HK air passenger rises

HONG KONG: Passenger traffic at Hong Kong International Airport rose by 10.3 per cent to 3.79 million in July from a year earlier — a new monthly record. The rise was due to more people taking summer holidays, coupled with increased visitor and transfer traffic, especially on mainland China, Taiwan and Australia-Asian routes. — AP

Philips eyes Lumileds

AMSTERDAM: Royal Philips Electronics NV said on Monday it will buy 47 per cent of US-based lighting company Lumileds from Agilent Technologies Inc for $950 million, giving it a controlling stake of 96.5 per cent altogether. Separately, Philips said it will buy back up to $1.87 billion worth of its own shares. — AP

Sugar row in Mexico

MEXICO CITY: Sugar cane growers will chose between two different supply contracts during the 2005-06 harvest while some price supports remain, under an agreement between the government and opposition lawmakers. The new agreement was signed on Friday after an intense dispute between the government and the country’s sugar producers, who had blocked offices of the Agriculture Department in the capital and across the 15 sugar-growing states. —AP

CSA director arrested

SHANGHAI: China Southern Airlines (CSA) Co — one of China’s three major carriers — said on Monday that one of its board directors has been arrested by the police. Police have arrested Peng Anfa, a board director of the company. Southern Airlines, which is based in the

southern city of Guangzhou, didn’t disclose the specific reason for the arrest. — AP