Jonathan Trigell talks to James Kidd about the gene-manipulating technologies in his dystopian new novel – and about his own genetic inheritence

The scale of private links between David Cameron and News International was exposed for the first time last night, with the Prime Minister shown to have met Rupert Murdoch's executives on no fewer than 26 occasions in just over a year since he entered Downing Street.

Oliver Wright previews the big fight – and the questions that could deliver a knockout

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson stayed as a guest of Prime Minister David Cameron at Chequers in March, it was disclosed today.

Prime Minister David Cameron believes Rebekah Brooks took "the right decision" in quitting as chief executive of News International in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World, Downing Street said today.

Here is the full internal message from Rebekah Brooks to News International staff:

The Catholic Church has been criticised for accepting a six-figure donation from James Murdoch ahead of him being given a personal audience with Pope Benedict during last year's papal visit. Mr Murdoch was among major donors who were invited to personally greet Pope Benedict after a special mass at Westminster Cathedral during the pontiff's visit last September. It is believed that the Murdoch family paid a contribution towards the Papal visit of around £100,000.

Rupert Murdoch will come face to face with victims of his employees' systematic phone hacking next week after the media mogul gave way and agreed to give evidence on the scandal to Parliament.

Rupert Murdoch and his son James today bowed to pressure from MPs and agreed to give evidence next week to a Commons committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal.

"Can someone please tell me who Robert Peston works for?" asked one respondent yesterday on the BBC business editor's must-read blog on the corporation's website.

James Murdoch's long-cherished dream of taking over the broadcaster BSkyB was yesterday delayed when the bid was referred for a full investigation by the Competition Commission.