News Ltd hacked murdered girl's 'phone.

[JAS]

News Corp have withdrawn their bid for BSkyB.

Smart move, now the government won't put a block in the way.
Means in 12 months time they can just do it then the fuss has died down.

Might be a little bit longer as Lord Justice Leveson has been given 12 months to complete the judicial inquiry. Most of the pundits seemed to think it'd be nearer 2 years however they were also talking about the shareholders actually never wanting the BSkyB takeover in the first place and it only got pushed ahead because Murdoch wanted it and he has the controlling interest so they really don't have much say.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

It's all taking a bit of a, no doubt very temporary, backseat in the news today after an explosion last night at a suspected illegal distillery on an industrial estate in Lincolnshire last night killed 5 and seriously injured 1.

But so far...

Rebekah has agreed to appear before the Select Committee...Rup and little Jimmikins have said no ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14148658

Also now announced on the radio news that the 60yo man arrested (mentioned in the above link) was the Deputy Editor during Coulson's time as editor and he's been arrested for suspected phone hacking...that's now the 9th arrest as far.

Regards
JAS

[redandblack]

So Rupert doesn't want to help with their enquiries?

I wonder why not?

Surely if he knows nothing about this, he would be happy to defend his company.

[JAS]

So Rupert doesn't want to help with their enquiries?

I wonder why not?

Surely if he knows nothing about this, he would be happy to defend his company.

Yeh surprise, surprise...and that link has now changed to say that they have been summonsed but, being US citizens, they cannot be forced to appear. Not sure if that rule will apply to the judicial inquiry as well though.

A bit more info on this 9th arrest coming out too...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/ex-now-executi ... 13565.html

Earlier on Thursday former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis was arrested at his home in west London by detectives from Operation Weeting, the Scotland Yard investigation into mobile interceptions by the Sunday tabloid, said sources.

He became deputy editor of the News of the World in 2003 and served under Andy Coulson's editorship before becoming the paper's executive editor in 2007...

...Wallis is a former member of the editors' code of practice committee of the Press Complaints Commission, the British newspaper industry's self-regulating body that has been accused by politicians of being too weak to tackle serious journalistic malpractice. He is the ninth person arrested since the Metropolitan Police launched a fresh investigation into phone hacking in January.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Coverage in your own press might start to pick up a bit...this has appeared in our Telegraph today...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... ralia.html

Regards
JAS

[redandblack]

It's very unlikely, JAS.

Murdoch owns 70% of the papers here. Only one paper in Adelaide - Murdoch owned, and so far they haven't thought it worthy of a headline.

Quite the opposite, their resident columnist, Andrew Bolt, thinks any enquiry here would be a disgrace.

I hope there is such an enquiry.

[JAS]

It's very unlikely, JAS.

Murdoch owns 70% of the papers here. Only one paper in Adelaide - Murdoch owned, and so far they haven't thought it worthy of a headline.

Quite the opposite, their resident columnist, Andrew Bolt, thinks any enquiry here would be a disgrace.

I hope there is such an enquiry.

Hopefully they won't have much choice other than to report it all with things gaining momentum in America too now. Must admit, although never a fan, I have been impressed at the extensive and relatively unbiased coverage given by our Sky News which I believe is owned by News Corp.

Looking at that Telegraph site they seem to be running a daily live blog type thing that might be of interest...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -live.html

Although should probably bear in mind that their own previous owner was no angel...Conrad Black.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

I think I know what all the news channels here will be showing on Tuesday...breaking news here is that Rup and Jimbo WILL now appear before the Select Committee along with Rebekah...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-New ... ne_Hacking

Rupert and James Murdoch have bowed to pressure from MPs and agreed to give evidence to a parliamentary committee investigating the phone hacking scandal.

The News Corporation chief executive and his son, who is chairman of News International, will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday.

Embattled News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks had already agreed to give evidence at the hearing next week.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

I wonder if the newest breaking news had anything to do with their sudden change of mind...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14162545

The FBI is investigating reports that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation sought to hack the phones of victims of the 9/11 terror attacks, reports say.

Reports of a criminal probe come as a growing group of senators and a senior Republican congressman have called for an investigation.

An FBI official told the BBC that reports of probe were "credible".

An FBI inquiry would be the first sign the phone hacking scandal has crossed the Atlantic, analysts say.

...and to keep things unbiased...Sky News' version...
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World- ... ing_Claims

Well Rebekah did say when she sacked everyone at NotW that there was far worse to came.

Regards
JAS

[redandblack]

I said I wasn't confident about it being reported in Adelaide.

It's major news in the non-Murdoch press, but The Advertiser reports it as follows:

Page 4:

Two reports, the first totally quoting News Ltd's Australian boss only, saying it would never happen here.

The second, totally quoting Rupert Murdoch, complete with smiling photo.

It finishes with a two-word or so quote from the British PM, saying the BSkyB withdrawal was "the right decision".

None, or barely any, reporting of arrests, or 9/11 hacking claims at all.

The sad thing is that many people just accept this sort of crap 'reporting'.

[JAS]

wow that's pretty unbelievable in this day and age that they would seem to have their heads burried so deep in the sand. The Times and The Sun (both his) tried to play it down for the first couple of days but allegations of giving false hope to the parents of a murdered child proved to be just too much. Even Russia Today and Al Jazeera have been giving it more coverage

I believe they're up infront of the Select Committee next Tuesday at 2:30pm UK time...that's 11pm Adelaide time. Not sure how interesting or informative it will prove to be as some have said they'll most likely be the three monkeys...see no hacking, hear no hacking, speak no hacking...and refuse to answer most questions.

Should get wall to wall coverage on near enough every news channel. If you want to see it and for some reason none of yours are showing you might be able to find it online. Not sure which would be available online outside the UK...BBC and Sky News maybe...but the CNN website showed the Commons debate live so that could be a better bet.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

AT LAST...Brooks has resigned...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14166162

Suspect this might have swung the decision...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14162545

Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of News Corporation's largest shareholders, told the BBC he had no plans to sell off his stake in the company - 7% of voting shares.

But the Saudi royal, a nephew of the Saudi Arabian king, said he thought News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks should quit.

"For sure she has to go, you bet she has to go," he told the BBC's Newsnight programme.

To be replaced by Tom mockridge...not much about him on Wiki...

Tom Mockridge is the chief executive of News International, replacing Rebekah Brooks who resigned over the phone hacking scandal.[1] Previously, he was CEO of Sky Italia, part of News Corporation, News International parent company. Mockridge is a citizen of New Zealand. His wife is Italian.[2]

Be interesting to see if they find another post for her within the company or decide she's just too toxic now.

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

I said I wasn't confident about it being reported in Adelaide.

It's major news in the non-Murdoch press, but The Advertiser reports it as follows:

Page 4:

Two reports, the first totally quoting News Ltd's Australian boss only, saying it would never happen here.

The second, totally quoting Rupert Murdoch, complete with smiling photo.

It finishes with a two-word or so quote from the British PM, saying the BSkyB withdrawal was "the right decision".

None, or barely any, reporting of arrests, or 9/11 hacking claims at all.

The sad thing is that many people just accept this sort of crap 'reporting'.

In case they haven't mentioned anything about what action they are taking in your own country I've just noticed this piece from Wednesday...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14134613
(link to full article)

The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's media empire is to investigate all payments made to contributors since 2008, as the fallout from the UK phone-hacking scandal continues to widen.

News Limited boss John Hartigan said in an e-mail to staff it was "offensive" to link his firm to the UK scandal.

But he said any allegation of misconduct had to be investigated...

Regards
JAS

[fish]

Cheers for the updates JAS

[JAS]

Cheers for the updates JAS

You're very welcome luv...hope I've managed to keep it all reasonably factual and unbiased at least as much as our own press allow.

Must admit though that nobody seems to be at all sorry that Brooks has resigned. I've always considered her a deeply unpleasant person...to see why just look her up on Wiki and scroll down to 'Personal Life'...I have zero tolerance for domestic abusers regardless of gender.

Just shown on the BBC News channel...Rupert has had a private meeting with the Dowler family and they have said he gave them a "full and humble apology". Unfortunatly the BBC website is a bit behind today as BBC journalists are on a one day strike lol.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14169731

Bit more about it on Sky News website including details about the printed apology to the Nation that they are putting into national newspapers on Saturday...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-New ... ng_Scandal

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Another BIG resignation last night...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14170756

Hinton resignation

Les Hinton, chief executive of the media group's Dow Jones, was head of News International from 1995 to 2007 and has worked with Rupert Murdoch for more than five decades.

Mr Hinton, the most senior executive to leave the conglomerate, said in a statement that he was "ignorant of what apparently happened" but felt it was proper to resign.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-New ... ng_Scandal

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

Today's surprise breaking news...they've arrested Rebekah Brooks...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14178051

Ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been arrested by police investigating phone hacking and bribery at the News of the World.

The 43-year-old was arrested by appointment at a London police station and remains in custody.

She was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and on suspicion of corruption...

Sky New's report on it...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-New ... ne_Hacking

...and from CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europ ... ?hpt=hp_t1

Let's all hope that by resigning she'll still get her full remuneration package, pension, share deal or whatever Murdoch is bound to pay her

Regards
JAS

[RustyCage]

Is there any word on what the penalties will be if these people are found to have hacked peoples phones?

[JAS]

another head rolls...Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has just appeared at a press conference to announce his resignation...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14180043

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned following the phone hacking scandal.

Britain's most senior police officer said he had no knowledge of the extent of the practice and said his integrity was "completely intact".

Sir Paul has faced criticism for hiring former News of the World executive Neil Wallis - who was questioned by police investigating hacking - as an adviser.

He said his links to the journalist could hamper current investigations.

Is there any word on what the penalties will be if these people are found to have hacked peoples phones?

So far I haven't seen any mention of specific penalties. I don't think anyone is prepared to speculate that far yet. They were saying on the radio earlier today that it's possible the police inquiry could take 2 to 3 years before anyone actually gets charged and ends up in court. IIRC the judicial public inquiry has been given 12 months to report it's findings.

Regards
JAS

[Barto]

Is there any word on what the penalties will be if these people are found to have hacked peoples phones?

Put them in the stocks in the town square and throw shit at them.

What will really happen is sweet FA.