News of the World to close amid hacking scandal

[dutchman]

This Sunday's issue of the News of the World will be the last edition of the paper, News International chairman James Murdoch has said.



In the past few days, claims have been made that the paper authorised hacking into the mobile phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of 7/7 bombing victims.

Mr Murdoch said proceeds from the last edition would go to good causes.

Downing Street said it had no role or involvement in the decision.

In a statement made to staff, Mr Murdoch said the good things the News of the World does "have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong - indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company".

"The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself."

He went on: "In 2006, the police focused their investigations on two men. Both went to jail. But the News of the World and News International failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose.

"Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued.

"As a result, the News of the World and News International wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter.

"We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences. This was not the only fault.

"The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong."

[dutchman]

Andy Coulson to be arrested over phone hacking tomorrow.



Andy Coulson has been told by police that he will be arrested on Friday morning over suspicions that he knew about, or had direct involvement in, the hacking of mobile phones during his editorship of the News of the World.

The Guardian understands that a second arrest is also to be made in the next few days of a former senior journalist at the paper.

Leaks from News International forced police to speed up their plans to arrest the two key suspects in the explosive phone-hacking scandal.

The Guardian knows the identity of the second suspect but is witholding the name in order to avoid prejudicing the ongoing police investigation.

Coulson, who resigned as David Cameron's director of communications in January, was contacted on Thursday by detectives and asked to present himself at a police station in central London on Friday, where he will be told that he will be formally questioned under suspicion of involvement in hacking.

After being questioned by detectives from Operation Weeting – a process that could take several hours – the former rising star of News International is likely to be released on bail conditions that include appearing at court at a later date along with his three former colleagues who have already been arrested: Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup.

The arrest will be embarrassing for David Cameron who consistently defended his decision to hire the controversial former journalist amid mounting evidence of his involvement in the hacking scandal.

[rebbonk]

Call me cynical...

[rebbonk]

Daily Star now raided ....

[dutchman]

[rebbonk]

Max Mosley's revenge?

[dutchman]

Rupert Murdoch has told reporters that protecting Rebekah Brooks is his "first priority" in dealing with the News of the World hacking scandal.



The News Corp chief arrived in the UK today to hold crisis talks with executives on how to handle the controversy, which stemmed from accusations that the News of the World hacked into mobiles belonging to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and relatives of 7/7 bombing victims.

Murdoch has faced pressure to fire Brooks from her position as chief executive at News International after it emerged that the hacking of Dowler's voicemail occurred during her time as News of the World editor.

However, the 80-year-old made his position clear today when he responded to a reporter's query about what was his top priority by gesturing to Brooks and declaring: "This one".

Murdoch previously stated that News International will "proactively cooperate with the police in all investigations" under Brooks's leadership.

Murdoch's son James also praised Brooks for her strong "standard of ethics" and claimed to be "satisfied that she had [no] knowledge" of the hacking undertaken on behalf of her paper. Brooks herself has refused to resign from News International.

Rupert Murdoch's vow to stand by Brooks comes on the same day as the final edition of the News Of The World was published, putting some 200 jobs in jeopardy.