Murdoch Quits News Int. Boards

According to filings, Rupert Murdoch stepped down from the boards of Newscorp Investments, Times Newspapers Holdings, NI Group, and a few of U.S. News Corps.’ boards over the past week. The resignations have prompted rumors that the media mogul is getting ready to abdicate from his empire, rumors his companies are eager to squelch. News Corp., which is planning to split into two separate entities, splitting off the newspaper division, downplayed the recent events, saying they are “nothing more than a corporate housecleaning exercise prior to the company split.”