Sky High

Paul Myners, the City’s middle man

Paul Myners holds the line between banks and the politicians and public baying for blood. Can the new minister steer a middle way?

Philip Falcone shorts Santander

American hedge-fund manager who made a killing by betting against the shares of HBOS now has Abbey in his sights

Scots push Basra as a land of opportunity

Iraq needs new infrastructure — and can pay for it

Rightmove could lose three quarters of agents

Survey finds three out of four Rightmove agents are considering cancelling subscriptions because of high fees

C&C chief resigns after cider sales fall

Maurice Pratt has stepped down as C&C chief after a failed repositioning strategy led Magners Cider to lose market share

Last orders for the man behind Magners

After a profit warning and Maurice Pratt’s resignation, it could be some time before the fizz returns to the Magners story

Thousands of jobs at risk in GM merger

GM and Chrysler could merge in a desperation deal that would lead to tens of thousands of job losses

GM plans auction of key assets

With its shares trading at a 58-year low, the carmaker is understood to be considering a sale of subsidiary operations

Charities also hit by Iceland bank crisis

Naomi House charity in Hampshire for terminally ill children has emerged as latest victim of the Icelandic banking crisis

Southern Cross shares up on debt claims

Embattled care homes operator sees share price rise as it says it will resolve debt arrangements by end of the month

GM plans auction of key assets

With its shares trading at a 58-year low, the carmaker is understood to be considering a sale of subsidiary operations

US group set to win British missile plant

Jacobs is tipped to win auction for stake, which was put up for sale after ministers decided to break up British Nuclear Fuels

Robert Tchenguiz dumps Whitbread

Property tycoon is believed to have sold his entire holding in the hotels-to-coffee shops leisure group

Premium Bars loses chairman as sales decline

Living Room operator seeks new boss amid doubts over future of 20% stake held by collapsed Dawnay Day

ITV may switch off from public service

Michael Grade’s hope is to modernise ITV with a once-and-for-all settlement with the regulator and government

ITV stars ‘must take a pay cut’

Stars may have to take a pay cut as the broadcaster battles to trim its budgets while advertising income plunges

Energem resources buys $8m jet

Energem Resources is acquiring a Gulfstream III from Diamond Air Charters, a business 80% controlled by Tony Teixeira

Opec members divided over oil price

Not all Opec states want an output cut but the Saudis, the Kuwaitis and the Emirates want to diversify their economies

Tea, coffee, cornflakes and a visit to the midwife

Going to a clinic based in a supermarket is easier and less intimidating for women who do not visit their GP regularly

Britain's biggest union heads for dramatic split

The Times has learnt the T&G section of Unite has sought legal advice about pulling out of its merger with the Amicus

Sir Philip Green targets Baugur’s debt

Green is today trying to clinch a deal to acquire the £1 billion-plus of debt owed to three nationalised Icelandic banks

Blackcircles runs rings round competitors

Welch’s Borders online tyre firm is on course for a record year and is expanding further into Europe

Software firms defy the gloom

Sector is bringing in new business worth millions, study shows

Business big shot: Kevin Rose

Digg, the social news and content site founded by Kevin Rose, is looking for staff, ready to expand and to set up abroad

Vodafone moves to control African venture

Co-owner Telkom willing to sell 15% of mobile venture Vodacom, which would take Vodafone’s holding to 65% in the business

EU sends tough message on texting cost

European regulators announce campaign to slash the cost of sending a text message or down-loading data when abroad

Stansted go-ahead for 10m more flights

London City airport also won approval for large increases in flights in the biggest expansion of aviation for a decade

Airline industry faces 'year of hell'

European Regional Airlines expects number of carriers declaring bankruptcy to reach 70. Easyjet chief says it's 'gloomy out there'

Coal-fired power generators face EU threat

European Union has backed laws that would force power companies to pay for all of their carbon dioxide emissions from 2013

Way open for £700m Buncefield payout by Total

Oil company admits in High Court that explosion and ensuing fire at Hertfordshire premises could have been predicted