The News Matrix: Friday 15 April 2011

Nurses vote for strike on pay freeze

Nursing leaders yesterday voted overwhelmingly to ballot for industrial action if the Government attempts to freeze pay. Delegates also voted in favour of a motion saying Andrew Lansley’s reforms of the NHS would not benefit patient care. MORE

Opposition leader injured in food riots

Military police shot Uganda’s top opposition politician yesterday and fired tear gas into a hospital during demonstrations against rising fuel and food prices. Kizza Besigye, who was second in February’s presidential elections, was shot in the hand. MORE

Berlusconi hints he plans to step down

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is facing a slew of court cases, has suggested that he may stand down in two years. He has just sidestepped a bribery charge. MORE

Third senior ‘NOTW’ journalist arrested

A third senior News of the World journalist was arrested yesterday as police stepped up their inquiry into allegations of phone hacking. Detectives also reportedly searched the NOTW offices in Wapping, east London. MORE

Coalition splits over immigration speech

David Cameron was criticised by the Liberal Democrats for claiming immigration had damaged Britain’s social fabric. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Talk of mass immigration risks inflaming the extremism.” MORE

Brown tipped for Davos advisory role

Gordon Brown is being tipped to take on an advisory role at the World Economic Forum, which meets in Davos each winter. If the former prime minister accepts the job, it could be a step towards the post friends believe he really wants – head of the IMF. MORE

Barry Bonds guilty of obstructing justice

A jury has convicted the disgraced baseball star Barry Bonds of one count of obstructing justice but could not reach a decision on other charges that the home-run king lied to a grand jury about knowingly using steroids. Authorities said a decision about a retrial would be made quickly.

Sounds of Spaghetti Western to feature

The BBC Proms, the most prestigious classical music festival, is to showcase the talent of the Spaghetti Western Orchestra, an Australian quintet that reinterprets the soundtracks of Western films with sound effects created using cereal packets and asthma inhalers. MORE

Protect best ‘seascapes’, says NT

The UK’s best “seascapes” should be given the same kind of protection as treasured landscapes, the National Trust says. A poll by the organisation found that two-thirds of those questioned thought visiting the coast or seaside was important to their quality of life.

Thieves have their fingers on the pulse

Burglars got a surprise when they broke into a chemist in Mississippi to steal painkillers, only to find the pills had been replaced with kidney beans. A pharmacist at the shop said it had been broken into several times, so he filled the bottles with beans, which were duly pinched on Wednesday.

‘Ums’ and ‘ers’ can aid babies’ language

Parents who stumble over their words need not worry – it may help their children learn to talk. Sentences peppered with “ums” and “ers” can be easier for small children to follow than those uttered with complete fluency, researchers have found. MORE

Biden ‘does a Clarke’ with budget doze

US Vice-President Joe Biden appeared to be caught napping during President Barack Obama’s budget speech on Wednesday. Mr Biden was seen yawning, and then closed his eyes for 25 seconds as the President gave his speech.