The Duke of Sussex has attended his father's Coronation, sitting two rows from his brother at Westminster Abbey.

The prince had arrived without his wife Meghan, who stayed in the US, and he left immediately afterwards for a return flight from Heathrow.

The BBC understands he was not invited to appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace following the ceremony.

It is the first time he has been seen publicly with his family since his controversial memoir Spare came out.

Prince Harry, who arrived in the UK on Friday, was back in Los Angeles at 19:30 local time on Saturday after taking a British Airways flight, the PA news agency reported.

He got into a car alone outside the abbey shortly after the Coronation service had finished.

Ninety minutes later, on the Buckingham Palace balcony, the King and Queen were joined by other working members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children.

Prince Harry's wife, the Duchess of Sussex, remained in Los Angeles with their children, where their son Prince Archie is celebrating his fourth birthday.

A source earlier told the US outlet Page Six that Prince Harry intended to make "every effort to get back in time for Archie's birthday".

Prince Harry wore a morning suit and medals at the ceremony and he sat with his cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank in the third row, along with his uncle the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.

Two rows ahead in the front were the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

For the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral last year, Prince Harry was in the second row - directly behind the King - at the abbey.

It was already known that Prince Harry would attend the ceremony alone and have no formal role as he is not a working member of the Royal Family.

This was also the case for Prince Andrew.

Relations between Prince Harry and other members of the family have been strained since his memoir was published.

The book vividly revealed fall-outs and disagreements with relatives, and he has since spoken of feeling "different" from the rest of his family.

The decision for Meghan to reject the invitation was widely seen as part of these continuing, unresolved family tensions.

And last month it was revealed that the King tried to stop Prince Harry taking legal action against newspapers over alleged phone-hacking.

In a witness statement revealed by court papers, Prince Harry said he was "summoned to Buckingham Palace" and told to drop the cases because of the effect on the family.

Mongolia, a mineral-rich nation strategically located between China and Russia, is bouncing back strongly from a pandemic slump – with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasting its economy to grow 5.4 percent in 2023.

While its development remains heavily dependent on coal, Mongolia’s potential for sustainable development through renewable energy is enormous. The ADB estimates its combined wind and solar potential to be enough to meet not only its own energy demand – but also Northeast Asia’s needs with suitable transmission infrastructure.

One of the chief ways the landlocked nation can invest in a brighter future of sustainable and inclusive growth is through transition to a digital economy, which can reduce its dependence on commodities exports and drive less carbon-intensive industries.

“The Mongolian economy stands to benefit enormously from further digitalization, which can boost productivity and support economic diversification,” according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which in 2022 launched a partnership to boost Mongolia’s digital economy.

Golomt Bank – one of the nation’s top three banks – is on a mission to spearhead Mongolia’s digital transformation through a unique “Open Bank” strategy that is creating a digital ecosystem with local innovators for Mongolia’s social empowerment and sustainable growth.

Pioneering A.I.-enabled solutions and consistently strong financial results – even during the pandemic – enabled Golomt Bank to make Mongolian Stock Exchange history in November, 2022 with the bourse’s biggest ever initial public offering, attracting MNT 118.8 billion.

CEO Norihiko Kato and CIO Sainbileg Mandakh speak about the digitally-driven future of an institution at the forefront of Mongolian sustainable development.

- What is Golomt Bank’s vision of a bright future for all Mongolians?

- NK: We’re keen to take a lead in the sustainable development of Mongolia. Our motto “Investing for a brighter future” means projects that drive eco-friendly, community-friendly, positive change. We are proud to be one of the founding signatories – and the only from Mongolia – of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative. We’re also proud of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion record: 65 percent of our employees are women; 35 percent of our executive management team members are female. As we drive social and sustainability programmes, our financial future looks bright. Our latest revised business plans are all above forecasts presented at our IPO.

- Please tell us about the vision behind Golomt Bank’s Open Bank strategy?

- SM: The Open Bank model is about digital empowerment for all Mongolians. We believe in a sharing economy, working with fin-tech and non-financial sector partners, to reimagine a better future for Mongolia. The vision is not only for banking and financial literacy solutions. Our aim is to provide a digital ecosystem that encompasses sectors such as health, education and agriculture. Our mission is to drive a collaborative digital economy across the spectrum of Mongolian society. Open Bank is fundamentally about driving a culture of digital transformation – with agility, commitment and imagination.

- Please share the unique value and operational highlights behind Golomt Bank’s historic IPO?

- NK: We have a customer base built upon a bedrock of trust. As Mongolia’s leading bank, we command 20 percent of the banking sector. In 2022, our net profit increased 4.5 times from the previous year, while Mongolia’s economy grew by 4.8 percent. Trust is key. We’re Mongolia’s first bank to be rated with ‘Internal Audit Practices in line with the international standard and Code of Ethics.’ During the IPO, we pushed our Open Bank strategy forcefully. This digital future based on sound governance and innovation was probably the most appealing factor for investors in the IPO.

- How does your SocialPay digital wallet make you a pioneer in Mongolia’s online banking space?

- SM: SocialPay, introduced in 2017, was the first fintech service in Mongolia. It follows in a line of firsts for Golomt Bank. We introduced Mongolia’s first international card payment system, its first Internet bank, and first Smart Bank solution. SocialPay started as a peer-to-peer payment system. Today it’s a lifestyle platform. For example, it includes an A.I.-powered service that plans your family budget. During the pandemic, SocialPay enhanced health-and-safety through contactless payment. An exciting new version is coming soon with features such as Natural Language Processing-enabled transactions. We strive every day to create new digital value for wellbeing and sustainable development.

UNIDROIT is delighted to announce that Mongolia formally acceded to the UNIDROIT Statute on 21 April 2023 and has designated the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs of Mongolia as National Authority and contact point for the Institute.

On 3 May 2023, Her Excellency, Ms Tserendorj Narantungalag, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia in Italy visited UNIDROIT to mark this important event. Ms Tserendorj Narantungalag was received together with Ms Delgerjargal Ganbold, First Secretary of the Embassy of Mongolia in Italy, by the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado, Deputy Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Anna Veneziano, and Principal Legal Officer & Treaty Depositary, Ms Marina Schneider.

On this occasion, Her Excellency Ms Tserendorj Narantungalag recalled that Mongolia adopted the resolution to join UNIDROIT on 29 March 2023 and stressed that “this is an important milestone to further strengthen and develop the cooperation between Mongolia and UNIDROIT”. UNIDROIT’s Secretary General underscored the importance of increasing the Institute’s presence in Central Asia, and happily welcomed Mongolia as a leader in legal reform in the region. “I am certain” -he said- “that our collaboration with the Government of Mongolia is going to be a most fruitful one”.

With Mongolia, UNIDROIT now counts 65 Member States and up to 127 so-called connected States, which have benefited from acceding to UNIDROIT’s instruments.

ABOUT UNIDROIT

The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) is an independent intergovernmental Organisation with its seat in the Villa Aldobrandini in Rome. Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and in particular commercial law as between States and groups of States and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.

The Central Bank of Mongolia purchased 998.7 kg of precious metals in April, increasing the total volume of purchased precious metals to 3.2 tonnes this year.

The branches of the Central Bank of Mongolia in Bayankhongor and Darkhan-Uul provinces have purchased 360 kg and 234.3 kg of precious metals since the beginning of this year.

The Central Bank sets the purchase price of precious metals at the world market price. The average price per kilogram was MNT 224,794 in April.

Mongolia has long been an off-the-beaten-track destination on Wanderlust's radar. Best known for its nomadic culture, grass-covered steppes, and for having more horses than people, it calls out to those seeking culture, nature and adventure. But if that wasn't enough to seize your attention, it's now become easier than ever before to travel to this emerging country. Here is why you should take a trip to the 'Land of the Eternal Blue Sky' in 2023.

Travel to Mongolia visa-free

That is, if you’re travelling from one of the 61 countries on Mongolia’s visa-free list. Several western nations have been recently added to the temporary visa exemption, which will run until December 2025, allowing visitors to have up to 30 days travelling in Mongolia. Many European countries are included on the list, such as the UK, Switzerland, France, Denmark, and Spain, as well as the South Pacific countries of Australia and New Zealand (US citizens were already allegeable for 90-days of visa-free travel). This temporary exemption is part of efforts by the Mongolian government to invite more tourists to experience Mongolia, so if you've ever wanted to ride the Trans-Mongolian Railway, tour the Gobi Desert, or roam the capital of Ulaanbaatar, now is the time.

Celebrate 100 years of Naadam

The hottest cultural festival in Mongolia’s calendar turned a century in 2022, although the origins of the festival date back much longer than that to the days of Genghis Khan. Naadam is Mongolia’s answer to the Olympic games, with participants competing in three traditional events: archery, wrestling and horseracing. The games take place during July, and while the main sporting competitions and celebrations – including the opening ceremony and closing ceremony – take place in the capital of Ulaanbaatar, many towns and villages in the countryside often hold their own, smaller events.

Learn Mongolia’s history at a new museum

The end of 2022 saw the opening of the Chinggis Khan Museum, the largest museum of its kind. With more than 12,000 artefacts spanning centuries, the museum's permanent and temporary collections transport visitors back in time to understand three main periods of Mongolian of history: the ancient kingdoms of the time before Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire, and the Great Khan dynasty. The museum has been built where the old Natural History Museum once stood, with nine floors of exhibition space and immersive experiences.

Stay in a new eco retreat

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opening of a new eco-friendly camp set in a valley along the Yeruu River. Many activities can be planned alongside your stay to help you make the most of the natural surroundings, including horseriding, kayaking and yoga. Yeruu Lodge not only pays attention to the needs of its guests, but also its environment and community. All produce used in the on-site restaurant are locally sourced, and all food waste is made into compost for growing the camp’s own fruit, vegetables, herbs and berries. Plastic, glass and metal is recycled and solar panels provide electricity throughout the camp. The community have been part of the workforce building the accommodation – which is based on traditional Mongolian Gers – and local artists will be supported as part of planned performances, helping visitors be immersed in the culture.

The regular meeting of the Government of Mongolia was held on May 3, 2023, and the following issues were discussed and resolved.

Draft amendments to the Constitution of Mongolia were discussed and submitted to the Parliament

After the discussion at the Government meeting, Minister of Mongolia, Chief Cabinet Secretary D. Amarbayasgalan submitted the draft amendments to the Constitution of Mongolia to Chairman of the State Great Khural G. Zandanshatar.

In 1991-1992, when the Constitution of Mongolia was adopted, one member of the State Great Khural represented an average of 27,000 citizens. Today, the number of citizens represented by a single member has nearly doubled, reaching 44,700, reducing the parliament's representative capacity. In order to improve the parliament's ability to represent citizens, the number of members of the Parliament will be increased to 152 in proportion to the population, as the draft amendment to the Constitution reflected.

The use of the majoritarian election system alone has created negative aspects such as the loss of votes of citizens, the interests of constituencies being placed higher than the interests of the country, and giving preference to those who are known to the public and have financial resources. The proportional electoral system has advantages such as lower loss of votes, equal representation of social groups, and optimal formation of political parties. Therefore, an election system that reflects the advantages of majoritarian and proportional representation and provisions for electing 50 percent of total members of the State Great Khural by majoritarian and 50 percent by proportional is considered.

By clearly defining the voting system in the Constitution of Mongolia, it is important to ensure the stability of the electoral system of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, fair competition of parties in elections, transparency to the citizens, and guarantee of voting rights of citizens abroad.

The Prime Minister mandated that 80 percent of all citizens should be included in early detection examinations, tests, and diagnoses in 2023

Minister of Health S. Chinzorig informed the Government about the process of participating in the screening, test, and diagnosis for disease prevention and early detection of the population, and the amendments included in Resolution No. 06 of 2022 "On Approval of Packages, Amounts of Payments, and Procedures" of the National Health Insurance Council.

The Government of Mongolia and the Ministry of Health have been organizing the prevention, early detection, and diagnosis of common infectious and non-infectious diseases based on the age, gender, and health risk of the population starting from May 1, 2022.

As of May 1 of this year, 30 percent of the population has been enrolled in this campaign, and the Prime Minister has mandated to cover 80 percent of citizens within 2023.

Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Kh. Nyambaatar: We are working to improve the assessment of the Corruption Perceptions Index

The corruption index of Mongolia on 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International and the anti-corruption strategy to be followed in 2023-2024 were discussed.

In the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index issued by Transparency International, Mongolia scored 33 points and ranked 116th out of 180 countries. Mongolia has taken some commendable measures to restore the anti-corruption system last year, but it is not enough to fight the existing corruption risk, and the following conclusion was made.

- In Mongolia, which has abundant natural resources, information about the natural resources revenue, its distribution, and decision-making regarding it is not disclosed in a unified way, and insufficient regulation is a major issue.

- Government employees are giving priority to personal interests over public interests, which leads to demonstrations in the capital city.

- The Government needs to take several measures to improve the situation. It is necessary to update the law on public procurement, release corrupt officials from public service, standardize the governance of state-owned enterprises, and ensure transparency at all levels in order to stop the evasion of government-appointed officials from being charged.

The Minister pointed out that the Government of Mongolia has declared 2023-2024 as the Year of Fighting Corruption and is implementing the "Five W Operation." In this context, the Government is working to improve the Corruption Perception Index of Mongolia.

Digitally traded coal will be transported through Gashuunsukhait port via a special gateway

It has been three months since the start of online coal trading, and 1.2 million tons of coal have been sold in 26 auctions.

Foreign exchange reserves reached USD 3.7 billion in April

The official foreign currency reserves decreased to USD 2.5 billion in September 2022, then by the end of April 2023 increased to USD 3.7 billion. As a result, real economic growth accounted for 7.6 percent in the first quarter of 2023, according to the preliminary estimates of the National Statistics Committee. The mining and service sectors mainly affected this growth. However, annual inflation was 12.2 percent in the first quarter and decreased to 10.3 percent as of May 1.

Foreign exchange reserves have increased and remained stable in recent months due to increased activity at border ports and increased exports. For example, coal export, which reached 19.0 million tons in the first four months of 2023, increased by 7.5 million tons from the same period of 2019 and 15.2 million tons from the same period of the previous year, respectively.

Brief news

The cabinet agreed to issue a Government resolution on some measures to be taken to resolve foreign investment complaints and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Development Ch. Khurelbaatar was instructed to take measures to openly upload reports on the resolution of complaints and applications submitted by foreign investors on the Ministry’s website.

Trade between China and Mongolia has spiked in recent years, with last year's figures reaching 12 billion US dollars, almost double the amount three years ago. The Belt and Road Initiative includes plans for more than 30 projects in Mongolia, ranging from infrastructure and energy to joint efforts to combat desertification. CGTN's Sarangua Tumur has more from Ulaanbaatar.

SARANGUA TUMUR Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia "China has been Mongolia's largest trading partner and its main foreign investor over the past decade. In 2022, trade volume between China and Mongolia reached 12.2 billion US dollars, almost double that of 2020."

BAYARKHUU DASHDORJ Former Ambassador of Mongolia "Last year, the heads of state of both countries agreed on the goal of increasing the trade volume to 20 billion US dollars in the near future. The construction of border ports and railway connections on both sides is crucial to accelerate the economic ties between China and Mongolia."

SARANGUA TUMUR Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia "The Mongolian government has formulated a development policy for Mongolia, known as the Development Road, which aligns with China's Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides aim to expand and deepen cooperation in areas such as the economy, energy, infrastructure, climate response, green development, and desertification treatment. China has commended Mongolia's 'Billion Trees' initiative and expressed its willingness to discuss the establishment of a cooperation center to combat desertification."

SUMIYA CHULUUNBAATAR Secretary of Mongolia-China Friendship Association "Mongolia is set to host the 17th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 2026. China also has significant experience in managing sandstorms, afforestation and desertification. Given that both countries are affected by climate change and desertification, and share similar terrains and climate, it's crucial to actively promote environmental cooperation between them in the near future."

SARANGUA TUMUR Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia "Over the past 10 years, China has granted $1.5 billion of soft loans to the Mongolian government. Most recently, a series of projects were implemented with non-payable Chinese aid and soft loans under the BRI, including Mongolia's first expressway and the first development center for disabled children. However, the two sides are also expected to cooperate on more ambitious projects in the near future."

Sarangua Tumur, CGTN, Ulaanbaatar.