James Murdoch quits News International

• The News of the World phone-hacking scandal on Wednesday claimed its biggest scalp yet when James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s heir apparent, dramatically resigned as executive chairman of News International, publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, amid fresh allegations that he attempted to cover-up the scandal.
• Last year, its chief executive Rebekah Brooks was forced to resign over her role in hushing up the affair. She was arrested and is on bail. 
• Officially, the line was that Mr Murdoch (39), who joined News International five years ago, had quit to concentrate on his role as deputy chief operating officer of its parent company, the New York-based News Corporation, and play a bigger role in the company’s television business which includes Star TV and the Sky network.