In Monday's Americas papers

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Britain’s MPs await expense probe audit
In the latest fallout the scandal involving Parliamentary expense claims, members of Parliament will learn the results of an audit into their expense spending.

Bullish investors say signs point to Europe
Since confronting potential calamity back in early March, global stock markets have recovered smartly – and while some indexes have fallen back from recent peaks, global investors remain remarkably upbeat.

Lazard CEO Wasserstein hospitalised
Lazard chief executive Bruce Wasserstein was in serious condition on Sunday night after being hospitalised with an irregular heartbeat.

CNOOC interested in Ghana oil field
China’s CNOOC and a Ghanaian partner are in talks about making a rival $4bn bid, against Exxon, for a stake in a new oil discovery off of West Africa.

Option grants draw scrutiny
Numerous companies have awarded stock options to their top executives while engaged in negotiations to be acquired, a practice that typically results in the firm’s executives receiving a bigger payout.

Microsoft, T-Mobile stumble with sidekick glitch
Microsoft said a technical snafu has likely caused the loss of contacts, photos and other personal data for users of the T-Mobile Sidekick, for which it supplies software and online services.

Civilian goals largely unmet in Afghanistan
Obama administration officials say the US is falling far short of the president’s goals to fight corruption, create a functioning government and train a police force.

Attack on market in Pakistan kills at least 40
A suicide car bomber attacked a military vehicle in a crowded market in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens more, police and hospital officials said.

Fox’s volley with Obama intensifying
Attacking the news media is a time-honoured White House tactic but the Obama administration has narrowed its sights to the Fox News Channel.

Debate over effects of Leno’s show
Two weeks into a new season, the talk of television is the Leno effect – and whether it is hazardous to NBC’s health.

New bill would raise rates, says insurance group
After months of collaboration on President Obama’s attempt to overhaul the nation’s health-care system, the insurance industry plans to strike out against the effort on Monday with a report warning that the typical family premium in 2019 could cost $4,000 more than projected.

Racing the clock to avoid foreclosures
Bank of America employees are reminded every day of how far they still have to go.

Having lost hope in Chrysler, Sheehy closing location
Paul Sheehy walked out of the empty showroom and into the lot at his sprawling Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership in Upper Marlboro.

Obama urged to intensify push for climate measure
President Obama is coming under renewed pressure internationally and in the United States to throw his weight behind climate-change legislation, which advocates fear has suffered in light of the president’s sweeping domestic agenda.

The shadowy negotiator who freed Fowler and Guay
When the kidnappers freed Robert Fowler and Louis Guay after a gruelling 130 days of captivity this spring, Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his gratitude to a long list of people: presidents, diplomats, allies, even the United Nations.

The battle over Boo Radley
Much to the dismay of the average teenager, the Pythagorean theorem and natural selection are required elements of a high-school education.

S&P: Dubai support fund insufficient to meet debts
A support fund created to help Dubai pay its debts has "insufficient" resources to cover the billions of dollars worth of debt coming due, an analyst at credit rating firm Standard & Poor’s said on Sunday, putting added pressure on the struggling city-state to raise additional cash.

China raises limit on foreign investment in stocks
China has raised the limit on purchases of local shares by foreign investors by 25% to $1bn (US), the government said.