Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — A prominent British TV presenter said Wednesday that CNN talk-show host Piers Morgan gave him aprimer on phone hacking. BBC quiz-show host and television news presenter Jeremy Paxman told a media ethics inquiry headed byLord Justice Brian Leveson that Morgan delivered his warning in 2002 over lunch at the headquarters of the Mirror newspaper, which he was then editing. Paxman said that Morgan “explained the way to get access to people’s messages was to go to the factory default setting and press either 0000 or 1234 and that if you didn’t put on your own code, (in) his words, ‘You’re a fool.”’ Journalists at Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World, which Morgan briefly edited before moving to the Mirror, routinely hacked phones to get stories, bypassing weak security to illegally eavesdrop on private conversations of politicians, celebrities, sports stars, and other public figures. Morgan testified before Leveson late last year, suggesting he’d only been aware of phone hacking in general terms.Quizzed about statements he’d made suggesting that many in the British newspaper business were involved in phone hacking, Morgan said he’d merely been repeating gossip he picked off the industry’s rumor mill. The CNN star has repeatedly denied having ever hacked a phone or knowingly run material obtained by phone hacking. Morgan didn’t immediately answer questions about Paxman’s testimony sent via e-mail, but he did comment on Twitter. “Right - that’s the last time I’m inviting Jeremy Paxman to lunch,” Morgan wrote. “Ungrateful little wretch.”

Lady Gaga is as confused as anyone about whether she’ll be allowed to performin Indonesia. Islamic hardliners have threatened violence, saying her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves could corruptyouth. Police initially denied a permit for the “Born This Way Ball” but are now hinting the concert could go ahead if the pop diva tones down the show. She wrote Tuesday on Twitter: “The Jakarta situation is 2-fold: Indonesian authorities demand I censor the show & religious extremist separately, are threatening violence.

If the show does go on as scheduled, I will perform the BTWBall alone.” What she meant wasn’t clear, and her promoters have not commented.