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☆ He ran out of countries to visit, so he created his own
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Richard Collett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —“I like to put it simply,” says Randy “R Dub!” Williams, a late-night “slow jams” DJ from San Diego who’s also known as “the Sultan of Slowjamastan.” “I ran out of countries, so I created my own.”A broadcaster by night, Williams has spent his life attempting to visit every country in the world. The Republic of Slowjamastan even claims over 500 registered citizens, while 4,500 more are said to have been conditionally approved or are waiting in line for citizenship. Williams was inspired to create his own country after visiting various “micronations” – self-declared territories often run by eccentric leaders – on his world travels. Republic of Slowjamastan Ministry of CommunicationsWilliams says he is working on creating diplomatic ties with other countries, and he’s had his Slowjamastan passport stamped by 16 different countries on his recent travels, including South Africa, New Zealand, Vanuatu, and the United States. The next stage is for the sultan to gain recognition of his micronation’s secession from the United States, although that might be a little far-fetched even for Williams.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Randy “, ” Williams, San Diego who’s, ” “, Williams, Slowjamastan, that’s, Slowjamastan Williams, I’m, –, “, Kevin Baugh, We’re, we’ll, Williams ’, he’s, He’s, he's, Republic of Slowjamastan Ministry of Communications Williams, Republic of Slowjamastan, Biden Organizations: CNN, Republic of Slowjamastan Ministry of Communications, UN, The Sovereign, Democratic People’s, Independence, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace Locations: San Diego, Slowjamastan, California, United States, America, Dublândia, Republic of, Republic, Turkmenistan, United Territories, People’s Republic, Nevada, East Germany, Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, South Africa, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Montevideo

☆ Elon Musk discussed a possible Mongolia expansion with the country's prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mongolia's prime minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Monday discussed possible expansion and investments into the Asian country over a virtual meeting. A statement from the cabinet secretariat of Mongolia's government added that the country's prime minister emphasized his support for the use of electric cars and urged Mongolian citizens to use such vehicles. Musk and Oyun-Erdene also spoke about bringing Starlink — a satellite communications terminals and services provider operated by the Musk-founded SpaceX — to Mongolia. Starlink was registered as a company in Mongolia in 2022 and is expected to launch regionally this year. The Tesla CEO complimented China's technological advances and visited the Tesla gigafactory in Shanghai.

Persons: Mongolia's, Luvsannamsrai, Elon Musk, Erdene, Starlink, Ding Xuexiang Organizations: Tesla, SpaceX, U.S Locations: Mongolia, Mongolian, Mongolian Government, China, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ Freddie Mercury’s handwritten lyrics suggest he considered ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’ song title
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(CNN) — Never-before-seen draft lyrics of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” suggest that Freddie Mercury considered giving his mock-opera anthem a somewhat different title: “Mongolian Rhapsody.”The discovery was made following the emergence of a 15-page folio of lyrics, vocal lines and harmonies handwritten by the singer as he composed his 1975 hit. Queen recorded “Bohemian Rhapsody” the next year. Sotheby's auction house said the handwritten lyrics present "untold insights into other possible directions the song could have taken." Queen pictured in 1977, two years after releasing "Bohemian Rhapsody." Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images“What is ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ about?

Persons: —, Queen’s, Freddie Mercury, there’s, I’ve, “ Galileo, ”, Belladona ”, Mercury’s, Mary Austin, “, ” —, Brian May, Freddie, Richard E, Aaron, Redferns, Sotheby’s, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, British Midland Airways, Tiffany, Mercury Locations: Sotheby’s, London

☆ Was Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Originally ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Alex Marshall | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Lauren Fleishman for The New York TimesAn early draft of the lyrics to one of rock’s most famous songs contains a secret. When Freddie Mercury wrote Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” he originally seemed to have toyed with another title, which he then scratched out. What if we all found ourselves singing along to “Mongolian Rhapsody”?

Persons: Lauren Fleishman, Freddie Mercury, ” Organizations: The New York Times

☆ Karakorum: Mongolia’s ancient capital is a cultural delight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Breanna Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Karakorum, Mongolia CNN —Karakorum is known by many names and even more reputations. Where to Stay in KarakorumThe new Silver Tree Guest House offers a variety of sleeping options including traditional yurts. Silver Tree Guest HouseWhile Karakorum is often considered a stop along the route to somewhere else, this culturally rich city deserves closer attention. The hotel is within walking distance to Erdene Zuu Monastery, Karakorum Museum, and the Erdenesiin Khuree Calligraphy Center. While Silver Tree Guest House is still in its opening phases, staying here feels like you’ve been invited into someone’s home.

☆ These maps show how far China's freight railways are stretching across Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — In the last two years, China has announced the opening of new freight train lines, while cross-border railways have become a feature in President Xi Jinping's meetings with regional leaders. Here's a look at where the rail lines are being built across the Asian continent. In the last six months, China also opened freight train lines to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, according to state media. Those freight lines are in addition to China's relatively older rail network through central Asia — connecting Yiwu in eastern China to London. While it's difficult to verify how operational all the rail lines are, official reports offer a glimpse at how China's Belt and Road ambitions are panning out.

☆ Big copper deals to take centerstage in Santiago as demand heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lundin Mining Corp (LUN.TO) is paying nearly $1 billion for control of Chile's Caserones copper mine despite ongoing political uncertainty in the country. "The green transformation theme remains a strong tailwind for copper, the king of green metals," Saxo Bank strategist Ole Hansen told Reuters. Global copper demand expected to reach 53 million tonnes annually by 2053 - more than double current levels - but supply is still expected to fall short, according an S&P Global (SPGI.N) study. And Hudbay Minerals Inc (HBM.TO) last week said it would pay $439 million for rival Copper Mountain Mining Corp (CMMC.TO). Neighboring Peru, the world's second-largest copper producer, also expects to boost production this year.

☆ Why 2023 is the year to visit Mongolia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Breanna Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia CNN —Due to its remoteness and short summer season, Mongolia has long been a destination overlooked by travelers. Here are 10 reasons travelers should start planning their long-dreamed-of Mongolia visit now. A growing visa-free listWith the government of Mongolia declaring 2023 through 2025 the “Years to Visit Mongolia,” citizens from an additional 34 countries can now visit the country visa-free through the end of 2025. Celebrate Naadam as it turns the centuryThe annual Naadam event has always been a great reason to visit Mongolia, but now that the festival has just celebrated its 100 year anniversary, 2023 is as good a time as ever to attend. Yeruu LodgeNestled in the heart of Selenge province on the Yeruu River, Yeruu Lodge is the brainchild of Norwegian founder Eirik Gulsrud Johnsen, who first visited Mongolia in 2017.

BENGALURU/MELBOURNE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Australia's iron ore giants BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are set to report a steep drop in their earnings, which is set to compress their payouts to shareholders, after China's COVID lockdown drove down iron ore prices. Average realised prices for iron ore fell sharply in the six months to December, hitting earnings. First-half net profit at Fortescue, reporting on Feb. 15, is seen declining to $2.34 billion from $2.78 billion. Underlying half-year profit at Rio Tinto, which reports on a calendar year cycle, is seen declining 48% to $4.77 billion from $9.21 billion. Rio will report on Feb. 22.

☆ Mongolia calls on Rio Tinto to keep budget for giant copper mine in check
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Clara Denina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Mongolia has asked Rio Tinto (RIO.L)(RIO.AX), its partner in the huge Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in the Gobi desert, not to further increase its estimated $7.06 billion budget for the project's expansion, its mining minister told Reuters. "The government has asked Rio Tinto to not increase the budget," J. Ganbaatar, the minister for mining and heavy industries, told Reuters on Jan. 16 in a video interview. Rio Tinto declined to comment. Mongolia owns 34% and Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto 66% of Oyu Tolgoi, one of the world's largest known copper and gold deposits, which is slated to eventually produce more than 500,000 tonnes of copper a year. However, when the price of copper exceeds $9,000 a tonne, a 20% royalty is imposed on copper concentrate.

☆ Ukraine War Moves ‘Doomsday Clock’ 10 Seconds Closer to Midnight
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on Tuesday unveiled their updated ‘Doomsday Clock,’ which is now 90 seconds to midnight. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the specter of nuclear weapon use, Earth crept its closest to Armageddon, a science-oriented advocacy group said, moving its famous “Doomsday Clock” up to just 90 seconds before midnight. “We are really closer to that doomsday,” former Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia said Tuesday at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists annual announcement rating how close humanity is from doing itself in. He and former Ireland President Mary Robinson joined scientists to underscore what they consider a gathering of several existential threats, with Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s actions and words chief among them.

☆ China's coal imports from Russia fall in Dec, but up 20% in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - China's coal imports from Russia dropped in December as logistics issues and inclement winter in Russia curbed shipments and Chinese demand weakened amid surging COVID infections. Some 6.89 million tonnes of Russian coal reached China last month, down from 7.16 million tonnes in November, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Friday. Arrivals of Indonesian coal were 17.53 million tonnes last month, down from 20.04 million tonnes in November. During the January-December period, China's imports totalled 170.71 million tonnes, down 12.6% from 2021. The customs data on Friday showed no coal imports from Australia in December.

☆ Boeing's long road to the 737 MAX's return in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is seen grounded at a storage area in an aerial photo at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, July 1, 2019. AUG. 11 - A Boeing MAX test plane flies in China as the manufacturer works with the regulator on its return. JUNE 15 - A China Southern MAX conducts test flights for the first time since March. SEPT. 14 - China's aviation regulator meets with Boeing about the MAX's return. 2023JAN. 11 - China Southern schedules commercial flights with the MAX for Jan. 13JAN. 13 - A China Southern MAX flies from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou, marking the model's return to Chinese passenger service.

☆ Rent prices conceal better U.S. inflation picture
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The U.S. battle against inflation is faring even better than its own data suggest. The country’s Consumer Price Index rose just 0.1% in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday. Yet a lag between market trends and CPI data means that true inflation is lower than the government’s reading. According to the government’s measure, shelter prices rose 0.7% last month, but Zillow’s (ZG.O)gauge of nationwide rent prices fell for a second consecutive month in November, by 0.4%. Once CPI catches up, the inflation picture is going to look much more encouraging.

☆ Ukraine’s Nestlé boost is as important as EU aid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Consumer group Nestlé (NESN.S) on Monday announced a small war-time investment in Ukraine which may be as important for the country’s future as an 18 billion euro European Union aid package agreed on the same day. Nestlé will invest 40 million Swiss francs (41 million euros) in a new facility that will help to produce cold sauces, seasonings, soups and instant food. The Swiss consumer group, which already has 5,800 employees in the country, will add 1,500 new jobs in the process. Meanwhile the EU struck a deal with holdout Hungary that will allow it to disburse aid to Ukraine next year. While still at war with Russia, Ukraine needs Western aid to help the government pay its teachers, doctors and soldiers, and start rebuilding railroads and power plants.

☆ Nuclear fusion triggers an overreaction
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Dec 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A fusion breakthrough unveiled on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Energy is a scientific tour de force, and a commercial irrelevancy. It’s a notable feat that researchers produced more energy from fusing atoms together than they used to start the process. Unless there are more breakthroughs, fusion probably would take place in massive facilities like today’s fission plants. The cost of power from a new nuclear plant runs about five times more expensive than a solar equivalent, Lazard analysts estimate. Making fusion cheaper and practical could be as big a challenge as fusion itself.

☆ Microsoft plugs into LSEG data drive
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - LSEG (LSEG.L) has enlisted Microsoft (MSFT.O) to upgrade its data business. First, LSEG will shift its data platform to Microsoft’s Azure cloud business, spending at least 2.3 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) over a decade. Potentially more significant is LSEG’s plan to offer data and analytical tools through Microsoft products, including the Teams messaging platform. It also allows LSEG to charge customers for data based on how much they consume. LSEG shares rose 3% on Monday morning.

☆ Deal whiz Byron Trott suffers minor grill burns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Weber (WEBR.N) is a rare miscue for dealmaker Byron Trott, who typically serves up deals just right. It’s a reputational blemish for Trott just as he embarks on a major expansion. BDT, which focuses on family-owned businesses, did not sell down its roughly 60% stake at the time of the IPO, or subsequently. Outside investors may nevertheless recall Trott buying low – 43% below the IPO price, valuing Weber at $3.7 billion – the next time the firm brings a portfolio company to market, and wonder if they’ll get burned. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Tech firm says “you’re welcome” with $8 bln LBO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Coupa Software (COUP.O) wants its investors to know one thing: Business is terrible. The developer of corporate expenditure-tracking software released a presentation Monday after announcing an $8 billion deal to be sold to private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Once the domain of hockey-stick growth charts and wild-eyed optimism, the humbling of the software industry promises a new era of real-talk. Coupa’s Thoma agreement comes after near-5% shareholder HMI Capital Management warned management about selling on the cheap. So Coupa came prepared with a bevy of charts showing growth stalling and management expectations below even analyst estimates.

☆ TSX posts biggest weekly decline since September as oil tumbles
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The Art Deco facade of the original Toronto Stock Exchange building is seen on Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 23, 2019. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) ended down 22.12 points, or 0.1%, at 19,947.07, its lowest closing level since Nov. 17. For the week, the index was down 2.6%, its biggest weekly decline since September. The Toronto market's energy sector fell 0.7% as U.S. crude oil futures settled 0.6% lower at $71.02 a barrel. Reporting by Fergal Smith; Additional reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Turquoise Hill shareholders approve Rio Tinto's $3.3 bln buyout bid
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Shareholders of Canada's Turquoise Hill (TRQ.TO) on Friday voted in favour of Rio Tinto's (RIO.L), (RIO.AX) $3.3 billion bid to take it private and gain direct control over a giant Mongolian copper mine. Turquoise Hill said 86.6% voted to approve Rio Tinto acquiring 49% of shares that it does not already own, giving the Anglo-Australian miner a 66% stake in Oyu Tolgoi, the world's largest known copper and gold deposit. The vote clears the way for Rio Tinto to gain more autonomy over Oyu Tolgoi, which is 66% owned by Turquoise Hill and 34% by the Mongolian government, and operated by Rio. Friday's shareholder meeting was repeatedly delayed due to opposition of key minority shareholders of Turquoise Hill, including funds Pentwater Capital and SailingStone Capital. Rio Tinto had agreed to let the two dissenting parties withhold their votes and make claims via an arbitration process, a deal that was subsequently scrapped as it raised regulatory concerns.

☆ Rio Tinto’s Mongolian purgatory is finally over
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Finally, something has gone right for Rio Tinto (RIO.L) in Mongolia. Rio boss Jakob Stausholm squeaked home with 60.5% of minority votes cast, just over the 50% threshold. It’s a massive win for Stausholm and Rio copper boss Bold Baatar. Oyu Tolgoi still needs more than $3.5 billion of funding. Instead, Rio is handing them C$43 per share in cash – a 70% premium to the price in March.

☆ Mongolians brave bitter cold to protest 'coal theft' corruption
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

people shouted at the government building on Sukhbaatar square on Thursday. The government promised on Wednesday to investigate and punish "coal thieves" and named 10 officials under investigation. "People who steal public funds should be held accountable just as someone who commits a crime is held responsible. Authorities first began investigating coal theft nine years ago, said Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, a former member of parliament and founder of the Civic Unity Party. Another public hearing on the coal theft will be held on Dec. 21.

☆ ‘America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation’ Review: Tinkering With the Ingredients
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The universe won’t collapse because of what happens on a cooking show, but “America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation” is symptomatic of larger disturbances in the force of food TV—including creative stasis, casual shoplifting of ideas and the fact that too many borrowed ideas can spoil a perfectly presentable broth. The taste-test segment involves familiar brands available at a local supermarket and end in some surprising results. (Hershey’s wins the cocoa-powder faceoff again!) Among its “flaws” is a menu that’s anachronistically meat-centric and on-air talent who are on air because of their food knowledge, not their media training. Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison are the no-nonsense hosts-chefs; the taste-test guy, Jack Bishop , is reassuringly uncomfortable at being on TV at all; equipment assessor Adam Ried is burly, affable and you believe what he tells you.

Buying out the Turquoise Hill minority shareholders is Stausholm’s other initiative. Imagine minority shareholders vote down the offer, but Rio then has Turquoise Hill issue fresh equity. With minimal net debt, the miner had enough cash to buy more Turquoise Hill equity. Rio shareholders soon will see just how well Stausholm plays. Pentwater Capital Management and SailingStone Capital Partners, which own respective 15.2% and 2.2% stakes in Canada-based Turquoise Hill, have resisted the offers.

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