LONDON - Ex-News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson were told yesterday they will go on trial for phone hacking at the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid in September 2013. The decision leaves the scandal hanging over British Prime Minister David Cameron for another year because he is a close friend of Brooks and he employed Coulson as his director of communications. A judge set the date after several defendants appeared at the Old Bailey court in London. AFP
NEW YORK - An auction of the contents of philanthropist Brooke Astor's two homes has brought in more than US$18.8 million. Sotheby's offered 901 objects, including European and Asian furnishings, Old Masters, Qing Dynasty paintings, tea sets, silverware, jewellery, a porcelain menagerie, more than 100 dog paintings and even the uniforms of Astor's domestic staff at a two-day auction. AP