The proposed merger of Fyffes and US rival, Chiquita has been thrown into further doubt, with two more investor advisory firms urging the American firm to adjourn an upcoming shareholder vote and engage in discussions with a rival bidder.

Rupert Murdoch was grilled about covert surveillance techniques by News Corp employees as the company held its first shareholders meeting since the phone-hacking scandal broke.

A TOTAL of 45 new jobs are to be created in Limerick and Shannon, starting next year.