Business

BRITAIN's government has raised £2.3 billion from its 4G mobile auction that will result in five telecoms companies providing the country with super-fast mobile Internet services, a watchdog said on Wednesday.

"After more than 50 rounds of bidding, Everything Everywhere Ltd, Hutchison 3G UK Ltd, Niche Spectrum Ventures Ltd (a subsidiary of BT Group plc), Telefonica UK Ltd and Vodafone Ltd have all won spectrum," telecoms watchdog Ofcom said.

LUFTHANSA, Europe's biggest airline, said it plans to order eight long-haul aircraft and 100 short- and medium-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing for a total €9.0 billion (RM37.46 billion).

The purchases still have to be approved by Lufthansa's supervisory board. Delivery is scheduled between 2015 and 2025, the airline said in a statement late Tuesday.

AROUND 50 Brazilian workers at South America's largest port are occupying a Chinese freighter to protest the use of Chinese labor rather than local longshoremen, unions said Tuesday.

The dispute began Monday at the port of Santos in southeast Brazil after the Zhen Hua 10 arrived from Shanghai loaded with new gear to be used for unloading and moving containers in Embraport's new private terminal.

THIS year’s Edu-Fun’s “KL City Amazing Race” on March 2 — organised by Triple Platform Sdn Bhd (formerly known as KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd) — will see participants having fun while exploring the nooks and corners of the nation’s capital.

THE first ever treasure hunt in Asia to be held at Legoland Malaysia is being organised by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd on March 2.

Executive director Datuk Dr Ang Bon Beng said: “We just want to see families have a great time together during this event.”

Participation details are at the Nissan Malaysia Facebook page and website. Registration fees are RM100 per adult (aged 13 and above) and RM75 per child (aged between 4 to 12).

UNITED AIRLINES said Tuesday it expected to keep its Boeing 787s out of service through March 30, a fresh sign of how long the aircraft could remain grounded worldwide to fix a battery problem.

United, the only US airline that operates Boeing's cutting-edge aircraft, said it was scheduling alternate planes through March 30 while its seven 787 Dreamliners remained grounded.

MALAYSIA’S economy probably accelerated in the fourth quarter as the government ramped up spending and investment rose ahead of impending general elections, helping to off set weak exports, a Reuters poll showed.

The election, which must be called by end-April, will be closely fought, a prospect which is already rattling financial markets, although the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is still widely expected to win.

AIRASIA X Sdn Bhd, the long haul affiliate of the world’s largest budget carrier, is likely to delay its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market until after the general elections.

According to sources, the company has received the nod from the Securities Commission (SC) but is “reconsidering” initial plans to list by the first quarter of this year.

AirAsia X chief executive officer Azran Osman-Rani when asked yesterday on a “suitable timeline”, said the company has yet to make any decision on the matter.