Telecom Italia and SpainÔÇÖs Telef├│nica may be seeking to merge, it has been reported.

Factory sector activity in the US reported its best performance in over five years in January, boosting hopes of a growth in overall economic output.  The data, released by private research group the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), provides further evidence that the US economy is continuing to emerge from recession. The ISM said its index of manufacturing activity, also known as the purchasing managers index, moved to 58.4 in JanuaryÔÇöthe best reading since August 2004. The reading was 54.9 in December and 53.7 in November. Readings over 50 indicate growth.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has signed an agreement with the Brazilian industrial group Cosan to form a new ethanol-producing joint venture.

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Ontario TeachersÔÇÖ Pension Plan is considering a $2.7 billion bid for UK utility firm Northumbrian Water, according to UK newspaper the Sunday Times.  The $91 billion pension fund already owns 27 percent of the water company and now wants to buy the remaining stake, the newspaper said.

The trickle-down effect
The South African government is asking existing businesses to improve the lot of the wider black communityÔÇödemands which have changed the face of the countryÔÇÖs mining industry, as Jeff Daniels discovers.
Without first-hand observation, itÔÇÖs impossible to fully understand the conditions under which many black South African men used to live and work for the countryÔÇÖs mining operationsÔÇömany of which were owned by renowned international business names.

Hub of the cityTransnet Port Terminals in South Africa is revolutionising every aspect of the Cape Town Container Terminal as part of an ambitious and extensive five-year upgrade programme.

Sustainable energy
A world leader in engineering, technologies and project management for the oil and gas industry, Technip displays leadership in every aspect of its business.

An uplifting success
If you want a loyal customer base and a sound reputation, it rarely pays to cut corners. Dan Johansson, area sales director for Swedish forklift manufacturer Svetruck, tells Andrew Pelis about the companyÔÇÖs unwavering dedication to quality.
Materials handling can be an exacting science. In todayÔÇÖs pressurised business environment, nothing can be left to chance, so it pays to invest in quality to achieve operational excellence.

Lundin Mining’s copper mining company Somincor has discovered massive reserves of zinc in its Neves-Corvo mine, situated in the Alentejo, Portugal. Managing director John Andreatidis talks to Gay Sutton about ambitious plans to develop the reserves and quadruple the mine’s production capacity over the next three years.