Edited announcement

Success in attracting students has prompted a Canadian university to call off a deal with Navitas for the establishment of McMaster University College.

The number of corporate insolvencies climbed 27 per cent in calendar 2008 with the growth rate gathering pace in the last quarter, according to new research.

Golden Gate Petroleum plans to raise up to $6.32 million through a share purchase plan, with funds to go towards ongoing development work at its Bullseye oil project in the United States.

The state government has awarded two contracts valued at nearly $5 million to Southern Roads Services to upgrade highways near Mount Barker and Balingup.

The DomGas Alliance says the federal government's emissions trading scheme could lead to higher gas and electricity prices, domestic gas shortages and undermine the country's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Industrial software provider ISS Group has signed a $2 million contract with an Egyptian company over its BabelFish Suite of products and associated services.

Agribusinesses in Western Australia are enjoying the flow on effects of better seasonal conditions with the best business performance results nationally, according to latest figures from the the Westpac and Charles Sturt University Agribusiness Index.

The Telethon Institute of Child Research has been awarded a $9.7 million grant by a national medical council to undertake an unprecedented program of research into pregnancy and early childhood.

iiNet will lodge its defence in the Federal Court today over allegations the internet service provider authorised customers to download films in breach of copyright laws.

The state's mining sector has bucked the trend of the Deloitte WA Index in January, with stock values rising by over 3 per cent.

The tax office has warned mining companies to be cautious before entering into arrangements that allow for immediate deduction claims for future obligations to rehabilitate a mine site.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has indicated she will set more stringent conditions for the proposed desalination plant at Binningup, to ensure protection of the surrounding bushland and marine environment.

First home buyers are keeping the state's housing sector alive with land sales in Perth jumping 29 per cent during the December quarter.

Local councils have up to six months to advise the state government of their amalgamation plans and intentions to reduce the number of elected members.

Energy and Minerals Australia says it is targeting 2013 to start uranium mining at its Mulga Rocks deposit in Western Australia.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash has agreed to amend its supplier agreements after concerns were raised with the competition watchdog.

A total of 700 delegates is expected to visit Perth later this year and deliver over $2 million for the local economy after the Perth Convention Bureau secured a large Taiwanese corporate incentive travel group.

Eight-year veteran Andy Crane will take over from Imre Mencshelyi as the new chief executive of grains handler CBH Group.

Woodside Petroleum has today unveiled a new logo, the first substantial change in 32 years.

One in six BankWest customers and over 7 per cent of St George customers plan to vote with their feet and leave the bank as a result of the recent corporate activity of their bank, a new poll by Retail Banking Review has revealed.

The Michael Kiernan-led Stirling Resources has raised over $2 million through a convertible note issue to an Austrian resource company.

Tourism Western Australia will visit Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun and Bremer Bay this week to assess tourism opportunities in the area following the shutdown of BHP Billiton's nickel operation in the area.

West Perth-based ipernica says it has made a number of operational changes in order to focus its activities on the two main value drivers, intellectual property assertion and the newly acquired NearMap business.

Shares in West Perth-based Globe Metals & Mining have jumped 25 per cent on news of a potential offtake deal over its Kanyike project in Malawi.

Straits Resources will raise nearly $80 million through a convertible notes issue to the Standard Chartered Bank and has been granted an 18-month, $25 million senior debt facility by the bank.

Ausco Modular has opened a new 250-room accommodation village in Karratha, six months after construction started.

The state government has announced a raft of measures to reduce the burden of excessive red tape on businesses and consumers and to bar the way to unnecessary government regulation in the future.

Carnegie Corporation has entered into a deal with energy retailer Synergy to supply electricity from its wave energy project off Western Australia.

The expansion of Kalgoorlie's Super Pit gold mine has been approved after Acting Environment Minister John Day signed off on the expansion under a new set of stringent environmental conditions.

The federal government's proposed changes to industrial relations laws could cause long-term financial harm to the state's businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA explained to a Senate inquiry today.

West Perth-based Green Rock Energy, ARC Energy and Worsley Alumina are some of the preferred applicants chosen by the state government to harness geothermal energy in the Perth Basin.

Paladio Group chief executive Victor Kuss will assume extra responsibilities as managing director of the Belmont-based company.