A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Google faces German complaints in EU anti-trust investigation

Google is facing European Union anti-trust complaints from publishers who say the search engine discriminates against their sites.

Eckhard Bremer, who represents two German publishing groups, said EU regulators took over part of a complaint initially filed with the German anti-trust agency in January.

The EU will investigate fair search issues, he said, and German officials will continue to investigate fair pay for the use of content.

The EU was already investigating whether Google discriminated against competing services in its search results. – (Bloomberg)

ACC secures order for €5m on couple's unpaid loans

ACC Bank has secured summary judgment orders for some €5 million against a couple over unpaid loans advanced to develop office accommodation in Wexford.

The bank brought proceedings against Stephen Carr and his wife Patricia, Green Lakes, Murrintown, Co Wexford, over a December 2007 loan facility for a maximum €5 million to develop office accommodation at Drinagh, Rosslare Road, Wexford.

The bank claimed the facility was for an 18 month period and it had advanced €4.49 million under it.

It demanded immediate repayment of €4.9 million – the facility, plus interest – last June but that sum was not repaid. It claimed €5 million remained due and owing.

When the proceedings came before Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday, he was told summary judgment could be granted and no defence was being entered.

Estate gives back $7bn Madoff money

The estate of Madoff insider Jeffry Picower has agreed to give back $7.2 billion (€5.46 billion) to settle civil claims, significantly boosting the amount available to repay investors.

Picower, a long-time friend of Bernard Madoff, died of a heart attack in Florida in October 2009 – five months after court-appointed trustee Irving Picard claimed his rates of returns from his investments were implausibly high. – (Reuters)

German business morale escalates

German business morale rose to its strongest level since 1991 in December, buoyed by a strong domestic sector that is helping the economy power ahead of weaker euro zone peers.

The Munich-based Ifo think tank said its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, rose to 109.9 from 109.3 in November. The rise was the seventh in a row and surpassed expectations for a fall to 109.1. – (Reuters)