A "momentous" court battle to determine the future of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and his £14.9 billion family trust begins in Nevada today. The fate of "a string of newspapers and television channels consumed by millions of people around the world" is at stake, as well as "thousands of jobs" and "billions of pounds", said Sky News.

As Rupert Murdoch prepares to do battle with three of his own children in a Nevada courtroom this week on behalf of his eldest son, Lachlan, two more of the media mogul’s offspring will remain on the sidelines.

A court battle to determine the future of Rupert Murdoch's media empire and a £14.9bn family trust begins on Monday. The case will pit 93-year-old Mr Murdoch against three of his eldest children over who will gain the most voting shares and power to control News Corp and Fox News when the billionaire dies.