LONDON // The first trial from the phone-hacking scandal that sank Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World opens in Britain on Monday with his key aide Rebekah Brooks and the prime minister’s former media chief Andy Coulson among the defendants.
In what media commentators have dubbed the “trial of the century”, eight people will appear at the Old Bailey in London for the start of up to four months of hearings on a scandal that shook the British establishment and rocked Mr Murdoch’s media empire and the entire British newspaper industry.
The charges range from illegally hacking the mobile-phone voicemails of more than 600 victims, including a murdered schoolgirl and celebrities such as Paul McCartney, to bribing public officials for stories and hiding evidence.
The trial is expected to hear explosive testimony about the scandal that forced Australian-born Murdoch to shut down the weekly tabloid in disgrace in 2011, and threatened to drag in David Cameron’s government.
The trial will formally open on Monday but the prosecution’s opening statement is expected to be delayed by the selection of a jury and by legal arguments.
The main players are Brooks, the flame-haired former chief executive of Murdoch’s British newspaper operations, and Coulson, the journalist-turned-media-lynchpin for Mr Cameron.
Ms Brooks, 45, who rose from a secretary to edit the News of the World and its daily sister paper The Sun while becoming one of Mr Murdoch’s closest confidantes, denies phone hacking, conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, and perverting the course of justice.
Her husband Charlie, 50, a racehorse trainer, her personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 49, and former News International security chief Mark Hanna, 50, deny obstructing justice along with Ms Brooks herself by concealing evidence in the frantic last days of the News of the World.
Mr Coulson, 45, a former editor of the newspaper, denies hacking and paying officials for a Buckingham Palace phone directory containing the royal family’s contact details.
Also on trial are former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner and head of news Ian Edmondson, who both deny phone hacking.
The final defendant is royal editor Clive Goodman, who is charged along with Mr Coulson for bribing officials and also pleads not guilty.
A public inquiry ordered by Mr Cameron and led by judge Brian Leveson heard evidence on the scandal, but it is the first time that criminal charges will be put to the alleged key players.
The political commentator Peter Oborne wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The Old Bailey will host the trial of the century. While the Leveson Inquiry generated dramatic headlines, all the most important areas of criminal investigation were out of bounds.”
Oborne said that “much of the fascination will be human” but stressed that the trial was of “extraordinary political significance”.
A second trial involving several Sun journalists accused of bribing officials is provisionally due to start in February.
The scandal erupted in July 2011 with revelations that the News of the World had hacked the voicemails of Milly Dowler, a missing schoolgirl who was later found murdered, and led to the closure of the paper after 168 years in print.
Dowler is the subject of specific charges against Mr Coulson, Ms Brooks and Mr Kuttner.
At the time of the hacking revelations, Conservative leader Mr Cameron faced questions about his employment of Mr Coulson, who was his media chief from 2007 until 2011, as well as his friendship with Ms Brooks and her husband.
The eight people going on trial on Monday are the first among the dozens that have been arrested as part of a huge, multi-faceted police investigation into criminal practices by Britain’s famously raucous press.
The shockwaves from the scandal are still being felt two years later.
Mr Murdoch’s New York-based News Corp has paid out millions of pounds to hacking victims and faces further bills to come. He has divided News Corp into two companies, separating the television and film business from the newspaper and publishing arm.
Britain’s newspaper industry is meanwhile fighting the introduction of tough regulatory measures in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry.
The papers said last week they would take legal action to challenge the government’s plan for a press standards organisation backed by a so-called “royal charter”.
They say the plan is tantamount to state regulation of the press.
* Agence France-Presse
WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
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The specs
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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Company%20Profile
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RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security