The News Matrix: Friday 21 September 2012

We're devastated, say fire deaths family

Relatives of three members of a family who died in a house fire said last night they were "devastated beyond belief" at their loss. Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month-old grand-daughter Kimberley died on the Coed Eva estate in Cwmbran, Torfaen. Yesterday, Gwent police were given more time to question a 27-year-old man from Manchester on suspicion of murder.

Soldier gives birth on the frontline

A British servicewoman who did not know she was pregnant has given birth to a baby boy on the frontline in Helmand province. Mother and son are said to be stable following the delivery at Camp Bastion. Only six days ago, the camp was attacked by Taliban insurgents. MORE

iPhone 5 queuers bank on big gains

Most people would think you'd have to be mad to queue through the night for a new phone, but those queuing for today's iPhone 5 release believe they can make a tidy profit. Some boasted they would earn four-figure sums from selling the phones on; others were selling their place near the front of the store for £500. MORE

Terminally ill girl's benefit warning

Terminally ill internet star Alice Pyne has been told that her mother's child benefit could be taken away unless she goes to college.

Alice, 16, came to prominence with an internet list of the things she wants to do before she dies. An HMRC spokesman said every parent whose child is turning 16 gets a letter about their child benefit.

Clegg's mea culpa on tuition fees falls flat

Nick Clegg's attempt to draw a line under the university fees row has fallen flat. He filmed an apology to Liberal Democrats for breaking his manifesto pledge on fees, but a spoof online version of the film has the Deputy Prime Minister singing his remarks to a pop backing. MORE

Romney's campaign co-chair quits

Mitt Romney's faltering bid for the presidency was dealt a fresh blow yesterday after Tim Pawlenty, the co-chairman of Mr Romney's campaign, abandoned ship to become a top lobbyist for Wall Street banks. Mr Romney and Mr Pawlenty attempted to play down the departure. MORE

Ricky Gervais starts up rival to Twitter

Comedian Ricky Gervais is launching a phone app that he claims will be a radio version of Twitter, which he said had "too many idiots". Just Sayin' lets users record messages for their followers to hear. MORE

Angry youths try to reach US embassy

Hundreds of youths clashed with police in Islamabad yesterday as they tried to reach the US embassy to vent their anger at an anti-Islam film produced in America. Though small up to now, the protests are expected to grow bigger today, the traditional Muslim day of prayer. MORE

Air strike on petrol station kills 54

At least 54 people were killed yesterday when an air strike hit a petrol station in Syria's northern province of al-Raqqa, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The group said its observers reported that dozens more were wounded in the attack. MORE

No charges over offensive Daley tweet

A Welsh Premier League footballer won't face criminal charges over a homophobic remark he allegedly posted about Olympic diver Tom Daley on Twitter. Daniel Thomas's message was a one-off, and "not so grossly offensive that criminal charges need to be brought." MORE

Cemetery fashion shoot upsets Poles

The government has protested over a photo exhibition by a Ukrainian fashion magazine that shows models posing next to Polish graves. The pictures of women in provocative poses against a backdrop of crosses at a cemetery in the western city of Lviv were put on display at a museum last week.

'Escape of the century' is not what it seems

When 131 inmates fled from a prison near the US border earlier this week it was described as the "escape of the century". Prisoners reportedly tunnelled their way out and cut a hole in the fence. But yesterday it emerged that the inmates actually left through the front door, with the help of prison guards. MORE