LONDON // The scandals swirling around the ties between the British press, politicians and police after the revelations about the News of the World have left the country examining its own form of wasta, or connections.
Allegations of phone hacking and criminal practices by newspapers within Rupert Murdoch's News Corp media empire have thrown attention on the social ties between the political and media classes cemented at parties in the English countryside and at health spas. Class division remains strong in Britain but successful commoners are now allowed in the clique.
The Conservative-led government of David Cameron, who attended Eton, and a majority of his ministers are millionaires but they work alongside others who prospered without the advantages that come with being born wealthy and socially connected.
The guest list of the April royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton illustrated an upper class embrace of popular commoners such as rock and sports stars.
Rupert Murdoch is an example of a commoner taken into the elite fold. He was born in Australia and is a US-naturalised citizen. He has been courted by the establishment because of newspaper and television power.
He faces a grilling in the British parliament today by politicians who until only weeks ago would have been keen to befriend the 80-year-old media mogul.
Some commentators have spoken, perhaps with hyperbole, of a "British Spring" in which the people shake off the hold on power by a group of politicians, policemen and journalists who regularly enjoyed each other's company at social gatherings.
Although there is widespread anger at the tactics used by tabloid journalists, the public still has an appetite for gossip. Now it is the social lives of the key players in the phone-hacking scandal that are being examined.
British newspapers talk about the "Chipping Norton Set", referring to a town some 100 kilometres west of London and close to the homes of Mr Cameron and Rebekah Brooks, who was forced to quit on Friday as chief executive of News International, News Corp's British newspaper arm.
Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Mr Murdoch whose film company was recently bought by News Corp, and Matthew Freud, her husband and a press relations executive, held a party at their 22-bedroom home in Chipping Norton this month, just before the phone-hacking furore exploded.
"The party guest list paints a telling picture of the powerful web of influence that the couple had spun before the hacking crisis erupted," said the Mail on Sunday newspaper. "It reads like a roll call of the modern establishment - with the Murdochs and other News International executives at the hub."
Along with Ms Brooks were Michael Gove and Ed Vaizey, government ministers, and David Miliband, a former Labour minister and brother of Ed, the Labour leader who is at the front of the political stampede against Mr Murdoch.
Other journalists at the party included Robert Peston, the BBC's business editor, who used to work at the Financial Times with Will Lewis, the group general manager of News International.
Also under scrutiny is the guest list of Champneys, an exclusive health spa. Paul Stephenson, who resigned as Britain's top policeman on Sunday, enjoyed a free five-week stay there. Public relations for the spa and for Mr Stephenson were conducted by Neil Wallis, a former News of the World executive arrested last week in connection with phone hacking.
Another regular guest at Champneys was Ms Brooks, whose husband Charlie, also an Old Etonian, ran an alternative medicine centre there.
The avalanche of revelations has led to some calls for a formalisation of the division of power in Britain in the form of a written constitution. The country, along with Israel and New Zealand, does not have one.
sdevi@the national.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Race card
4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.
The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.
All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.
No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE