Google aims to ease EU publishers strife

LONDON — Google Inc. will spend 150 million euros ($164 million US) funding online journalism projects in Europe as it seeks to alleviate tensions with an industry that’s lodged an antitrust complaints over its behaviour.

Google will award grants over next three years, it said Tuesday. Eight European publishers will participate in the plan, including the Financial Times, Die Zeit in Germany, France’s Les Echos, Italy’s La Stampa and El Pais in Spain.