Telefónica Q4 profit drops 36% after writedown; Turkcell, VimpelCom and MTS win 3G licences in Ukraine

> Telefónica reported a 36 per cent decline in its fourth-quarter operating profit to €3.1 billion ($3.6 billion) after writing down the value of its Venezuelan business. Article

> VimpelCom grew its fourth quarter EBITDA 58 per cent year on year to $1.6 billion (€1.4 billion) despite a 21 per cent drop in sales. Report

> Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt lined up a meeting with EC competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager to discuss complaints that the company abused its dominant position in Europe. Report

> Volvo gained clearance to commence testing self-driving cars on public highways in 2017. Report

> Kuwait and Sudan are in talks to help Zain Kuwait repatriate $280 million (€246 million) worth of Sudanese pounds. Article

> Telefónica Deutschland's E-Plus buy pushed it into the red in the fourth quarter of 2014, with an operating loss before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) of €46 million ($52 million). Article

> Norway-based browser software firm Opera launched Opera Max with App Pass to enable operators to offer subscribers free access to selected apps. Article

> Turkcell, VimpelCom and MTS have been awarded 3G mobile licences in Ukraine. Article

> Saudi Arabia's Mobily has removed CEO Khalid al-Kaf, who was suspended in November pending an investigation into accounting practices. Article

And finally…Apple has added racially diverse emoji--in five skin tones. Article