Durban based Grafton Everest was formed in 1953 when two South African furniture brands – Grafton Art Furnishers and Everest Upholsterers merged. That means that Grafton Everest is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year, and it is definitely not failing to make the most of its opportunity.

When we last spoke to Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Managing Director of EMED Mining, it was late 2009 and he had been hoping to get the company’s flagship project, Rio Tinto open-pit copper mine near Seville in Spain into operation by 2010. That was at any rate the original objective of the company, which in 2005 had been floated on London’s AIM market by a group of Australian mining specialists who saw a real opportunity across Europe and the Middle East.

Chief executive officer, Andy van der Velde, discusses how, over the course of two decades, a small, family-run business has been able to transform itself into a leading international logistics provider

Rare earth elements (REEs) are not really that rare in the earth’s crust, but unlike copper, gold or zinc for example they tend not to occur in concentrations sufficient to justify mining. But this group of chemicals is increasingly in demand for use in specialist glass technologies, solar cells, catalytic converters and many other new applications including military ones.

There was a time when succession planning was something only companies large enough to employ thousands of people did as part of an overall management development strategy. Since then screeds have been written on the evolution of succession planning, most of which points to the need for organisations to plan for the inevitable loss of key staff, irrespective of their seniority.

Created by the joint efforts of researchers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima and advertising agency Mayo Peru DraftFCB, the panel produces water from humidity in the air via the use of filters.

UTEC says it wanted to put "imagination into action" and show that it is possible to solve people's problems through engineering and technology. So far, the billboard has produced over 9,000 litres of drinking water, the equivalent of 96 litres a day.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home sales had gained 0.8 percent since January to reach an annual pace of 4.98 million units, with the rise all coming from sales of apartments and condominiums.

NAR economist Lawrence Yun said low interest rates, improvement in employment and pent-up demand still underpinned the market's continuing expansion. "Job growth in the improving economy and pent-up demand are causing both home sales and rental leasing to rise.

Mines and Money Hong Kong is where mining companies from around the world come to raise capital in Asia and meet with investors from Hong Kong and mainland China. The event has become a must go for everyone engaged in the industry at a time when every dollar has to be fought for.

With the Chinese New Year holidays historically skewing the data show in January and February, March’s numbers are seen as a true indicator for the sector.

The preliminary reading of HSBC's Purchasing Managers Index rose to 51.7, from 50.4 in February. The PMI is a key indicator of the activity in the sector and a reading above 50 shows expansion.