The News Matrix: Monday 16 April 2012

As vacancies dry up, 20 apply for each job

The average number of people competing for each job in Britain has risen from 15 to 20 in the past year. Research by the employment website totaljobs.com shows that Scotland and Wales have recorded a "huge fall" in the number of available vacancies.

Owner of dead horse will boycott the race

The owner of one of the two horses who died after this year's Grand National has said that he will never enter the race again. Both according to Pete and Synchronised were put down after they fell. Just 15 of the 40 horses who started the Aintree race made it to the finish line. MORE

Matilda waltzes off with seven awards

The musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda was the big winner at last night's Olivier Awards, with a record seven awards. Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller shared the best actor award. MORE

Ceasefire in tatters as rebels attacked

The fragile ceasefire in Syria lay in tatters last night, after Bashar al-Assad's forces launched a new wave of attacks on rebel enclaves yesterday. The renewed shelling came as the first UN-backed peace monitors arrived in Damascus. MORE

Britons spend £260m in ATM fees

British holidaymakers are spending £260m a year in fees on overseas ATMs, a survey has revealed. The average cost of each transaction is £2.75 and around 67 per cent of Britons use the cash machines, a poll by the travel agent www.sunshine.co.uk found.

Sarkozy rally attracts 100,000

Standing on the spot where Louis XVI was guillotined 200 years ago, President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed yesterday to "the people of France" to save "French civilisation" – and his own head. A week before the first round of presidential elections, that Mr Sarkozy is expected to lose, he staged a display of defiance by attracting 100,000 supporters to the Place de la Concorde in Paris. MORE

Man arrested over Balotelli 'blackmail'

A man has been arrested over claims he attempted to blackmail Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli. The incident, thought to concern photographs of the controversial Italian forward taken in a nightclub, was reported to police by his employers. Greater Manchester Police said a man had been arrested and bailed.

Police and airlines foil fly-in protesters

Hundreds of police were at Tel Aviv's international airport yesterday to detain activists flying in to protest at Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, while many airlines cancelled tickets of those planning to travel there. More than 40 activists made it to the airport, only to be detained by the authorities.  MORE

Jepsen upstages her compatriot Bieber

Justin Bieber's global domination was held up yesterday as a fellow Canadian singer kept him off the top spot in the charts. Bieber's new release, "Boyfriend", entered the UK chart at No 2 after Carly Rae Jepsen held on to No 1 for a second week.

Stars named and shamed over tax

California has put Pamela Anderson on its list of biggest tax debtors, saying the former Baywatch star owes $524,241 in state income taxes. Meanwhile, singer Lionel Richie is claimed to owe the Federal Government $1.1m in unpaid taxes. MORE

European travel now cheaper for Britons

Exchange rates are making Europe more affordable. The pound is stronger than it was a year ago against the euro and non-euro currencies, a survey by the Post Office showed.

Mini-skirts are 'pornographic'

Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister has said that mini-skirts are pornographic and should be banned under the country's tough new anti-porn laws. MORE