KUALA LUMPUR: The government expects to open the tender process for the first line of the MRT project between Sungai Buloh and Kajang by April, says Land Public Transport Commission chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal.

He said the tender process would be open to both local and foreign companies which have the expertise in handling MRT projects.

BEIJING: A 122-floor skyscraper is expected to be built in Beijing's Central Business District, making itself the highest in the Chinese capital, Xinhua news agency cited a local daily as saying on Thursday, Dec 23.

LONDON: Mayor of London Boris Johnson has gave the go-ahead on Wednesday, Dec 22 for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and its surrounding area.

Battersea's imposing white brick chimneys have been a feature of London's skyline for almost 80 years but has suffered a succession of failures to redevelop the site since it ceased power production nearly three decades ago.

• The Malaysian and Indian governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Putrajaya yesterday on technical assistance for road development and management, according to a report by Bernama.

KUALA LUMPUR: Land & General Bhd (L&G) is set to venture into development activities in Senawang and Seremban with the proposed acquisition of 60 parcels of land for RM25 million, it announced to Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, Dec 22.

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) plans to do away with the RM2,500 retention money imposed on contractors involved in future Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) projects.

SPNB chairman Datuk Ir Idris Haron said the move would help contractors achieve higher profit margins.

NEW YORK: The US architecture billings index (ABI), a leading indicator of nonresidential construction activity, reached its highest level since December 2007 last month, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) said on Wednesday, Dec 22.

PETALING JAYA: UEM Land Holdings Bhd (UEM Land) has obtained its shareholders' approval on the offer to acquire all ordinary shares in Sunrise Bhd (Sunrise) at its Extraordinary General Meeting held on Wednesday, Dec 22.

SINGAPORE: CapitaMalls Asia Limited is set to add another mall to its portfolio with the proposed acquisition of Queensbay Mall in Penang for RM651.8 million.

SHANGHAI: China's key stock index closed down 0.9% on Wednesday, Dec 22 as speculation in property stocks a day earlier died down, while cash flows in stock trading slowed due to a liquidity crunch in the money market.