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$3bn costs delay Newmont mine; Jobs surprise adds to RBA rate dilemma; NAB woes aren't over, ABN warns; ANZ Capital chief leaves in lending review; Grylls says no deal with Labor unless Carpenter is in charge

Sinosteel is a step closer to full control of Midwest Corporation Ltd after Midwest shareholder Murchison Metals Ltd reversed its previous opposition to the Chinese company's takeover offer.

Unites States company Cleveland-Cliffs is looking to spend nearly $600 million on acquisitions in Western Australia as it moves to fully own iron ore miner Portman Ltd and acquire a 30 per cent slice in explorer AusQuest Ltd.

Some 50 per cent of shareholders have passed up Perth-based Axiom Properties Ltd's rights issue, with the company managing to raise $5.7 million from a targeted $11 million.

Shares in Perilya Ltd have dropped by over 40 per cent on news it will sell its Mount Oxide copper and cobalt project to West Perth-based Chalice Gold Mines Ltd in a scrip deal worth $25 million.

AusQuest Ltd director John Ashley said he is not concerned of a takeover by acquisitive US company Cleveland-Cliffs, which will take a 30 per cent stake in the Ardross-based minerals explorer.

Western Australia's Nationals party has been handed more power in the outcome of the state election, with independent member for Kalgoorlie John Bowler announcing he will side with the party, potentially strengthening the Liberal claim to government.

The Federal Court of Australia has ordered a meeting of Aquila Resources Ltd's shareholders in October to consider the 'scheme' for the demerger of certain of the company's exploration interests in new company Aquila Exploration Limited.

The schedule for Australia's largest gold mine could be extended as manager Newmont Mining Corporation said work on the Boddington operation is now 83 per cent complete.

The Western Australian Electoral Commission is aiming to have an election result by the end of this weekend as postal votes make their way to the counting room.

Ausdrill Ltd joint venture vehicle, African Underground Mining Services, has won a four-year $90 million production mining contract with the West African Red Back Mining.

Air passengers travelling with Skywest will be able to save a few dollars with the recent decline in oil prices prompting the airline to decrease it fuel surcharges, however Qantas and Virgin Blue have indicated they won't be moving any time soon to cut t

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said the introduction of an emissions trading scheme could potentially present the biggest challenge to business and industry over the last 50 years, as it lodged its submission with the federal government today.

Western Australia has recorded the country's lowest jobless rate for August with the latest national figures surprising economist who say the overall fall lessens the chance of an October interest rate cut.

Rio Tinto has emerged as the mystery buyer behind an 11 per cent parcel of shares in uranium explorer Extract Resources Ltd, which could be a hurdle in the company's planned merger with West Perth-based Kalahari Minerals Ltd.

The Kimberley Land Council has released its shortlist of potential site suitable for the development of a liquified natural gas hub with the government's Northern Development Taskforce to release its shortlist after the election result is known.

Western Australia's Treasury has thrown an obstacle in the path of negotiations on the formation of a state government.

US stocks wobbled higher today as investors mulled troubled investment giant Lehman Brothers' news of hefty losses and plans to sell assets to shore up its finances.

Nats demand 'risks rating'; Seven's $320m buyback will hand Stokes majority control; Lehman woes rattle global markets; Sinosteel talks Midwest chief into leaving, eyes 13.2pc stake; Dollar sinks below 80 US cents

THE resources sector has not been reassured by Ross Garnaut's latest report on a national emissions trading scheme, despite the 10 per cent reduction target by 2020 being labelled too low by environmental groups.

The growth of state's iron ore province in the Mid West has been a lot slower than many companies had predicted, with some of the massive projects set to change the face of the region yet to get under way.

Mention the YMCA to many people and they'll think of the 1979 hit song by the Village People, which at face value extols the virtues of the Young Men's Christian Association.

THE growth in major resources and infrastructure projects in Western Australia has fuelled the expansion of local engineering firms, led by industry giant WorleyParsons.

If Western Australia plays its cards right, the state will benefit from a succession of giant oil and gas projects over the next decade that will deliver big economic dividends for 30 or more years.

Traditional continental delis with a wide variety of cheese on offer, dozens of different cold meats and an Aladdin's cave of exotic imported products, are not so common in Perth anymore.

INTERNATIONAL energy services company Wood Group has expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific with three investments in the Australian market in six months.

The wealth of major project activity in Western Australia has been a boon for local contracting firms, which are reaping the rewards of record high bidding activity in both the infrastructure and resources sectors.

A number of Western Australian finalists featured in the 2008 Australian Gourmet Traveller Awards, with East Perth's new fine dining destination Restaurant Amuse, Must Wine Bar sommelier Emma Sputore and the glamorous 1907 bar among those in line for top

WHILE critics have been quick to jump on the Labor-bashing bandwagon after the state election, there hasn't been much reflection on some of the strategic challenges that will face the next state government, whoever leads it.

Rising energy, steel and labour costs, and the added burden of investors snubbing the industry has led to a spate of casualties in the gold sector in recent years.

THE standout feature of Saturday's panic-driven premature election was that neither Alan Carpenter nor Colin Barnett pulled their party over the line to govern Western Australia in their own right.

The iron ore, nickel and gas sectors have grown to dominate new investment in Western Australia's resources sector, but there continues to be substantial investment in other mineral sectors across the state.