The F.C.C. Loosens Its Media Rules
Date: 28 July 2001
Editorial says Federal Communications Commission's waiving of longstanding restrictions to give Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp control over second major television outlet in New York City should prompt Congressional exploration of ways of ensuring diversity and competition in media business
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Censors, Spies and Scholars
Date: 28 July 2001
By Bei Ling
Bei Ling
Op-Ed article by Bei Ling, who was arrested in China last year for publishing literary journal, decries news censorship and suppression of free speech in her homeland; comments on arrest and deportation of Gao Zhan, Qin Guangguang and Li Shaomin; expresses hope that Secretary of State Colin Powell will make human rights, media freedom and creation of legal system that meets international standards focal point of his agenda in upcoming visit; drawing (M)
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Indian Police Arrest Man Loquaciously Claiming He Killed the 'Bandit Queen'
Date: 28 July 2001
By Barry Bearak
Barry Bearak
Man claiming to have murdered Phoolan Devi, India's legendary 'bandit queen,' is arrested as he boasts of crime at impromptu news conference; police had been desperately searching for man named Pankaj Singh when he showed up in town of Dehra Dun and held forth to rapt audience; after making arrest, police learn that his real name is Sher Singh Rana; Devi, notorious lawbreaker who went on to become celebrated lawmaker, was killed at her New Delhi home as she returned from session of Parliament (M)
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World Briefing | Africa: Zimbabwe: Crackdown On BBC Journalists
Date: 27 July 2001
By Rachel L. Swarns (NYT)
Rachel Swarns
Zimbabwe government suspends accreditation of BBC correspondents, citing 'distortions and misrepresentations' in reporting; move is latest crackdown on foreign journalists, who have criticized government's support of black militants who have invaded white-owned farms and threatened white businessmen and opposition party members (S)
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PERFORMANCE FOOD IS BUYING SPRINGFIELD FOODSERVICE
Date: 27 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
The Performance Food Group, a food wholesaler, said yesterday that it had agreed to buy a food distributor, Springfield Foodservice, for $70 million to expand in the Northeast. Performance said it would pay $42 million in stock and $28 million in cash, and assume $15 million in debt for Springfield, which is closely held. Performance, based in Richmond, Va., will get a 140,000-square-foot distribution center in Springfield, Mass., where Springfield Foodservice is based. Springfield Foodservice has 150 employees and ships food to restaurants and schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York.
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PRICES ON FIVE HAIR-CARE PRODUCTS ARE REDUCED
Date: 28 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Procter & Gamble Co cuts prices by as much as a third on three hair-care lines, attempting to regain sales lost to rivals (S)
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NESTLÉ WINS APPROVAL FOR PURCHASE OF RALSTON PURINA
Date: 28 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Nestle, world's largest food maker, receives European antitrust approval for its $11.9 billion purchase of Ralston Purina Co after agreeing to give up dog- and cat-food brands in Spain, Italy and Greece (S)
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CISCO SYSTEMS TO BUY REST OF ALLEGRO SYSTEMS
Date: 28 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Cisco Systems Inc will acquire the 60 percent of Allegro Systems Inc it does not already own for $109 million in stock (S)
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JOHNSON & JOHNSON GIVES DETAILS OF SUIT PAYMENTS
Date: 28 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Johnson & Johnson will award consumers cash and credits to settle class-action lawsuit that accused it of misleading marketing of Acuvue contact lenses (S)
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SONIC AUTOMOTIVE IS BUYING 5 DEALERSHIPS IN 2 STATES
Date: 27 July 2001
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Sonic Automotive, the second-largest publicly held auto-dealer group in the nation, is buying five dealerships in California and Texas with $275 million in combined annual sales. Terms were not disclosed. The company is buying Buena Park Honda, Harbor City Honda and West Covina Toyota in Los Angeles; Capitol Ford in San Jose, Calif.; and Nils Sefeldt Volvo in Houston. Sonic, based in Charlotte, N.C., has 165 franchises and 30 collision-repair centers. It generated 2000 sales of $6.05 billion. It ranks behind AutoNation of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which has more than 400 franchises.
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