Rupert Murdoch's media company has agreed to pay damages to 18 high-profile victims of tabloid phone-hacking, soccer player Ashley Cole and former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, AP reported. They are among dozens of people who were suing News Group Newspapers after their mobile phone voicemails were allegedly hacked by the now-shuttered News of the World tabloid. Details of the settlements were read out at a court hearing in London on Thursday. -- SPA