WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING
FINANCIAL TIMES
MOBILE MAKERS ACT TO CURB FAKE PHONES
The global mobile phone industry is trying to rein in the rapid worldwide spread of illegitimate handsets by introducing a stricter regime for the allocation of handset identification numbers. The move comes as unlicensed Chinese handset manufacturers have started flooding the world market with exports in a competitive threat to global mobile phone brands.
BROKER NEWEDGE OPENS FIRST INDIA OFFICE
Newedge, the world’s largest futures broker, yesterday said it had started offering broking services in India to foreign institutional investors with the opening of Newedge Broker India Private Limited, a securities company based in Mumbai. The move comes weeks after the Indian government pledged to develop futures markets as part of a deep financial reform programme in Asia’s third-largest economy.
IRAN TOLD TO REVEAL ALL NUCLEAR FACILITIES
The United Nations questioned whether Iran was hiding more nuclear facilities following the recent revelation that Tehran was constructing an undeclared uranium enrichment plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said it had yet to be convinced by Iran’s explanations on the peaceful nature of its programme.
BIG BROTHER DATA PLAN FACES FRICTION
BT, Virgin Media and BSkyB are on a collision course with the police and security services over demands they store records of all email, social networking and web traffic, according to an industry document seen by the Financial Times.
THE TIMES
KING IS FACING BATTLE ON TWO FRONTS AS RIVALS STEAL SHOPPERS
Customers are deserting J Sainsbury for its leading rivals for the first time in the recession, it was revealed yesterday. More than £11m of spending was switched directly to its main competitors in the 12 weeks to November, according to confidential industry “switching” data.
GALLEON’S RAJARATNAM SEEKS TO UNSEAL KHAN RECORDS
Raj Rajaratnam, the billionaire at the centre of the Galleon Group insider-trading case, has asked the court to unseal records of an earlier criminal charge against the government’s main witness. Lawyers for Mr Rajaratnam hope that the documents will undermine suggestions that the investor had been conspiring for years on insider trading with Roomy Khan, the prosecutors’ star witness.
The Daily Telegraph
REGIONAL NEWS PILOT SCHEMES EARMARKED FOR APRIL ROLL-OUT
The government has said that pilot schemes to replace ITV regional news services in England, Scotland and Wales could begin as early April next year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) reiterated its intention to force the BBC to share part of its £3.6bn licence fee with producers of regional news programming.
FORMER OWNERS PUNCH TAVERNS AND WHITBREAD FACE THRESHERS LIABILITY
Punch Taverns, the pub group, and Whitbread, the Costa Coffee to Premier Inn owner, could be forced to take over Threshers stores in the wake of the wine retailer’s collapse. First Quench Retailing was previously owned by Punch and Whitbread. Both companies could be forced to take back control of First Quench stores.
WALL STREET JOURNAL
BEAZER BOSS GETS SEC NOTICE
Builder Beazer Homes USA disclosed that Ian J McCarthy, the company’s chief executive, received a Wells notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission. A Wells Notice is a letter the SEC sends when it is planning to bring an enforcement action. The commission has “preliminarily determined to recommend that the Commission bring a civil action against him to collect certain incentive compensation and other amounts allegedly due,” the filing said.
INNOLUX SNAPS UP CHI MEI OPTO
Computer-monitor maker Innolux agreed to acquire Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp in a 172bn New Taiwan dollar all-stock deal that extends the reach of Taiwanese technology manufacturing tycoon Terry Gou.