The News Matrix: Monday 1 December 2014

Women’s DNA test for cancer genes

NHS testing could be failing to detect “cancer genes” in half of women, new research has shown. More lives could be saved if the NHS tested all women for a specific gene mutation – which affects about 1 in 800-1,000 – according to the cancer charity Eve Appeal.

Sarkozy wins party leadership vote

Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy faces an uphill battle to return to the Elysée Palace after an underwhelming victory in the leadership election of his centre-right party, UMP. He took 64.5 per cent of the vote - six per cent short of the majority to keep his re-election hopes alive.

Ferguson shooting officer quits police

The officer at the heart of the Ferguson shooting, is resigning from the town’s police force. Observers were waiting to find out whether his exit will quell protests that again erupted after a decision not to charge him for the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Clegg may lose seat if students revolt

A swing in the student vote away from the party could mean at least three senior Liberal Democrat MPs – Nick Clegg, Simon Hughes and Ed Davey – would lose their seats at next year’s general election, new analysis the Higher Education Policy Institute has suggested.

Anderson wins for ‘Streetcar’ role

Gillian Anderson was named Best Actress at the 60th Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her turn as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. Tom Hiddleston was named Best Actor.

Tories set to revolt over EU migrants

Conservative MPs, angry at David Cameron’s apparent U-turn over plans to curb migration from the European Union, are threatening to revolt. The Prime Minister was forced to backtrack after the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, effectively blocked his plans for a migrant cap. Eurosceptic MPs are reportedly planning a Bill to override the EU rules.

Boys on beach find baby’s body in sand

Two boys playing on a beach found the body of an infant buried in the sand. The pair were digging in the sand at Sydney’s popular Maroubra beach yesterday. The discovery comes a week after a baby was rescued alive after being left for days in a drain in a Sydney suburb.

Canadian said to be captured in Syria

Ottawa is investigating reports that a Canadian citizen has been captured in Syria. The development comes more than a month after the fatal shooting of a ceremonial guard near the Canadian parliament. A spokesman said: “Canada is pursuing all appropriate channels.”

Rio lights 85-metre Christmas ‘tree’

Rio de Janeiro officially started the holiday season with lighting of the world’s largest floating Christmas “tree”. The 85-metre attraction is lit by 3.1m micro lightbulbs, with 2,150 strobe effects, 120,000 metres of light piping and 100 LED reflectors.

Discovery adds to Shakespeare puzzle

Speculation that Shakespeare was secretly a Catholic, or at least a Catholic sympathiser, has been revived by the discovery of a “lost” First Folio in St Omer in northern France, possibly linking him to the Catholic resistance.

Geordie course for foreign students

A new language course is to be offered to foreign students studying in Newcastle to assist them in understanding the region’s distinctive dialect.

Stephen Fry voices role in Danger Mouse

Stephen Fry is to lend his voice to the cartoon Danger Mouse when it returns to TV screens next year. The broadcaster and actor will voice the pompous Colonel K.