A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Murdoch may sell Chinese TV stake
News Corp has discussed withdrawing from Phoenix Satellite Television, its Hong Kong-based Chinese television joint venture, in a move that would see Rupert Murdoch walk away from his most successful effort to break into China's tightly controlled media market.
Sources said News Corp had talked about selling all of its 38 per cent stake in Phoenix. There is speculation that the company has not facilitated News Corp's own expansion into China to the degree that Mr Murdoch had hoped.
Phoenix has in recent years become China's leading commercial broadcaster, while regulators have restricted the reach of News Corp's own Star TV unit to upscale hotels and apartments and the southern province of Guangdong.- (Financial Times service)
US reprieve for BlackBerrys
A US judge yesterday stopped short of ordering an immediate shutdown of millions of BlackBerry portable e-mail devices, but reminded manufacturer Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) it had already been found to have infringed the patents of NTP.
US district judge James Spencer also expressed scepticism about RIM's argument that a BlackBerry shutdown would hobble critical public services and infrastructure.
He noted the company had told investors that its software work-around would avoid disruptions to users.
Judge Spencer said he would take the arguments under advisement and issue a decision on an injunction "as soon as reasonably possible". RIM shares soared on the decision. - (Reuters)
Insurance agent admits theft
An insurance agent who was jailed recently for defrauding €2.3 million through bogus pension schemes has also admitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing personal documents belonging to another person.
Noel Fitzpatrick of St Gabriels, Johnstown Road, Cabinteely, pleaded guilty to stealing an AIB bank statement, wage slips, a birth certificate and a P60 form, the property of a south Co Dublin resident on a date between October 10 and October 24, 2003.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentencing to a later date when full facts of the case will be heard.
MEP upbeat on Equitable inquiry
Fine Gael MEP Mairéad McGuinness has said she is pleased with progress made by the European Parliament's committee of inquiry into the treatment of investors in the collapsed UK insurance company Equitable Life.
Ms McGuinness, who chairs the committee, said it had set out its objectives and the methodology it intended to use in its investigation. The 22-member committee has four months to submit an interim report to the European Parliament.
Fyffes faces DCC case deadline
The board of Fyffes has until Friday, March 10th, to decide whether it wishes to appeal the judgement in the case where it alleged insider dealing against DCC and its managing director Jim Flavin.
The fruit group lost the marathon case in the High Court and has been left with 90 per cent of the associated legal costs, thought to be €18 to €20 million in total.
In her ruling Ms Justice Mary Laffoy found that although Mr Flavin and DCC had dealt in the shares, and not their Dutch-based subsidiary, Lotus Green, as claimed by the company, the information that Mr Flavin had at the time was not price-sensitive.
