacks on Palestinians. The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency, said yesterday the 25-year-old man’s actions had put lives in danger.

Body found in search for BBC Wales editor

A body has been found in the hunt for the missing BBC Wales picture editor who disappeared after the tourist boat she was travelling on in Laos, South-east Asia, capsized. Johanna Powell, 37, from Cardiff, was reported missing on Saturday. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are yet to identify the body.

Viagra gang leader jailed for six years

Members of a gang who made at least £10m from selling fake Viagra were sentenced at the Old Bailey yesterday. With bases in Lincolnshire and Sussex, they sold the drug through a fake mail order fishing tackle business. Gang leader Neil Gilbert, 42, was sentenced to six years.

Clinton hits road in presidency race

Hillary Clinton hits the road today for her first official campaign stop since she announced she would be running to become the Democratic candidate for the 2016 presidency. Mrs Clinton took to Twitter to celebrate her “road trip” after releasing a launch video.

Uniform bank helps hard-up parents

A uniform bank to help parents who cannot afford to buy their children’s school uniforms has been set up at a community hub in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Marie Doherty, from the hub, said: “People come in saying the cost of a blazer at around £50 is too expensive for them.”

Five women activists are freed on bail

China has unexpectedly released five women activists on bail, lawyers said yesterday, after a vocal campaign against their detention by rights campaigners. The women planned to demonstrate against sexual harassment on public transport.

Till death us do part ... for just 5 minutes

A Kentucky couple have died within five minutes of each other in separate nursing homes after 73 years of marriage. Lillian Wilson, 89, and William Wilson, 93, both suffered from Alzheimer’s and were living in separate care homes when they died.

Tahitian strummers set ukulele record

The Pacific island of Tahiti was yesterday waiting for verification that it had broken the world record for the largest ensemble of ukulele players. Some 4,750 people were seen strumming along in unison to the song “Bora Bora E”. That figure, if confirmed, would smash the current record of 2,370 players, set in the UK.

Turing notebook sells for £700,000

A hand-written document by Alan Turing which shows his work on the foundations of mathematical notation and computer science has sold for almost £700,000 at auction house Bonhams in New York. It is thought the 56-page notebook dates back to 1942 when Turing was contributing to cracking the Enigma code.

Dystopian bee book creates awards buzz

The debut novel by screenwriter and playwright Laline Paull, The Bees, has been shortlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction. Paull said to be nominated is “what you dream of”. Other books to be shortlisted are Outline by Rachel Cusk, How to be Both by Ali Smith and A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler.

Jon Snow to receive Bafta fellowship

Jon Snow will receive the Bafta fellowship this year, the highest accolade given by the body, for his contribution to film and television. Snow, who has presented Channel 4 News for 25 years, said: “There is no greater recognition than that of one’s own industry.” The awards will take place on 10 May.