Business news, technology, media and finance reports

News Corporation

Police arrest five at Murdoch's Sun

UK police on Saturday arrested five people at The Sun tabloid newspaper, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. The arrests were connected to "Operation Elveden," in which the paper allegedly bribed police for story tips.

GREECE

Greek ministers resign as bailout hangs in the balance

Five Greek politicians, including the deputy foreign minister, resigned Friday over a crunch bailout agreement that the country needs to avoid bankruptcy. Greece’s future in the euro is now increasingly precarious and violence erupted in Athens.

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APPLE

Steve Jobs ‘twisted the truth’, say FBI files

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation Thursday released a 191-page file it compiled on late Apple founder Steve Jobs. The report contains information about Jobs' early hashish and LSD use, and questions his integrity.

AVIATION

US Senate backs China on EU airlines carbon tax

The European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has infuriated the Chinese, which has banned its airlines from contributing, while a bill has been approved by the US Senate calling on the government to use “all tools” to keep US operators exempt.

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ECONOMY

French trade deficit hit record €69.6 billion in 2011

France’s trade deficit reached a record €69.6 billion in 2011, despite good export figures in the aeronautics sector, French junior minister for Trade Pierre Lellouche (pictured) said in an interview published Tuesday.

CHINA

Chinese airlines shun EU carbon tax

ECONOMY

Debt-ridden Hungarian flag carrier grounds all flights

Hungary’s national carrier Malev ceased operations Friday, grounding all its flights and stranding more than 7,000 passengers after some of its planes were held overseas for unpaid debts.

US ECONOMY

US unemployment rate at three-year low

The US jobless rate dropped to a three-year low of 8.3 percent and the economy created 243,000 jobs in January, marking the fastest employment growth in nine months, the Labor Department said Friday.

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FRANCE - INTERNET

French court orders Google to pay rival €500,000

A French commercial court ruled Wednesday that Google Maps had abused its dominant business position to undercut competitors and ordered the US Internet giant to pay 500,000 euros to the plaintiff in the case.

FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012

Bank-bashing French presidential hopeful heads to London

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FRANCE

Dassault face tough road to close India fighter contract

India's decision to choose France's Dassault Aviation firm to supply 126 fighters is just the start of a long path strewn with red tape, analysts say, as India will likely insist on participation from its defence industry.

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FINANCE

French bankers back British PM’s Tobin tax jibe

EUROZONE

Eurozone unemployment rate hits record high of 10.4%

Unemployment in the 17-nation eurozone has risen to its highest level ever, hitting 10.4% in December, Eurostat data showed on Tuesday. It is the highest jobless rate recorded since June 1998, before the single currency was introduced in 1999.

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