Australian assistance to Mongolia

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
STEPHEN SMITH

Australia will provide $1 million in assistance to Mongolia following the adverse humanitarian situation caused by severe weather conditions.

Extreme winter temperatures have affected the country since the end of December 2009 and follow a recent drought. Together these extremes have caused the deaths of more than 450,000 livestock and threatened the livelihoods of Mongolian herders.

The crisis is affecting pregnant women and children vulnerable to disease outbreaks and malnutrition.

The Government of Mongolia has appealed for food, medicines, heating supplies, and funds to buy food for livestock.

Australian officials are working with the Government of Mongolia, the United Nations, and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement to respond to the crisis. We will channel our assistance through the UN and humanitarian agencies who can respond quickly on the ground in Mongolia.

Sourc:Government of Australia; Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
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Weather drives Mongolian herders to cities

ULAN BATUR, Mongolia, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Mongolia's extreme cold and snow have killed more than 1 million livestock and forced herders to leave homes for shanties near Ulan Batur, an aid group said.

The weather threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people, Xinhua reported Saturday.

"Every morning five to 10 animals are dying," said Javzmaa Batbold, a herder in Adaatsag County, Dundgobi province. "Out of 500 livestock, about 120 have died due to the extreme cold weather and shortage of food.

"I don't know what future is waiting for our family if all our livestock die," said Batbold, a father of two children. "We are doing our best to save our animals, which are the only source of livelihood. Continuous snow blizzards are killing our livestock."

More than 14,000 Red Cross volunteers are delivering food to herders who have lost their livestock.

The southern province of Dundgobi is going through a "dzud" -- a summer drought followed by abnormally low temperatures and heavy snow.

The summer drought prevented farmers from stockpiling food for sheep and other animals.

Source:UPI News Agency
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Mongolia hit by extreme cold weather

ULAN BATOR, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is currently experiencing an extreme cold weather and heavy snow mainly in the southern province of Dundgobi, which has caused much trouble for the life of herders, said a local official.
Dundgobi is encountering a natural disaster called "dzud", which consists of a summer drought, followed by heavy snow and abnormal low temperatures, Dundgobi Governor Sh. Turbat told Xinhua in a recent interview.
"The current situation of continuous snow storms and extreme cold has caused a loss of thousands of livestock, leaving numerous herders without any source of livelihood," Turbat said.

"The disaster has caused an economic loss equivalent to 6.6 million U.S. dollars to the province," he added.
Due to a drastic drop in temperatures from late 2009 to early 2010, 80 percent of Mongolia's territory was covered with snow as thick as 20 centimeters to 90 centimeters, and 198 soums have now been battered by the harsh weather.
On Jan. 24-25, over 1.4 million livestock perished due to the severe winter cold, the Mongolian government reported.

Editor: Lin Liyu
Source:Xinhua News Agency of China

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Mongolia Monday- New Mongolian Grammar Book

I got an email yesterday from one Munkhbayar Barmunkh, with a link to the Amazon page which offered the above book- a new, as of Sept. 2009, Mongolian grammar textbook.

Mongolian Grammar Textbook (by Khatantuul Baatarsukh) is intended for English speakers who are studying Mongolian. It offers detailed explanation of written Mongolian and features grammar structures, concise spelling rules, word classes, vocabulary, syntax, and variety of practice exercises with answers given. This book is intended for guided study.

This book covers 13 topics:
Chapter 1 Phonology
Chapter 2 Orthography
Chapter 3 Morphology
Chapter 4 Nouns
Chapter 5 Verbs
Chapter 6 Adjectives
Chapter 7 Numerals
Chapter 8 Pronouns
Chapter 9 Prepositions
Chapter 10 Conjunctions
Chapter 11 Particles
Chapter 12 Vocabulary
Chapter 13 Syntax


The author, Khatantuul Baatarsukh, has a BA in International Relations and Slavic Studies from the School of Foreign Services at the National University of Mongolia.
Contact e-mail: batmunka@yahoo.com
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Sumo champ Asashoryu in drinking assault claims; governments calls for investigation

TOKYO — Allegations that sumo grand champion Asashoryu assaulted a man during a late-night drinking session have prompted Japan's sports minister to call for an investigation by the Japan Sumo Association.

"The association is responsible for Japan's national sport," Sports Minister Tatsuo Kawabata said Friday. "This must be dealt with appropriately. If the reports are true, it's deplorable."

Weekly magazine Friday reported last week that Asashoryu was intoxicated after leaving an establishment and hit an acquaintance.

However, weekly magazine Shukan Shincho reported Thursday that the actual man attacked was in charge of a dance club where the Mongolian had been drinking.

The man's injuries reportedly included a broken nose, lacerations of the lip and bruises to the back of his head.

Asashoryu, 29, claimed the man was his manager and has apologized for the incident, saying that alcohol was the cause.

The JSA said Thursday it will demand an explanation from Asashoryu.

The 29-year-old Mongolian has often been criticized for not living up to the standards of a sumo grand champion in a sport associated closely with Japanese traditional culture.

In 2007, he became the first grand champion ever suspended when it was revealed he participated in a soccer game in Mongolia despite citing injury to skip tournaments. In 2003, he pulled an opponent's top knot during a bout, resulting in an immediate disqualification.

Source:Associated Press News Agency
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Skeleton of Western man found in ancient Mongolian tomb

DNA from 2,000-year-old skeleton may put Indo-Europeans in East Asia By Bruce Bower
Dead men can indeed tell tales, but they speak in a whispered double helix.

Consider an older gentleman whose skeleton lay in one of more than 200 tombs recently excavated at a 2,000-year-old cemetery in western Mongolia, near China’s northern border. DNA extracted from this man’s bones pegs him as a descendant of Europeans or western Asians. Yet he still assumed a prominent position in ancient Mongolia’s Xiongnu Empire, say geneticist Kyung-Yong Kim of Chung-Ang University in Seoul, South Korea, and his colleagues.

On the basis of previous excavations and descriptions in ancient Chinese texts, researchers suspect that the Xiongnu Empire — which ruled a vast territory in and around Mongolia from 209 B.C. to A.D. 93 — included ethnically and linguistically diverse nomadic tribes. The Xiongnu Empire once ruled the major trading route known as the Asian Silk Road, opening it to both Western and Chinese influences.

Researchers have yet to pin down the language spoken by Xiongnu rulers and political elites, says archaeologist David Anthony of Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. But the new genetic evidence shows that the 2,000-year-old man “was multi-ethnic, like the Xiongnu polity itself,” Anthony remarks.

This long-dead individual possessed a set of genetic mutations on his Y chromosome, which is inherited from paternal ancestors, that commonly appears today among male speakers of Indo-European languages in eastern Europe, central Asia and northern India, Kim’s team reports in an upcoming American Journal of Physical Anthropology. The same man displayed a pattern of mitochondrial DNA mutations, inherited from maternal ancestors, characteristic of speakers of modern Indo-European languages in central Asia, the researchers say.
“We don’t know if this 60- to 70-year-old man reached Mongolia on his own or if his family had already lived there for many generations,” says study coauthor Charles Brenner, a DNA analyst based in Oakland, Calif.

Two other skeletons from the Xiongnu cemetery in Duurlig Nars show genetic links to people who live in northeastern Asia, according to Kim’s team. Other team members include Kijeong Kim of Chung-Ang University and Eregzen Gelegdorj of the National Museum of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar.

The Duurlig Nars man’s genetic signature supports the idea that Indo-European migrations to northeastern Asia started before 2,000 years ago. This notion is plausible, but not confirmed, says geneticist Peter Underhill of Stanford University. Further investigations of Y chromosome mutation frequencies in modern populations will allow for a more precise tracing of the Duurlig Nars man’s geographic roots, Underhill predicts.

Scholars have long sought to trace the origin and spread of related languages now found in Europe, India and other parts of Asia. One hypothesis holds that Indo-European languages proliferated via several waves of expansion and conquest by nomads known as Kurgans who had domesticated horses and thus could travel long distances. In this scenario, Kurgans left a homeland north of the Black Sea, in what’s now Russia, around 6,400 years ago.

Another view holds that farmers from ancient Turkey spread Indo-European tongues as they swallowed up one parcel of land after another, beginning around 9,000 years ago.

Since 1978, discoveries of 2,400- to 4,000-year-old mummified corpses with European features in northwestern China, not far from Mongolia, have fueled the Kurgan hypothesis (SN: 2/25/95, p. 120). Remains of large wheels found with these blond-haired individuals raise the controversial possibility that these foreigners introduced carts and chariots to the Chinese.

Add to those discoveries a report in the September 2009 Human Genetics. Geneticist Christine Keyser of the University of Strasbourg in France and her colleagues found that nine of 26 skeletons previously excavated at 11 Kurgan sites in northeastern Russia possess a Y chromosome mutation pattern thought to mark the eastward expansion of early Indo-Europeans. That same genetic signature characterizes the Duurlig Nars man.

By 2,000 years ago, the easternmost Indo-European languages were probably spoken in northwestern China, Anthony holds. So an Indo-European speaker could have aligned himself with Xiongnu political big shots and earned an eternal resting place in an elite Xiongnu cemetery, in his opinion.

Kim agrees. The Duurlig Nars man’s tomb lies close to the tomb of an especially high-ranking Xiongnu man whom he may have served in some way, he suggests.

Kim’s group plans to extract and study DNA from additional Duurlig Nars skeletons. For now, Anthony remarks, “this new study from Mongolia is important because it adds one more point of light to a largely dark prehistoric sky.”

Source:Science News Magazine (www.sciencenews.org)
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Severe snowstorms, freezing temperatures may force Mongolian herders into cities

By Chi-Chi Zhang (CP)
BEIJING — Blizzards and freezing temperatures that have killed more than a million livestock in Mongolia could force thousands of herders to migrate to shantytowns near the capital of Ulan Bator, an international aid group said Thursday.

Extreme winter weather that began in December has continued to trouble the poor landlocked country sandwiched between China and Russia, following a summer drought that prevented farmers from stockpiling food for their livestock.

Heavy snow and temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees (minus 40 degrees Celsius) have affected 19 of Mongolia's 21 provinces, with more than 14,000 Red Cross volunteers across the region scrambling to deliver food to impoverished herders who have lost their livestock.

"Although some of the roads are being cleared, freezing temperatures combined with the lack of health care and poor infrastructure makes the situation for animals and people very vulnerable," said Francis Markus, a spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross East Asia.


Video footage taken by the aid group showed dogs and birds gnawing on the carcasses of dead sheep. Markus said there could be potential health problems once the remains of the livestock thaw out.

Snow-covered roads have hampered efforts by Red Cross volunteers to reach 1,500 people to deliver enough flour, sugar, oil, felt shoes, blankets and other essentials to last the next three months, Markus said.

The United Nations warned on Monday that the extreme winter weather is likely to harm the country's food supply and worsen poverty.

Since more than a third of Mongolians herd livestock for a living, the loss of livestock could mean an increased rural to urban migration for thousands of families seeking new means of income, Markus said.

Mongolian government reports put the number of dead livestock at about 1 million, but some unofficial reports say the figure is closer to 2 million, Markus said, with worries more may die as freezing temperatures are forecast to last until as late as March or April.

Mongolia borders China's northwestern Xinjiang region, where the bad weather has killed 20 people, according to a Xinjiang government Web site.

More than 1.6 million people have been affected and shortages of grain and fuel have also been reported in Xinjiang, where 100,000 homes have been damaged. Continuing harsh weather has also closed fishing harbours in eastern China.

It is the harshest winter in decades in parts of northern China, with Beijing this month receiving its heaviest one-day snowfall in 59 years.

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source:The Canadian Press
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China to send humanitarian aid to Mongolia

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to send relief supplies to Mongolia to help it tide over the difficulties caused by the unprecedented snowfalls, the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday in a statement on the website.

This batch of supplies, including rice, food, portable power generators and quilts, will arrive in Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator in recent days, the statement said.

Fu Ziying, vice commerce minister, said he hoped the relief materials could be help the Mongolian government cope with the blizzard when he met with Mongolian ambassador Tsedenjaviin Sukhbaatar Tuesday, according to the statement.

China was the first country offering aid to Mongolia after it made requests for international aid, Tsedenjaviin Sukhbaatar said.

Editor: Zhang Pengfei
Source: Xinhua news agency of China
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Alcatel-Lucent wins Mongolian 3G deal

Telecoms equipment company Alcatel-Lucent has won a contract from Mongolian mobile operator Mobicom to deploy a 3G wireless broadband network. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Under the deal signed through its Chinese subsidiary Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell, the company will provide Mobicom with its advanced converged radio access network (RAN) portfolio to sustain the rapid increase of voice and data traffic and enable Mobicom's smooth transformation to LTE. The solution also includes 3G UMTS/HSPA base stations, radio network controller, network management system and critical professional services including network installation and testing.

The company said its solution will enable Mobicom to extend its network capacity and coverage and meet the growing demand for new broadband data services in Mongolia.

Rajeev Singh-Molares, incoming president of Asia Pacific at Alcatel-Lucent, said: "Our scalable solution offers service providers like Mobicom greater network reliability and agility, while minimizing their total cost of network ownership. With our converged technologies and solutions, Alcatel-Lucent is committed to helping Mobicom's sustainable development."

Last week, Alcatel-Lucent won a contract from Australian data services provider Nextgen Networks to deploy its optical platform as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source:www.tradingmarkets.com
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Khan Signs Memorandum of Understanding With MonAtom LLC

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- 01/25/10 -- Khan Resources Inc. (TSX: KRI) ("Khan") announced today that it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with MonAtom LLC ("MonAtom"), the Mongolian state-owned uranium development company. The MOU establishes the principal elements of a joint venture transaction which would finalize the ownership structure surrounding the Dornod uranium project, and creates a framework for developing the project and bringing it into operation as expeditiously as possible. Khan's objective in entering into this MOU is to protect and preserve value for Khan's shareholders in light of the Mongolian Nuclear Energy Law, the status of Khan's mining and exploration licenses in Mongolia and the hostile bid by JSC Atomredmetzoloto ("ARMZ"). Khan's Board of Directors believes that the transactions contemplated by the MOU will, when completed, deliver far greater value to Khan's shareholders than the $0.65 per share offered by ARMZ in its hostile bid.

Khan's two principal assets in Mongolia are mining license 237A held by its 58% owned subsidiary Central Asian Uranium Company, Limited ("CAUC") and exploration license 9282X held by its wholly owned subsidiary Khan Mongolia XXK ("Khan Mongolia"). CAUC is a joint venture between Khan (58%), MonAtom (21%) and the Russian company JSC Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union ("Priargunsky"), a subsidiary of ARMZ.

The principal elements of the proposed transaction include:

-- the two pending applications to re-register the existing CAUC mining license and Khan Mongolia exploration license under the Nuclear Energy Law to be approved and new licenses issued within seven days of signing the MOU; -- Khan Mongolia's exploration license to be converted into a mining license within 45 days of signing the MOU. -- Khan and MonAtom would enter into a new joint venture arrangement whereby Khan and MonAtom would each hold shares of a joint venture company which would have ownership in both CAUC and Khan Mongolia. -- The proposed structure contemplates MonAtom acquiring a 51% interest in each of CAUC and Khan Mongolia in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Law, but MonAtom would then transfer to Khan part of its interest in the joint venture in exchange for newly issued shares of Khan representing 17% of Khan's outstanding shares, and a warrant to purchase an additional 2.9% of the shares of Khan at an exercise price equal to the market price on the date that the definitive agreements are signed. This transfer would result in Khan owning 65% of the joint venture company and the joint venture company owning 74% of CAUC and 100% of Khan Mongolia. -- In addition, Khan would have the right to nominate a majority of the members, including the Chair, of the management committee which will serve as the governing body of the joint venture. Certain fundamental decisions would require unanimous approval of the management committee. As long as MonAtom remains a significant shareholder of Khan, it would be entitled to nominate two candidates for election to Khan's board of directors. -- Khan Mongolia would b appointed a the operator o the project pursuant

The transaction is subject to a number of conditions including negotiating and signing the formal joint venture agreement, operator agreements and related definitive documentation, as well as required approvals thereof including by the Khan and MonAtom boards. The parties intend to immediately commence negotiations on the definitive agreements with a goal of entering into such agreements before the end of March 2010.

After consultation with its financial advisors, Haywood Securities Inc.. Khan's Board of Directors believes that, based on a Dornod after-tax net present value (NPV) using a 10% discount rate of U.S.$276 million, and Khan's resulting interest in the project following the transaction contemplated by the MOU, such transaction implies a value for Khan of approximately U.S.$2.14 (C$2.26) per common share. Accordingly, after taking into account Khan's cash on hand of C$0.26 per common share (after dilution), the total after-tax net asset value (NAV) attributable to Khan would be $2.52 per common share. Khan believes this amount more closely reflects the actual value of Khan's shares and represents a significant improvement in value for Khan shareholders when compared to ARMZ's opportunistic and inadequate offer of $0.65 per share.

"Since the passage of the Nuclear Energy Law last summer, it has been clear that the only viable path for Khan is to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution with the Government of Mongolia which achieves the Government's 51% ownership objective while protecting and maximizing value for Khan and its shareholders," said Martin Quick, President and CEO of Khan. "With this MOU, we think we have achieved the right balance. It gives us a stable ownership and regulatory platform upon which we can obtain the necessary financing to complete the project. We believe that this transaction delivers far greater long term value to Khan's shareholders than ARMZ's hostile bid."

Mr. Badamdamdin, CEO of MonAtom, said: "We are very happy to have negotiated this MOU with Khan. We respect Khan's operating and financial expertise and look forward to taking Dornod as quickly and efficiently as possible to production."

"The Board of Directors and Special Committee repeat our recommendation to all Khan shareholders to reject the highly conditional and opportunistic ARMZ Offer," said Mr. James Doak, Chairman of the Khan Board. "The MOU with MonAtom offers a going concern alternative that we hope, by removing regulatory uncertainty, will increase our share price closer to its net asset value. Our Board looks forward to working with MonAtom to negotiate and sign the definitive documents necessary to reflect the transactions contemplated by the MOU and develop the Dornod deposit into an operating uranium mine."

Since ARMZ launched its hostile offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Khan at $0.65 per share on November 30, 2009 (the "ARMZ Offer"), the Special Committee of the Khan Board of Directors has been actively engaged in a process of identifying viable strategic alternatives that may be in the best interests of Khan and maximize value for its shareholders, having regard to the policies and laws of the Government of Mongolia and the unique circumstances in which Khan operates. Khan believes that the transactions contemplated by the MOU provide greater clarity for all interested parties to assess the true value of Khan and provides shareholders with a viable strategic alternative to the ARMZ Offer. Khan cautions, however, that the MOU is non-binding and is subject to negotiation of definitive documentation and other conditions. There can be no assurance that the transactions contemplated by the MOU will be concluded or that the terms and conditions or proposed final structure will not change.

UPDATE ON THE ARMZ OFFER

More information about the circumstances in Mongolia and the ARMZ Offer is provided in the Directors' Circular dated December 15, 2009 issued by Khan's Board of Directors. The Board continues to stand by its unanimous recommendation that shareholders reject the ARMZ Offer and not tender their shares to the ARMZ Offer. Khan strongly urges shareholders to read the Directors' Circular in its entirety and particularly the detailed "Reasons for Rejection" set out therein and summarized in Khan's related press release dated December 15, 2009, copies of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT KHAN RESOURCES INC.

Khan Resources Inc. (TSX: KRI) is a Canadian company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of uranium properties. Its current activities are focused on the Dornod area in northeastern Mongolia, the site of a former Russian open-pit uranium mine. Khan holds interests in the Main Dornod Property, licensed for mining, and in the Additional Dornod Property, licensed for exploration. The Company's website is www.khanresources.com.

ABOUT MONATOM LLC.

MonAtom LLC is a Mongolian state-owned company in charge of representing the government of Mongolia in all activities regarding radioactive minerals. MonAtom LLC represents the Mongolian state ownership in all uranium projects in Mongolia and is the holder of all uranium licenses under Mongolian state control.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements and information are characterized by words such as "will", "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "forecast", "schedule", "estimate" and similar expressions, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions and are inherently subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, including the impact of Mongolian and Canadian laws and regulatory requirements on the terms and conditions of the MOU, the ARMZ Offer and Khan's business, properties, licenses, operations and capital structure, Khan's ability to re-register its existing licenses, regulatory uncertainty and obtaining governmental approvals, legislative, political, social, regulatory and economic developments or changes in jurisdictions in which Khan, MonAtom and ARMZ carry on business, the speculative nature of exploration and development, risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business, changes in market conditions, changes or disruptions in the securities markets and market fluctuations in prices for Khan securities, the lack of any alternative transactions or the terms and conditions of any alternative transactions, including those contemplated by the MOU, not being acceptable, definitive documentation relating to the transactions contemplated by the MOU not being negotiated or entered into, or entered into on the terms currently contemplated, the method of funding and availability of potential alternative strategic transactions involving Khan, including those transactions that may produce superior strategic value to shareholders, and uncertainty in the estimation of mineral reserves and resources. In addition, a number of other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in such statements and information, and there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with them. For further details, reference is made to the risk factors discussed or referred to in Khan's annual and interim management's discussion and analyses and Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such forward-looking statements and information are made or given as at the date of this news release, and Khan assumes no obligation to update or revise them, either publicly or otherwise, to reflect new events, information or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

Contacts:
Investor Relations Contacts: Khan Resources Inc.
Martin Quick
President & CEO
Office: 416.360.3405
mquick@khanresources.com
www.khanresources.com

The Buick Group
Jonathan Buick
Office: 416.915.0915, Ext. 302 or Toll Free: 1.877.748.0914
jbuick@buickgroup.com


Source:www.khanresources.com (Khan Resources Inc)
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Khan strikes peace in Mongolia

Andrew Willis

Robert Friedland isn’t the only Canadian mining executive doing deals in Mongolia, as junior uranium play Khan Resources cut a deal Monday with the state-owned mining developer MonAtom LLC.

TSX-listed Khan (KRI-T0.780.1014.71%), the target of a hostile takeover bid, struck a joint venture with MonAtom that settle ownership issues on a property in northern Mongolia called Dornod, close to the border with Russia. The partnership paves the way for development of a uranium mine. Khan shares are soaring on the news.

Ivanhoe Mines, a Mongolian copper and gold play that features Mr. Friedland as a major shareholder, is currently looking at strategic alternatives after navigating these same regulatory waters.

With the MonAtom deal in place, Khan and its financial advisers at Haywood Securities said Monday in a news release that the company now has a net asset value of $2.52 a share, or well above the 65-cent-a-share hostile offer fired at Khan back in November by a Russian uranium miner named JSC Atomredmetzoloto.

The takeover came after Mongolian politicians rolled out new rules last summer that required government ownership in uranium mining projects.

“The memorandum of understanding with MonAtom offers a going-concern alternative that we hope, by removing regulatory uncertainty, will increase our share price closer to the net asset value,” said James Doak, chairman of the board at Khan, in a news release. Mr. Doak is a former Bay Street energy analyst who moved into money management a decade back.

Source:www.theglobeandmail.com (Globe and Mail, Canadian Newspaper)
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Joint Statement on the Expansion of Educational Exchanges between the United States and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of Mongolia

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

January 25, 2010

On January 25, 2010, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale and the Minister of Education, Culture and Science for Mongolia Yondon Otgonbayar met in Washington D.C., during the Minister’s visit to the United States. The two leaders noted that January 27 marks the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mongolia and congratulated each other on the growth of the bilateral relationship over the last two decades. Both leaders affirmed the continuing importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries and recognized the value of U.S.–Mongolian educational exchanges to the future development of the relationship. Both sides recognized the importance of higher education in creating the human capital necessary for the two countries to cooperate in solving the challenges and seizing the opportunities the United States and Mongolia together face in the 21st century.

As such, the two sides agreed to promote greater exchange opportunities, to encourage more students from both countries to consider studying abroad, and to encourage collaboration between American and Mongolian universities. In furtherance of these shared goals:


The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science announced its intention to contribute $1 million U.S. dollars to support the exchange of students and scholars under the U.S.-Mongolia Fulbright Program. The allocation of these funds will be determined by the Government of Mongolia, in consultation with the U.S. Department of State.
The U.S. Department of State announced its intention to increase its base allocation to the U.S.-Mongolia Fulbright Program to $500,000 in U.S. Fiscal Year 2010. In combination with funding allocated for other educational exchange programs, the total contribution from the U.S. Department of State to educational exchanges with Mongolia will exceed $1 million in 2010.

The U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science will form an Advisory Committee comprised of an equal number of Mongolian and U.S. members to provide guidance to the administration of the expanded Fulbright exchange. The Committee will follow the worldwide Fulbright principles in overseeing an open, merit-based, and transparent selection process.

In addition, the Department of State applauded and encouraged the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science’s efforts to establish a scholarship program for undergraduates in collaboration with a private sector partner in the United States.


The two leaders acknowledged and noted with appreciation ongoing private sector efforts to further develop a variety of educational exchanges between the two countries. Both leaders welcomed and encouraged these initiatives as a way to further strengthen, deepen and expand educational links between Mongolia and the United States.

Source:www.state.gov (US Department of State)
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United Nations warns extreme cold, heavy snow in Mongolia threatens lives

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia — The United Nations warned Monday that extreme winter weather that has killed more than 1 million livestock in Mongolia is likely to harm the country's food supply and worsen poverty.

Nineteen of Mongolia's 21 provinces have been hit by heavy winter snow and temperatures that have plunged below minus 40 degrees (minus 40 degrees Celsius), the organization said in a statement.

The extreme winter in the poor, landlocked country sandwiched between China and Russia followed a summer drought that prevented farmers from stockpiling food for livestock.

"The poor did not have the resources to stockpile food or fuel for heating and the supplies in the now inaccessible villages as a whole are stretched," said Rana Flowers, the U.N.'s resident co-ordinator in Mongolia.

The cold and heavy snow have already killed more than 1 million livestock, the organization said, citing the National Emergency Management Agency. More than a third of Mongolians herd livestock for a living.

Flowers said U.N. agencies were trying to reach the worst-hit people, and are particularly concerned about pregnant women cut off from medical facilities by the heavy snow - three have reportedly died in childbirth so far, she said. The agencies are also worried about pneumonia rates among children and pregnant women, and increasing malnutrition.

The U.N. is co-ordinating all donor contributions to Mongolia, after the government asked for food, medicine, heating supplies, warm clothing and money to buy and deliver food for livestock, the statement said.

Source:AP (Associated Press) news agency
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S. KOREA, MONGOLIA SIGN DEAL ON MINE RECLAMATION, ENVIRONMENT

SEOUL, Jan 25, 2010
South Korea's Mine Reclamation Corp. (MIRECO) signed an environmental protection and clean-up deal with Mongolia on Monday that could fuel bilateral business tie-ups, the state-run firm said.

The memorandum of understanding involves Mongolia's Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy and a consortium of South Korean construction companies operating in Mongolia, and could allow Korean businesses to be involved in proposed reclamation works at the Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi mines.

The two regions have vast deposits of coal, and large scale development projects slated to take place in the near future threaten to cause soil and water contamination that Ulan Bator wants to prevent.

The Mongolian government has announced a plan to inject US$200 into preventative and reclamation efforts from 2010 through 2015 with funds coming from the sale of natural resources.

The blueprint could fuel business opportunities for companies specializing in environmental protection, MIRECO said.

"MIRECO enjoys world-class skills in land clean-up and water purification," company chief Lee Lee-jae said, adding this will allow the corporation and the other companies involved to resolve challenges facing the land-locked country.

Source:Yonhap News Agency of South Korea

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UN joins effort to help impoverished Mongolian herders hard hit by severe winter

Concerns grow over extremely severe winter weather conditions and expected humanitarian impact
Mongolia is currently threatened by a “Dzud”, which isa multiple natural disaster consisting of a summer drought producing small stockpiling of fodder, followed by very heavy winter snow and lower than normal temperatures.

Heavy and continuous snowfall and blizzards have resulted in a sharp fall in daily temperatures - dropping to below -40°Celsius in 19 out of a total of 21 ‘aimags’ (provinces) in Mongolia.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the extreme cold and heavy snow have already caused the death of more than one million livestock, worsening food security and predicted subsequently to result in a deepening of poverty and increased internal rural-urban migration for many families. According to the World Bank, livestock herding today, accounts for around 35% of employment in Mongolia.

In addition to a concern for the situation of isolated herding families, the agencies making up the United Nations Team are assessing the situation of the poor, particularly those living in the 94 soums (villages) considered to be most affected and inaccessible. “The poor did not have the resources to stockpile food or fuel for heating and the supplies in the now inaccessible village as a whole are stretched”, said Rana Flowers, the Resident Coordinator a.i. in Mongolia. “The UN agencies have mobilized to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts to reach the most affected populations. In addition to the impact this is having on livelihoods now and into the future, we are worried about the immediate plight of the isolated population. Among health concerns are pregnant women cut off from facilities and trained care (three women have reportedly already died in childbirth); increases in ARI and pneumonia in the light of the H1N1 in the country among children and pregnant women; and malnutrition levels with lowering levels of access to food and nutrition in affected areas”, she added.

In addition, children who have been ordered to remain in dormitories due to the danger they would face trying to travel to their families in such conditions, are living with limited and extremely poor heat and limited food supplies in many schools. There are approximately 22,200 children in 265 dormitories in need of assistance.

In the last dzud of 2001, not considered to be as severe as the current 2010 experience, an increase in malnutrition and acute infections of children and pregnant mothers were documented. The plight of populations in the post-dzud period which lasts from late February to early spring is also a period of concern with food supplies having been exhausted and the animal supply severely depleted, and the risk of disease heightened. The trauma of losing livelihoods results in families and children at high risk of developing extreme fatigue and psychological stress.

The Government has appealed to the donor community for food, flour, rice, medicines and equipment, candles, heating supplies, warm clothing, as well as for funding to buy and deliver fodder for livestock. The United Nations in Mongolia was formally requested to coordinate all donor contributions.
The United Nations agencies and specialized agencies actively contributing to the relief efforts in Mongolia include FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and UN-HABITAT.

*********************
For more information please contact:
Rana Flowers, Resident Coordinator a.i and UNICEF Representative, phone: +976 11 326221
Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn, WHO Representative, phone: +976 11 327870
Argentina Matavel, UNFPA Representative, phone: +976 11 323665
Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative, phone: +976 11 327585
N. Oyundelger, FAO Assistant Representative, phone: +976 11 352512



Source:www.un-mongolia.mn (UN Mongolia Website)
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Severe cold freezes livestock to death in Mongolia

ULAN BATOR (Xinhua) -- More than 910,000 livestock nationwide had frozen to death by Tuesday as a severe cold wave continued ravaging 19 of Mongolia's 21 provinces, the state emergency commission said Thursday.

Around 90 percent of the country's territory is covered with snow, due to strong blizzards. Livestock in the worst-hit western area were running out of food and many had died of cold, hunger or illness.

The Mongolian government will spend more than 5 billion tugrik (about $3.5 million) to buy forage and medicines from neighboring China and Russia.

Temperatures are forecast to continue to dive to between minus 43 and 48 centigrade this weekend in several provinces, including Ubsu.


Source:Xinhua, Chinese news agency
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Red Hill Energy to appeal to international and institutional investors

Red Hill Energy Inc. and Prophecy Resource Corp. Announce Business Combination, Consolidating Quality Advanced Projects to Appeal to International and Institutional Investors

Red Hill also announces non-brokered private placement
January 21, 2010: 12:22 PM ET
Red Hill Energy Ltd. (Red Hill) (TSX VENTURE: RH) and Prophecy Resource Corp., (Prophecy) (TSX VENTURE: PCY)(OTCBB: PCRYF)(FRANKFURT: 3P1) are pleased to announce that their respective Boards of Directors have unanimously approved a letter agreement dated January 20, 2009 ("LOA") in respect of a friendly transaction to combine the companies through an all share transaction (the "Proposed Transaction"). The combined company is hereinafter referred to as "new Prophecy".

Financial Terms of the Transaction

Per the LOA, Red Hill shareholders will receive 0.92 of a new Prophecy common share for each Red Hill common share held which represents a 26.8% premium to the shareholders of Red Hill as at the close of market on January 20, 2010. All outstanding Red Hill options and warrants will be exchanged for options and warrants of new Prophecy on similar terms.

Highlights of the Proposed Transaction

-- The combined company will have control over NI-43-101 compliant Measured
and Indicated mineral resources of 232 million pounds of nickel, 1
billion tonnes of coal and 116 million pounds of copper as well as
inferred resources of 500 million tones of coal and 593 million pounds
of copper. New Prophecy will also hold properties with significant
exposure to vanadium and titanium. The company offers diversified
financial leverage to rising commodity prices.
-- Positive synergy in the combined management with expertise in geology,
engineering, marketing, and M&A.
-- Broader appeal to international and institutional investors with
multiple advanced assets, greater stock liquidity and the benefits of
exposure to a broader range of commodities.
-- Enhanced market capitalization and capacity to evaluate and acquire
other advanced stage and pre-production stage resource opportunities
internationally.

Arnold Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Red Hill Energy stated: "Prophecy has demonstrated its vision of creating a quality company focused on acquiring advanced mineral assets internationally. We are particularly impressed with Prophecy's speed of conducting business and its ability to bring quality projects and investors together under one name. I am confident that Red Hill shareholders will reap the rewards by owning the majority of the new Prophecy."

John Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prophecy Resource stated: "I joined Prophecy in October with the goal of amassing advanced assets, management talent, and investors world wide. Our Lynn Lake Nickel project and the newly acquired coal assets provide cornerstones from which Prophecy can now build its legacy. Mr. Armstrong is a highly regarded businessman and I look forward to working with him in his position with new Prophecy in taking our venture to the next level."

Further Detail Regarding the Transaction

It is contemplated that the Proposed Transaction will be a business combination of Prophecy and Red Hill by way of a plan of arrangement and will be structured in a way that will result in the financial terms of the Proposed Transaction being met. The parties have agreed to enter into a definitive agreement by February 28, 2010 and complete the Proposed Transaction by May 15, 2010.

As a result of the Proposed Transaction, all existing warrants, options and other rights to acquire common shares of Red Hill will be deemed to represent comparable securities of Prophecy adjusted on the same share exchange ratio basis. The agreed share exchange ratio is based upon an assessment of the recent trading activity and assets of both Red Hill and Prophecy.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is conditional upon:

1. Both the Red Hill shareholders and Prophecy Shareholders having approved
the Proposed Transaction;
2. completion of legal and financial due diligence by each of the parties;
3. receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of
the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange");
4. certain other customary conditions.

The LOA includes a commitment by both parties to not conduct negotiations or solicit alternative transactions. In certain circumstances, if the Proposed Transaction is terminated by either party, a breakup fee of $500,000 is payable by the terminating party.

On or before the date of execution of the Definitive Agreement, the directors and officers of both Red Hill and Prophecy shall have entered into a share lock-up agreement to vote in favour of the Proposed Transaction.

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction the current Chairman and CEO of Prophecy, Mr. John Lee, will remain the Chairman & CEO of the combined company which will retain the name "Prophecy Resource Corp." The board of directors of new Prophecy will consist of four nominees from Red Hill and three nominees from Prophecy.

Pursuant to the LOA, Red Hill has the right, prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, to transfer to a newly formed subsidiary ("NewCo") the following: (i) $1,000,000 cash, and (ii) all of Red Hill's non-Mongolian assets, namely, the Red Lithium Property near Clayton Valley, Nevada and Thor Rare Earth Property in Nevada, and distribute securities of NewCo to shareholders of Red Hill as of a to-be-determined record date by way of spinoff or similar mechanism. Red Hill is reviewing the merits of this proposed spinoff and will update its shareholders in a later news release.

If the Proposed Transaction is completed, and based upon the current issued capital of each company including the private placement to be conducted by Red Hill as described below, new Prophecy will have approximately 85,400,000 common shares issued and outstanding, of which Red Hill shareholders will own approximately 65% and current Prophecy shareholders will own approximately 35%.

Red Hill will conduct a non-brokered private placement consisting of up to 6,500,000 units at a price of $0.35 per unit for total proceeds of CDN $2,275,000. Each unit will be comprised of one common share and one half of one share purchase warrant. Each whole share purchase warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.60. A finder's fee of 7% of the proceeds placed is payable in cash on portions of the private placement.

Proceeds of the placement will be applied to Red Hill's coal operations and later for general working and development capital for new Prophecy, as well as the $1 million transfer to Newco if the spinout transaction is pursued.

Red Hill Energy Corporate Update

Red Hill announces the resignation of Ranjeet Sundher from the board of directors of the Company. Mr. Sundher will remain as an independent consultant of Red Hill until the closing and then of new Prophecy to facilitate and oversee new Prophecy's Mongolian coal operations. Mr. Paul McKenzie will be appointed as the interim President and CFO of Red Hill. Red Hill wishes to acknowledge Mr. Sundher's many contributions to Red Hill. Red Hill also wishes to announce the termination of its investor relations agreement with Mau Capital Management LLC, effective immediately.

Conference Call

A joint conference call at 9:00 am (PST) January 26, 2010 will be held to discuss the Proposed Transaction. Details of the conference call will follow in a subsequent news release.

Red Hill Energy's Key Assets

Red Hill controls 100% interests in two key Mongolian coal districts. Combined, Red Hill has 504.5 million tons of Measured, 524 million tons of Indicated and 475.9 million tons of inferred thermal coal in Mongolia.

The Ulaan Ovoo Coal Project

The Ulaan Ovoo coal project is 100% owned by Red Hill. The project is located within 10 km of the Russian border, northern Mongolia and is 120km (75 miles) east of the Central Mongolian Railroad which links the project to the vast coal markets of Russia and Asia. The project contains 174.5 million tons Measured, 34.3 million tons Indicated and 35.9 million tons of Inferred thermal coal. The coal is of excellent low ash and sulfur quality at 5,204 KCAL/KG LB which is highly desired regionally. The average seam thickness of the resource is 53.9 metres with a stripping ratio of 2.0:1 on the first 140 million tons. The Mongolian government has granted the project a fully transferable 30 year mining license that can be extended by an additional 40 years. The project has met Mongolian environmental approvals as per the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and the Environment which approved a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) and Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) specifically for Ulaan Ovoo, an important pre-condition prior to production. The central Russian transmission grid reaches within 25 kilometres to the north of the project. Several economic studies including a Scoping Study conducted by Behre Dolbear (USA) Ltd. of Denver, CO USA and a recently completed Pre-Feasibility Study conducted by Minarco-MineConsult of Sydney, Australia demonstrate the economic potentials of the project. These reports are available at www.sedar.com.

The Chandgana Tal and Chandgana Khavtai Coal Projects

The Chandgana Tal and Chandgana Khavtai coal projects are both 100% owned by Red Hill. The projects share the same Nyalga Basin coal seam and are both contiguous to Vale's (formerly CVRD) largest Mongolian coal project. The Chandgana projects contain a combined total of 819.7 million tons Measured and Indicated and 440 million tons of Inferred thermal coal. (Specifically: Chandgana Tal, 141. 3 million tons Measured, and Chandgana Khavtgai, 188.7 Measured, 489.7 Indicated and 440 Inferred) Both projects have extremely low stripping ratios, 0.53:1 in the case of Chandgana Tal and 2.1:1 in the case of Chandgana Khavtgai with respective average coal seam thicknesses of 40 and 45.4 metres. The Nyalga Coal Basin is within 160 km's (100 miles) of the Central Mongolian Railroad, offering the project a direct link to China, Russia as well as other Asian destinations. Both the Chandgana's coal qualities are of desirable low ash, low sulfur content with KCAL/KG LB averaging up to 4,358. Additional information is available at www.redhillenergy.com and at www.sedar.com.

Red Hill Director Mel Klohn, a Washington State Licensed Geologist, member of the SEG, SME, CIM and an independent Qualified Person as defined by Canada's NI 43-10, has reviewed and approved the information relevant to Red Hill Energy's coal projects as summarized in this press release.

Prophecy Resource Corp.'s Key Assets

The Lynn Lake Nickel Project

Prophecy has entered into an agreement to acquire the Lynn Lake Nickel Project in Manitoba, which the previous owner reported contains a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated resource of 17 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.62% Nickel and 0.31% Copper at a 0.4% nickel cut-off grade. Prophecy has requisitioned its own technical report for the Lynn Lake property which should be available shortly under its profile on www.sedar.com. The Lynn Lake Nickel Camp, located in northern Manitoba, is the third largest nickel producing region in Canada. Excellent exploration potential exists as in 2008 a new nickel discovery was made one mile from the old workings that featured an intercept of 18 meters of 1.5% nickel and 0.7% copper. Prophecy has optioned or agreed to purchase six of the seven known gabbro plugs in the Lynn Lake area and is now the dominant player in terms of land size and resource base in this premier Lynn Lake nickel district.

The Okeover Project

The Okeover Property (copper-molybdenum) consists of eleven contiguous legacy and cell mineral claims located in the Vancouver Mining Division of southwestern British Columbia, 25 kilometres north of Powell River and 145 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. Collectively, the claims cover an area of approximately 3,950 hectares. Prophecy has spent over $1 million on Okeover and earned a 60% interest. In 2006, Dr. N.C. Carter, PhD, P.Eng, completed a technical report on the Okeover Property pursuant to NI 43-101 that estimated an inferred mineral resource of 86.8 million tonnes grading 0.31% copper and 0.014% MoS2 at a 0.20% copper cut-off grade. Less than 10% of the property has been drilled and there is significant potential to expand the resource. This report is available at www.sedar.com.

The Titan Project

On January 14, 2010, Prophecy entered into an option agreement, subject to Exchange approval, to earn an 80% interest in the Titan Vanadium-Titanium-Iron project located in Ontario, Canada. The project is located in eastern Ontario and consists of 1,052 contiguous hectares (2,600 acres). A total of 4,898 assay intervals are recorded from 38 core holes drilled by previous owners on the property. Drilling highlights reported by past operator included 142 meters of 0.27% vanadium (0.48% vanadium pentoxide) from hole RA-5-21 and 174 meters of 0.26% vanadium (0.46% vanadium pentoxide) from hole RA-5-10. The mineralization started from surface to an open vertical depth of 500 meters. The complete horizontal and vertical extent of the deposit is still to be determined.

For additional information on the Titan project, please refer to January 14, 2010 Prophecy news release or www.prophecyresource.com.

The information concerning the current mineral properties controlled by Prophecy, as described in this news release, has been reviewed and approved by Bill Morton, PGeo, a director of Prophecy and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

Prophecy Resource Corp.

John Lee - Chairman and CEO

Red Hill Energy Inc.

G. Arnold Armstrong - Chairman and CEO

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the companies are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Red Hill and Prophecy believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with operating in foreign jurisdictions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Red Hill and Prophecy and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

"Neither The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Contacts:
Prophecy Resource Corp.
John Lee
Chairman and CEO
1.800.851-1528
john@prophecyresource.com
www.prophecyresource.com
Red Hill Energy Inc.
Paul McKenzie
President
604.642.COAL (2625)
info@redhillenergy.com
www.redhillenergy.com


Source:www.redhillenergy.com
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Meritus Minerals to acquire Troy Mongolian Alt Resources

Meritus Minerals, Ltd., a Canada-based mineral resource company, has entered into an agreement with Troy Resources NL to acquire all of the shares in Troy Mongolian Alt Resources (TMAR).

Troy Resources is an Australia-based company engaged in mining, exploration and production of gold and other base metals. TMAR is a Mongolia-based gold mining company.

The consideration payable includes CAD0.5 million ($0.49 million) in cash to be paid in two tranches, issue of 7 million common shares in seven equal tranches over 30 months and the issue of 7 million three year share purchase warrants to Troy Resources. Each purchase warrant will entitle the holder to acquire a further common share exercisable at $0.25 ($0.24) in the first year, $0.35 ($0.34) in the second year and $0.50 ($0.49) in the third year.

Deal Type Acquisition

Sub-Category 100% Acquisition

Deal Status Announced: 2010-01-20

Deal Participants

Target (Company) Troy Mongolian Alt Resources

Acquirer (Company) Meritus Minerals, Ltd.

Vendor (Company) Troy Resources NL

Deal Rationale

With the sale of TMAR, TROY will be able to refocus its efforts in South America around the Casposo Gold-Silver Development project and in Andorinhas Gold Mine. The acquisition will fast track Meritus' previously planned exploration work and allow for early focus on areas of interest.

For full details on (TRYRF) TRYRF. (TRYRF) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (TRYRF) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

For full details on (760233Z) 760233Z. (760233Z) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (760233Z) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

Source:www.tradingmarkets.com
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Canoel Announces Proposed Private Placement and Provides Update on Its Mongolian Acquisition

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Jan. 20, 2010) –

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW.

Canoel International Energy Ltd. ("Canoel" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:CIL) is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a private placement of up to 23,529,412 units ("Units") at $0.17 per Unit for total gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Corporation, one-half of one common share purchase warrant ("Year 1 Warrant") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant ("Year 2 Warrant"). Each whole Year 1 Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Corporation at $0.30 for a period of one year from the date of the first sale of Units under the Offering and each whole Year 2 Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Corporation at $0.40 for a period of two years from the date of the first sale of Units under the Offering. If at any time following four months and one day from the date of the last closing under the Offering there are 15 consecutive trading days on the TSX Venture Exchange where the closing price (or the closing ask price, if there are no trades on any or all of such days) of the Common Shares on such Exchange exceeds $0.40, in the case of Year 1 Warrants, and $0.50 in the case of Year 2 Warrants, the Corporation may, within five business days of end of such 15 trading days give notice to the holders of the applicable warrants that such warrants will terminate on the 30th day (including non-business days) following the date of such notice.

The private placement will be completed pursuant to prospectus exemptions and will be non-brokered, although the Company may pay finders fees, including cash commissions and compensation options, to those who assist the Company in sourcing subscriptions.

Canoel also wishes to provide an update on the status of its acquisition of all of the shares of a Mongolian corporation that is the holder of oil exploration Block XXIII (as designated by Petroleum Authority of Mongolia). The acquisition was previously announced May 27, 2009 and July 28, 2009. As part of its closing due diligence, Canoel has repeatedly requested that the counterparty provide evidence that certain Mongolian government and regulatory authorities have consented to or approved the transaction. In spite of these requests, the counterparty has not provided the consents and approvals. Canoel has therefore formally notified the counterparty that it is in default of its obligations under share purchase agreement and that Canoel intends to enforce the contract. Further updates of significant developments will be provided as they take place.



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


For more information, please contact

Canoel International Energy Ltd.
Andrea Cattaneo
Chief Executive Officer and President
(403) 262-9596
or
Canoel International Energy Ltd.
Jose Ramon Lopez-Portillo
Chairman
(403) 262-9596
info@canoelenergy.com

Source:www.marketwire.com
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Ivanhoe Mines Marks Five Years on New York Stock Exchange by Ringing Opening Bell to Launch Trading Today

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX: IVN)(NYSE: IVN)(NASDAQ: IVN) marked five successful years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today when Executive Chairman Robert Friedland rang the opening bell in a traditional ceremony signalling the start of daily trading.

Mr. Friedland was joined on the bell podium by guests and executives who included Sangajav Bayartsogt, Mongolia's Minister of Finance; Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of Copper for Rio Tinto; Lawrence Leibowitz, Group Executive Vice President of NYSE Euronext; John Macken, CEO and President of Ivanhoe Mines; Peter Meredith, Deputy Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines; and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, a Senior Adviser to Ivanhoe Mines.

Mr. Friedland said that during the past five years Ivanhoe Mines has emerged as a significant developer of mineral projects in the Asia Pacific region.

"Ivanhoe and its strategic partner, Rio Tinto, are building one of the world's largest copper-gold mines at Oyu Tolgoi, in Mongolia, and have signed a landmark Investment Agreement with the Mongolian Government. SouthGobi Energy Resources, a subsidiary, is exporting high-quality coal to China from its first mine in Mongolia and another subsidiary, Ivanhoe Australia, has discovered the world's highest-grade direct source of rhenium and molybdenum."

Mr. Friedland said investors have gained a broader appreciation of opportunities in Asia in recent years. "North American capital markets have played an essential role in financing the exploration and development of our projects in Mongolia. Now Mongolia has embarked on a new era of economic and social growth, based on investment in the development of Mongolia's natural resources that hold the promise of unprecedented benefits for present and future generations."

Ivanhoe Mines' shares began trading on the NYSE on January 18, 2005. (A photograph of today's anniversary ceremony is on the company's website: www.ivanhoemines.com)

Ivanhoe Mines' shares are listed on the New York, NASDAQ and Toronto stock exchanges under the symbol IVN.

Contacts:
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Bill Trenaman
Investors
+1.604.688.5755
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.
Bob Williamson
Media
+1.604.331.9830
Source:www.ivanhoemines.com


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President Elbegdorj interview to the Time Magazine

It looks like President Elbegdorj gave interview to Time Magazine of the USA. Special issue of the Magazine dedicated for Mongolia is to appear soon.President re-affirmed his belief that Mongolia is best example of Democracy in Central Asia and said " As a democratic anchor of the East, Mongolia is to lead the course toward consolidation of democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedoms. And Mongolia is unwaveringly committed to our choice. The worst enemy on our path is corruption. Therefore, combating corruption, strengthening our judiciary and rule of law is of utmost importance for Mongolia”.

We'll be eagerly waiting for the issue and read full interview of President Elbegdorj who recently announced moratorium on death penalty.

By Ganbat, reporter of MonInfo New Service

Mongolia Embassy in the US posted following news in its website.
President Elbegdorj: “An Open Country Offers Opportunities”


President Elbegdorj gave an interview to the TIME Magazine, one of the world’s prestigious media titles. In his extensive dialogue with Mr. Katmerka Kurtovic and Mr. Gregory Sorokours Mr. President gave an overarching overview of and his vision for Mongolia’s development agenda.
“As a democratic anchor of the East, Mongolia is to lead the course toward consolidation of democracy, rule of law, human rights and freedoms. And Mongolia is unwaveringly committed to our choice. The worst enemy on our path is corruption. Therefore, combating corruption, strengthening our judiciary and rule of law is of utmost importance for Mongolia” – said the President.

Mr. President also noted the challenges and difficulties we face in the light of our ambitious development goals. “The challenges we have teach us lesson, provoke us to think differently, to change our mindset, to become innovative. Therefore, we rise to the challenges to resolve them and not to yield”.

The conversation went on discussing the enormous potentials Mongolia can develop for her own as well as global benefit. For instance, Mongolia may evolve as a hub of renewable energy production.

The interview will appear on the Time Magazine’s special issue on Mongolia.

Source:Mongolian Embassy in the USA (http://www.mongolianembassy.us/)
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Voyager acquires Gold property in Mongolia

TORONTO (Commodity Online): Voyager Resources (ASX: VOR) has said it is all set to acquire 100% of the Argalant Gold-Copper Project in Mongolia for US$50,000 and 2 million VOR shares.

Argalant is located within a similar geological setting to the nearby Golden Hills Gold-Copper Project that hosts a combined resource of 1.1 million ounces of gold, 7.4 million ounces of silver and 323,000 tonnes of copper.


In a release, Voyaget said a three hole exploration drilling programme conducted in late 2005 returned encouraging results including; 49.3m at 0.50% copper from 23.7m (ARDH2005-03), 1.1m at 1.3g/t gold and 3.27% copper (ARDH2005-01), 3.0m at 0.70g/t gold & 0.84% copper (ARDH2005-01).

Further historic rock chip sampling has returned up to 191g/t gold and 10.3% copper and large licence package of approximately 2,500 km2 applied for in surrounding area that has reported gold, copper and silver mineralisation in reconnaissance exploration.

Source:www.commodityonline.com
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Extreme Cold Affects Millions in Northwest China

BEIJING (AP) -- Closed roads and delayed flights left thousands of travelers stranded Tuesday following blizzards and extreme cold that killed four people and affected 1.6 million others in northwestern China, a government spokesman said.

Snowstorms delayed 122 flights in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang region, on Monday, leaving more than 4,000 passengers stranded, and blocked roads from nine avalanches stranded more than 1,000 passengers in the region, according to a Urumqi government spokesman surnamed Wang. Like many Chinese officials he declined to give his full name.

Four people had died because of the bad weather, Wang said Tuesday. He did not give details.

Rescue workers were evacuating thousands of rural residents to safer ground at lower altitudes because of the latest storm front, expected to last through Wednesday and plunge temperatures to minus 45 degrees (minus 43 Celsius), Wang said.

In neighboring Mongolia, an official appealed for help from the international community as his country battles the most severe winter it has seen in three decades.

Storms in China's far western Xinjiang flattened or damaged about 100,000 homes, and more than 15,000 head of livestock were killed by the cold front that began on Sunday night, according to Xinjiang Meteorological Station forecaster Wei Rongqing.

Snow was falling in the region's Altay district, where accumulations had already risen to 3 feet (94 centimeters), Wei said. Altay lies in China's extreme northwestern corner, 1,600 miles (2,600 kilometers) northwest of Beijing, the capital.

''Livestock raising has been hit hard. Both wild animals and livestock haven't been able to find food, but now forage has been allocated by the central government,'' Wei said.

Some 1.6 million people in total were affected by the harsh weather, according to Wang.

The figure includes those who suffered property damage, power and supply shortages or were stranded by snow drifts and icy roads.

Parts of northern China are seeing their harshest winter in decades, with Beijing this month receiving its heaviest one-day snowfall in 59 years. Temperatures in the capital were due to rise above freezing this week.

On Monday, Mongolia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Zandanshatar Gombojav said most rural provinces in the poor, landlocked country sandwiched between China and Russia were covered by up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of snow. He said nearly 800,000 animals had been lost while many transport routes were blocked by heavy snow.

''Though the government and the population at large are doing their best, the severity and the duration of such extreme weather could overwhelm our capacity and resources,'' Zandanshatar said at a press conference.

Mongolia needs emergency supplies including warm clothing, generators, heating devices and first-aid kits, Zandanshatar said.

------

Associated Press writer Ganbat Namjilsangarav contributed to this report from Ulan Bator.


Source:AP News Agency
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Alcatel Lucent: Unitel, Alcatel-Lucent and RIM launch the BlackBerry Solution in Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Paris, and Waterloo, Ontario -- Unitel Corporation, Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the commercial launch of the BlackBerry solution in Mongolia.

Unitel's customers will now be able to enjoy the productivity benefits of using BlackBerry smartphones to stay connected to people and information on the go. Users will benefit from enhanced communications, with easy, wireless access to email, phone, calendar, web, multimedia and a range of other business and leisure applications.

At launch, Unitel will offer its customers the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8320 and BlackBerry 8700g smartphones, as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Service.

'We are pleased to offer BlackBerry smartphones and services for our customers, to both corporate customers and consumers. It is an innovative and revolutionary solution that is already used by millions of people worldwide,' said Bold Ganbat, Chief Marketing Officer for Unitel.

'This agreement strengthens Alcatel-Lucent's already strong relationship with Unitel in helping them deliver advanced communications services to their business and consumer customers,' said Alexander Tikhonov, Head of Alcatel-Lucent's Business in CIS. 'Unitel will expand their business opportunity and enable their customers to benefit from the high flexibility offered by BlackBerry smartphones for staying connected anytime and everywhere.'

Mark Guibert, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, RIM added: 'We are pleased to work with Alcatel-Lucent and Unitel to introduce the BlackBerry solution to Unitel's customers in Mongolia. BlackBerry smartphones are a popular choice with both professionals and consumers around the world who want to stay connected to people and information while on the move.'

The BlackBerry Bold 9000 smartphone is a communications and multimedia powerhouse. It supports HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g). It features a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leatherette backplate, as well as a stunning display, sophisticated user interface and highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard.

The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone comes in a stylish and compact design with a large display, built-in Wi-Fi, an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard and intuitive trackball navigation system. It features a range of advanced multimedia capabilities together with the renowned communications features that have won praise for BlackBerry smartphones around the world. In addition, it comes with a 2 megapixel camera with zoom and support for video recording, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder.

The BlackBerry 8700g delivers reliable performance for wireless email, web browsing and other mobile applications. It features a bright, high-resolution display, supports messaging (SMS and MMS) and instant messaging and comes with premium phone features such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing, call forwarding, a speakerphone and Bluetooth support for hands-free use with car kits and wireless headsets.

Unitel is offering BlackBerry Enterprise Server for corporate customers and BlackBerry Internet Service for smaller businesses and individual users:

BlackBerry Enterprise Server is for organizations that manage their own email servers. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server software tightly integrates with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise and offers advanced security features and IT policy controls to enable secure, push-based wireless access to email and other corporate data. BlackBerry Internet Service is for smaller businesses and individuals. It allows customers to access up to 10 supported corporate and personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo! Mail and Google Mail) from a BlackBerry smartphone.

About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 16.98 billion in 2008 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris.

CONTACT: Press Office, Alcatel-Lucent e-mail: press@alcatel-lucent.com WWW: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.

For full details on Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) ALU. Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

For full details on (UTNV) UTNV. (UTNV) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (UTNV) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

Source:www.tradingmarkets.com
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Mongolia appeals to world community for help to overcome most severe winter

Mongolia is hit by severe winter and danger of "Zud" disaster which hit Mongolia in 2000 is imminent.
Today, in press conference attended by foreign diplomatic corps in Ulaanbaatar and representatives of international organizations including World Bank, UN and ADB, Zandanshatar Gombojav, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade called for assistance from international community.

Below is speech made by the Minister today.

By Ganbat, reporter of MonInfo News Service

BRIEFING BY ZANDANSHATAR GOMBOJAV
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE,
ON BAD WINTERING


Ulaanbaatar, 18 January 2010

Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I wish to inform you that the Government of Mongolia is offering its sympathy to the people of Haiti who have suffered devastating earthquake consequences. Our condolences go also to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the families of UN staff who lost their lives while serving the humanitarian cause.

Everywhere in the world, we witness the dire consequences of climate change that result in frequented natural disasters.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mongolia is facing also a difficult time. An extreme cold weather has taken lives. Heavy snow falls have buried pastures. It seems to be the beginning of months of natural disaster that the international community has known as zud. Previously, a similar situation occurred in 1999 through 2002. Tens of human lives and a combined number of 11 million animals were lost in that zud. The international community gave their hands at that difficult time and helped relieve the severe consequences.

As experts say, a zud seems to happen every 10 or so years. Therefore, the Government of Mongolia is taking numerous actions to cope with this severe winter.

The State Emergency Commission has issued an appeal to all population, state and non-governmental organizations and private sector to launch an aid campaign to support herders materially and morally.

Within this campaign framework, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is organizing this briefing on the current situation.

Even in Ulaanbaatar we all could witness the temperature, coldest in recent years. The drop has been a record in many aimags. Most of the aimags are covered by up to 50 centimeters of snow. As of today, 776.7 thousand animals were lost. Many transport routes have been blocked by heavy snow.

The severe wintering hit altogether 198 soums in 19 aimags of which 94 soums in 8 aimags have plunged into a zud.

Weather forecasts suggest that snow falls and cold temperature will continue throughout January and February. This will amount to an end of pasture and fodder and a considerable loss of animals.

The Government’s priority is to prevent undue loss of human lives. Herders lose their lives while trying to save their animals. Therefore, the Government is delivering to most affected areas fodder and forage from its reserve to keep the herders in their winter refuge.

Heavy machinery, ambulance vehicles, trucks are mobilized to reach affected towns and families. Fuel costs are financed by the Government.

Though the Government and the population at large are doing their best, the severity and the duration of such an extreme weather could overwhelm our capacity and resources.

As you may know, about 70 percent of the territory suffered from drought last year. That means the pastural capacity shrank considerably. This coupled with heavy snow and cold temperature will starve many animals to death. The peak usually happens in April and May.

The loss of their only living source will devastate herders’ families. Economic and social impacts will be disastrous.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite our efforts, we might need additional assistance and support from our donors and partners. The Mongolians always appreciate the help and support rendered by our friendly countries and organizations during the past natural calamities.

Supply of emergency essentials that help save lives will be most welcome. These might include warm clothing, portable power and heating devices, high calorie foods, first-aid kits, etc.

I think we could have saved many lives had the herders had human tracking devices.

If we save as many as possible animals, that would help prevent many primary and secondary aftermaths. Therefore, it is essential to provide those most needed with animal fodders, animal shelters and clothing.

Finally, I should tell you that it is not yet a “Red Alert” situation. However, we seem to be moving closer to it. Therefore, I ask you to consider what you can do if a disaster becomes imminent.

Nevertheless, as we know, prevention is better than cure. That is why we wish to cooperate with you on preventive measures to the extent possible to minimize possible negative consequences for our herders and their living source.

In conclusion, I thank you for your time and care. If any questions, our respective ministries and agencies are present here to give detailed answers.

Thank you.


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Steppe on up to Mongolia

EIGHT hundred years on, Mongolia is discovering the reverse of what it was like when the legendary Genghis Khan's hordes descended on, and plundered, most of central Asia.

This time around, the hordes are descending on Mongolia, with the world's mining community looking to take advantage of the tiny state's mostly untapped mineral wealth - not to mention its convenient proximity to China's voracious resources maw.

Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China, and not to be confused with the Chinese-controlled ''autonomous region'' of Inner Mongolia along its southern border. Even so, it has not had a lot of freedom over the years to be self-determining. Its biggest source of money, until the collapse, was the USSR, while China has been its major export destination.

In recent years its 3 million people have not only had to deal with drought and other weather extremes, but a hefty 40 per cent inflation rate until not so long ago. It was only as the global financial crisis hit, and commodity prices peeled off, that the inflation rate slowed a little.

When the reformist government last August finally settled years of debate by agreeing to throw open the doors to allow Rio Tinto and Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Mines to spend $US5 billion ($A5.5 billion) (some say up to $US9 billion) on developing the Oyu Tolgoi gold and copper deposit. To put that into perspective, Mongolia's GDP on a purchasing power parity basis was $US9.5 billion in 2o08, so the foreign money will have a huge impact.

Back in 2007, Friedland also converted the Toronto-listed Asia Gold into SouthGobi Energy, which has the Ovoot Tolgoi coking coal mine in southern Mongolia.

Last month, the country's Prime Minister, Batbold Sukhbaatar, pondered whether he should list separate companies on international markets, somewhat like China did last decade, with one holding mining assets, another the energy assets, and the third infrastructure.

That last would be interesting, because Mongolia's infrastructure is largely under construction. It still sources some of its electricity requirements from Russia, and most of its oil, and has a very limited rail network once you get outside the capital, Ulan Bator.

Still, since the English-educated Batbold's predecessor Bayar Sanjaa ushered in the global mining industry, there have been confident predictions that over the next decade Mongolia will become Central Asia's version of Dubai - in GDP terms, rather than bizarre architecture and over-indebtedness.

A lot of that hyperbole has, perhaps unsurprisingly, sprung from the lips of Mongolian bank chiefs, but there is little doubt the blood is up amid stories of China looking to secure sources of coking coal and Mongolia theoretically having sufficient resources to meet those demands.

As such, deals are starting to emerge among Australian exploration juniors, eager to have some of the gloss of Mongolia rub off on them.

The latest is Windy Knob Resources (ASX code: WKR) which wants shareholders next month to approve getting out of gold exploration and into buying the Ovoot coking coal project (not to mention changing its name to the less colourful Aspire Mining). Windy's Ovoot is not to be confused with SouthGobi's mine. This prospect is almost diagonally opposite across the country, about 180 kilometres west of Khuvsgul Province's capital, Mörön (those accents are important), and 400 kilometres west of the nearest railhead at Erdenet.

It is the right kind of coal, but a comparatively high ash content of 13.8 per cent means it will need washing to lift its value. It also needs other mineral resources, like the nearby Burenkhan phosphate deposit, to be developed to justify the right infrastructure - or be faced with huge trucking bills should Ovoot become a producer. Windy has agreed to buy Ovoot by paying an initial $US500,000 and a bucket of its own stock for all the shares in Mongolian company Khurgatai Khairkhan, which is controlled by 30-something Byambatseren Dorsjuren. Ms Byambatseren will only take 2 million of the 150 million Windy Knob shares for herself, with 146 million of them going to three other people, including close personal friend Gan-Ochir Zunduisuren who will also become a non-executive director. Mr Zunduiseren, who has an MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's business school, is a mining engineer by trade and one of four new directors who will go on the Windy Knob board if shareholders give the deal the nod.

The others are David Paull and Neil Lithgow, from Red Island Resources which put together the deal, and David McSweeney, best known for Gindalbie Metals, who will become chairman. McSweeney's Big Fish Nominees has also agreed to underwrite almost 70 per cent of a 100 million share placement to raise $A2.65 million. Red Island was last seen in 2008 stumping around Madagascar looking for uranium and a $4 million float here. It gets $A100,000 when the Mongolian purchase is settled and another $US200,000 to cover costs.

There will be more deals like Windy's as local explorers seize the opportunity for small steps on to the big steppes.


By Ian McIlwraith

imcilwraith@theage.com.au

Source: The Age Newspaper of Australia


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Friedland kills rumour he aims to sell his stake in Ivanhoe Mines

Robert Friedland has rejected rumours that he wants to sell his 23% stake in Mongolian miner Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Friedland, right, was shopping his shares, which are valued at about $1.7-billion.

There was expected to be interest from many buyers, including state-owned Asian firms and sovereign wealth funds. But Ivanhoe issued a statement saying the report is simply not true. "I am surprised that the Dow Jones organization would publish an imaginary story using only anonymous sources and making no effort whatsoever to contact me to establish whether or not the story was true. This story is false," Mr. Friedland said. Last week, Ivanhoe hired advisors to study options for the company, as it needs to raise an estimated US$4-billion to develop its Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia.

Source:CanWest News Service
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UN hails Mongolia's death penalty moratorium

GENEVA — UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Friday hailed a move by Mongolia's president to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty, saying that it sets a "leadership example in Asia."

President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj on Thursday told lawmakers that all death sentences -- carried out by gunshot -- would be commuted to 30-year prison terms, as he could not bring himself to sign any execution orders.


"I congratulate President Elbegdorj on this historic step which further strengthens human rights protection in Mongolia," Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.

"Mongolia's move sets a leadership example in Asia," she said, urging it to abolish the death penalty.

"Unfortunately, the Asian region includes some of the world's most prolific executioners, but also some countries like Mongolia that have taken a principled stand on this fundamental issue," she added.

According to human rights watchdog Amnesty International, Elbegdorj commuted the death sentences of at least three convicts in 2009.

Source:AFP News Agency
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Khan Resources Inc.: Lifting of Mongolian Mining License Suspension

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Jan 14, 2010 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --
Khan Resources Inc. (TSX: KRI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) ("Khan") is pleased to announce that it was informed by the legal counsel in Mongolia representing the joint venture company Central Asia Uranium Corporation Limited ("CAUC"), that a settlement has been reached with the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia ("MRAM") whereby the suspension of CAUC's mining license 237A has been terminated. The mining license is one of the two primary licenses for Khan's Dornod uranium deposit, and its reinstatement was a prerequisite to re-registration of the license under the Nuclear Energy Law. CAUC is a joint venture between one of Khan's wholly owned subsidiaries (58%), the Russian company JSC Priargunsky (21%), and the Government of Mongolia (21%).

"This is very good news for the project as the lifting of the CAUC license suspension was an essential step in the ongoing re-registration process of the two licenses," commented Martin Quick, President & CEO of Khan. "We continue our efforts to reach mutually satisfactory arrangements with the Government of Mongolia with a view to the best interests of Khan and to maximize value for our shareholders."

Khan Resources (TSX:KRI) is a Canadian company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of uranium properties. Its current activities are focused on the Dornod area in north eastern Mongolia, the site of a former Russian open-pit uranium mine. Khan holds interests in the Main Dornod Property, licensed for mining, and in the Additional Dornod Property, licensed for exploration. The Company's website is www.khanresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in such statements, and there is no assurance that actual results will be consistent with them. Such forward-looking statements are made as at the date of this news release, and Khan Resources assumes no obligation to update or revise them, either publicly or otherwise, to reflect new events, information or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities law. For further details, reference is made to the risk factors discussed or referred to in Khan's annual and interim management's discussion and analyses and Annual Information Form on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Khan Resources Inc.

Investor Relations Contacts:

Khan Resources Inc., Martin Quick

President & CEO

Office: 416.360.3405

mquick@khanresources.com

The Buick Group

Jonathan Buick

Office: 416.915.0915, Ext. 302 or Toll Free: 1.877.748.0914

jbuick@buickgroup.com

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ADRA Fights Tobacco Use in Mongolia

13 Jan 2010 17:26:00 GMT
Source: Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International
Nadia McGill
Website: http://www.adra.org

SILVER SPRING, Md.--In Mongolia, where more than half of the city-dwelling adult population smokes tobacco, an increase in its use is having a devastating effect on the individual health of its residents, reports the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

An estimated 65 percent of urban men and 21 percent of women are routine smokers, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Among young people in Mongolia, smoking is a worsening problem. It is estimated that 19 percent of boys and eight percent of girls between the ages of 14 and 17 are smokers, increasing the rate of tobacco-related diseases, which are now the leading cause of death in that country.

"In Mongolia, smoking is widespread both in public places and in the workplace," said Saraa Delegchoimbol, health coordinator for ADRA Mongolia. "Despite bans on tobacco advertising and restriction on selling tobacco to minors, many of these laws are not enforced. Even children can access them easily."

To address the problem in Mongolia, ADRA began a three-year project in 2008 called Health Education Against Tobacco, or HEAT, to motivate policy makers to make more stringent tobacco policies, and to help Mongolian youth stop smoking before they even start.

The project is being implemented through three key strategies: advocacy, a mass media communication campaign, and community mobilization.

"Many policy and decision makers have a lack of knowledge of the health hazards of tobacco use and pro-tobacco influences and traditionally refuse to acknowledge smoking as a development issue," said Delegchoimbol. "To address this, awareness raising and advocacy campaigns for policy/decision makers at all levels are needed."

To meet those needs, ADRA is targeting government leaders and policy and decision makers through a series of advocacy meetings and seminars designed to provide education on the negative effects of tobacco use, and encourage the enforcement of key policies that relate directly to tobacco advertising and increasing the control of children's access to tobacco.

ADRA is also conducting seminars for media officials and reporters to increase awareness on tobacco consumption, targeting major national television and radio stations, as well as daily newspapers, distributing relevant and informative materials on the subject for media and within the targeted community and conducting public events that raise awareness about the impact of tobacco consumption on a person's health.

"Since the tobacco industry freely advertises its products through all of these mediums, it is crucial that we use the same mediums to promote the enforcement of tobacco legislation, and counter pro-tobacco influences and replace tobacco industry sponsorship," added Delegchoimbol.

ADRA also created a civil society network on tobacco control, partnering with other organizations involved in tobacco control, and international networks to share resources and advocate for specific policy changes or enforcement.

Nearly 100 young people from various schools in the Mongolian capital of Ulanbaatar have also received training in life skills as Junior Leaders and Peer Educators at their schools, educating their friends and fellow classmates on the short-term and long-term effects of tobacco use, and providing them with the skills that they need to resist peer pressure and other societal pressures to smoke.

At least 3,000 students will benefit from this aspect of the project by its completion, as well as other school-based activities initiated by adult educators, including local school administrators and parents, to help build a tobacco-free school environment for students.

"Research shows that trained peer educators or junior leaders are a more credible source of information for many youth than adult educators, because they communicate in readily understandable ways, and serve as positive role models," continued Delegchoimbol. "That is why it is so important to tap that resource, motivating them to reach their peers, teach them about smoking, and help them to make right decision."

ADRA is partnering with the World Health Organization, the Mongolian government, the Public Health Institute, the Ulaanbaatar City Education Department, as well as local government authorities and mass media organizations to implement this project.

HEAT is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) through ADRA Australia.

Follow ADRA on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest information as it happens.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.

Source:ADRA
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