The News Matrix: Thursday 28 April 2011

Legal advice hinders UK military advisers

Government lawyers in London have said that the United Nations resolution under which Britain and Nato allies have intervened in Libya does not allow the training of rebel forces or helping them to plan missions against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces, hampering the recently deployed military advisers on the ground. MORE

Obama publishes full birth certificate

President Obama has published his full birth certificate hoping to crush claims he was born outside the US. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump had fanned the flames, but Mr Obama said: “We do not have time for this kind of silliness.”

Growth data shows fragile UK recovery

New data on UK growth says that respectable figures disguise an economy that is at best stagnating, or even contracting. While the economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, this was regarded as confirmation of a fragile recovery. MORE

Afghan pilot kills 9 US personnel in row

Nine people, including eight American soldiers, were killed yesterday when an Afghan military pilot opened fire during a row with Nato personnel. The attack comes just months before the Afghan police and military take over security. MORE

Harvard man gives Dalai Lama support

A Harvard academic has become prime minister of the Tibetan exile community, taking over political duties carried out by the Dalai Lama, who remains spiritual leader. MORE

Thomas breaks down in tears on TV

The former Miss Wales, Imogen Thomas, broke down in tears on television as she contrasted her situation with that of the married Premier League footballer who served her with an injunction preventing her from discussing their affair. MORE

‘Canoe man’ claims he’s being harassed

John Darwin, the canoeist who faked his own death, claims the family of John Jones, the dead baby whose identity he stole to start a new life, are harassing him at his home in Easington Colliery, Co Durham. Durham Police said it did not believe any crime had been committed by the Jones family. MORE

Assaults by parents on heads common

Ten per cent of headteachers have been assaulted by a parent or carer during the past five years, according to figures to be disclosed by the National Association of Head Teachers. Most assaults took place on school premises when parents complained about a child’s exclusion. MORE

Entwistle appointed BBC director of vision

George Entwistle has been appointed to one of the BBC’s most senior posts, succeeding Jana Bennett as director of vision. Mr Entwistle will oversee all BBC television channels as well as HD broadcasts and BBC Films. He began his career with the corporation as a trainee in 1989. MORE

Telecom worker sets himself on fire

A 57-year-old France Telecom- Orange worker has become the latest in a wave of company employees to kill themselves after setting himself alight. Named only as Rémi L, the victim is one of more than 30 members of staff to have taken their own lives in the past two years. MORE