Rio Tinto says climbing costs, resource nationalism once again big threats

Gina Rinehart has raised the ire of the Australian public again with a ten minute Youtube speech on the shortcomings of the country's economy which has triggered ad hominem attacks from leading political figures.

Rising labor and construction costs as well as declines in commodities prices have cast doubt on AUD$100 billion in mining and energy projects in Australia.

Analysts predict a recovery in the price of iron ore this month following a dive in spot prices below key lower thresholds which has left the shares of major Australian miners languishing in the doldrums.

A school in Western Australia has adopted the innovative pedagogic technique of using Lego robotics to teach students about mining processes, with the long-term goal of providing skilled tech-savvy workers to the region's flourishing resources sector.

A recent dive in iron ore prices spurred by China's slowing economy has dragged down the share prices of major Australian miners.

The founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) Andrew Forrest raised his stake in the company by AUD$39 million this week amidst declines in the prices of both Fortescue shares and iron ore.

Chinese firms plan to invest up to AUD$8.6 billion in Indonesian smelters to mitigate the impact of a ban on unprocessed ore exports.

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has publicly said Friday it will vote against the mooted $70 billion merger between Glencore (LON:GLEN) and Xstrata (LON:XTA), which sent shares of both the Swiss commodity trader and the coal giant down the slope Thursday in London.

Mining tycoon Gina Rinehart has triggered a squall of controversy in Australia by issuing a call for the minimum wage to be reduced and accusing those jealous of her immense wealth of being lazy.