Edited announcement

West Perth-based metals explorer Azure Minerals Ltd has applied for a mining concession covering an extensive area of surface mineralisation in Sonora, Mexico.

Shares in Belmont-based Ferrowest Ltd were up 14 per cent today after the company agreed to consider a supply deal to South Korean steel manufacturer Dongbu Steel, in exchange for its consideration of investment and other forms of support for the project.

The 40 employees of KFC Rockingham will be relocated throughout the remaining 49 stores owned by Competitive Foods Australia Pty Ltd, as the store closes tomorrow due to a licencing dispute.

South Perth-based gold explorer Oropa Ltd will secure a 90 per cent stakes in two uranium exploration projects in Malawi through the establishment of two independent joint venture companies with the current holders, the company has announced.

A subsidiary of Subiaco-based Vital Metals Ltd, North Queensland Tungsten Pty Ltd, has received a summons alleging breaches of workplace safety laws following a fatality last year at its Watershed Tungsten project.

West Perth-based Antares Energy Ltd's planned acquisition of a 55 per cent stake in the Group A acreage of its Kenedy Ranch properties will not proceed after the project vendor terminated its offer.

Perth-based Alkane Exploration Ltd aims to raise $12.8 million through the underwritten issue of 40.1 million shares to existing shareholders on the basis of one new share for every five shares held.

Scrap metal group CMA Corporation Ltd will acquire the Chicago-based Meretec Steel Recycling Plant from metals recycler Meretec Corporation in a scrip deal worth around $7.7 million, the company has announced.

Spending on mineral and petroleum exploration in Western Australia rose by 39 per cent to $839.2 million in the 2006-2007 financial year, accounting for nearly half of the nation's total, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Carbon Neutral program run by community organisation Men of the Trees has won the 2007 WA Environment award at a showcase honouring individuals, community groups and businesses who have shown outstanding achievement in protecting the environment.

West Perth-based Atlas Iron Ltd will sell the non-iron mineral rights of its Abydos and Goldsworthy tenements to West Perth gold explorer Shaw River Resources Ltd for $1.5 million in scrip and the issue of 2.5 million options, the company has announced.

Subiaco-based Natural Fuel Ltd has appointed three new directors and implemented an asset optimisation strategy over its Singapore plant, seeking to secure interim revenues while unfavourable market conditions remain, the company has announced.

West Perth-based base metals producer Kagara Zinc Ltd will develop a plan of operations for its Mungana development in partnership with the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, after it concluded an environmental impact statement was not required.

One week after Brazilian mining giant CVRD Inco agreed to fund further studies on Heron Resources' Kalgoorlie nickel project, Heron has done a deal with Australian mining giant BHP Billiton to raise extra capital for a second nickel project.

West Perth-based Straits Resources Ltd subsidiary Straits Asia Resources Ltd has signed a debt financing agreement worth around $257 million to part fund its purchases of additional mine concession areas in Indonesia, the company has announced.

Como-based GME Resources Ltd will commence a trial heap leach program at the Cawse Nickel plant site, near Kalgoorlie, under an agreement with Norilsk Nickel Cawse Pty Ltd, the company has announced.

West Perth-based uranium and iron ore company Apollo Minerals Ltd will acquire an 80 per cent interest in an iron ore project in the Pilbara for up to $1 million under an option agreement, the company has announced.

West Perth-based oil and gas exploration company Baraka Petroleum Ltd has raised $3.3 million through a share purchase plan, with funds raised to help the company fully acquire the La Punta oil field in Colombia.

West Perth-based uranium explorer Atomic Resources Ltd's Tanzanian subsidiary has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Development Corporation to explore two coal fields in southern Tanzania.

Leederville-based Bannerman Resources Ltd has won approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange to connence listing from Monday November 19, the company has announced.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has banned financial planner Philip Gerard Wade from providing financial services for seven years after failing to provide appropriate advice about Westpoint products, the Commission has announced.

A fatality has occured at South Perth-based Aquarius Platinum Ltd's Kroondal mine in South Africa, after a fall of ground accident, the company has announced.

Australian stockbroker Patersons Securities Limited has announced that Rod Evans, Shaun Duffy and David De Loub have joined the firm to head up the newly created Patersons Capital Partners.

The Federal Labor Party will fund a third of an estimated $180 million upgrade to road and rail networks in Esperance to improve access to the port, Opposition Transport spokesman Martin Ferguson announced today.

Subiaco-based Yilgarn Mining Ltd will change its name to Brockman Resources Ltd after securing shareholder approval at the company's annual general meeting yesterday.

West Perth-based Lonrho Mining Ltd will sell its Kamfersdam tailings dumps in South Africa to South Africa-based Meepo Investment Consortium Pty Ltd for around $1.1 million, the company has announced.

West Perth-based metals explorer Azure Minerals Ltd has formally applied for the listing of its ordinary shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange's Venture Exchange, the company has announced.

The State Government has flagged plans to allow public sector workers aged over 55 to access their superannuation entitlements while continuing to work, in an effort to retain experienced employees.

South Guildford-based Cougar Metals NL will raise $1.6 million through a placement to fund an assessment of its Pyke Hill Nickel project and soil sampling programs on its Alta Floresta Gold Project in Brazil.

Perth-based Eastland Medical Systems Ltd will take a controlling stake in African drug developer Star Medical (Botswana) Ltd after acquiring a further 25 per cent of the company through a scrip issue worth $1 million, the company has announced.

The third quarter profits of West Perth-based Straits Resources Ltd subsidiary Straits Asia Resources Ltd have fallen to a third of 2006 levels after a force majeure and abnormal rainfall, the company has announced.

Perth-based biodiesel producer Mission Biofuels Ltd, which acquired a 20 per cent stake in its Indian subsidiary on Monday, has increased its holding in the company to 97.6 per cent, after the minority partner chose not to participate in a rights issue.