European Union regulators have until November to decide whether to approve Google Inc.'s $3.1 billion takeover bid of online advertising group DoubleClick. Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp. has launched a behind-the-scenes opposition campaign against the deal.

Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, which Microsoft retains, has warned more than 100 companies and organisations that the deal would further strengthen Google's already tight hold in online advertising, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

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In an effort to attract readers from both paid newspapers and free papers, Spanish group Mediapro has launched a new daily paper which will cost half of what paid competitors charge, but embody the breezier style of free dailies.

The new half-price daily, Publico, has 64 colour pages, and will feature larger pictures, more graphics and shorter articles than its paid competitors. It is also larger than the 20-some page free dailies that are so popular in Spain, according to a report by AFP. It will cost 50 cents, compared to 1 euro, which is what most paid papers cost.

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The London Evening Standard Monday launched a news and comment Web site, standard.co.uk.

The new site is a complement to the existing entertainment-focused site, thisislondon.co.uk, which is run by the Evening Standard's owner, Associated Newspapers.

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European Media Investment AG (EMI), an ARBOmedia company, is planning a strategic expansion on the Romanian market. It will continue its campaign to take over Romanian local newspapers by investing two printing plants and a local news Internet portal.

ARBOmedia/EMI already has a presence on the Romanian market with several local titles. Its main competitors are the Austrians from Inform Media and the PubliMedia local network, developed by Adrian Sârbu with CME support.

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Chinese media baron Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King has started work to set up a proposed local English daily in Malaysia.

Negotiations for the new daily, to be based in Sarawak, have begun with prospective partners. The paper's business model is still preliminary and could change, however a paid paper is being favoured over a free paper, according to a report Monday by The Edge Financial Daily.

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Media owners in Australia could be forced to join a coalition of advertisers and ad agencies in an attempt to stop governmental advertising regulation.

The Advertising Federation of Australia and the Australian Association of National Advertisers have been fighting government attempts to change the current system of advertising self-regulation. The AFA's new federal director, Mark Champion, has stated a coalition of interests, like the one he helped make as head of the Communications Agencies Association of New Zealand, are part of his agenda in Australia, The Australian reported Monday.

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