A lobby group representing the professions will be preening itself at Vince Cable’s public backing for their point of view, that limiting immigration will harm business... more
Scotland Yard appealed for victims of a self-styled Buddhist guru to come forward after he was jailed for raping and assaulting women disciples... more
In The Air: The betting in the City is News Corp’s efforts to buy BSkyB outright will succeed but will take nine to 12 months for regulators to clear the deal... more
Tens of thousands of civil servants in London and the South-East face having to move to other regions under a shake-up of Whitehall, it was reported... more
Chairman of the BBC Trust claimed more than £19,000 expenses in a six-month period, including a £251 fare to get home after the final of Strictly Come Dancing... more
The Culture Secretary, Ben Bradshaw, has attacked BBC chiefs for their refusal to support the sharing of some of the licence fee with other providers of regional news. He is quite right to do so... more
London's hedge fund community may have had a torrid time last year but at least its favoured charity, Arki Busson's ARK (or absolute return for kids), has shown the way in moneymaking. In the year to August 2008, its income rose from £32.7 million to £40.2 million. Furthermore, hedge fund turmoil is not expected to affect the levels of pledges. ARK acknowledges that "the level of outstanding donor pledges is considered to be one of the charity's key risks" but that all funding pledges "due for payment have been received to date." So hats off to the generous hedgies and let's hope that spirit continues.... more
Lord Carter's report maps out a future direction for the media industry - but he has left too many issues unresolved in the wilderness, says Roy Greenslade... more
The BBC's greatest fear looks as if it is to become reality. If the reports of it losing its sole right to the TV licence fee prove true then it will be a severe blow to the Corporation's director-general, Mark Thompson, and his executive staff... more
The BBC has finally taken decisive action against those responsible for the prank phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs. It is right that Jonathan Ross should be suspended without pay for three months. Russell Brand would surely have faced similar sanction had he not already resigned. It is right, too, that Radio 2 Controller Lesley Douglas fell on her sword: she had to take ultimate responsibility. It has been a terrible week for the BBC. Now the Corporation must learn from it, although BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons's defensive performance on this morning's Today programme does not inspire confidence that it will do so. ... more