Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of Friday's election, thereby handing power automatically to corrupt leader Robert Mugabe. He has also called on the UN to intervene and prevent further 'genocide' from blighting the nation. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has been customarily scathing about Mugabe's regime ... yet… read more…

Robert Mugabe - never the most progressive of public figures - has labelled an American diplomat a 'prostitute' and insisted that any foreign interference in next month's run-off 'election' would not be welcomed with open arms. Not only that - he's apparently prepared to throw U.S Ambassador to Zimbabwe… read more…

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it is to pay £2m to an Iraqi teenager accidentally shot by a British Soldier. BBC. The Guardian. The Times. House prices fall at the fastest rate since 1978. The Guardian. Oil prices have reached a new high of $112.48 per barrel. BBC.… read more…

We're assuming that you're reading this after recently arriving at your office for the Monday morning grind. Please accept our commiserations but rest assured that, despite the planet's usual state of discord, things seem to be pretty much in order. The best of the morning's stories are as follows: Following… read more…