British prosecutors have announced plans to charge eight people over the phone-hacking scandal that has engulfed Rupert Murdoch’s News International media empire. The company’s News of the World tabloid was shut down last year following revelations executives and reporters had conspired to hack into the phones and intercept the communications of hundreds of people. Among those charged are former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, a top aide and close confidante of Rupert Murdoch, and Andy Coulson, the former spokesperson of British Prime Minister David Cameron.