Microsoft and Nokia today announced plans to form a broad strategic partnership to create what they describe as “a new global mobile ecosystem” to take on Google and Apple in an all-out phone war.

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop (who left Microsoft to join Nokia last September) and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer have issued an “open letter” outlining a summary of their plans. Here is the letter in full:

Tullow Oil has announced a new discovery of oil and gas offshore Ghana, close to the Jubilee Field.

The company said it discovered 73 metres of net hydrocarbons in the field, in which it has a 22.896 per cent stake. The well is located in the West Cape Three Points licence, outside the Jubilee unit boundary.

Coca-Cola has reported soaring profits ahead of expectations in 2010, largely due to a revitalized North American market and the buyout of its main bottler last year.

The Atlanta, Georgia based drinks maker enjoyed worldwide growth of 6 percent in the fourth quarter and 5 percent for the whole year.

Fourth-quarter profit more than tripled to $5.8 billion, from $1.5 billion in the same period a year earlier, pushing earnings per share to $2.46. The average analyst estimate was 72 cents.

The £5.5 billion redevelopment of Battersea Power Station in London has been given the green light following approval from the UK government’s communities secretary.

Treasury Holdings plans to redevelop the site with 10 million square feet of office space, shops, hotels, a conference centre and 3,400 homes.

Siemens Energy, Inc. has been awarded a contract for gas-insulated transmission lines by Northeast Utilities as part of the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS).

Siemens will produce 115 kV and 345 kV gas-insulated transmission lines (GILT) for the Agawam (Massachusetts) and North Bloomfield (Connecticut) substation additions as part of the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, one of four major transmission projects comprising the New England East-West Solution.

Irish engineering group Kentz has announced the acquisition of South African engineering services firm RNE Engineering and Projects for €7.4 million (R73 million).

Kentz said the deal will enable the group to offer a wider range of niche engineering, procurement and construction solutions in southern Africa, as well as supporting the opportunity to jointly tender for certain EPC contracts.

First Liberty Power Corp, a Nevada based mineral exploration company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Uravan vanadium and uranium claim to a non related party, New America Energy Corp.

UK oil company Ensco is buying its US rival Pride International for around £4.5 billion in a deal that will create the world's second largest offshore oil and gas driller.

The US Air Force C-130 aircraft fleet is to be retro-fitted with carbon brakes and boltless wheels to enhance performance, reduce weight and simplify maintenance procedures.

After completing its development, qualification and flight test processes, Goodrich Corporation has now received a production contract from Defense Logistics Agency Aviation to supply over 1,600 carbon brakes and over 1,400 boltless wheels with deliveries scheduled to commence in October 2011.