The News Matrix: Friday 29 April 2011

Aircraft carriers’ cost to rise by £2bn

The final cost of the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers will not be known until the end of next year, official sources confirmed yesterday, amid reports that it could rise by up to £2bn. Defence Secretary Liam Fox insisted that the Ministry of Defence would take a “fairly stiff view” of any price increases in the massive contracts. MORE

Protest at Gaddafi forces’ incursion

Tunisia has protested strongly to Tripoli against an incursion into its territory and artillery salvos by Libyan forces pursuing anti-Gaddafi rebels during fighting at a border post. The Tunisian foreign ministry has demanded there be no repeat.

Tories plan secretly to block AV in House

Secret moves are planned by senior Conservatives to overturn the result of next week’s referendum if the country votes to scrap the first-past-the-post system. They would attempt to block a switch to the alternative vote if it is backed on a low turn-out. MORE

Search engine tycoon named richest man

Google’s much-publicised departure from the mainland Chinese market did its business no favours but it has helped make Robin Li, the man behind China’s top domestic search engine Baidu, the richest man on the mainland with a fortune of £5.64bn. MORE

Rooney may sue over alleged hacking

England footballer Wayne Rooney may join the stars suing the News of the World for alleged voicemail hacking. It was confirmed that Glenn Mulcaire had his numbers. MORE

Democracy activists sentenced to death

Four men have received death sentences for killing two police officers during the pro-democracy protests that were crushed by the authorities last month. It is likely to deepen divisions between the Shia majority and the Sunni monarchy. MORE

Buddhist service for tsunami dead

Buddhist priests burned incense and chanted for Japan’s tsunami victims, marking the 49th day since the disaster and closing the period when the dead are believed to be wandering restlessly through their home towns. About 1,200 mourners attended in the town of Soma. MORE

Fantasy saga returns too late for some fans

After six years, author George R R Martin is finally set to publish the latest instalment in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. A Dance with Dragons, the 1,600-page tale of warring aristocratic families in a medieval fantasy universe, has been rescheduled repeatedly, angering fans. MORE

Real-life mother of ‘The Fighter’ dies

Alice Ward, the chain-smoking mother of boxers Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund, whose story was told in the Oscar-winning film The Fighter, has died after a short illness. She was 79. Melissa Leo won an Oscar for her portrayal of the matriarchal figure. MORE

St Andrews eyes fair way to equality

An all-male club in the historic home of golf could be changing its rules to admit women. The 168-year-old St Andrews Golf Club is considering changing its rules to comply with the equality law, which not does not allow private clubs to discriminate.

Elvis honoured in Budapest 55 years on

A park will be named after Elvis Presley in commemoration of The King’s support for Hungary’s anti-Soviet revolution of 1956. A plot near the Margaret Bridge will be called Elvis Presley Park to honour the singer’s “sincere sympathy” towards the uprising.

‘American Idol’ rejects Daltrey

Roger Daltrey was rejected after applying for a job on the judging panel of American Idol. The former front man of The Who failed to impress in part because of his uninspiring wardrobe, according to the makers of the show.