Hi °C | Lo °C APPLE'S request to use the iPhone name in Brazil has been rejected by regulators who ruled in favour of a local competitor. IGB Electronica applied to register the name in 2000 and won the rights to use it in 2008.
The institute responsible for granting trademarks issued the decision on its website, seven years after Apple submitted its request. (Bloomberg)
India puts $750m helicopters on ice
INDIA put on hold a $750m (€560m) deal to buy helicopters from Finmeccanica after the arrest of the head of the Italian defence group, as political opponents tried to capitalise on the latest scandal to hit the government.
India will not make more payments or take delivery of nine helicopters until a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is complete. (Reuters)
Bank continues to help sick children
MAKE-A-Wish Ireland and Bank of Ireland have extended their partnership for a year. Throughout 2013, bank employees will continue to work with Make-A-Wish to support their volunteering and fundraising efforts.
Make-A-Wish Ireland chief executive Susan O'Dwyer said: "We're thrilled the bank has decided to extend their Charity of the Year partnership. We look forward to continuing to work with them in their fundraising which helps us to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses."
Aer Lingus union told rises on hold
AER Lingus has told unions it is halting payment of all wage increases, including increments, until the long-running dispute over the massive deficit in its pension fund is resolved.
The airline was due to resume paying increments in April following a three-year pay freeze. The deficit in the joint Aer Lingus-Dublin Airport Authority scheme stood at more than €770m in December.
King says British recovery muted
BANK of England governor Mervyn King said Britain faces a further bout of inflation and a muted economic recovery, and pledged officials will look through the volatility in prices to keep nurturing growth where they can.
"Inflation is likely to rise further in the near term and may remain above the 2pc target for the next two years," King said. (Bloomberg)
Dutch giant Ing to shed 2,400 jobs
ING Group, the biggest Dutch financial services company, reported profits that missed analysts' estimates on restructuring costs as it announced another 2,400 job reductions.
The shares slumped in Amsterdam. Fourth-quarter net income was €1.43bn compared with €1.19bn a year earlier. That missed forecasts. (Bloomberg)
IG Group opens Irish operations
LONDON-based financial trading firm IG Group has officially opened its Irish operations. The company, which specialises in spread betting, will initially have a small team based in its Dublin office but anticipates that that will grow in the short term.
Irish Independent
