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Spending a few days in Port Hedland meant we spent a few days longer than most travellers, and it also afforded an opportunity to get some insights into the town’s development.

Australia has moved up two places in the 2014 Global Innovation Index as a result of strong performance in the country’s education and infrastructure sectors.

Sedgman's joint venture operation with Thiess has won a $64 million contract for the design and construction of a modular iron processing plant at Fortescue Metal Group’s Solomon iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Brookfield Rail has won the corporate excellence and innovation award at the 2014 Australasian Rail Industry Awards, after undergoing a significant business transformation over the last three years.

Mid-tier business broker Mergers & Acquisitions has broadened its exposure to international markets through a tie-up with European corporate advisory firm, Translink Corporate Finance.

Resources companies will have to pay their next instalment of the mining tax after the federal government today rejected an overnight attempt by the Senate to retain funding mechanisms, despite voting to abolish the tax.

The City of Perth development assessment panel has approved two major office projects in the CBD – one at the Melbourne Hotel on Milligan Street and the other at 374-396 Murray Street – but it is unclear whether market demand will support the proposals.

Uranium Equities has announced a one for three rights issue and placement to raise up to $1.5 million for its Alligator Rivers uranium field and general working capital.

In this week's edition of Business News Background, host Charlie Gunningham, head of content Mark Pownall and journalist Dan Wilkie discuss the top stories of the week, including the latest Malaysi

Santos has notched up a 25 per cent increase in revenue as the massive PNG LNG project starts production ahead of schedule.

The head of Australia's largest online employment website says more people will lose their jobs and will have fewer opportunities to find work as businesses increasingly replace labour with technology.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says governments are out of money and can only fund vital infrastructure with funds from the private sector.

Rail freight and ports operator Asciano has confirmed that it is in talks over a possible sale of a non-controlling interest in its terminal and logistics business.

Australian stocks are on the back foot following the Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine, but the local market has so far avoided the bigger sell-offs seen in other parts of the world.

US stocks have tumbled after a Malaysian airliner crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.

The Australian dollar is lower amid fears a Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down in rebel-held east Ukraine in what is being called a "terrorist" attack.

Opinion polls have always presented a dilemma for political leaders, with the temptation to comment when they are favourable almost impossible to resist; but polls can be fickle.

Global oil prices have pushed higher after a Malaysian jetliner crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine, sparking concerns of an escalation in the crisis in the former Soviet state.

Perth-based Swan Gold Mining has completed a one-for-10 share consolidation as part of a restructuring of the company that it proposes including a capital raising of up to $20 million and debt to equity conversion of more than $29 million.

Perth’s retail market is on the rebound, bouncing back after recording the highest vacancy in Australia at the end of last year, according to commercial property agency JLL.

The Australian share market has firmed slightly to reach 5,522.4 points, its highest close in around six years, which was boosted by strength in the resources sector.

Revelations of Rupert Murdoch's $80 billion attempt to create the world's biggest media company has sparked speculation it will lead to a bid for Australia's Ten Network.

Iconic medical research institute is increasing philanthropic revenue.

A recently established social enterprise is aiming to use the sale of bicycles in Western Australia to reduce poverty in India.

The latest land sales figures for Western Australia reflect strong demand but an inadequate supply of building-ready lots, according to the Housing Industry Association.

Coffee franchise Muzz Buzz has introduced drive-thru ATMs to its business in a move it claims should appeal to women and people with mobility issues.

Bank bashing is a national sport in Australia, often played for good reason; but the latest round of kicking banks, which started this week with the release of a report by former Commonwealth Bank boss David Murray, could not have come at a worse time.

Potash explorer Elemental Minerals has appointed John Sanders as managing director, replacing Iain Macpherson who will continue as a non-executive director.

Grill’d Healthy Burgers is set to open in Fremantle in August, after signing a lease at 17 South Terrace.

The look of the new 60,000-seat Perth stadium to be built in Burswood was unveiled today by Premier Colin Barnett, who guaranteed it would be open in time for the 2018 AFL season.

An iconic fixture at many sporting and cultural events, food vans are going gourmet, with pies and chips giving way to more sophisticated cuisine that, increasingly, is competing with the bricks and mortar hospitality sector.

Shares in Perth gold miner Minera Gold rose by over 33 per cent after it announced it had signed an agreement to buy the San Santiago gold and copper processing plant in Peru for $US5.5million.