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EUROPE
NYSE-Euronext Deal Clears Hurdle
NYSE Group's $13 billion takeover of Euronext won conditional approval from the regulators of Europe's No. 2 stock exchange, bringing the companies a step closer to creating the first transatlantic equity market. Among the conditions are that the new company, NYSE Euronext, seek advance approval for rules affecting the exchange's European markets and appointments to its board of directors.
ESPN Buys Sports Network
Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN unit agreed to buy North American Sports Network, which includes the rights to broadcast U.S. and Canadian football, baseball and hockey games in 26 countries in Europe. NASN was sold by Benchmark Capital Europe of London and Setanta Sport Holdings of Ireland for an undisclosed sum. NASN, the only European channel dedicated to North American sports, reaches more than 6 million households. The deal is to close early next year.
INTERNET
Iran Blocks YouTube
Iran has blocked access to the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube.com, and a media rights group warned that Internet censorship in that country is on the rise. Internet users in Iran who tried to call up the YouTube site got the message "On the basis of the Islamic Republic of Iran laws, access to this Web site is not authorized," which also appears on numerous opposition and pornographic Web sites that the government blocks.
Videos from Iranian opposition groups have been posted on the site, along with videos posted by individual Iranians critical of the government. The site also hosts Iranian pop music videos, which are frowned upon by the religious leadership.
Compiled from reports by Washington Post staff writers, the Associated Press and Bloomberg News.
