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Prince Harry’s Phone Hacking Victory Is A Landmark In The Long Saga Of British Tabloid Misconduct

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LONDON, England – The win of Prince Harry over Mirror Group Newspapers on Friday over what a British judge dubbed “habitual” criminal action is a watershed moment in the long and twisted saga of lawbreaking by Britain’s tabloid press.

Judge Timothy Fancourt decided that the Mirror newspapers had recruited private investigators to snoop on people’s personal information and had engaged in criminal phone hacking for over a decade.

It’s the latest chapter in a long story about tabloid power and attempts to control it — but it’s unlikely to be the last.

In the pre-digital era, Britain’s fiercely competitive tabloid newspapers sold millions of copies daily and would take considerable measures to gain scoops, including using deception.

One way was phone hacking, which involved dialing someone’s number and entering 0000 or another default PIN number to gain access to their voice messages. Quite often, it did.

Members of the royal family, politicians, athletes, celebrities, friends and family of prominent persons, and regular residents who found themselves in the public eye were all targets.

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Prince Harry’s Phone Hacking Victory Is A Landmark In The Long Saga Of British Tabloid Misconduct

In his verdict, Fancourt stated that phone hacking was “habitual” at Mirror publications as early as 1998 and continued until at least 2011.

Most people first heard of phone hacking when the royal editor of the News of the World and a private investigator was convicted in 2007 for eavesdropping on messages sent by Prince William and others on royal aides’ phones.

Rupert Murdoch, the paper’s owner, characterized the misbehavior as the work of two rogue employees. Then, in 2011, it was revealed that the News of the World had hacked Milly Dowler’s phone, a 13-year-old girl who had been abducted and eventually found murdered.

The uproar triggered a controversy that forced Murdoch to close the 168-year-old tabloid, Britain’s best-selling newspaper.

The government established a judge-led public inquiry into media ethics to investigate the complicated web of links — close and, some say, too intimate — that bind Britain’s political, media, and police elites. Justice Brian Leveson advocated establishing a powerful press watchdog backed by government regulation. His findings have been largely implemented, but substantial portions of the press have been resistant and fearful of state intervention.

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Prince Harry’s Phone Hacking Victory Is A Landmark In The Long Saga Of British Tabloid Misconduct

Judge Fancourt stated that it was obvious that Leveson had not been informed of the whole truth. He claimed that the Mirror’s misconduct “was concealed for years from the board, Parliament, the Leveson Inquiry, shareholders, and the public.”

Following the 2011 discoveries, numerous News of the World editors and executives were charged with illegal phone hacking. Former editor Andy Coulson was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2014 for conspiring to hack phones after an eight-month trial at London’s Central Criminal Court. Five additional accused were acquitted, while others pleaded guilty.

There have been no additional criminal cases since then, but Murdoch’s News Group and Mirror Group have spent hundreds of millions to settle claims from dozens of claimed victims of hacking and other illicit behavior. Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, is facing hacking lawsuits from Prince Harry, Elton John, and others.

While many tabloid targets have settled out of court, Prince Harry was adamant about going to court. The Mirror Group action is one of three he has filed against newspaper publishers and is the first to go to trial.

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Prince Harry’s Phone Hacking Victory Is A Landmark In The Long Saga Of British Tabloid Misconduct

Harry has made it his mission to tame the tabloid press, which he blames for his mother Princess Diana’s murder, for harassing him throughout his childhood, and for helping drive him and his wife Meghan out of the United Kingdom.

In a statement delivered by his lawyer, David Sherborne, outside the High Court in London on Friday, he said, “Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability.”

The judge granted Harry a paltry 140,000 pounds ($180,000) in damages, but the case is likely to cost the Mirror Group much more, as the findings may enhance the claims of others who have brought lawsuits against the corporation. To satisfy charges of illegal information harvesting, the publisher has already paid more than 100 million pounds ($126 million).

The judge decided against two of Harry’s co-claimants because they had waited too long to start legal action, giving the firm a partial victory.

On Friday, PLC, Mirror Group’s parent company, stated that the verdict is intended to “reduce the number of live claims, and substantially limit and bar all or most future claims” for prior wrongdoing.

The decision might seriously affect Sly Bailey, the former CEO of Mirror Group’s parent business, and Paul Vickers, the firm’s ex-legal director. The judge said they both knew about the hacking and covered it up.

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Prince Harry’s Phone Hacking Victory Is A Landmark In The Long Saga Of British Tabloid Misconduct

It also puts more pressure on Piers Morgan, a former Daily Mirror editor who has consistently denied knowing anything about phone hacking at the tabloid. The judge stated there was “compelling evidence” that editors of all Mirror publications were aware that phone hacking “was being used extensively and habitually.”

“I’ve never hacked a phone or told anyone else to hack a phone,” Morgan said following the verdict on Friday.

People who broke the law, according to Prince Harry, should face criminal proceedings.

“I respectfully call upon the authorities, the financial regulator, the stock market who were deliberately deceived by Mirror Group, and indeed the Metropolitan Police and prosecuting authorities to do their duty for the British public and to investigate bringing charges against the company and those who have broken the law,” the prime minister said in a statement.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Trudeau GST Tax Holiday to Cost Taxpayers $6.3 Billion

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month GST break on some purchases and a one-time $250 rebate for all Canadians earning less than $150,000. The proposed GST break would last from December 14 to February 15.

The Liberals said it would cover various things, including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals, and beer and wine. It also refers to real and artificial Christmas trees, snack foods and beverages, and video game systems.

The move will cost taxpayers almost $4.7 billion, and the GST exemption will cost an additional $1.6 billion, totaling $6.3 Billion.

The federal government is now running a significant deficit. This raises the question of who will have to foot the $6.3 billion bill for today’s one-time payments. The government will have to borrow the money, and future taxpayers must either repay it or service the additional debt perpetually.

Critics argue that the GST credit is a collection of terrible ideas that will do little to lift Canada out of the long-term economic rut in which our economy is stuck.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre responded Thursday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge of a “GST Holiday” for Canadians, calling it a “tax trick.”

Poilievre stated that the temporary exemption from the Goods and Services Tax on various ordinary commodities “would not make up for the permanent quadrupling carbon tax on heat, housing, food, and fuel.”

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet stated he is “against any idea of a prime minister who says, ‘I will give you money in order for you to consider voting for me.'”

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, temporary sales tax holidays will only increase confusion and administrative burden for small business owners.

A temporary sales tax decrease would help boost demand in some industries, including restaurants, Canadians, and companies, which require sustainable tax relief during the slow post-holiday season.

The changes amid an inflation-driven affordability crisis have left many dissatisfied with the Trudeau government. A federal election is scheduled for before next October, although it might happen sooner if the minority government falls before then.

For months, the Conservatives have held a double-digit lead over the Liberals in public opinion polls, with Leader Pierre Poilievre promising to cut taxes and government spending to restore affordability.

High inflation has also pressured the Liberals to avoid proposing policies that would boost spending and raise fuel prices.

According to the Fraser Institute, The Trudeau government got one thing fundamentally right: Lowering the tax burden on Canadians has benefits. Unfortunately, the policy package it has proposed to deliver tax relief is completely wrong.

It lowers the incorrect taxes, moves taxes temporarily rather than lowering them, does little to improve economic incentives, and punishes future taxpayers. With the holiday season approaching, this attempt at a gift for Canadian taxpayers is the economic equivalent of a lump of coal in the stocking.

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Matt Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

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Matt Gaetz talks to reporters

Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s candidate for Attorney General, citing concerns about a federal sex trafficking probe that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed.

Gaetz resigned after failing to persuade the Senate to endorse his contentious candidacy. Shortly after Gaetz’s unexpected departure, the president-elect issued a statement applauding his former AG nominee’s choice to seek Senate confirmation.

“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all the great things he will do!” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.

Gaetz had earlier stated that he was retiring from his current seat in Congress and would not take the oath of office for the upcoming session, which begins in January. Now that he has withdrawn from consideration for AG, his future in Washington is uncertain.

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Eric Hovde Concedes The United States Senate Race To Tammy Baldwin.

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Eric Hovde

(VOR News) – Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, has acknowledged that he was defeated by Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for the same seat on the ballot.

Baldwin acknowledged Hovde’s defeat and consented to it. Furthermore, he released a statement in which he contends that the election results are not only inaccurate, but also devoid of any factual foundation.

Eric Hovde experienced this two weeks after the election.

Baldwin emerged as the unofficial victor of the Senate campaign in Wisconsin, a race that was closely monitored by a significant number of individuals. Baldwin was awarded the title of victor on November 6th. Baldwin emerged victorious by a razor-thin margin.

According to the data provided by the Associated Press, Baldwin emerged victorious by a margin of 29,116 ballots, which is approximately equivalent to 0.9 percent of the total votes cast. Baldwin emerged victorious by a substantial margin, as indicated by the results.

Hovde issued his public apology subsequent to the conclusion of the canvassing of the results by the majority of county clerks throughout the state. This process will ultimately result in the results being recognized as official. Publication of Eric Hovde’s decision. Not only were the results announced at this time, but they were also proclaimed in an official capacity.

The exact phrase of the announcement, “Thank you for your support,” was included in a post by Eric Hovde on Monday and published on the social networking site X.

The public was notified of this announcement. The announcement was public on Monday. It has drawn a lot of attention. “It is time to begin moving on.”

In contrast, Eric Hovde’s film began with a somewhat less inclusive tone, which persisted throughout. He made this assumption without offering any evidence to back it up, and his claims that there were “many troubling issues” with absentee ballots tabulated late on election night were factually incorrect. His claims were not supported by empirical evidence.

His claims were unsupported by any proof. Not a single piece of evidence could possibly prove that his allegations were correct. He stated in the statement that “numerous supporters” had demanded that he challenge the election results. He acknowledged receiving the request.

Eric Hovde acknowledged receiving these demands.

In particular, Eric Hovde asserts, “However, a request for a recount would serve no purpose if it were not for a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts.”

Subsequently, you would recount the identical ballots, regardless of their authenticity. This is the reason, as elucidated in this article. This is the rationale for the current state of affairs.

Hovde and his campaign refrained from issuing any public statements subsequent to Baldwin’s disclosure that Eric Hovde had emerged victorious in the election, which transpired over a week after Baldwin’s initial announcement.

The previous week, he uploaded a video to social media platforms that expressed his “deeply concerned” sentiments regarding the election results in Milwaukee.

The election was conducted in Milwaukee. While the film was being screened, there was a discussion regarding the results of the election in Milwaukee. As the ballots were still being counted in the largest city in Wisconsin on the evening of the election, he expressed his “shock” at the sequence of events that had transpired.

Eric Hovde was emphasizing the occurrence of specific events.

In addition, he declared that ballots were still being tallied at the time of the election. Eric Hovde made this declaration during the voting period, while ballots were still being tabulated.

Baldwin’s team referenced her victory speech, which she delivered the week prior to the election, in response to a request for comment that was submitted on Monday.

In response to the campaign’s request, this action was implemented.

A representative of Baldwin’s team has verified that “Hovde has not called,” which is consistent with the information that was disclosed on Monday morning. The representative who provided these details has worked in a variety of capacities throughout their career.

SOURCE: WPR

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