* Cameron has become vocal in his criticism of News Corp, and joined the opposition in calling on the company to withdraw its bid for BSkyB.

* Prime Minister David Cameron had close links to News Corp through his friendship with Brooks and Coulson. Hoare had told the New York Times that phone-hacking by the News of the World was more extensive than the paper had acknowledged. * Former News of the World journalist Sam Hoare was found dead on Monday but police said they were not treating it as suspicious. Coulson was arrested on July 8 on suspicion of phone-hacking and corruption, and released on bail. * Andy Coulson, who followed Brooks as editor of the News of the World, resigned after the 2007 convictions and was later appointed by then opposition leader David Cameron as his communications chief in 2007. He has been criticised for failing to grasp the enormity of the situation. * James Murdoch, RupertвЂ™s son and heir apparent, heads the groupвЂ™s Asian and European operations.

вЂњI hope that you all realise it is inconceivable that I knew or, worse, sanctioned these appalling allegations,вЂќ she wrote in a memo to staff. * Brooks was editor of the tabloid when it was alleged some of the most serious hacking cases took place, including Milly DowlerвЂ™s voicemail. He initially backed Brooks but later accepted her resignation. Murdoch flew into London on July 10 to take charge of the crisis. * Rupert Murdoch, founder and chief executive of global news and entertainment giant News Corp, owns BritainвЂ™s Sun, Times and Sunday Times newspapers and has wielded enormous political power in the country for decades.

Endless space 2 guide to hacking