News from the BBC

Economy boost may mean pain later

Alistair Darling may be forced to set out future taxes rises to pay for a short-term boost to the economy, the BBC understands.

Johnson ponders immigrant amnesty

The Mayor of London is to commission a study of a potential amnesty for illegal immigrants in the capital.

Clinton 'will accept State post'

Hillary Clinton will agree to serve as secretary of state under US President-elect Barack Obama, the New York Times reports.

'No justification' for Brand show

Lewd calls from Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to actor Andrew Sachs had "no editorial justification", the BBC Trust says.

Cholera outbreak strikes Zimbabwe

The death toll from a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe nears 300 as the water and sanitation situation "worsens", the UN says.