London - A majority (56%) of senior newspaper executives said in a recent survey that they believe that the majority of news, be it print or online, will be free in the future -- up from 48% who said the same a year ago. Conducted by Zogby International for the World Editors Forum and Reuters, the survey of 704 newspaper executives worldwide also found 86% think newsrooms and digital services should become more integrated, while two in three believed that electronic media like computers and cell phones will be the most common means of news consumption within a decade.

Brussels - Financial news and information publisher Thomson (NYSE: TOC) has won conditional approval from the European Commission to acquire international news agency Reuters (NASD: RTRSY), agreeing to divest certain businesses that include databases with financial information products before the deal proceeds.

A “small chemical explosion” at News Corp’s (NYSE: NWS) NYC headquarters injured one person, a New York Fire Departments spokesman said, Reuters reported. The explosion evacuated “hundreds” of employees from floors 42-45, the building’s top levels, and the NYFD spokeman said the victim’s injuries were “minor.” The explosion, according to the report, occurred in a 45th floor equipment room, and was accidental.

Austin - Pluck, a provider of social media services for media companies, said on Wednesday that it plans to connect its platform with the Facebook and OpenSocial APIs, linking the Web audiences of Pluck clients such as Gannett, Reuters and The Washington Post with users of Facebook, MySpace and other social networks. The integration will link readers' comments on Pluck client news sites back to their social network profiles. Reuters invested $7 million in Austin-based Pluck in 2006.

Redwood City, Calif. - Attributor Corporation, a provider of Web content monitoring and analysis services, announced on Monday that the Reuters news agency will use its technology to track usage of its content across the Internet. The service will allow Reuters to pursue new online content syndication opportunities, as well as protect the value of its original content investments. Redwood City, Calif.-based Attributor provides similar services to the Associated Press.

New York - Time Warner's CNN cable TV news network on Thursday announced it will end its 27-year relationship with the Reuters news service, opting to cut costs and instead focus investment on its own news-gathering, Reuters reported.

London - Canada's Thomson Corp. has agreed to acquire global news agency Reuters for about $17.2 billion, creating a company that will replace Bloomberg as the world's largest provider of financial news and information.

London - Global news agency Reuters "looks set to endorse" a buyout offer from fellow financial news provider Thomson Corp., the Financial Times reported on Friday.

New York - Global information and news agency Reuters announced on Monday that it has acquired ClearForest, a provider of text analytics technology. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

London - Wippit, a U.K.-based digital download service, has secured the rights to offer a range of rare Beatles interviews and other news appearances on its service in all regions -- except North America, the BBC reported. Provided by ITN, Reuters and Pathe, the selections include footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 "bed-in," the band meeting Queen Elizabeth, and Lennon's comment about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus." Wippit will offer individual clips for about 95 cents, or in bundles starting at about $9.67.

London - Following a string of arrests of online gambling company executives in the country, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued requests for information from several investment banks about their dealings with a number of gaming sites, Reuters reported, citing "banking sources."

Canberra, Australia - Apple's iPod is most costly to purchase in Brazil and India, and is cheapest in Canada, Hong Kong and Japan, according to a purchasing power index created by Australia's Commonwealth Bank, based on January 2007 prices for the 2GB iPod nano.

Washington - Kevin Martin, the chairman of the FCC, told Reuters that a rule that would currently prohibit XM Satellite Radio from potentially merging with rival Sirius could be changed, Reuters reported.

Witham, England - An unsigned band from Essex, England has become the first to break into that country's top 40 singles chart, following a rule change that for the first time allows songs available only as Internet downloads. Koopa's "Blag, Steal & Borrow" reached No. 31 on the U.K. singles chart last week. "It's almost like the boot's on the other foot and we're saying to the record labels: 'Well, you've got to come to us and impress us and make us want to sign to your label', rather than us going to them," 26-year-old Koopa singer and guitarist Joe Murphy told Reuters.

London - The BBC said on Thursday that it plans to launch online social networks centered on its most popular brands, like "Top Gear" and "BBC Good Food," Reuters reported.

London - News Corp.'s MySpace online social network on Thursday launched a version of its site in France, as part of the company's roll-out of foreign language sites catering to overseas markets, Reuters reported.

London - Major record label Universal Music Group on Wednesday launched ClassicsandJazz.co.uk, which it says is the largest online retail site for classical and jazz music on the Internet, Reuters reported.

London - Global news agency Reuters has appointed David Schlesinger as its new editor-in-chief, the company said on Wednesday. The former global managing editor and head of editorial operations since 2003 will replace current editor Geert Linnebank, who will remain chairman of the Reuters Foundation and become a senior adviser to CEO Tom Glocer.