1 MONGOLIA MARKS CENTENNIAL WITH A NEW COURSE FOR CHANGE WWW.EASTASIAFORUM.ORG PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      2 E-MART OPENS FIFTH STORE IN ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, TARGETING K-FOOD CRAZE WWW.BIZ.CHOSUN.COM PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      3 JAPAN AND MONGOLIA FORGE HISTORIC DEFENSE PACT UNDER THIRD NEIGHBOR STRATEGY WWW.ARMYRECOGNITION.COM  PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      4 CENTRAL BANK LOWERS ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST TO 5.2% WWW.UBPOST.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      5 L. OYUN-ERDENE: EVERY CITIZEN WILL RECEIVE 350,000 MNT IN DIVIDENDS WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      6 THE BILL TO ELIMINATE THE QUOTA FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN MONGOLIA HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      7 THE SECOND NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ULAANBAATAR WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      8 GREEN BOND ISSUED FOR WASTE RECYCLING WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      9 BAGANUUR 50 MW BATTERY STORAGE POWER STATION SUPPLIES ENERGY TO CENTRAL SYSTEM WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      10 THE PENSION AMOUNT INCREASED BY SIX PERCENT WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      КОКС ХИМИЙН ҮЙЛДВЭРИЙН БҮТЭЭН БАЙГУУЛАЛТЫГ ИРЭХ ОНЫ ХОЁРДУГААР УЛИРАЛД ЭХЛҮҮЛНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     "ЭРДЭНЭС ТАВАНТОЛГОЙ” ХК-ИЙН ХУВЬЦАА ЭЗЭМШИГЧ ИРГЭН БҮРД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГ ӨНӨӨДӨР ОЛГОНО WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГИЙН ОРЛОГО 2040 ОНД 38 ИХ НАЯДАД ХҮРЭХ ТӨСӨӨЛӨЛ ГАРСАН WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ЭРДЭНЭС ОЮУ ТОЛГОЙ” ХХК-ИАС ХЭРЛЭН ТООНО ТӨСЛИЙГ ӨМНӨГОВЬ АЙМАГТ ТАНИЛЦУУЛЛАА WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     Л.ОЮУН-ЭРДЭНЭ: ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГААС НЭГ ИРГЭНД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГИЙН ХАДГАЛАМЖ ҮҮСЛЭЭ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ENTRÉE RESOURCES” 2 ЖИЛ ГАРУЙ ҮРГЭЛЖИЛСЭН АРБИТРЫН МАРГААНД ЯЛАЛТ БАЙГУУЛАВ WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ORANO MINING”-ИЙН ГЭРЭЭ БОЛОН ГАШУУНСУХАЙТ-ГАНЦМОД БООМТЫН ТӨСЛИЙН АСУУДЛААР ЗАСГИЙН ГАЗАР ХУРАЛДАЖ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     АЖИЛЧДЫН САРЫН ГОЛЧ ЦАЛИН III УЛИРЛЫН БАЙДЛААР ₮2 САЯ ОРЧИМ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     PROGRESSIVE EQUITY RESEARCH: 2025 ОН “PETRO MATAD” КОМПАНИД ЭЭЛТЭЙ БАЙХААР БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     2026 ОНЫГ ДУУСТАЛ ГАДААД АЖИЛТНЫ ТОО, ХУВЬ ХЭМЖЭЭГ ХЯЗГААРЛАХГҮЙ БАЙХ ХУУЛИЙН ТӨСӨЛ ӨРГӨН МЭДҮҮЛЭВ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19    

Events

Name organizer Where
MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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New Pussy Riot Song Tops Spotify's Viral Charts www.themoscowtimes.com

Something unprecedented happened on Spotify this week: a song by a Russian artist topped the music service’s “Viral 50” charts globally and in the United States. The tune belongs to none other than Pussy Riot, the political punk rock group that made international headlines after a February 2012 “performance” inside a Moscow Cathedral landed three band members in jail for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.”

In August 2012, when Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison, they were more activists than musicians. Today, the same is true for Alyokhina and Samutsevich, while Tolokonnikova has leveraged her fame and good looks to remain in the spotlight, spending much of her time in the United States. Last month, she released three new political songs as “Pussy Riot.”

One of those tracks, an attack on Donald Trump that borrows his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is now enjoying viral success in the U.S. and around the world.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Tolokonnikova’s husband, Pyotr Verzilov, announced on Twitter that the song had topped Spotify’s “Viral 50” charts globally and in the United States. “It seems this is the first time in history that a Russian group has taken Spotify’s top spot,” he wrote.

Speaking in somewhat awkward English slang, Pussy Riot’s official Twitter account also celebrated the moment, tweeting, “Vagina gonna top the charts.”

In 2013, Spotify launched its “viral charts,” which the company describes as a “a new metric for a new age” to define successful music. Like traditional measures, the viral charts take into account the number of plays a song gets on Spotify, but they also consider what users do “after they discover a song.” To generate these charts, Spotify studies how often songs are shared and rated after people listen to them. It is in these categories that Tolokonnikova’s “Make America Great Again” has been so popular.

On social media, some have questioned how Pussy Riot managed to release a song that is more popular than tracks like Shakira’s “Chantaje” and Drake’s “Fake Love,” which currently enjoy the number two and three spots on the “Viral 50” global chart. “We believe the most exciting power of the chart is its ability to showcase unknown artists organically,” Spotify explained when it introduced its lists of viral songs.

Of Tolokonnikova’s new songs, the first release, “Straight Outta Vagina,” is actually the most viewed of the three on YouTube, where a colorful music video features women dancing around in pantyhose and exposed menstrual pads, men urinating decumbently while wearing high heels, and more. “Make America Great Again,” where Tolokonnikova’s character is tortured and ultimately murdered by a Trump-controlled U.S. police force, has 639,000 views — about 400,000 fewer than “Straight Outta Vagina.”

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Air France-KLM to launch lower-cost airline www.bbc.com

Air France-KLM is creating a more "competitive" long haul airline to win back customers from Gulf carriers.
The company said it was "going on the offensive" because "the status quo is not an option".
The new brand does not have a name yet, but Air France plans for it to offer economy and business travel on new and reopened routes.
To compete with lower-cost rivals, its pilots and cabin crew will be employed differently to the main company.
"We are battling on all fronts," said Air France's new chief executive, Jean-Marc Janaillac.

Jean-Marc Janaillac was appointed Air France chief executive in May
"The status quo is not an option. We must launch a new dynamic to return to a leadership position in our markets," Mr Janaillac added.
The plan is a sign that Air France's new boss is determined to win back market share after years of painful job losses and clashes with trade unions.
But the SNPNC cabin crew union expressed concern that the new airline's staff would not have the same work benefits and would end up being "low cost" for its workers.
Air France plans for the new airline to have 10 long haul planes by 2020.
It will "constitute the group's response to the Gulf State airlines which are developing at low production costs", the firm said.

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Glencore to reopen yet another coal mine in Australia www.mining.com

 
Miner and commodities trader Glencore (LON:GLEN) will reopen its Integra coal mine in southeastern Australia next year thanks to an ongoing ​rally in coal prices and increased demand for the commodity.
 
"The Integra underground mine has been on care and maintenance since July 2014 and Glencore has continued to assess options for a restart against global coal market conditions," said the company according to Reuters.
 
The move comes only a few days after the company resumed operations at its Collinsville mine in Australia's Queensland state.
 
Integra, formally called Glennies Creek, became part of Glencore’s portfolio last year after its previous owner, Brazil’s Vale (NYSE:VALE), mothballed it.
 
The underground operation is expected to generate about 1.3 million tonnes of coal in 2017.
 
At least seven other coal mines are expected to resume operations in Australia before 2016 ends — four in Queensland and three in New South Wales. These include Collinsville and Isaac Plains, which Vale and Sumitomo sold last year to Stanmore Coal (ASX:SMR) for only $1.
 
These operations have benefitted from an increasing demand for Australian coal because of restrictions on production in China. They are expected to provide work for hundreds of people and lead to a jobs growth able to keep mild downward pressure on Australia’s unemployment rate.
 
But the potential multibillion-dollar windfall could be short-lived, economists have warned.
 
NAB’s chief economist, Alan Ostler, believes that global production peaked in 2014, which together with action on setting a carbon price after the Paris climate accord will continue to suppress demand, inevitably affecting prices.
 
Liberum analyst Ben Davis agrees. He said in a report last month that thermal coal may start a downward trend soon as Chinese policymakers decided to temporarily reverse limits on thermal-coal production until December.
 
“We expect the hedging loss to shrink as thermal-coal prices drop faster than what is currently being implied by the forward curve,” he wrote.
 
There also are still plenty of major companies including Peabody Energy, Anglo American and Rio Tinto that are trying to sell its coal assets. Meanwhile, BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, warned last week that coking coal supply could grow “more quickly than demand” in the near term.
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ADB and UNICEF sign cooperation agreement to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in schools www.mongolia.gogo.mn

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) signed a cooperation agreement to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in schools and dormitories located in rural remote areas of the western region of Mongolia.
This operational cooperation seeks to expand and sustain WASH in schools and dormitories to be supported under the ADB-administered Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) grant for Improving School Dormitory Environment for Primary Students in Western Region Project and a WASH program by UNICEF.
“ADB and UNICEF have, in recent years, initiated a partnership for improving WASH in schools and dormitories in Mongolia,” said Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, ADB’s Country Director in Mongolia. “Poor condition in schools and dormitories has been one of the critical barriers to ensuring equal access to quality education in rural remote areas. By working together, we can use our comparative strengths and develop innovative solutions in remote rural areas where access to water supply, sewerage, and heating remains a challenge.”
“Improving sanitation and hygiene practices for children, their parents and teachers is a priority area for UNICEF’s work in Mongolia,” said Roberto Benes, UNICEF Mongolia Representative. ”By partnering with ADB we will maximize potential to ensure that children in remote areas have equitable, sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation services in their schools and dormitories, thus, improving their health and learning performance too.”
As part of the cooperation, ADB and UNICEF will support the repair, installation, operations and maintenance of WASH facilities that meet the minimum requirements set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports and the Ministry of Health in 2015. ADB and UNICEF will also develop and disseminate knowledge and build local capacity for better designing, planning and maintaining WASH facilities in schools and dormitories and for promoting hygiene, safe drinking water, and sanitation.
ADB approvals in Mongolia amounted to $297.5 million in 2015, including 4 sovereign loans for $275 million, 2 project grants for $6 million, and 17 technical assistance grants for $16.5 million.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child and works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF Mongolia and its work visit: www.unicef.mn
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Sea buckthorn factory opens beside Khaan Jims resort www.en.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The “Khuba Khaya” sea buckthorn factory opened on November 2. The factory was built with help of German engineering and outline and meets the European standards. It is expected to produce high quality products from seaberry for youthening and relieving stress, as well as beauty and nutritional products.
 
Sea buckthorn, which is proclaimed by Mongolians as the “King Berry”, is richer in Vitamin E than grist, three times in Vitamin A than red carrot, and four times greater content superoxide dismutase than ginseng. The sea buckthorn oil is the only phytogenic source of fatty acids Omega 3,6,7 and 9.
 
The factory is located next to the “Khaan Jims” (King Berry) resort, the site supposedly was under a winter place of Chinggis Khaan.
 
Present at the opening ceremony were some members of parliament, heads of diplomatic missions, famous artists and athletes and businesspeople.
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INSPIREmeFESTIVAL ULAANBAATAR www.mongolianbusinessdatabase.com

Her Majesty’s Ambassador Catherine Arnold, invites you to attend the Business Seminar of the InspireMe Festival on 11 November 2016 at Shangri-la Mall. The Business Seminar is designed to give useful information to mining industry professionals.

Time: 10:00 – 14:00

Location: Art Space Museum Shangri-la Mall, ground floor (Business Zone)

RSVP: 99084708 by 9 November

Dress code: Business attire

Come along during the day and take advantage of an array of thought-leader seminars, fun activities and inspirational talks. See live shows and enjoy special culinary delights designed to inspire your weekend.

The InspireMe festival will be held on 11-12 November showcasing Britain’s businesses, innovation, technology, education, tourism and culture.

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IMF: 2.5-2.7 percent increase is expected by 2017 www.mongolia.gogo.mn

B.Lkhagvasuren, Vice President, Bank of Mongolia reported that Mongolian economic growth forecast is 0-1 percent in 2016 and to be 2-3 percent in 2017 as a result of positive impact shown by construction of Oyu Tolgoi underground mine on non-mining sectors.
Mongolian economy is projected to expand 2.5-2.7 by 2017, according to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Democratic Party Group at State Great Khural has organized an open discussion on budget and monetary policy. During which, D.Gan-Ochir, Head of Statistics Department, Bank of Mongolia stated that external debt reached US$ 1.1 billion this year, while it will reach US$ 4.5 in 2017, adding that the major action to overcome economic difficulties is to decrease macro risks and implement policy to support national production. Also, he noted that the first action should be done is to forward major projects and attract more foreign investment.
According to the latest statistics, foreign direct investment droped to US$ 14.4 in Sep, 2016, resulting fall in macroeconomic indicators. At that time, Mongolia have been discussing to receive loan from the International Monetary Fund. However, the country is able to attract funding from International Monetary Fund maximum of US$ 400 million.
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IMF backs Albania's draft budget and fiscal package for 2017 www.xinhuanet.com

TIRANA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Albanian government has reached an agreement with an International Monetary Fund(IMF) mission on the country's 2017 budget and key policies underpinning it, officials from both sides said at a press conference Wednesday.
 
Such an agreement was reached under the condition that Albanian authorities should settle the central government arrears, according to Albanian Finance Minister Arben Ahmetaj and head of the IMF mission Anita Tuladhar.
 
An IMF mission led by Tuladhar visited Tirana between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2, during which they held discussions on Albania's 2017 budget as part of the combined ninth and tenth reviews of Albania's extended fund facility (EFF) arrangement.
 
According to Tuladhar, the country's 2017 budget aims to reach a primary surplus of 0.7 percent of GDP.
 
To achieve its fiscal target, the Albanian government has committed to a fiscal package that includes raising oil-related revenues, tightening tax exemptions, and increasing the coverage and strengthening the collections of property tax, she said at the press conference.
 
The head of the IMF mission also said that the budget allows for moderate public wage and pension increases while containing the wage bill, as a percentage of GDP, to 2016 levels, thus giving the green-light to Albanian government decision to increase wages and pensions.
 
On his part, Albanian finance minister said that the growth of foreign direct investments, structural reform and stabilization of the Albania's main trade partners will be main engines of economic growth for a medium-term.
 
Earlier, IMF released a regular report on Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, keeping unchanged the projections of Albania's economic growth at 3.4 percent, whereas for next year the country's economy is expected to go up to 3.7 percent. Enditem
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Coal price rally bypassing US miners www.mining.com

Metallurgical coal's dramatic rise this year have caught most observers by surprise and despite predictions of a consolidation price momentum for the commodity seems only to be building. On Wednesday coking coal added another 2.7% trading at $265.50 a tonne bringing one month gains for the steelmaking raw material to more than 24%.
 
According to data provided by the Steel Index premium Australia hard coking coal prices are up more than three-fold since hitting multi-year lows around $70 a tonne in November last year.
 
While not quite setting such a torrid pace the rise in the price of seaborne prices for coal used in power generation has been just as impressive more than doubling in 2016 to settle at $114.75 a tonne on Tuesday, a near four-year high.
 
The rally in seaborne steam coal prices bypassed US miners entirely. In fact, prices for Central Appalachian coal (Nymex FOB) has continued its long-term downtrend. Trading at $40 a short ton, CAP prices are down 7.7% year to date and averaging more than 11% below 2015.
 
Coal from the Powder River basin, (8,800btu/lb) hasn't fared any better, losing 17% since the start of the year to trade at $9 a short ton this week after dipping as low as $8.25 in September.
 
According to EIA data the US exported a meagre 9 million tonnes of coking and 3.8 million tonnes of steam coal during the second quarter of this year. That's an uptick from the first quarter, but less than half the exports racked up when coal was last trading at today's prices.
 
The seaborne coal rally was also spurred by supply issues after Beijing’s decision to limit coal mines' operating days to 276 or fewer a year from 330 before as it seeks to restructure the industry. Chinese government stimulus plans which saw steel production and demand for power pick up only added fuel to the fire.
 
A new report by BMI Research suggest the coal rally may be running out of steam and that thermal coal prices will weaken over 2017 due to both stronger coal mine production and weaker demand growth in China. The researcher, a unit of Fitch, expects fourth quarter 2016 levels to represent the peak of thermal coal prices for the next several quarters.
 
China imported 24.3 million tonnes of coal in September, up more than 33% compared to last year according to official customs data. Over the first nine months of the year imports increased 15% to 180 million tonnes compared to the same period in 2015.
 
In 2011 floods in key export region in Queensland saw the coking coal price touch an all-time high $335 a tonne. Steam coal peaked just shy of $140 a tonne in January 2011.
 
 
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Facebook's profits soar as it continues to swallow online advertising market www.theguardian.com

Facebook almost tripled its profits in the third quarter of 2016 as the social media giant took an even larger slice of the online advertising market. The company reported a 59% year-over-year increase in advertising revenue on Wednesday. Net income for the three months ending 30 September rose to $2.38bn from $896m a year earlier.
 
The jump in profits and revenues comes as traditional publishers are hemorrhaging advertising dollars and announcing cutbacks. News groups including the Daily Mail, the Guardian, New York Times and Wall Street Journal have all announced layoffs in recent weeks.
 
The US election was partly responsible for Facebook’s gains. “Facebook is the new town hall and we are proud of the role that we’ve played in increasing civic engagement,” chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg told investors during the company’s evening conference call.
 
The company also increased its dominance in mobile advertising. Mobile phones delivered 84% of the ads, up from 78% last year, or revenue of $5.7bn over 90 days. The entire digital ad market for 2016 is estimated at $67.1bn by analytics firm eMarketer. The company’s user base has climbed to 1.79bn monthly active users and 1.18bn who log in at least once a day.
 
The good news came despite some mishaps for the company over the quarter. Facebook has been criticized for the way it handles political discussion, first for obscuring the way human editors managed its Trending module, and then for the way its subsequent algorithm-only curation has promoted fake stories.
 
In September it was revealed that the company had been overestimating video views by between 60% and 80%, a story first published by the Wall Street Journal.
 
More recently, Facebook has come under fire from members of the US Congressional Black Caucus over racial discrimination in Facebook’s housing ads. The lawmakers, including officers GK Butterfield and Yvette Clarke, say racialized ad targeting using Facebook’s “ethnic identities” feature to exclude people from seeing ads by race violates anti-redlining laws including the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
 
 
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