Murdoch says Britain will have a new Sunday paper next week

Feb 20, 2012, 7:56 GMT

London - Media magnate Rupert Murdoch will publish a new weekly tabloid in Britain next Sunday, his company News International has confirmed.

An announcement in the daily Sun newspaper said Monday that the first edition of The Sun on Sunday is to be published on February 26.

'There will be a Sun every day,' the announcement said.

Murdoch, whose British operations have been hit by phone hacking and corruption scandals, announced Friday that he would launch a new Sunday newspaper, but left the timing open.

The new title is to replace the News of the World, a best-selling Sunday tabloid closed down by Murdoch over last year's phone hacking scandal, which has cost the company tens of millions of pounds in compensation and legal costs.

The storm over the hacking of telephone voicemail messages of celebrities, politicians, soldiers and crime victims - including murdered teenager Milly Dowler - caused a public outcry.

Lately, a number of Sun journalists have been questioned by police in connection with allegations that they made 'corrupt' payments to public officials, including the police.

Murdoch, 80, flew into Britain from the US on Friday, saying that he would maintain his commitment to the Sun and stay in Britain to help solve the current problems and oversee the launch of the new newspaper.