Arab TV Gets a New Slant: Newscasts Without Censorship
Date: 04 July 1999
By John F. Burns
John Burns
Al Jazeera, 30-month-old Arabic-language news channel based in Qatar, draws viewers in droves in 22 Arab countries by offering hard-hitting coverage of issues long ignored by state-run networks, including the lack of democracy, persecution of political dissidents and repression of women; broadcasts are free of bias or censorship, and ordinary Arabs can air their views on an array of freewheeling phone-in shows; videos of shows are eagerly traded in bazaars of countries like Iraq that ban satellite dishes; some specialists see its popularity as evidence that Islamic conservatism faces a challenge from a new generation yearning for societies that are more, not less, tolerant and democratic; Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, is one of Arab world's most reform-minded leaders and has pledged $140 million to finance the channel for five years, after which it must achieve self-sufficiency; photo; map (M)
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DUPONT AND MONSANTO DISCUSSED MERGER, FILING REVEALS
Date: 03 July 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Securities and Exchange Commission filing shows E I du Pont de Nemours & Co held merger discussions with Monsanto Co early this year as part of its plan to build up its life sciences business; talks took place as DuPont was also negotiating buyout of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc; Pioneer agreed to sell, though DuPont left open possibility of deal with Monsanto after DuPont completes acquisition of 80 percent of Pioneer it does not already own (S)
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Stakes in 2 Dairies Sold
Date: 03 July 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Nash Finch Co sells its majority stake in Gillette Dairy of
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HONG KONG STOCKS SURGE
Date: 03 July 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Hong Kong stocks post their biggest gains in three months on signs lower interest rates will continue to revive demand for loans and apartments; Hang Seng index rises 652.44, or 4.8 percent, to 14,184.58, highest close since Oct 9, 1997; graph (S)
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MCI Will Raise A Phone Charge
Date: 03 July 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
MCI Worldcom Inc will increase customers' phone bills to help pay for $2.25 billion Government Internet subsidy program (S)
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EUROPEAN CHALLENGE ON RUM
Date: 03 July 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
European Union will seek World Trade Organization action against US law that it says unfairly stripped French liquor company Pernod Ricard SA of its exclusive right to sell rum brand that Bacardi Ltd says it also owns; Pernod Ricard contends that April court ruling was based on US law that violates trade rules; 1998 law denies legal protection for trademarks confiscated by Cuban Government, which acquired trademark Havana Club rum after its former owner fled Cuba; Pernod Ricard has joint venture with Cuban Government company to make Havana Club rum (S)
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