A polyglot, she speaks English, Russian and Mongolian, among other languages, and was Seagal’s translator on a film fundraising tour of her country in 2001; they married in 2009

Steven Seagal is something of a renaissance man. Known for his slick martial-arts skills as well as his imposing and stoic on-screen persona, Seagal is one of the most recognisable action stars in show business, having appeared in a slew of high-octane films since his debut in 1988’s Above the Law. However, the Michigan-born aikido master also has several other talents and interests.

Per his IMDB page, the Hard to Kill star, 72, is also a writer, producer and even musician, having released two studio albums. Beyond his career in entertainment, the Under Siege actor, a devout Buddhist, has been a reserve deputy sheriff and a vocal activist for a number of causes: in 2003, for example, he petitioned Thailand’s prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, to abolish the country’s practice of using elephants for entertainment.

Besides his long and varied career, what about his personal life? The On Deadly Ground actor has seven children and is now married to Erdenetuya Batsukh. So what do we know about Erdenetuya, who also goes by Elle? Let’s take a closer look.

As reported by People, Batsukh is a Mongolian professional dancer who, when seen in public, is often in traditional outfits. In her youth, she trained at educational centre the Children’s Palace in capital Ulaanbaatar.

She is said to have become one of the country’s best dancers, working at the Mongolian State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. According to news.mn, Batsukh’s dancing prowess has been recognised at dance competitions throughout her career, and she has won several accolades.

Per People, Batsukh, whose age hasn’t been publicised, met the Fire Down Below star in 2001 when he was visiting Mongolia on a fundraising tour, trying to garner interest in a film about the founder of the Mongol empire, Genghis Khan.

A polyglot who speaks several languages, including English and Russian as well as her native Mongolian, Batsukh was a translator and interpreter. Per Biography Host, she first worked with her future husband as an interpreter, then as an assistant. While it was strictly professional at first, their relationship ultimately became more than that.

Although no photos of their nuptials have been released to the public and they choose to keep their personal life private, People reported that the couple married in 2009.

In September that year they welcomed their only child, son Kunzang.

By the time he met Batsukh, Seagal had been married three times: to Miyako Fujitani, the Japanese daughter of an aikido master, in 1974; to actress Adrienne Larussa in 1984; and in 1987 to his Hard to Kill co-star Kelly LeBrock.

Though Batsukh’s marriage to the Executive Decision actor is hardly his first, it’s his longest and it’s clear that the bond the couple share is strong. In a 2018 post on Seagal’s Instagram account, Batsukh left a heartfelt message wishing her husband a happy birthday and expressing her admiration for him.

“My darling husband,” the message reads, “I couldn’t be more proud of you today for having lived such a wonderful life where you have achieved and accomplished so much in just one lifetime and you did it all with honour, love and truthfulness! Men like you are rare this day and age who are courageous enough to speak the truth and stand for the right, and compassionate enough to risk your life to fight evil! You protect and heal the weak and the sick and you teach and lead the ignorant and the lost. Your true spirit, deep wisdom and undying love and devotion to mankind will always shine through darkness, jealousy and hatred! … Wishing you a very Happy Birthday my love!

Your devoted wife, Erdenetuya Seagal.”

In addition to being a professional dancer, translator and interpreter, Batsukh has added “actress” to her impressive résumé. In the 2019 action thriller General Commander, she appeared alongside her husband in the role of Tuya Alexander.

By Saul Lipchik

Mongolia's reindeer population saw a significant decline in 2024, local media reported Monday, citing data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

According to the NSO, the total number of reindeer in the country stood at 2,765 by the end of 2024, reflecting a decrease of approximately 5.7 percent compared to the previous year.

Reindeer herding in Mongolia is exclusively practiced by the Dukha, an indigenous community residing in the taiga -- also known as the boreal or snow forest -- within Tsagaannuur soum, an administrative subdivision of the northernmost province of Khuvsgul.

Khuvsgul is one of the country's top tourist destinations for its stunning landscapes and pristine lakes.

In an effort to preserve the unique culture of reindeer herders, protect the species, and boost winter tourism, Mongolia is set to host a reindeer festival in Tsagaannuur soum on Feb. 20-21.

Approximately 80 percent of Mongolia's land is now blanketed in snow, the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring reported on Monday.

"As of Jan. 31, about 80 percent of the country's total territory has been covered with snow of up to 60 cm thick," the weather monitoring agency said in a statement.

Mongolia is known for its harsh winters, which are largely influenced by the Siberian high-pressure system.

Last winter, the Asian country experienced one of its most extreme cold spells in decades, with the highest record snowfall since 1975. Around 90 percent of the territory was covered in snow up to 100 cm thick, triggering a severe dzud, a natural disaster unique to Mongolia, where extreme cold and heavy snow prevent livestock from accessing food, leading to mass animal fatalities.

The severe dzud last winter resulted in the loss of millions of livestock, dealing a heavy blow to the country's herders and rural economy.

Dzud, a Mongolian term, describes a catastrophic winter in which livestock perish due to frozen or snow-covered grazing lands, threatening the livelihoods of nomadic herders.

At the end of 2024, the annual inflation rate in Mongolia was recorded at 9 percent nationwide and 9.1 percent in Ulaanbaatar City.

Breaking down the national annual inflation, 4.7 percentage points were contributed by non-food items, while 3.2 percentage points were due to the increase in food prices.

Furthermore, the preliminary balance of payments for 2024 showed a surplus of USD 622 million. According to the Bank of Mongolia, the previous year's preliminary results indicated a current account deficit of USD 2,373 million and a financial account surplus of USD 3,339 million.

Also, the M2 money supply reached MNT 43.3 trillion in December of the previous year, representing a 15.2 percent increase compared to the same period the year before. Net Domestic Assets accounted for 16.2 percentage points of the annual growth in M2 money, while Net Foreign Assets contributed 1.1 percentage points.

Banks' total loan balance increased by 35.5 percent year-on-year in December, reaching MNT 36.8 trillion. As of that month, non-performing loans stood at 5.1 percent.

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Mongolia expresses its concern over the Government’s proposed decision to abolish Order No. 57 of 2019, which prohibited horse racing including preparatory races between 1 November and 1 May. This decision, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister during the Government Cabinet press meeting on 29 January 2025, effectively shifts the responsibility to local authorities to organize cultural and sports events, presumably including horse races.

The UN underscores the serious risks this poses to child jockeys and reiterates its longstanding position on protecting children from hazardous activities. The United Nations deeply regrets learning this news which is not in the best interest of the children. This may pose a fatal risk to the lives and well-being of children who are recruited or will be recruited as jockeys.

As a Member State of the United Nations that has ratified many of the core international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Mongolia commits to adhering to internationally recognized principles and standards in protecting and promoting children’s rights. During two consecutive decades, Mongolia’s ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 assures that all children of Mongolia now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour that may harm children’s safety, health, or morals.

These international standards have been reflected in domestic legislation in Mongolia, including the Labour Law (2021) prohibiting the worst forms of child labour and Law on the Rights of the Child (2016) and Law on Child Protection (2024) which prohibits violence and exploitation of children.

The UN Country Team in Mongolia has earlier issued statements on the matter on 20 December 2019, and on 2 July 2021 based on the reports and observations UN human rights experts. We also sent the statements to the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament Speaker of Mongolia. Noting that horse racing is inherently dangerous to the health and safety of children, the UN Mongolia urges the Government to take, as a matter of urgency, the necessary measures in law and in practice to ensure that no child under 18 years of age is recruited as a horse jockey, at any time of the year.

The UN calls upon the Mongolian people and relevant stakeholders, including national and local governments, parents, guardians, horse owners and trainers, business enterprises, caregivers and the public, to respect Mongolia’s commitments under international human rights law. The UN in Mongolia remains committed to supporting progressive efforts by the Government of Mongolia, non-state actors, civil society organizations, and individuals to safeguard the rights of the children and to create a better world and future for all children of Mongolia.

Mongolia Motorcycles Market hits new record sales in 2024. In 2024 the market continued to fast growing hitting the sixth record in a row and sales have been 35.009 (65.8%), one of the best performance worldwide. Shineray is market leader and the XF150 is the best selling model.

Mongolia’s economy will remain robust in 2024-25, as a government-led expansion of transport infrastructure boosts mining exports. Soaring export receipts will also maintain a sound balance-of-payment position and access to international capital markets. Mongolia is positioning itself as an emerging provider of critical minerals in an attempt to court investments from Western countries, although this will not meaningfully reduce its dependence on coal exports to China in the near term.

ADB forecasts Mongolia’s economic growth at 5.5% for 2024, up from the 4.1% projected in April. Growth is expected to accelerate to 6.0% in 2025, in line with earlier projections. Continued growth is expected to be driven by expansions in the services and industry sectors, including mining. A recovery in agriculture from the sharp decline experienced in the first quarter of 2024, combined with increased government spending, should also boost economic activity next year.

In such positive environment, the motorcycles industry is fast growing and our forecast for the next decade is very interesting with a market projected to increase over 5 time from the 2020 level. The two wheeler is the best individual device for low income people and the economic growth is pushing up demand for motorcycle as in no other country in the world.

In 2024 the market continued to fast growing hitting the sixth record in a row and sales have been 35.009 (65.8%), one of the best performance worldwide.

Most of sales are concentrated within the motorcycle segment, which is growing 63.3% this year. However, scooter segment is fast growing (+320.7%) due to the rapid urbanization in place.

All top manufacturers are Chinese, with Shineray market leader and growing 136.8%.

In second place there is Dayun (+57.2%) followed by Haojue (+6.5%) and Zhujiang (+42.0%).

The top Japanese manufacturer is Yamaha (+268%), while the best European is GasGas (+6100%).

Mongolia Overview

The large central Asian nation of Mongolia is rapidly developing its economy with a to grow from 5.8 percent in 2023 to 6.2 percent in 2024 as the mining sector expands, private consumption recovers, and fiscal expansion stays strong, according to the World Bank.

In the medium term, economic growth is expected to accelerate, averaging above 6 percent in 2025-2026, driven by a substantial increase in mineral production as Oyu Tolgoi’s 2023 mining production is anticipated to more than double by 2025.

Yet, significant downside risks persist. These risks encompass lower mineral exports prompted by slower-than-expected growth in China, as well as uncertainties on coal offtake agreements. Additional risks include inflationary pressures stemming from both further domestic fiscal expansion and heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East, potentially resulting in higher oil prices.

In the country there are 4 million citizens with a nominal GDP of US$4.947, the half of world’s average and the road infrastructures still need to be developed, while the main private transportation within the only existing metropolitan area, the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where over 1.25 million people live, is based on 2-wheelers.

The Japanese government says arrangements are underway for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Mongolia in early July.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa announced the plan on Friday.

The Imperial Household Agency says Mongolia has repeatedly invited the Imperial couple since they met Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. He visited Japan in 2022 on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They have developed a wide-ranging friendship over the years.

This will be the first visit to the country by an emperor and the fourth overseas trip for the couple since the Emperor ascended the throne in 2019.

Sources say the visit would last for about a week, and the Emperor and Empress are likely to attend a national sports festival called Naadam, which features competitions of wrestling, horseracing and others.

The Emperor visited Mongolia in 2007 when he was the crown prince. He paid a visit to a monument for Japanese people who lost their lives during Soviet internment after World War Two.

Sources say there is a plan for the couple to visit the monument, as Japan marks 80 years since the end of the war this year.

A Mongolian sumo wrestler has been promoted to the sport's highest rank in a ceremony on Friday.

Hoshoryu, real name Sugarragchaa Byambasuren, became the 74th yokozuna, or grand champion, after winning a major tournament last week.

To become a yokozuna, the wrestler must not only achieve great sporting success but also display good conduct and be approved by a board of judges.

Hoshoryu's uncle Asashoryu, a former yokozuna who was known as the bad boy of sumo, was forced to quit the sport in 2010 after breaking a man's nose in a drunken brawl outside a nightclub.

But Hoshoryu has already indicated he wants to follow a different path to his uncle, whose own ceremony took place 22 years ago to the day.

"I want to act properly as a yokozuna and do my best," he said.

Around 3,500 fans arrived at the Meiji Shine in Tokyo to see the 25-year-old complete a number of rituals to receive his new title.

He was handed a white rope belt worn by yokozuna, which he put on for his ring-entering ceremony.

During this, he clapped his hands, stamped his feet and sat in a low crouch for several minutes as the crowd applauded.

"I practised a lot but I was still more nervous than I expected," he said.

"I think I did it properly though."

Unlike other ranks, a yokozuna cannot be demoted and is expected to retire if their level of sumo decreases.

Multiple wrestlers can hold the rank at any given time, but Hoshoryu will stand alone at the top after the last remaining grand champion Terunofuji, 34, announced his retirement earlier this month.

His appointment has avoided the sport having no grand champion for the first time in more than 30 years.

Mongolians have dominated sumo for the past 25 years.

Since the turn of the century, six of the seven wrestlers promoted to yokozuna hailed from the Asian country.

Japan's only new champion during that period, Kisenosato, held the rank for less than two years.

"Mongolians do so well because their national wrestling style, Bokh, is very similar," Rob Ó Néill, president of the British Sumo Federation, told the BBC.

In Bokh, fighters rely on leg sweeps, which are legal in sumo but were uncommon until the wave of Mongolian fighters turned professional.

"It was like a kickboxer fighting a boxer," Mr Ó Néill said.

Although the Japanese fighters have improved at defending these moves, they are a fundamental part of the Mongolian fighting philosophy in a way they are not in Japan.

Sumo is a highly traditional sport that takes time to adjust.

Another reason behind the success of the Mongolians is that they start wrestling from a very young age.

"They're also absolutely huge guys," Mr Ó Néill added.

Unlike other combat sports, professional sumo does not have weight categories.

To be a professional, fighters must eat, sleep and train with one another in a type of training hall called a stable.

There are currently around 40 stables officially recognised by the Japan Sumo Association.

"It's their entire way of life from when they join to when they retire," Rob said.

Restaurants serving chanko, a type of stew eaten in vast quantities by the wrestlers, are often opened by former fighters near stables.

Each is only allowed to train one foreign wrestler, and as Japan is the only country with professional sumo, the majority of fighters are homegrown.

The winner of the men's amateur Sumo World Championships, which fields competitors from almost 90 countries, is invited to join a stable.

The historical Capital City of the Great Mongol Empire, Kharkhorum, is set to be revitalized, aimed at preserving the national history, cultural heritage of Mongolia, and nomadic civilization while promoting sustainable tourism, ensuring balanced regional development, and creating environmentally friendly and comfortable living conditions for residents. On December 20, 2024, the Government of Mongolia submitted a draft Law on Planning, Development, and Promotion of Kharkhorum City, along with accompanying legal and resolution proposals that were finalized and approved during the plenary session of the State Great Khural of Mongolia on January 23, 2025.

The Law establishes the legal framework for the planning, construction, and sustainable development of Kharkhorum City, including provisions for delegating certain municipal functions to private entities, integrating advanced information technologies into the city’s development as a “smart city,” and ensuring transparency in urban management and development efforts.

The law incorporates the requirements for urban planning and the principles to be adhered to in city development, which represent its distinctive regulatory features. In particular:

Encouraging diverse, sustainable tourism based on the city’s historical and cultural landmarks, archaeological sites, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, natural features, and nomadic civilization;

Ensuring that urban planning, development, and operations align with the common rights and interests of residents by providing equitable access to social services, fostering a humanitarian and multi-centered urban system;

As defined by the General Development Plan, a minimum of 50 percent of urban residential areas must be allocated for green spaces;

Enabling residents to access schools, kindergartens, social, cultural, and healthcare services, as well as recreational areas, public transport stops, green parks, and retail centers within 300 to 800 meters of their place of residence, based on the purpose of regionalization and population density;

Promoting balanced regional development by aligning the city’s development with the regional concept and supporting the economic growth of the Khangai region to enable its independent development;

Encouraging the adoption of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies;

Establishing designated spaces for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).