The News Matrix: Thursday 20 October 2011

Strike endangers further bailout

Greece has been paralysed by a 48-hour strike that began yesterday and cast doubt on the government’s ability to implement reforms demanded by the EU in return for a further bailout. The Greek parliament is expected to pass new legislation today further reducing most Greeks’ income. MORE

MI5 accused over ‘honey trap’ case

MI5 only pursued a parliamentary researcher accused of spying for Russia because of an imagined similarity with the Anna Chapman honey trap case, her lawyers said. Ekaterina Zatuliveter conducted a four-year affair with Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock.

Fox to be quizzed on Werritty flat share

Liam Fox is to face a second inquiry into his relationship with Adam Werritty. John Lyon, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, will investigate whether the former Defence Secretary broke Commons rules by letting his informal adviser stay in his London flat free of charge. MORE

Gilad Shalit takes first walk as free man

The freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is expected to be debriefed by intelligence officers soon about his more than five years in Hamas captivity. Sgt Shalit, 25, took his first open-air stroll yesterday, accompanied by his mother Aviva and wearing dark glasses. MORE

Warm welcome for Queen in Australia

The Queen arrived in Australia yesterday for her 16th visit to one of the farthest-flung members of the Commonwealth. The visit comes amid a warming attitude to the monarchy down under. MORE

Turkey enters Iraq after Kurdish attacks

The Turkish government launched its largest cross-border incursion into northern Iraq in three years yesterday, following clashes with Kurdish rebels that left 24 security forces dead and 18 wounded. The advance came after some 200 Kurdistan Workers Party rebels attacked military outposts and police stations along the border with Iraq in the early hours of yesterday morning. MORE

Dentists do not follow correct drill

More than half of NHS dentists are failing adequately to carry out essential procedures, Which? has found. Three-quarters of all dentists visited – whether private or NHS – failed to check the soft tissue which can help to detect oral cancer, and appointments lasted 11 minutes on average. MORE

Judge: fans obsessed by Hillsborough

Sir Oliver Popplewell, who chaired the inquiry into the 1985 Bradford fire disaster, has accused the people of Liverpool of harbouring “conspiracy theories” and seeking “endless further inquiries” into what happened at the Hillsborough tragedy.

Van-sized satellite to hit earth at weekend

A redundant satellite is expected to plunge to earth between Friday and Monday, the German Aerospace centre has warned. Nearly 2 tons of ROSAT could hit the ground, with a 1 in 2,000 chance of hitting someone.

Peer offers £250,000 for euro exit strategy

A conservative peer is offering £250,000 to the person who can come up with the best method of enabling a country to leave the euro. The fund, put up by Lord Wolfson and the Policy Exchange, is the second biggest economics prize after the Nobel.

Heather Mills sued by her hairdresser

Heather Mills is being sued by a Los Angeles hairdresser who claims Paul McCartney’s ex-wife ran up a bill of $80,000 as she pursued Hollywood stardom. David Paul claims he began working for Ms Mills in 2005 and quit after she repeatedly failed to pay him.

Man loses £70,000 on UK coach trip

A coach passenger had £70,000 of foreign currency stolen from a bag left in the vehicle's storage hold. The victim, in his 80s, had brought the money from his home in Thailand to purchase a property in the UK, a Hampshire police spokesman said.

Wild animals let loose from Ohio zoo

A public emergency was declared for Zanesville, Ohio, after animals were let loose from Muskingum County Animal Farm – a 60-acre private zoo just outside the city. The creatures at large included lions, camels, tigers, monkeys, bears and wolves. MORE

Gervais jibes no laughing matter

Ricky Gervais’s continued use of the word “mong” and pictures of him pulling “monged-up” faces on Twitter have angered disability groups, comedians and fans. Mencap said the use of the word “mong” could “perpetuate discriminatory attitudes”. MORE

Kidnap stunt gets right-wingers’ goat

The right-wing Swiss People’s Party’s kidnapped goat mascots Zottel and Mimu were found safe near Zurich yesterday – shaved and painted black in a dig at its anti-immigration stance. ZPP posters have shown black sheep being kicked off the Swiss flag. A group called Antifascist Action claimed responsibility.