DRDGOLD begins first phase of Far West tailings project

Australia's antitrust regulator has decided it would not oppose commodities trader Glencore's $26 billion takeover of miner Xstrata.

On Wednesday, a day after after all three major global ratings agencies – Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's – placed South Africa's credit rating on negative outlook, home affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma became the latest senior figure in the ruling ANC party to join a growing chorus calling for state control of mining.

A lack of cranes, tractors, tugs and other port equipment is affecting the productivity and efficiency of the ports of Beira and Nacala in Mozambique, which can handle only 35% of their export loads.

The successful restructure of Namakwa Diamonds’ operations in Lesotho has turned the company's operations cash-flow positive, reduced costs and positioned the company for the next stage of development, said CEO Richard Collocott.

The world's largest producer of platinum, Anglo American (LON:AAL), says it will be reporting a 20% earnings decline when it reports its next six-month period.

Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) said it is shutting down KDC West mine after an accident claimed five employees' lives.

Chalice stock jumped 7.3% on the ASX in Sydney on the news.

Billionaire Arkady Gaydamak has lost a court bid to reclaim hundred of millions unpaid commissions and dividends from "king of diamonds" in a battle over Angolan assets.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the total value of goods and services produced in Ghana grew by 8.7% in the first quarter of 2012, relative to that of 2011.