Anglo Swiss mining giant Xstrata has raised its cash offer to buy Australia’s Sphere Minerals by 20 per cent to A$514 million (approximately €365 million).

Zug, Switzerland-based Xstrata said the offer was final and would lapse if shareholder acceptances stayed below 50 per cent by 12 November. 8.1 per cent of Sphere’s shareholders had accepted the initial offer as of 2 November.

NuVision Engineering has over 40 years’ experience in nuclear energy generation and waste cleanup, is familiar with problems that arise in this sensitive field, and develops solutions to fix them.

Across Alberta, the foundations for future education are being laid—but it is no easy task. Lee Davis, project director for the Bird-Graham Schools joint venture, speaks to Andrew Pelis about the challenge to coordinate ten busy building sites at the same time.

The ability to multi-task is something all business leaders are familiar with. However, Lee Davis, project director for the Bird-Graham joint venture to build schools in Alberta, takes multi-tasking to a new level.

Dedication to innovative leadership, to teamwork and to its customers, coupled with the implementation of cost-efficient IT, propel the Auburn Hills Department of Public Services into the upper echelon of public service departments both in Michigan and nationwide, Ric Larson discovers.

A long-range expansion and modernization plan continues to take shape at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). Keith Regan learns how a new Regional Cancer Center and a fully redeveloped Emergency Department are part of a larger plan to modernize and expand services.

When the global economic crisis took hold, the price of palladium plummeted, leaving newly arrived president and CEO Bill Biggar with a tough decision regarding the fate of North American Palladium Ltd. Two years later he tells Andrew Pelis about the company’s rapidly changing status.

The president and COO of Endeavour Silver Corp. explains to David Hendricks how using modern exploration methods on old mine properties can uncover new, undiscovered veins.

World air cargo traffic will expand at a 5.9 percent annual rate over the next two decades, with worldwide air freight traffic expected to triple through 2029, according to the Boeing World Air Cargo Forecast 2010/2011.

Boeing released the biennial forecast, which is widely cited by airlines and industry groups, at the International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition 2010 in Amsterdam.

Profits at the Middle East airline Emirates more than quadrupled in the first half of this year, thanks to increases in both passengers and cargo.

The Dubai-based carrier said it recorded the highest number of seats with paying passengers during the six months ending September than ever in a fiscal first half.

Passenger traffic rose by 17.3 per cent from the previous year, with a passenger seat factor of 81.2 per cent. Cargo tonnage also rose, by 23.7 per cent.

Fulcrum BioEnergy is poised to begin construction on its first facility that will produce ethanol from household waste. Keith Regan learns how this trash-to-energy plant could be the first step toward a network of such facilities capable of producing a billion gallons a year of clean, renewable transportation fuel.