A Positive Outlook On Mongolia - Seeking Alpha

A Positive Outlook On Mongolia - Seeking Alpha: "This summer, Nick Cousyn became the first native English language speaking employee at Mongolia's largest domestic brokerage, BDSec. Mr. Cousyn came to the company with an American resume of working with institutional investors and high net worth individuals as BDSec's new Chief Operating Officer.

Although BDSec primarily trades on the Mongolia Stock Exchange, this interview will focus on the macro market outlook for the Mongolian economy, and companies doing business in Mongolia that are publicly traded in the United States.

In the interview Mr. Cousyn makes recommendations for investors to consider buying opportunities in Mongolia Growth Group (MNGGF.PK), Mongolia Blue Wolf Holdings (MNGLU), and Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ). As my last three articles on Mongolia have been quite negative, it seemed time to give investors a different view from an expert on the ground in Mongolia who, by nature of his job, has some of the best local research available to him."

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Local painter takes art expedition to Mongolia - Times-Standard Online

Local painter takes art expedition to Mongolia - Times-Standard Online: "Local painter Susan Fox recently returned from her seventh trip to Mongolia. As she has done on her previous trips, she traveled the countryside to observe and photograph wildlife, landscapes, nomadic herders and their animals.
Fox kept a journal that she filled with sketches of a variety of subjects, and she also had the opportunity to paint on location for two afternoons in Hustai National Park, one of three places in Mongolia where takhi/Przewalski's horse have been reintroduced.
What made her most recent trip different from those in the past is that she not only got to meet and visit the studios of some of Mongolia's most prominent artists, she was also a featured artist at an event held Sept. 22 at ArtiCour Gallery in Ulaanbaatar, the capitol of Mongolia."

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TEXT-Fitch affirmed Mongolia's XacBank at 'B';outlook stable | Reuters

TEXT-Fitch affirmed Mongolia's XacBank at 'B';outlook stable | Reuters: "Nov 20 - Fitch Ratings has affirmed Mongolia-based XacBank LLC's (XacBank) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'B' and its Short-Term IDR at 'B'. The Outlook is Stable. A full list of rating actions is provided at the end of this commentary.

The ratings capture XacBank's ongoing business model changes and the likely pressure this will bring on its asset quality, liquidity and capital. XacBank, a traditionally microfinance institution, is increasing riskier SME lending which will likely lead to higher loan concentration and impairment rates (H112: 1.8% as per IFRS, 2011: 1.2%). In addition, it increases XacBank's vulnerability to changes in the operating environment and the economy due to the nature of SME lending and the bank's limited expertise in the area."

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Rio Tinto Vs. Mongolia, Destination Unknown - Seeking Alpha

Rio Tinto Vs. Mongolia, Destination Unknown - Seeking Alpha: "A battle is brewing regarding Mongolia's huge Oyu Tolgoi copper mine which, at full production, will be among the top five copper mines in the world. As discussed in my recent article about Mongolia's politics, the Mongolian government has raised the royalty taxes on Oyu Tolgoi in contravention of the Oyu Tolgoi agreement of 2009, and these additional tax revenues are included in Mongolia's planned budget. Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ) came out with their quarterly reporting on November 14, 2012. In their report, Turquoise Hill acknowledged the new law pending presidential signature, but said it does not apply."

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American Artist Susan Fox Paints Genghis Khan’s Mongolia | Literary & Visual Arts | Arts & Entertainment | Epoch Times

American Artist Susan Fox Paints Genghis Khan’s Mongolia | Literary & Visual Arts | Arts & Entertainment | Epoch Times: "Yet Mongolia remains one of the great wildlife-viewing destinations of the world. According to a 2004 World Wildlife Fund special report, 139 mammal species and 449 bird species live in its six biomes, and Mongolia’s wildlife is one of its top tourist attractions.
Its art, too, is diverse, and the natural environment has long been a subject of Mongolia’s artists. However, Mongolia does not share the West’s tradition of painting wild animals in their natural elements, as exemplified by artists like Edwin Henry Landseer, Kim Donaldson, and Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhnert. Their paintings bring out the majesty of their subjects, and theirs and similar work have inspired many conservation efforts."

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Bactrian camel genome holds survival secrets : Nature News & Comment

Bactrian camel genome holds survival secrets : Nature News & Comment: "Sky-high blood glucose levels, a diet loaded with salt and a tendency to pack away fat sounds like a recipe for a health disaster in a human. But in a Bactrian camel, these are adaptations that may help it survive in some of the driest, coldest and highest regions of the world.

Researchers in Mongolia and China have begun to unravel the genomic peculiarities behind the physiological tricks that camels use to survive in the harshest of conditions. In a paper published today in Nature Communications, the scientists describe the draft genomes of wild and domesticated Bactrian camels1."

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Australian lawyer held in Mongolia

Australian lawyer held in Mongolia: "Ms Armstrong is a regular business traveller in and out of Mongolia as an employee of SouthGobi Resources and has been living in Hong Kong.

Australian consul general David Lawson accompanied Ms Armstrong and her lawyer to the interrogation. Mr Lawson was seeking answers as to why Ms Armstrong had been held by authorities.

The Mongolian embassy in Canberra has refused to answer questions about what laws they were using to hold Ms Armstrong in Mongolia and the nature of the investigation.

Mongolian media have speculated that Ms Armstrong was questioned by the Independent Authority Against Corruption over possible bribery investigation between SouthGobi and D. Batkhuyag, the former chairman of the Minerals Resources Authority in Mongolia."

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Headline Story | equities.com

Headline Story | equities.com: "Erdene Commences Drill Program on the Altan Nar Gold Project
Multiple New Targets to be Tested over a 5 Kilometre Strike Length Marketwire - Canada
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 9, 2012) - Erdene Resource Development Corp. ("Erdene" or the "Company") (TSX:ERD) is pleased to announce the initiation of a further round of drilling on the Company's 100% owned Altan Nar project in southwestern Mongolia.
"Results from the Altan Nar gold project continue to surpass our expectations with recently completed surveys having identified multiple new drill targets", said Peter Akerley, President and CEO. "With this round of drilling, we are targeting areas along a 5 kilometre strike length with a coincident geochemical and geophysical signature similar to the one over the Discovery Zone where we have drilled off an area of significant gold-bearing epithermal mineralization.""

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Earth Sounds: Native American, Mongolian, and Australian Musical Cultures Celebrated at Wang Center Tonight - ICTMN.com

Earth Sounds: Native American, Mongolian, and Australian Musical Cultures Celebrated at Wang Center Tonight - ICTMN.com: "Tonight, October 4, at the Wang Center on the Stony Brook University campus in Stony Brook, New York, musical cultures will be celebrated in a special event. Earth Sounds creates and explores resonances between Native American, Mongolian, and Australian musical cultures. The ancient traditions of these three cultures are intrinsically linked with the experience of nomadic life, seasonal migrations, the sounds of nature, and ultimately the Earth itself. Together, they merge into a meditative, healing, and inspiring musical creation. "

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Mongolia´s Ecosystem: A comprehensive overview of its current challenges | Mongolia Web News

Mongolia´s Ecosystem: A comprehensive overview of its current challenges | Mongolia Web News: "The Mongolian Ecosystem Network is an academic publication that covers many dimensions of the current ecological challenges in Mongolia. In 2010 the Kyoto based Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) held a conference  "The Collapse and Restoration of the Mongolian Ecosystem Network in the Context of Global Environmental and Social Changes".  Speakers from different acadamic fields gave an overview of the wide range of environmental issues that Mongolia is facing. Now these views have been combined and enriched into a publication that is an essential read for anybody dealing with the environment in Mongolia. "

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Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Signs Up Nature's Engineers to Restore River | EurasiaNet.org

Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar Signs Up Nature's Engineers to Restore River | EurasiaNet.org: "Ulaanbaatar is importing foreign experts to combat falling water levels in Mongolia's third longest river. Qualifications include sharp incisors, flat tails and webbed toes.

Meet the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). If all goes according to plan, the task of restoring the headwaters of the Tuul River will be left to these rotund rodents, with extra thanks to Germany and Russia. At home, due to poaching, their numbers have declined sharply in the past 20 years. But in May, Germany gifted 14, and Russia another 30—just for this special task."

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Sharyn Gol JSC Announces the Receipt of All Government Approvals Necessary for Production at the New Open Pit Mine at the Shaazgait Coal Deposit - MarketWatch

Sharyn Gol JSC Announces the Receipt of All Government Approvals Necessary for Production at the New Open Pit Mine at the Shaazgait Coal Deposit - MarketWatch: "ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, Jul 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Sharyn Gol JSC (mse:SHG) ("Sharyn Gol") is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism has accepted its Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the planned new open pit mine at the Shaazgait thermal coal deposit ("Shaazgait"). Following the recent approval of its Feasibility Study by the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia, Sharyn Gol has now received all government approvals necessary to launch operations at Shaazgait.

The new opencast mine will enable Sharyn Gol to retain its role as a supplier of low ash, low sulfur, and high calorific value product to the local market. Additionally, the Company is well positioned to utilize its existing infrastructure to expand into both regional and international thermal coal markets."

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Mongolian Ambassador Commemorates Anniversary

Mongolian Ambassador Commemorates Anniversary: "A silver anniversary has arrived for the United States and Mongolia and their diplomatic relations. Twenty-five years ago, the two countries signed an agreement, beginning their bilateral relationship.
To commemorate this occasion, His Excellency Bekhbat Khasbazar, ambassador of Mongolia to the United States, spoke Wednesday in the Kennedy Center.
Khasbazar spoke of the miracle of the Mongolian–U.S. relationship.
“The establishment of diplomatic relations came after struggles,” he said. “After signing, our countries still remained very distant.”
However, he said the relationship has improved in both nature and scope.
According to Khasbazar, the United States help to Mongolia helped improve relations.
“Today, Mongolia considers the U.S. to be the most important of its neighbors,” he said."

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Today I'd go ... to Mongolia

Today I'd go ... to Mongolia: "Every Thursday I like to write about a place I'd love to go, usually in my dreams because in real life I don't have the time or the money. This week, I found a 20-day trip from Nomadic Expeditions to Mongolia.
From the email I received:
It has been 20 years since Nomadic Expeditions stepped out as the pioneer of exceptional adventures in Mongolia. In celebration of its platinum anniversary, Nomadic Expeditions is launching an exclusive and encompassing journey: Around Mongolia in Twenty Days. The 20-day anniversary journey will present an epic journey exploring all four different regions of Mongolia: the legendary central steppes, fragrant forests by the Siberian border, high mountains in the west and the mystical desert in the southern part of the country. Travelers will discover from the diverse wildlife of the G"

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Helping wild horses and livestock survive extreme weather in Gobi desert

Helping wild horses and livestock survive extreme weather in Gobi desert: "ScienceDaily (Dec. 29, 2011) — Winters in the Gobi desert are usually long and very cold but the winter of 2009/2010 was particularly severe, a condition Mongolians refer to as "dzud." Millions of livestock died in Mongolia and the re-introduced wild Przewalski's horse population crashed dramatically. Petra Kaczensky and Chris Walzer from the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology (FIWI) of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna have used spatially explicit loss statistics, ranger survey data and GPS telemetry to provide insights into the effect of a catastrophic climate event on wild horses, wild asses and livestock that share the same habitat but show different patterns of spatial use."

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Wildlife Charity Wins BBC World Challenge Competition

Wildlife Charity Wins BBC World Challenge Competition: "A program developed by the Snow Leopard Trust, a Seattle-based conservation organization, has won first place in the World Challenge. The program, called ‘Snow Leopard Enterprises,’ was created to protect endangered snow leopards in Mongolia. It was one of 12 projects selected for the global World Challenge competition run by BBC World News and Newsweek Magazine in association with Shell.
Snow Leopard Enterprises was chosen by World Challenge as an innovative business model that also benefits the environment. The program helps herders in Mongolia make and sell fine wool handicrafts to increase their income. In turn, herders sign conservation contracts pledging to protect snow leopards living in their area."

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Hopes for a breakthrough in plans to protect world's oldest nature reserve | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Hopes for a breakthrough in plans to protect world's oldest nature reserve | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Protecting the world's oldest nature reserve from the planet's most polluted capital was never going to be easy, but the Mongolian authorities and the World Bank aim to do just that in the coming days when they meet to discuss a plan to limit the sprawl of Ulan Bator.

A major push to conserve the nearby forests, mountains and globally important biodiversity of the Bogd Khan protected area has been on hold for more than a year, but there are hopes for a breakthrough if the authorities can be more transparent about the controversial property deals that have encroached on the reserve.

The outcome will be an indicator of Mongolia's determination to protect its environment as the country enters a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation that has recently led to the opening of several mega mines in the Gobi desert and a thickening haze above Ulan Bator - recently named the world's second most polluted city."

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Higgins in Mongolia: From Horsecarts to Hummers

Higgins in Mongolia: From Horsecarts to Hummers: "A visit to the local museum cut a guided swath through 300 million years of western Mongolian history. I felt like part of the family of their local hero, Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal, Mongolia’s longest tenured prime minister. Photos of Yumjaagiin with Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Fidel Castro even Ghandi. His couch, his slippers, his books, it was all there above the city library. In the adjoining rooms there were bones of dinosaurs, mouldering stuffed wildlife specimens, paleolithic cave paintings and bronze age burials. Cap it off with a display of Chinggis Khan armor and weaponry and you’ve pretty much spanned most of central Asian history."

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Inverness Courier | Features | Profile | Using what nature provides to add to local experience

Inverness Courier | Features | Profile | Using what nature provides to add to local experience: "Rosie had hoped to stay in Mongolia for a month, but by the time she arrived she was pregnant with daughter Thora and was forced to cut the visit short.
She still has a Mongolian contact in Aruuna, a social worker who teaches traditional skills, and she and Rosie have talked about the possibility of bringing her to the Highlands to teach Mongolian felting techniques in person.
"She didn’t speak much English, so it was a massive learning experience for both of us, this English girl coming along from Scotland to learn from her. What was nice was that for those two weeks I just felt that I was part of everyday Mongolian life. It was really good," Rosie said."

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Mongolian city to be cooled by giant ice cube | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Mongolian city to be cooled by giant ice cube | MNN - Mother Nature Network: "In one of the grandest geoengineering projects in the world to date, the Mongolian capital city Ulan Bator is preparing to keep cool this summer by freezing and storing a gigantic block of ice, reports the Guardian.

The ambitious project, which is being spearheaded by Mongolian engineering firm ECOS & EMI, will use the giant ice cube to reduce energy demand from air conditioners during the hot summer months, as well as to reinforce irrigation supplies. Citizens of Ulan Bator will also be able to tap the ice for their drinking water."

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