Cecilia Jamasmie , Senior Editor

Uranium company Paladin Energy Ltd (TSX:PDN)(ASX:PDN) announced it named Alan Rule as its new Chief Financial Officer effective July 23, 2012. He would be replacing the current CFO, Garry Korte, who is joining Roy Hill Holdings, owned by billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

Long term uranium market fundamentals remain strong, despite worries over what Japan will do with 53 of its 54 nuclear reactors, which are currently rest shut down for maintenance or safety reviews, says Australian research group, Resource Capital Research (RCR).

The move will allow the London-listed miner to sell non-contracted iron ore directly into China through the electronic trading platform.

Ontario will pay $3.5 million to Toronto-based junior mineral exploration company God’s Lake Resources (GLR) for surrendering its mining lease and claims near the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation.

Canadian exploration companies feel their industry association doesn’t hear them, Neal Smitheman, a lawyer who represents junior mining companies in disputes with First Nations, told CBC.

The World Gold Council unveiled today the long-awaited “exposure draft” of the so-called conflict-free gold standard, which aims to crack down on gold tainted by conflict and human rights violations, such as the ongoing supply coming from the rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Engineers from The Denver Zoo have taken the global concern about an energy crisis a step further by developing a method to use animal waste as fuel.

Japan, the world’s main importer of rare earths, has requested international assistance for alternatives, conservation, diversification and recycling and to continue dialogue with China to secure stable global supply

Thousands of indigenous farmers protest in Guatemala City against mining and hydroelectric projects close to their villages. This is the first march of aboriginals during the government of Otto Perez, who assumed on January 14, for a period of four years.

Gold prices will remain high this year, but are unlikely to rise above the record high reached in 2011, says the latest report by U.S.-based mining consultants CPM Group.