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Wednesday, February 3, 2016
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Mongolia delays planned sovereign dollar bond
February 1 (IFR) --
Link to article (subscription needed)
975 trading -5% to HK$0.038 in early Wed. trading
Trafalgar Capital-Managed Fund Acquires 6.01% Stake in MMC
February 1 –
Mongolian Mining rating lowered to 'CCC-' by S&P; outlook negative
[ET Net News Agency, 28 January 2016] Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today lowered its corporate credit rating on Mongolian coal miner Mongolian Mining Corp. (MMC)(00975) to 'CCC-' from 'CCC'. At the same time, the credit rating agency lowered its issue rating on the company's US$600 million senior unsecured notes to 'CCC-' from 'CCC'.
The downgrade follows MMC's announcement that it has hired advisors to provide advice on the potential restructuring of the company's outstanding notes. S&P believes any transaction or debt exchange would likely be substantially below par value, given that the company's unsecured notes currently trade below 30 cents on the dollar.
"We believe a default is likely within the next six months barring an agreement with the company's creditors on a restructuring," said S&P's credit analyst Xavier Jean.
"This is because MMC needs to repay more than US$150 million in debt amortization and interests in 2016. The company's US$600 million notes also mature in 2017. This compares with our estimate of cash balance below US$50 million as of Dec. 31, 2015." he added.
MSE Weekly Report: Top 20 -3.63%, ALL -1.13%, ₮190.5 Million Stocks, ₮10.07 Billion T-Bills
January 29 (MSE) --
MSE Trading Report: Top 20 -0.39%, ALL +0.31%, Turnover ₮50.6 Million Stocks
February 2 (MSE) --
Historic low ₮2,013.38/USD set February 2, 2016
BoM MNT Rates: Tuesday, February 2 Close
2/2 | 2/1 | 1/29 | 1/28 | 1/27 | 1/26 | 1/25 | 1/22 | 1/21 | 1/20 | 1/19 | 1/18 | 1/15 | 1/14 | 1/13 | ||
| USD | 2,013.38 | 2,010.73 | 2,011.38 | 2,008.59 | 2,007.81 | 2,007.68 | 2,006.44 | 2,007.09 | 2,007.10 | 2,007.31 | 2,006.79 | 2,004.88 | 2,003.48 | 1,999.93 | 1,999.37 |
| EUR | 2,195.29 | 2,180.84 | 2,192.10 | 2,184.34 | 2,182.09 | 2,181.34 | 2,170.07 | 2,173.58 | 2,188.44 | 2,196.20 | 2,181.98 | 2,183.51 | 2,177.08 | 2,171.72 | 2,162.52 |
| JPY | 16.69 | 16.59 | 16.67 | 16.91 | 16.98 | 17.05 | 16.93 | 17.00 | 17.19 | 17.19 | 17.02 | 17.12 | 17.02 | 16.93 | 16.91 |
| GBP | 2,899.07 | 2,868.51 | 2,890.96 | 2,864.35 | 2,879.70 | 2,855.02 | 2,864.09 | 2,856.39 | 2,843.26 | 2,843.66 | 2,868.10 | 2,860.36 | 2,882.21 | 2,881.10 | 2,886.29 |
| RUB | 25.89 | 26.36 | 26.70 | 26.07 | 25.40 | 24.57 | 25.73 | 24.74 | 23.91 | 25.25 | 25.63 | 25.43 | 26.20 | 26.18 | 26.14 |
| CNY | 306.01 | 305.65 | 305.88 | 305.46 | 305.17 | 305.13 | 304.97 | 305.05 | 305.06 | 305.09 | 305.01 | 304.73 | 304.16 | 303.57 | 304.00 |
| KRW | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.68 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.68 | 1.67 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.67 | 1.66 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 1.66 |
| SGD | 1,413.84 | 1,411.98 | 1,415.82 | 1,407.76 | 1,406.67 | 1,402.60 | 1,404.04 | 1,404.30 | 1,394.59 | 1,395.27 | 1,398.56 | 1,392.71 | 1,390.97 | 1,390.53 | 1,393.14 |
| CAD | 1,437.20 | 1,433.57 | 1,438.55 | 1,427.52 | 1,421.71 | 1,403.43 | 1,414.63 | 1,407.89 | 1,383.06 | 1,371.16 | 1,388.40 | 1,378.59 | 1,385.77 | 1,393.58 | 1,404.10 |
| AUD | 1,425.37 | 1,421.39 | 1,432.40 | 1,419.77 | 1,411.69 | 1,392.63 | 1,404.01 | 1,407.97 | 1,382.99 | 1,377.92 | 1,388.10 | 1,381.66 | 1,389.11 | 1,392.05 | 1,404.76 |
| HKD | 258.85 | 258.33 | 258.25 | 257.79 | 257.80 | 257.56 | 257.64 | 257.58 | 256.73 | 256.67 | 257.03 | 257.12 | 257.11 | 257.43 | 257.68 |
| CHF | 1,974.58 | 1,967.45 | 1,975.52 | 1,976.57 | 1,976.09 | 1,983.19 | 1,979.23 | 1,987.32 | 2,000.40 | 2,003.40 | 1,994.13 | 1,995.70 | 1,992.72 | 1,982.88 | 1,989.13 |
Bank USD rates at time of sending: TDB (Buy ₮2,007 Sell ₮2,015), Khan (Buy ₮2,007 Sell ₮2,015), Golomt (Buy ₮2,007 Sell ₮2,015), XacBank (Buy ₮2,008 Sell ₮2,016), State Bank (Buy ₮2,008 Sell ₮2,016)
MNT vs USD (blue), CNY (red) in last 1 year:
BoM FX auction: US$20m sold at ₮2,014.35, CNY5.5m at ₮304.8, accepts $5.45m MNT swap offers
January 2 (BoM) On the Foreign Exchange Auction held on February 2nd, 2016, the BOM has received buying bid offers of USD 64.85 million in a rate between MNT 2009.00-2015.05 and bid offers of CNY 26.5 million in a rate between MNT 304.36-305.00 respectively. The BOM sold USD 20.0 million in a closing rate of MNT 2014.35 and CNY 5.5 million in a closing rate of MNT 304.8.
On February 2nd, 2016, the BOM has received MNT Swap agreement buying bid offers equivalent to USD 5.45 million and USD swap agreement selling bid offers of USD 30.0 million from local commercial banks and the BOM accepted the MNT swap agreement buying bid offers of USD 5.45 million.
Consolidated Loan Report of Banking System
February 2 (BoM) --
₮68.5 Billion New 8% Mortgages Issued Since January 19
February 2 (Cover Mongolia) Since January 19 amendments to Civil Law, Real Estate Collateral Law 11 banks have issued ₮65.8 billion 8% mortgages to 1,129 citizens. Of these 6 banks issued ₮15.9 billion mortgages to 300 citizens.
Link to release (in Mongolian)
DP officially asks CWGP and MNDP to merge with DP
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) At a meeting on Tuesday, executive council of Democratic Party (DP) resolved to send proposals to merge to Civil Will Green Party (CWGP) and Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP).
In connection with this decision, Speaker of Parliament and the chairman of DP Z.Enkhbold met CWGP chairwoman S.Oyun and MNDP chairman N.Battsereg and handed the proposals. The acting secretary-general of DP L.Erkhembayar and his counterpart of CWGP exchanged views on this issue. The political parties pledged to make their decisions through executive council and meetings of upper and lower khurals.
MPP caucus cautious of President's proposed permanent neutrality bill
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) At its regular meeting on Monday, the Mongolian People's Party's (MPP) faction discussed an issue of maintaining permanent neutrality status, which has been proposed by the President, and considered as necessity to scrutinize the matter.
The faction considered the permanent neutrality status in four directions, N.Enkhbold MP. The faction considers that this status "could lead to a requirement of amending the Constitution and other laws, shrink the current multilateral active foreign policy of Mongolia, make us look again at the partnership issues with neighbor countries, cause contradiction in the foreign policy among the political forces in terms of understanding this matter."
He stressed that "the issue should be resolved after all the doubts dispel".
The faction's head S.Byambatsogt said the children's benefits from the Human Development Fund (HDF) should be granted prior to the Lunar New Year. He added the faction considers that the mortgage loan interest should be reduced to five percent and a credit interest for herders--to 10 percent.
Cabinet takes measures to begin targeted child allowances before Tsagaan Sar
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) At Monday's regular meeting, the cabinet made changes to the government regulation on granting benefits to children, in connection with the amendment to parliamentary resolution No 103.
Children's benefits are to be given to all 0-18 aged children from all families who have participated in living standard survey. A total of 970 thousand children will receive January-February money--20 thous. per month--on the eve of Tsagaan Sar, which kicks off on February 9 this year.
Other Cabinet Decisions in Brief
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) The cabinet meeting on Monday decided to convey some proposals to the President of Mongolia, an initiator of bills on the national security, on the Armed Forces, on defense and Armed Forces, on military service, on legal status of servicemen, on state and official secrets, and on information security.
- Some measures will be taken to in conjunction with the results of state examinations in archives of documents concerning environmental issues and in the related state bodies.
- A composition of the council was approved as an appendix with responsibilities to provide the national programmes on promoting Mongolia abroad and on World Mongolians with general management and regulations. These programmes were adopted by governmental resolutions in 2016.
- The cabinet discussed results of the official visit of the South Korean PM Hwang Kyo-ahn to Mongolia December 15-17 of 2015, and ordered the FM to submit the matter to the National Security Council (NSC).
- A list of measures and actions was approved, including an organization of international military exercises and a participation of Mongolian peacekeepers in international operations in 2016.
- The cabinet discussed bills on ratifying credit agreements to be established between the government of Mongolia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on realizing projects on diversifying the economy through backing the credit guarantee system and creating job places, and on upgrading the methods of ensuring hygiene of plants and livestock as well as food safety.
- The cabinet backed a bill on exempting from taxes new tractors, combine harvesters, machines, flour and fertilizer factory equipment, forestry facilities and pesticides. The bill will be submitted to parliament.
Only 15 MPs have reported their incomes so far
February 2 (news.mn) According to the "Anti-Corruption Law", Mongolian civil servants are obliged to report their income and capital assets by the 15th February every year. As of 31st January, 25100 of all 40000 civil servants have reported their income data to the respective organizations. This represents a 62.7% response.
There are 276 senior state officials, who must report their incomes to the Anti Corruption Executive Agency. So far only 87 have responded. Here are the details: 15 MPs, 18 ambassadors, 5 consuls, 14 directors of governmental executive agencies and 35 others (members and directors of committees etc).
Constitution Court decision to force establishment of 35 new courts?
February 2 (news.mn) On 28th January at a High Sitting of the Constitutional Court it was decided to establish 35 courts. We are, therefore, providing you with the position of the director of the General Court Committee, N.Lundendorj on this issue.
-According to the decision of the Constitutional Court, 35 new courts are going to be established. How do you see this issue?
- Yesterday, the Constitutional Court made a final decision about the establishment of the courts. There is no reason to reject this decision; if Mongolia has the economic wherewithal is to implement it. Therefore, the decision must be made, depending on the judicial and economic situation. I see that, Mongolia does not have the economical ability to establish many courts. This is my position. In the end, however, it is up to Mongolia, how to establish its courts.
-So, the court structure will be changed, correct?
-The decision of the Constitutional Court is final. Therefore, the General Court Committee will deliver the recommendation to the President of Mongolia, after agreement with the Government. We will work to this end.
Standing committee backs ratifying UN treaty on dry ports
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) Parliamentary Standing committee on security and foreign policy discussed a bill on ratifying the Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports (IADP) and considered as necessity to ratify it.
Such ports can be set up at the border checkpoints of Altanbulag, Sainshand, Ulaanbaatar, Zamyn-Uud and Choibalsan, they are connected to the Asian motorway network and Trans-Asian railway network, they said. "This can augment transit transportation and passing capability and also facilitate the transportation and trade".
The bill on ratification of the IADP has been submitted to parliament because of several reasons of considering as important a support to initiatives on developing the transit transportation networks of highways and railways.
"If Mongolia joins the IADP, it shall not bear any tough responsibilities, this agreement is focused on improving trade and services and on passing transit freight in a short time," said J.Bat-Erdene, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Road and Transportation, at the Standing committee's meeting.
MPP lays wreaths at Sukhbaatar's statue on his 123th birthday
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) Leaders and members of Mongolian People's Party (MPP) laid wreaths to the statue of General Sukhbaatar Damdin and paid tribute to Chingis Khaan's statue. The 123th birth anniversary falls on February 2
D.Sukhbaatar, the commander of Mongolian army during the People's Revolution of 1921 mastered soldiership from the age of 19, was appointed the General of Mongolian Army in 1921, and led revolutionary operations on liberating Kyakhta. He was also one of the founders of the first political party of Mongolia–The Mongolian People's Party.
Honoring his contribution to Mongolia's independence, a central square of Ulaanbaatar had been named after him until it was changed to Chingis Square in 2013.
D.Sukhbaatar served in the army in 1912-1918, and started working in law and history publishing authority in 1918, when he joined Secret Society of Khuree (then name of capital city of Mongolia). When Chinese Kuomintang army dismissed Mongolia's national army in 1920, D.Sukhbaatar began to take active part in the political works of the secret society.
He was one of the first seven delegates who asked for Soviet Union's assistance, led the Army recruit which started February of 1921, and founded the General Headquarters of People's Militia. D.Sukhbaatar was appointed the commander in chief and minister of military. He served as the army commander from 1921 until he passed away in 1923.
A title "Brave Hero of Mongolian People" was given him in September of 1922, the same year he was awarded Red Banner Order of the USSR.
He passed away at sunrise of February 20 of 1923.
UB Chamber President J.Od: Mongolians Talk the Talk, Don't Walk the Walk
February 2 (Mongolian Economy) We sat down with the President of Ulaanbaatar Chamber of Commerce and MCS Group, J.Od.
- It's been a year since the establishment of the Ulaanbaatar Chamber of Commerce. How is the business situation, and how have partnership works been going?
-Our chamber was established to involve the capital's entrepreneurs in the development of Ulaanbaatar, mobilise their forces and attract private entities to the projects funded by the city. During the past year, we were able to lay the foundation of the partnerships. The city administration has established the City Development Corporation. In its board of directors sit three members from our chamber. Such a thing has not been previously heard of. Now our chamber has its own office, structure and arbitration. Although it has been a short period, the partnership relationship is going well. We're moving forward despite the downturn. It's normal for economic indicators to move up and down. Life will still go on, especially life in the city. Therefore, the more the businesses participate in the city's development, the more people will benefit. The city administration and our chamber were able to cooperate during this economic downturn, and we believe that this partnership will bring positive things.
-You said that the business community should be involved in leadership roles in the development of the city.
-Private firms work on all of the city's projects as contractors. However, our main goal is to broaden opportunities for participation, selection type, public and private terms. But the biggest achievement is that the city administration is encouraging the implementation of projects under public-private partnership and involvement of the private sector in decision making processes. The process is just starting. To implement projects under public-private partnerships, creating legal basis and other mechanisms is very important, such as the responsibilities, obligations and financing methods of the two sides.
It hasn't been that long since the establishment of Ulaanbaatar Development Corporation. Projects will be carried out through this organisation. As I understand, the Corporation will involve entities and the City Council in the process of deciding which project should be carried out, which projects should have priority over others and on which project to attract private sector capital. In the past, only administrative officers were responsible for making such decisions, whereas today, it will be decided by representatives on multiple sides. Therefore, the Corporation's board of directors consists of nine members, three from the private sector, three that represent the citizens and three from the administration, and they will cooperate on policy issues. Also, there must be an independent, internationally recognised arbitration with options for investors to judge all the disputes. Many works such as selecting or inviting the arbiters, strengthening the organisation and conducting trainings are awaiting the arbitration under the UBCC.
-Other countries' capitals developed their city through foreign and domestic investments. Currently, foreign investment has fled from Ulaanbaatar. What should be done re-attract foreign investments?
It's hard to talk about Ulaanbaatar in the investment environment. The climate and stability of investment depend on many things, such as the country's macro-economy, political situation and nature of politicians. People know that today's situation is worse. We can't talk about Ulaanbaatar investment separately from the country's overall investment environment. The foreign representatives who came to last year's forum said they would not be coming this year, saying, "You guys talk all these nice things but in reality you make other decisions." We can't relocate all the nomads that have come to settle in the city because the international community views us as irresponsible; we need to find other ways. We have to focus on exactly how to attract foreign and domestic investment.
In my opinion, Ulaanbaatar is an attractive market that can grab the interest of investors. A small population lives on the huge territory of Mongolia, but the case is different for Ulaanbaatar, as it's a densely populated market. It's a market where so many things can be done if operated correctly. There are possibilities to issue regulations to provide goods and services, free trade and tourism zones or to establish a logistics free trade zone between two of the largest global markets. It's possible to build a free trade zone dedicated to foreign citizens and tourists around the new airport. It's possible to attract foreign investment if laws and regulations are developed in accordance with the city's features and peculiarities. There are lots of works to do if we have the desire to get things done. Our chamber is working on a project to make Ulaanbaatar a financial hub. There are such projects which can be realised if laws and legislation are implemented correctly.
-How do you see the economic situation turning out in 2016?
-A slowdown is happening not only in our country, but the whole world. As for this year, parliamentary elections will take place. Politicians might take election-orientated measures. I don't think the situation will get that much better. In general, activities and steps taken during the election have never had a positive impact on the economy. In 2016, the economic forecast appears to be difficult. The OT underground project may move forward, but it's not that clear for the Tavan Tolgoi power plant. Generally, whether the megaprojects move forward or not depends on political decisions.
-How about business?
-It's true that the last two years have been difficult for the private sector. Good policies are needed. It's necessary to implement appropriate, stable economic, financial and political policies. Our private sector has already learned how to work on the market. If the conditions get created, even individuals make contributions. Our country's companies have specialised in each of their industries. Companies have risen, and professionals have become more capable than in the past. There's nothing they can't do.
As for our company, we're building the residential complex for ASEM representatives. All the contractors are Mongolian companies and people. EU experts came here to check on our construction process, and they were amazed by the quality and design of our work. They could not believe that all the stages of the project, starting from the blueprint, were done by Mongolians. Our companies have reached high standards. A small country like ours can develop quickly if we can attract investment and provide the citizens with jobs under the right policies.
-How are the things going for your company?
-The mining downturn is a global phenomenon. Other sectors have also swung one way or another because of mining, especially the real estate sector. The situation is not as bad for our company, as we did not have many construction projects that had to be sold. Growth of other consumer goods and products has fallen compared to previous years. Our company paid MNT 200 million in taxes to the state last year. It's no small amount, especially in a time of economic downturn. It's business as usual for us. However, we probably could have seized opportunities to attract more investment and create jobs.
-What are the main features of this year's business forum?
-Projects and programmes budgeted by the city will be introduced to the private sector and will be discussed in order to create a network that hears their opinion and initiatives not only during the forum, but also after it.
-What is your dream as a resident of this city?
- I wish our city becomes a liveable, safe and hospitable city where all of its citizens have sufficient income and make guests leave the city happy and satisfied for coming here and spending their money. I also wish that the people's lives get better and many more business opportunities are presented before us.
Cabinet resolves to build oil processing plant in Bor-Undur, Khentii
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) Minister of Industry D.Erdenebat has been assigned to take some preparation measures for building an oil processing plant and piping system at Bor-Undur soum of Khentii aimag. This decision was made by the cabinet regular meeting Monday.
These measures include a tender to select investor consortium coordinating at least one national company, and a managing of a conclusion of concession agreement.
According to the preliminary feasibility study, Khentii's Bor-Undur is the best location considering its infrastructure, logistics for crude oil and final products, and closeness to the market, leaving behind other proposed locations such as Choir, Sainshand and Choibalsan.
A development of the processing plant will take four years. With the commissioning of the plant, Mongolia's import of oil products will decrease starting from 2021, improving trade balance, creating new jobs and reducing a dependency on imported supplies.
Payment for some public projects and measures to be guaranteed by bills
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) At the cabinet meeting on Monday, the Minister of Finance was allowed to guarantee the payment of some projects and measures with bills.
These projects and measures are reflected in a parliamentary resolution of 2015 and its appendix. As of January 1 of 2016, over 80 percent of the works under the resolution have been performed with the remainder payment, while other works, reflected in the appendix, have been done under the build-transfer concession.
Obligations were given to B.Bolor, the Minister of Finance, and general managers of budgets to place money in the 2017 state budget for the expenses of the bills and their interest, and to grant the bill-holders the financing of the measures and projects.
31,142 citizens visit United City Service Center in less than a month
February 2 (news.mn) As part of the implementation of the "Smart UB" program, the operation of the "Customer Service Center" has been extended into the "United City Service Center". The Center was launched from 4th January 2016 on a trial basis and from the 14th January officially. The "United City Service Center" is located in the "Dunjingarav Trading Center". Initially, it offered 235 kinds of service; now it is providing people with 450 different services.
Less than a month has passed since the launch of the United City Service Center; in this short period a total of 31142 people have been served. It is planned to establish new branches of the "United City Service Center" in Sodon District and at Misheel Expo.
Source: Media Bureau at City Administration
Schedule of shopping centres and markets during Tsagaan Sar
February 2 (gogo.mn) In scope of celebration of Tsagaan Sar, the biggest markets and shopping centres are off for many days. Following is the working schedule of the biggest markets and shopping centres.
NOMIN SUPERMARKET
…
SANSAR SHOPPING CENTER
…
BOSA CENTER
…
MINII DELGUUR
…
SKY SUPERMARKET
…
NARANTUUL MARKET
…
KHARKHORIN MARKET
…
BARS 1,2
…
KHUCHIT SHONHOR
…
DA KHUREE TECHNICAL MARKET
…
MFA holds weekly "Media Hour" press briefing
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) Mongolia attaches a great importance to its relations with Hungary, said E.Yesukhei, a deputy director of the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Europe and American Affairs, at the "Media Hour" weekly meeting on Tuesday.
He talked about the establishment of five agreements such as on augmenting the quota for Mongolian students in Hungary with governmental scholarships and renovating techniques of the "Biokombinat" state-run medicine factory, in frames of the official visit of the Hungarian Premier to Mongolia December 24-26 of 2015.
Yesukhei also said a composition has been created for a council that will provide the national programmes on promoting Mongolia abroad and on World Mongolians with general management and regulations.
Concerning the consular issues, he said Mongolia currently operates its Embassies and General Consulates in 46 places abroad. The diplomatic missions' consular sections provide Mongolians with eight kinds of registration services.
Yesukhei spoke about working groups that have been set up to ensure a preparation for the ASEM Summit in concrete affairs such as accommodation, safety, security and transportation.
Bill on $25 million Hungary soft loan to Mongolia to be submitted to parliament
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) An intergovernmental agreement was signed by Mongolian Minister of Finance B.Bolor and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on this year's January 25 on General Programme of Financial Cooperation.
Accordingly, a soft loan of 25 million USD will fund a technological renovation at "Biokombinat" state-run institution.
The cabinet of Ministers resolved on Monday to submit it to the State Great Khural (parliament) for ratification.
Increase in illegal border crossings reported between Mongolia and Russia
February 2 (news.mn) According to the 0243rd Border Troops in Selenge Province, there has recently been a sharp increase in the number of people illegally crossing Mongolia's border with Russia. This has been put at 18.7% on the same period last year.
For example, in January, three Russian citizens crossed the border, when drunk; no less than 31 Mongolian citizens crossed the frontier on 8 time occasions. The 0243rd Border Troops control Mongolia's long northern frontier; the terrain is rich in forest and difficult to control. Because of the forests, there is also a high risk of fires. Recently, some Russian groups have been attempting to smuggle drugs across the border; at the same time, the number of attempts to smuggle hawks and other birds of prey from the Mongolian side has also risen. It will be recalled that in 2015, a combined operation involving the border troops, the Mongolian intelligence agency and the police investigated an attempt to smuggle 40 hawks across the border in Khuvsgul Province.
Mongolian language dictionary app launched on Android
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) This new smart phone application was inaugurated Tuesday by P.Tsagaan, head of the Presidential Office, in the Civil Hall, State House.
With support from the Presidential Office, scholars and researchers at the Institute of Linguistics and Literature and the Institute of Informatics worked out a great explanatory dictionary of Mongolian language between December of 2014 and the same month of 2015. Then, the dictionary has been transmitted into the electronic version.
The Mongolian language dictionary application contains some 60 thousand head words, over 80 thousand collocations and combined words, said Tsagaan. The application could be updated.
"By entering the mongoltoli.mn website, consumers can add new words to the dictionary. Furthermore, the application will be enriched as a joint intellectual creation," he emphasized.
Mogi: ummm, comparing a 1920s fanatic with a 21st century one is a bit …
Baron Ungern, the Buddhist ISIS
The forgotten tale of a bloody Russian baron shows what's new, and what isn't, about the Islamic State.
February 2 (The Atlantic) As the debate over the true relationship between ISIS and Islamic tradition grinds on, historians of 20th-century Mongolia must be wondering why no one is talking about Baron Roman Fedorovich von Ungern-Sternberg.
In the early 1920s, Ungern-Sternberg carved out a religiously inspired pseudo-state based in Ulaanbaatar, terrorizing its inhabitants with sadistic public murders to fulfill his messianic dream of a restored empire. His story is instructive for anyone trying to understand what's unique and what isn't about the Islamic State.
Like all historical analogies, the parallel here is imperfect: Ungern-Sternberg had a broad, bristling mustache, while ISIS's nominal leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has a beard. Also, Ungern-Sternberg was Buddhist. But in assessing ISIS today, it's worth remembering that almost a century ago, the chaos and violence of the Russian Civil War helped foster a particularly brutal version of a religion that is now better known for peace.
Ungern-Sternberg was an officer in the Russian army and the descendant of a long line of Baltic German nobility who had served the tsar. The baron fought for the Russians in World War I and continued to fight for the White Army against the Bolsheviks after the Russian Revolution. In 1920, when the conflict had ranged across the Russian Empire for several years, momentum started to shift decisively in the Bolsheviks' favor. Ungern-Sternberg, who was in Siberia, organized a small army of defeated White Russian soldiers and set out to conquer Mongolia. From this nearby territory, wedged between Russia and China, the baron and his men hoped to avoid death at the hands of the Bolsheviks while mobilizing for a renewed campaign to liberate Russia from communist control. In Mongolia, however, he became embroiled in a two-front fight with not only the Bolsheviks, but also the Chinese forces in control of the country. Advancing on the capital of Ulaanbaatar, he sought to win the support of the local population by promising liberation from Chinese rule. He also made disloyalty too terrifying to contemplate.
In the case of ISIS, it was Sunni fighters who had been on the losing side of Iraq's civil war who founded a state in Syria, then returned to Iraq to retake cities like Mosul from the Iraqi government—just as Ungern-Sternberg had planned to take Russia back from the Bolsheviks. Civil war provided the context in which both ISIS's leaders and Ungern-Sternberg came to rely on systematic and highly visible atrocities to consolidate their rule, at a moment when years of savage, disorganized violence had desensitized populations. Like ISIS, Ungern-Sternberg harnessed this violence to establish a modicum of order.
In Mongolia, Ungern-Sternberg executed deserters and recruits who did not meet his expectations. Stories of the baron's bloodlust abound, and the author Peter Hopkirk compiled some of the most sensational. Captives were allegedly buried alive, burned at the stake, and thrown into the boilers of trains. One witness asserted that in Ulaanbaatar, the baron sentenced a baker's dishonest apprentice to be baked to death in his own oven. Another claimed that the baron hung three men accused of stealing brandy over the door of the shop they robbed … until the shopkeeper, worried about losing business, begged him to remove the bodies.
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476 drivers penalized points on first day under new 10-point system
February 2 (gogo.mn) As of 09.30am today, total of 476 drivers were removed their violation scores due to driver's violation score system came into effect on Feb 01.
According to the statement made by the Traffic Police Department;
- On point was removed from 400 drivers,
- Two points were removed from 74 drivers,
- Three points were removed from two drivers.
Five points are to be removed in case of committing traffic violations. In addition, driver`s points will be removed if the violation recorded in traffic cameras.
Driver`s violation score information is available on devices of all traffic polices.
In further, drivers will able to receive "violation score" information by using own driving license number via mobile-based application, SMS or website.
Cabinet approves aid relief measures as winter worsens in some areas
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) The cabinet meeting on Monday decided to allot money from the governmental reserves for purchasing "UAZ-22069" vehicles that will be given to some provinces where the wintering is worsening.
In addition, 4,400 tons of hay, reserved in 2014-2015, will be given to herders with no charge, and 4,700 tons of fodder will be sold to them half price. The Minister of Finance B.Bolor was allowed to issue money from the governmental reserves for recovering the expenses of over two billion Togrog.
Related officials were told to prevent any actions such as illegally exploiting these hay and fodder and selling them to others for profit.
The expenses for the vehicles are expected to be recovered in the second quarter, for the hay and fodder--in the third quarter of this year. The Deputy PM Ts.Oyunbaatar was ordered to control over the works.
The MongolZ crowned Asian Counter-Strike champions at Intel Extreme Masters Taipei
February 2 (news.mn) The Asia-Pacific regional competition of the cyber sport "Intel Extreme Masters" ended yesterday in Taipei. The Mongolian Team "Mongolz.CS" defeated the Australian "Renegades" by points 2:0 (16:9, 16:2) in the of Counter-Strike category (using Cobblestone and Inferno).
Previously it had been impossible for Mongolian teams to achieve this level of success in international cyber sports competitions because of slow internet connectivity - on average it takes 0.4 more seconds to be connected with South East Asian servers from Mongolia. In order to solve this, the "Mongolz.Cs" team traveled to Hanoi in Vietnam, from where they battled in the "Intel Extreme Masters".
Now the "Mongolz.CS" team is ranked in 6th place in Asia and 22nd worldwide. The winner of the "Intel Extreme Masters" receives the right to participate two more competitions; namely "IEM Katowice" for USD 100,000 to be held in Katowice, Poland on 4th March and "MLG Columbus", also for USD 100,000 which will take place in Columbus USA on 29th March.
Related:
Video: Team MongolZ's Enkhtaivan "Machinegun" Lkhagva - "I'm so proud of my team" – ESL, February 2
Daredevil UK doctor braves -34°C conditions in Mongolia to win extreme marathon along FROZEN river
Andrew Murray completed the first Genghis Khan Ice Marathon in Mongolia, and made it through with a full complement of fingers and toes
February 2 (Mirror) A super-fit British doctor overcame temperatures of minus 34°C to win first place in a gruelling marathon which took place on a frozen river system.
Andrew Murray completed the first Genghis Khan Ice Marathon in Outer Mongolia in three hours and seven minutes.
The 35-year-old, one of the world's top endurance runners, described the conditions as "perfect".
The Edinburgh University sports and exercise doctor added: "We were expecting minus 40°C.
"The ice river was frozen solid so there was no chance of us falling through and it is a place of unmatched beauty.
"I guess the main thing about racing in such extreme conditions is that all the competitors were very experienced and the organisation by Sandbaggers was first class, resulting in everyone retaining a full complement of fingers and toes."
The expedition raises money and awareness for charities Riding for the Disabled Association and the Scottish Association for Mental Health.
The women's race was won by Australian Lucja Leonard, 37, who now lives in Edinburgh, reports the Daily Record.
She said: "That was brutal. It goes to show British winters are not so bad after all."
The race was organised by David Scott, of Sandbaggers.
He said: "The communities we stayed with in Mongolia were hugely welcoming and we enjoyed sharing some Scottish culture with the Ulan Bator Burns supper, and playing some wild golf on 'the cold course'."
To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/GhengisKhanIceMarathon
Mongolian sport journalists receive their international badges
Ulaanbaatar, February 2 (MONTSAME) Members of the Mongolian Confederation of Sport Journalists (MCSJ) Tuesday received the AIPS membership cards for 2016-2017.
The Sports Journalists' Association (SJA) was founded in 1924, while the MCSJ was established in 1990, currently it has over 100 journalists.
All generations of the Mongolian sport journalists have significantly contributed to broadcasting brilliant successes of Mongolian athletes competed in the Olympics, World championships and other biggest competitions, they also played a big role in developing public physical culture and sports.
The AIPS membership card allows its journalists to enjoy some discounts and allowances during reporting sport events at the Olympics, World Championships, continental championships and international tournaments.
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