Esther Tanquintic-Misa

Gina Rinehart, richest woman of Australia and of the world, has lost an 11-year old court battle to repossess from rival miner Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd. a 25 per cent stake in the Rhodes Ridge three billion tonne iron ore deposit in Western Australia.

Australians are now looking for more jobs, and are getting hired, in health care and social services sector more than any sector in the country.

Despite the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) slashing interest rates in both May and June, sales of new homes in Australia continued to fall, dropping by as much as 3.7 per cent for a third consecutive month in September.

In what could be an unprecedented strategy to propel its business, Virgin Australia divested a 10 per cent stake to Singapore Airlines Ltd., effectively collecting enough funds that will enable it to get a 60 per cent hold of Tiger Airways Australia and full control of Perth-based regional carrier Skywest Airlines Ltd.

The Chinese government has been reported to be studying a plan of consolidating eight of its country's vital industries, including the rare earths sector.

A new survey has found that more than half of Australians these days have become overweight or obese.

Effective next month December, 500 job posts will have to go at Vodafone Hutchison Australia as the company sizes up what could still be managed and saved from the firm amid a dropping market share.

The coal mining industry in Australia's Hunter Valley region in New South Wales is now the focus of debates as Australian health experts clamored for a health impact study following international evidence which stated that Australia lacked research that studied the possible ill effects of coal mining in the communities.

Australia has been ranked as the eighth most attractive destination for business expansion in 2012, according to global accountancy network BDO in its new survey based from responses of 1,050 chief financial officers (CFOs) of medium sized firms around the world.

Rio Tinto's rare pink and blue diamonds has attracted an unprecedented number of investor interest, particularly from Asian and European buyers, despite the world being in a massive fiscal crisis.

Coal workers at the jointly-owned coking coal mines of BHP Billiton Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp. have finally conceded to accept a new enterprise agreement, effectively ending a two-year mining clash.

After 30 years, Australia's Queensland state will resume uranium mining as the state's Premier Campbell Newman surrendered to pressure to lift the policy in support to the Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard's desire to sell uranium to India.

Shares of Australia's largest listed grain trader GrainCorp Ltd. surged on Monday as it confirmed it had received a formal non-binding takeover bid from US giant Archer Daniel Midlands Co. (ADM).

Following Australian PM Julia Gillard's recent visit to India, which focused on cooperation on civil nuclear energy, the country's state government of Queensland is now mulling to lift its self-imposed uranium ban in anticipation of a potential mining boom of the resource commodity.

Australia's state government of Queensland has put up two oil and gas blocks, one near Condamine and the other near Miles, for auction.

Australia on Friday reached a historical milestone as oil and gas company Santos Ltd launched the country's first commercial shale gas well in South Australia's Cooper Basin.

GrainCorp Ltd. could be up for a possible $3 billion takeover by US giant Archer Daniel Midlands Co. (ADM) after the latter seized up a 10 per cent controlling stake in Australia's largest listed grain trader.

The federal government of Australia has granted a total of $652 million in National Health and Medical Research Council grants to boost and help build a progressive and healthier Australia.

Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd will pursue its planned mine expansions as well as its annual target production guidance despite reporting a drop in its first quarter September production of the safe haven precious yellow metal gold.

The unusual dry weather prevailing in top wheat exporting nations led by the United States and Australia had prompted prices of the basic commodity to dramatically shoot up.

Arrow Energy's final investment decision on its Moranbah Gas liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the northern Bowen Basin in eastern Australia will be out in late 2013, according to chief executive Andrew Faulkner.

A total of 270 jobs will be slashed by Australia's Mount Gibson Iron Ltd from its Koolan Island operation off Western Australia's north Kimberley coast.

Plans of global mining firm Xstrata Plc to create a $5.9 billion copper-gold project in the Philippines' southern region has been relegated to the sidelines as the country's chief executive ordered the execution and implementation of a mining reform bill, effectively halting further new projects of other mining firms as well.

Manufacturers, users and researchers of rare earth elements from around the world have combined forces to create a Rare Earth Technology Alliance (RETA), and among its first plan of action is to map out an education and outreach strategy to enable its members cope with the supply shortages currently enveloping users of rare earths.

Central Queensland coal miner Ensham Resources will be cutting some 400 jobs from its coal mine operations near Emerald, west of Rockhampton to ensure business sustainability amid the continuing declining global market conditions.

Global gold miner Newmont Mining Corporation on Wednesday reported its third quarter gold production had slumped by 6 per cent on lower mill availability and recoveries as well as lower ore tons and grades.

BHP Billiton Ltd.'s iron ore production for its fiscal year first quarter remain unchanged, growing to only one per cent from a year ago.

For as long as the world's nations, specially China, continue to build cities and other infrastructure-related essentials, demand for iron ore will continue to grow in this decade, albeit slowly.

The number of individuals diagnosed with the dreaded Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has risen in Australia, prompting lawmakers and health experts to re-assess laid down national policies and programs on the disease.