The latest update in the massively gratifying unraveling of Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper holdings: Authorities believe an unnamed executive at News International, News Corporation's British subsidiary, intentionally destroyed "millions of emails" in an attempt to frustrate the criminal investigation into illegal hacking by News of the World reporters and private investigators.

Andy Coulson, the former editor of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World and British PM David Cameron's former director of communications, turned himself in to police in London today over the growing phone-hacking scandal. A statement from the Metropolitan Police reads, in part:

Here's one way to deal with a newspaper scandal: close the whole damn newspaper. James Murdoch—Rupert Murdoch's son and the head of News International, the News Corp division that publishes the British tabloid News of the World—just announced that NotW will publish its final edition this weekend.

This summer it seems every day brings dire news of a new data breach perpetrated by shadowy hackers. For those prone to panic, it might be enough to end in a hospital visit. But there's no need to freak out about every single attack reported by a hacker-obsessed media.

The Telegraph reports that News of the World phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire also has private information about families of dead British soldiers among his other creepy files. Oh, it just keeps getting worse.

Murdered teenager Milly Dowler wasn't the only person whose voicemail was hacked by the unscrupulous folks at News Corp paper News of the World—it now appears that the families of victims of the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London were "targets" as well.

In your tropical Tuesday media column: phone hacking was nobody's fault, the NYT is selling the Declaration of Independence, Graydon Carter's expensive diet, a legendary rock critic dies, and The Weather Channel's office will kill you.

News Corp paper News of the World already admitted to illegally hacking the cell phones of 24 celebrities. But that's not all they did! The paper also hacked the phone of murdered teenager Milly Dowler after she'd gone missing—even deleting messages in order to make more room.

Rupert Murdoch's News International, which operates the News of the World and his other British papers, is admitting that its reporters illegally accessed the voicemails of at least 24 celebrities and will settle a raft of lawsuits over the hacks.

It's become fairly apparent that Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloid News of the World used to hack into people's phones on a regular basis in order to get stories. But nobody wants to take the blame! Instead, we get endless lawsuits.

Banking on the world's assumption that Lindsay Lohan has, at this point, tried every drug on the planet, News of the World today published some blast-from-the-past photos depicting America's favorite trainwreck kissing Paris Hilton and shooting heroin, allegedly.

The hooker who will soon feel the wrath of David Beckham's legal team, Irma Nici, is a total liar, says UK tabloid News of the World. The funniest part of the story? They call In Touch a "downmarket" magazine. Ha!

The News of the World sent the New York Times a nasty letter over the Times' blockbuster expose on ethical breaches at the Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid. Their main argument: "Nyah Nyah, I know you are but what am I?"

Ever since Kim Kardashian displaced Paris Hilton as America's most sought-after celebutante, poor Paris has struggled to redefine her niche. Reduced now to selling nudie pics to News of the World, will Paris bounce back—or fall flat?

The British tabloid News of the World has an interview (link NSFW) with the ex-husband of hottie Russian spy Anna Chapman. Also, what appear to be naked pictures, complete with spy boobs.

A British Parliament investigation concludes that Murdoch-owned tabloid News of the World hacked phones " on industrial scale"—including those of police, military, and government officials—in pursuit of gossip on royals.

• Super Bowl XLIV made history last night: It's now the most-watched TV program in U.S. history, having bypassed the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983. [THR]
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have filed suit against the Rupert Murdoch's News of the World for reporting the couple was separating. [Guardian]
• Talks between Fox and Conan O'Brien seem to be moving ahead. As for the Super Bowl ad featuring Letterman and Leno, Letterman was reportedly interested in having Conan appear as well, although it didn't pan out.
• Ellen DeGeneres makes her debut on American Idol tomorrow. Meanwhile, talks to have Howard Stern replace Simon Cowell next season are progressing.
• Mixed news for the magazine business: newsstand sales fell in the second half of 2009, although the situation was even worse a year ago. [NYT, AdAge]
• Sarah Palin won't have to fly to NYC to tape her appearances on Fox News: The network is building its new "contributor" a TV set in her living room. [NYT]
• After dominating the box office for seven weeks, Avatar was dethroned by Dear John this weekend, although it remained No. 1 internationally. [MTV]
• Ads for Snickers, Doritos, and Google were big winners with Super Bowl viewers this year. As for the Motorola spot starring Megan Fox, she may be the first person in history to have had a "thumb double." [Reuters, NYT, NYM]

Rupert Murdoch announced plans yesterday to charge for online access to all of News Corp's media properties. Coincidentally, the company posted a $203 million loss for its fourth quarter, down from a profit of $1.1 billion from the same period last year.

British authorities are launching an investigation into allegations that Rupert Murdoch's UK newspapers paid more than $1.5 million in hush money to try to cover up the fact that they were illegally hacking into cell phones in pursuit of stories.

Oh look, Peaches Geldof just happened to bathe topless and to hold various awkward poses while a photographer snapped very clear pictures of her tattoos. The trainwreck hipster heiress must need money.