A businessman who steered Conrad Black’s Hollinger newspaper empire through a storm of lawsuits and investigations told a court that the former media mogul “was very knowledgeable” about the finances of the company he is accused of swindling out of £44m (€65m).

Former media mogul Conrad Black’s trial began with the judge questioning a man who lost money in the WorldCom debacle, a woman whose investments went sour and more than three dozen other prospective jurors.

AT Hollinger International’s 2003 annual meeting, Conrad Black tried to disarm critics who alleged that he and top executives enriched themselves at shareholders’ expense.

A lawyer for Conrad Black has denied prosecutors’ claims that the former newspaper tycoon gave them false and misleading information about the extent of his assets.

R&B singer R Kelly has appeared in a Chicago court for an initial hearing on child pornography charges.

R&B star R Kelly, released from a Florida jail, reported to Chicago police today to face child porn charges stemming from a video that authorities say shows the Grammy winner having sex with a 13-year-old girl.