BHP has joined the industry trend of lifting returns to shareholders by significantly increasing its dividend for the first half of the 2018 financial year.

Northern Star has posted its half-year results, and while profits were down slightly the feeling is positive overall due in part to exciting exploration results.

Global mining and metals deals saw a 15 per cent boost in 2017, according to a report from the accountants at Ernst & Young (EY), reaching a four-year high for mining deals overall.

Nickel miner Western Areas is receiving increased interest in its product from the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector, which is pursuing off-take agreements at two of the company’s growth projects.

Aeris Resources has received approval from the South Australian minister for Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, meaning its Torrens copper-gold joint venture (JV) in the Stuart Shelf region can now go ahead.

The rebound in market conditions in the resources industry is driving an improvement in engineering company Monadelphous’ performance.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has called for a reform of Australia’s higher education system and for outdated workplace relations to be fixed to build the future workforce in the industry.

Evolution Mining and Emmerson Resources are set to restructure their Tennant Creek Mineral Field (TCMF) joint venture in the Northern Territory.

Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) has announced that its Billion Opportunities programme, commenced in 2011 to promote sustainable business for Aboriginal communities, has just passed $2 billion in funding.

Mincor Resources is on track to start full-scale mining operations at the Widgiemooltha gold project in Western Australia this quarter.

Rio Tinto has expressed its commitment to seeking a new power delivery solution for its part-owned Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine following the Mongolian Government’s cancellation of 2014’s Power Sector Cooperation Agreement (PSCA).

Millennium Minerals has awarded an underground mining contract at it Nullagine gold project in Western Australia to GBF Underground Mining.

Award-winning Australian international logistics company and freight forwarder, VISA Global Logistics, is joining inaugural supply chain event, MEGATRANS2018, to showcase its service offerings.

Santos has secured a $100 million contract to supply gas to New Century Resources’ Mt Isa power generation facilities for the Century zinc mine in Queensland.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining has released its half-year results, posting a statutory profit of $98 million and underlying profit of $116 million as it produced 1.14 million ounces (Moz) of gold.

An attempt to stop Adani Australia from registering an Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA) for its Carmichael coal development in Queensland’s Galilee Basin has been rejected in Federal Court.

Indonesian copper consortium Eastern Field Developments, formed last September in preparation for a hostile takeover of Finders Resources, has decided to make its bid unconditional, citing lack of interest from potential “white knight” suitors.