International

• Friday, May 15th 2009 - 09:23 UTC

  British MPs expenses scandal claims first scalps

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suspended ex-minister Elliot Morley from the Parliamentary Labour Party and an aide to Tory leader David Cameron quit his post as the Westminster expenses scandal claimed its first scalps.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 09:57 UTC

  The Economist sceptical about the crisis having bottomed out

  

  The end of the economic crisis and the return to the growth path are still distant according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, which predicts the global economy will contract 1.8% in 2009.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 08:20 UTC

  Coral Triangle in risk of disappearance says WWF

  

  If the world does not take effective action on climate change, coral reefs will disappear from the Coral Triangle by the end of the century, the ability of the region’s coastal environments to feed people will decline by 80%, and the livelihoods of around 100 million people will have been lost or severely impacted, warns WWF.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 08:07 UTC

  British MPs handing back money “milked” out of the system

  

  British PM Gordon Brown backed the “extreme but necessary” measure last night as senior Labour figures started following in the footsteps of Tory frontbenchers by handing over money that they were seen to have “milked” out of the system.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 07:56 UTC

  Bank of England anticipates slow protracted recovery

  

  The Bank of England says that the UK economic recovery is likely to be slow and protracted. The Bank has cut its growth forecast over the next two years and raised its estimate for inflation since February.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 07:55 UTC

  Married Catholic Priests call on Vatican for “optional celibacy”

  

  The Latinamerican Federation of Married Catholic Priests called on the Vatican to accept “optional celibacy” for members of the Church and acknowledge as something natural that clergy members can marry.

• Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 07:44 UTC

  British police accuse MPs of “Third World dictatorship” expenses

  

  United Kingdom frontline police officers have accused Members of Parliament of enjoying expenses that would not look out of place in a “Third World dictatorship”. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was hauled over the coals by members of the Police Federation of England and Wales.

• Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 15:50 UTC

  China’s exports down 22.6% in April, sixth month running

  

  China's exports in April were down 22.6% from a year ago, the sixth successive month of decline. April's fall in exports was also bigger than the 17.1% annual decline recorded in March

• Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 15:36 UTC

  Restored iconic RAF Vulcan bomber set to soar at Air Tattoo show

  

  One of the stars of this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo in the Cotswolds, England has been unveiled by organisers. Visitors to RAF Fairford on July 18-19 will have a rare opportunity to see a display by one of the most iconic war-birds of the Cold War era.

• Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 02:01 UTC

  UK adult minimum wage £ 5.80 an hour from next October

  

  The United Kingdom announced that the national minimum wage is to increase by 7p to £5.80 an hour. The new adult rate for workers aged 22 and over will come into effect in October.