Najib comeback would be ‘insane’, murdered Mongolian’s father says www.bloomberg.com

The father of Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was murdered in 2006 by two bodyguards of the detail for officials including former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said it would be “insane” for the jailed politician to stage a political comeback. 
Shaariibuu Setev, 76, said he doesn’t care if Najib, 72, is allowed to serve the rest of his prison term for corruption at home. The Mongolian spoke in an interview in Hong Kong as his almost two-decade fight for justice over his daughter’s murder draws to a close.
“He has met his end already,” Shaariibuu said of Najib.
“There is nowhere to go. Whether it’s prison or at home, it’s the same.”
Shaariibuu’s comments come as Najib attempts to revive his reputation after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Najib had that sentence halved last year and has petitioned the courts to serve the remaining three years or so of his term at home. A Malaysian court recently discharged Najib from a separate set of 1MDB charges without granting him an acquittal.
In October 2006, Altantuya was abducted outside the home of her former lover Abdul Razak Baginda, a former adviser to Najib.
The 28-year-old was then taken to a forest outside Kuala Lumpur, shot twice in the head and blown up with explosives. 
Two secret-service policemen, Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, who were part of a bodyguard detail for Najib and other senior Malaysian leaders, were convicted of her murder, but a motive was never established. Abdul Razak, who denies involvement, was charged with abetting the murder but later acquitted.
In a statutory declaration from death row in 2019, Azilah said Najib ordered him to kill Altantuya. Sirul has told media including The Sydney Morning Herald that he acted under orders but declined to say who gave them. Najib has consistently denied any role in Altantuya’s death, was never charged and no proof of his involvement has ever been established in court. 
In 2022, Shaariibuu and his family won a civil lawsuit first brought 18 years ago in Malaysia against Azilah, Sirul, Abdul Razak and the government. All of the defendants were found liable for Altantuya’s death and ordered to pay more than RM9 million in damages and costs. Abdul Razak and the government appealed against the ruling, with decisions expected to be handed down in October. The court has said both parties will need to pay RM4.7 million each if they lose.
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib’s lawyer, didn’t comment when asked about Shaariibuu's comments and the former prime minister's involvement in the case.
A post on Najib’s Facebook page on July 2 said that he sued former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas in 2021 to “prove to the world that all the allegations regarding Najib’s involvement in the Altantuya case are purely slander”.  The defamation suit is ongoing. 
Thomas, who charged Najib for 1MDB crimes, wrote about the Altantuya murder case in his memoir.
“The trial heard how she was murdered, which was certainly in the most gruesome way, but no motive or reason was ever pursued or established for doing this,” he wrote.
Shaariibuu, a retired academic who peppers his speech with Mongolian sayings, has been the face of the family’s campaign for justice for his daughter since her murder, appearing frequently in Malaysia since the days after her death. He doesn’t speak English, communicating instead through a Mongolian lawyer who has worked with him for almost two decades.
Last October, a letter by Shaariibuu requesting that Azilah not be executed for murdering Altantuya was read out in the Federal Court. He made an argument against capital punishment, emphasising a respect for the sanctity of human life. 
During the interview in Hong Kong, Shaariibuu revealed that other considerations informed his strategy. One was a Mongolian belief that you “cannot defeat sin with another sin”, he said.
Another was a concern that if Azilah was put to death, it would remove one of the remaining people who could tell the full story of what happened to his daughter.
“If he is executed, the witness is gone,” he said.
“Getting executed is easy,” he added. “But I want him to suffer all his life.”
The Federal Court commuted Azilah’s death sentence in October, giving him 40 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane instead. Prisoners on death row were allowed to apply to have their sentences reviewed after the country abolished the mandatory death penalty in 2023. 
A lawyer for Azilah didn’t respond to a request for comment. 
In 2014, Sirul fled to Australia, which won’t extradite people to countries where they would face the death penalty, while out on bail before the final court ruling in 2015 that convicted him of Altantuya’s murder. Australian authorities subsequently released him from immigration detention. Shaariibuu called on Australia to send Sirul home now that Malaysia has abolished the mandatory death penalty, saying it was wrong for him to be walking free.
Sirul’s immigration lawyer didn’t respond to a request for comment. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said it can’t comment on individual cases for privacy reasons.
Over the course of two days of interviews in Hong Kong, Shaariibuu recounted the damage Altantuya’s murder had wrought on his family, saying it left two children without a mother, including one who was disabled and later died. Shaariibuu’s wife, too, later passed away. He said that even though his lawyers in Malaysia and Mongolia worked pro bono, he had to sell his home to pay some expenses related to the legal cases.
But the self-confessed movie buff retained a sense of humour, making jokes about horses and sheep in Mongolia as he discussed the events that shaped his life. Hailing from the Gobi Desert, he shivered in the cold Hong Kong air-conditioning as he complained about why it has taken so long for his daughter’s case to wind through Malaysia’s courts. He said it had been delayed because of politics, but he remained patient.
“I am smarter than them all,” he said. “I will prevail.”

State Great Khural Bans All Paid Prediction, Betting, and Online Gambling www.montsame.mn

The State Great Khural reviewed and approved amendments to the Law on Licensing, submitted by the Government, at its spring regular session on March 26, 2025, along with related draft laws.
With the adoption of the amendments, all activities related to paid prediction, betting, and online gambling are completely prohibited in Mongolia. Organizing paid prediction or betting games in public places or via information technology for profit is now classified as a criminal offense under the Criminal Code. Offenders face fines ranging from 2,700 to 14,000 basic units, mandatory community service from 240 to 720 hours, restriction of travel rights for six months to one year, or imprisonment for six months to three years.
Furthermore, repeated use of payment accounts, electronic money, virtual assets, telecommunications numbers, or electronic identifiers under one’s own or others’ names for organizing paid prediction, betting, or gambling activities is also considered a criminal offense. Penalties include a fine of 450 to 5,400 basic units, community service of 240 to 720 hours, travel restrictions for six months to one year, or imprisonment for six months to one year.
Any individual who promotes or solicits paid prediction, betting, or gambling is subject to administrative penalties under the Law on Administrative Violations, including fines for violations or illegal advertising. Special regulations concerning excise taxes on equipment used in paid prediction and betting activities, as well as provisions in the Corporate Income Tax Law, the Law on Personal Income Tax, and the Law on Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises and Services, have been repealed in connection with the ban on these activities in Mongolia.
The laws are set to take effect according to the standard procedure, reported the Media and Public Relations Department of the State Great Khural.

Mongolia's foreign trade falls 9.2 pct in seven months www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia's foreign trade reached 14.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2025, a 9.2-percent decrease compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office on Tuesday.
During the period, exports decreased 16.4 percent to 7.8 billion dollars, while imports increased 1.1 percent to 6.4 billion dollars.
The decline in exports was mainly influenced by the supply of coal, crude oil, iron ore, mutton and goat meat and washed cashmere from Mongolia to foreign countries.
The country traded with 152 economies worldwide in the cited period, the office said.

Divorce and Depression: Mongolia’s New Social Dilemma www.thediplomat.com

Mongolia’s young population provides a sharp contrast with other East Asian countries’ demographics. While countries like Japan, China, and South Korea are experiencing low birth rates and dwindling populations, according to the National Statistics Office of Mongolia, as of 2025, individuals aged between 0-19 make up 39.5 percent of the country’s 3.5 million population. 
But that doesn’t mean Mongolia is free from social challenges. One such issue is the high divorce rate, which is having a negative impact on young people’s mental health. 
The National Statistical Committee reported that the number of divorces in Mongolia rose from 3,316 to 4,776 between 2020 and 2023. While the divorce rate dropped during the pandemic years, between 2021 and 2022, it spiked beginning in 2022. These numbers highlight a growing concern for adolescents’ mental health, as young people navigate the emotional challenges of managing a divorce and living in separate homes. 
In 2022, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health analyzed data from the 2019 Mongolian Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS). One key finding in the report was that parental divorce ranked among the top three factors in developing behavioral and emotional disorders. The report rated divorce as 5.6 times more impactful than alcoholism and migration-related separation.
Understanding the impact of divorce on Mongolian youth is essential for preventing long-term harm and building a healthier society. Social and behavioral scientists have stressed that children’s emotional well-being is often severely neglected during parental separations. These social observations and studies apply to Mongolian families as well. 
In a 2021 interview, Dr. Batbaatar Altangerel, a lecturer at Ikh Zasag International University and a legal advocate, stated that judges often ask children over age seven, “Who do you want to live with?” A child may not be emotionally prepared for such a fraught question. 
Batbaatar also emphasized the lack of psychological support and professional involvement during the process of separation, which can lead to insecurity, behavioral issues, and lack of academic interests. These sorts of negligent practices can be addressed with more access to information on children’s mental health, especially as it relates to divorce and separation.  
Batbaatar also pointed out that many divorced Mongolian parents coach their children (particularly those aged 7-10) to speak negatively about the other parent. This manipulation technique can create a lasting deep self-blame, emotional distress, attachment issues, and mistrust.
To address this rising crisis, Mongolia’s civil courts and legal professionals must focus on children’s mental health and how divorce affects their lives – both individually and at the societal level. 
A well-known Mongolian psychologist, Renchmaa Nyamaadorj from the Family Support Center, discussed the negative effects of divorce in a 2020 during a TV debate. Renchmaa noted that teenagers affected by divorce often suffer from low social confidence and poor academic performance. These issues are compounded when children’s mental health is ignored during divorce process.
Although Mongolian law mandates the presence of child therapists in divorce cases, the country faces a severe shortage of trained professionals. Many children go through separation without any emotional support, instead having to rely solely on family members who lack any specialized training. 
Encouragingly, the concept of children’s mental health is receiving more attention in Mongolia. Governmental and non-governmental organizations are increasingly recognizing its importance. 
In 2024, the minister of health approved the Mental Health Action Plan for 2024-2027. The plan includes training for employees of children’s institutions in eight districts and 16 aimags, with 90 trainee teachers. The aim is to train school doctors, psychologists, teachers, and social workers in both general and preschool education systems to communicate effectively with children and parents and to provide mental health education.
In the last decade, Mongolia’s mental health sector and professionals have begun utilizing modern tools, digital platforms, websites, and mobile applications to raise awareness. For example, Blindcare serves as a national mental health information database. It includes details about mental health organizations, podcasts, and mobile apps that allow users to share feelings anonymously. 
These newer initiatives and proactiveness will help reduce social stigma on children’s mental health struggles, including those caused by divorce or alcoholism. As these issues have become apparent, additional resources have been allocated to child and family development services in districts, soums, and some remote locations. 
Moreover, given Mongolia’s young population, international organization have emphasized the importance of Mongolian children and their psychology. In an interview with The Diplomat’s Bolor Lkhaajav, UNICEF Mongolia representative Evariste Kouassi-Komlan emphasized the importance of addressing children’s psychological well-being. In UNICEF Mongolia’s New Country Program (2023–2027), adolescent mental health is a primary focus.
In Mongolia’s case, the combination of rising divorce rates and lack of mental health support can create life-long struggles for the young population. Mongolia cannot ignore the silent suffering of children caught in the middle of family breakdowns. By shifting attention to children’s psychological well-being, Mongolia can foster a healthier, more resilient future generation.
By Bolor Lkhaajav and Lkhagva-Erdene Dorjderem

Urban Transformation: 3,157 Land Units Cleared Citywide www.montsame.mn

Within the framework of the housing project for the ger district, land is being cleared in Selbe, Khanyn Material, and Sharkhad sub-centers.
To date, a total of 3,157 land units have been cleared for social infrastructure, including roads, road structures, engineering networks, schools, kindergartens, and associated parking lots. For example, 2020 out of the 2,206 land units in the Selbe sub-center have been cleared, while 216 out of 232 land units affected by the Khanyn Material housing project have been released. In addition, 497 out of 872 land units affected by 25 road projects have been cleared, and 273 out of 624 land units impacted by 51 social infrastructure projects – including schools, kindergartens, and associated parking lots – have also been cleared.
In addition, out of the 132 land units covering 134.3 hectares planned for land clearance within the Tuul Highway project, 15 land units in the Songinokhairkhan district have been cleared as part of the first phase.

Total Foreign Trade Turnover Reaches USD 14.2 Billion www.montsame.mn

 In the first seven months of 2025, Mongolia conducted trade with a total of 152 countries, resulting in a foreign trade turnover of USD 14.2 billion.
Of this amount, exports accounted for USD 7.8 billion, and imports accounted for USD 6.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 1.3 billion. Compared to the same period of the previous year, total trade turnover decreased by USD 1.4 billion, exports by USD 1.5 billion, and the trade surplus by USD 1.6 billion, while imports increased by USD 68.9 million.
The USD 1.5 billion decline in exports was primarily driven by drops in coal exports of USD 2.4 billion, washed cashmere of USD 200.2 million, crude oil of USD 35.5 million, mutton and goat meat of USD 25.9 million, and iron ore and concentrates of USD 15.5 million. Conversely, exports of copper ore and concentrates rose by USD 1.1 billion, combed animal hair and fibers by USD 42.6 million, and zinc ore and concentrates by USD 31.4 million.

Mongolia's foreign policy directions presented at Helsinki+50 www.akipress.com

COP17 to UNCCD to Be Held at the National Park www.montsame.mn

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) will be held from August 17 to 28, 2026, in Mongolia.
A National Committee has been established to prepare for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), chaired by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Batbaatar Bat. In accordance with a resolution passed by the City Council, the COP17 will be hosted at the premises of the municipally owned budgetary enterprise “National Park”. Members of the National Committee have conducted on-site visits to the designated location where the main activities of the COP17 will take place.
Regarding the planned development at the site, B. Battulga, Director of the COP17 Investment and Development Office, stated, “Of the 920 hectares comprising the National Park, 29.9 hectares have been designated as the primary development area for COP17, 5.6 hectares of which will be allocated for construction. The development will include 930 parking spaces and the installation of 20 temporary structures. Roadwork and construction activities are scheduled to commence this year. Engineering infrastructure, including water supply and telecommunications channels, is already progressing according to plan.”
Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. D. Batmunkh, and Head of the COP17 Preparatory Department, Ms. D. Ariuntuya, briefed Minister Batbaatar Bat on the ongoing preparations to welcome international guests and ensure optimal working conditions for the organizing teams. During the on-site meeting, they exchanged views on key operational matters related to the event.

First Cessna SkyCourier in Mongolia to Join Hunnu Air Fleet, Enhancing Operations in Asia-Pacific Region www.theglobeandmail.com

The Cessna SkyCourier is making its entry into Mongolia with charter operator Hunnu Air placing the first order for the versatile twin-engine turboprop aircraft in the country. Hunnu Air will use the Cessna SkyCourier to enhance domestic tourism and cargo operations within Mongolia. The order includes two passenger variants of the Cessna SkyCourier aircraft and one Cessna Grand Caravan EX , with deliveries of their new aircraft expected to begin in 2026.
The Cessna SkyCourier is designed and produced by Textron Aviation Inc. , a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.
"Designed for versatility and performance, the Cessna SkyCourier is a strong fit to support Hunnu Air’s services across Mongolia,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “The increasing global popularity of the aircraft underscores its exceptional adaptability in supporting air freight, charter and special missions use cases, showcasing its broad appeal across diverse operational sectors.”
Since 2011, Hunnu Air has served as a pivotal player in the Mongolian aviation sector, demonstrating a robust commitment to expand both domestic and international air travel. As the second-largest airline in Mongolia, Hunnu Air has carved a niche for itself by offering reliable and efficient air transport solutions to its passengers.
With its exceptional performance, reliability and capacity, the SkyCourier is well-suited for VIP operations across Mongolia’s vast and diverse landscapes, providing greater accessibility to remote and scenic destinations. This strategic investment underscores Hunnu Air’s commitment to expanding air travel options and supporting Mongolia’s growing tourism sector.
Textron Aviation recently celebrated the first Canadian delivery of the twin-engine, high-wing turboprop to Air Bravo Corporation, as well as the achievement of certification for the Combi configuration from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil and first delivery into South America.
About the Cessna SkyCourier
The Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, high-wing turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators.
The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with an impressive 6,000-pound payload capability. The 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both variants offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds.
The SkyCourier is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty and reliable 110-inch aluminum four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling tremendous loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 KTAS and a 900 nautical-mile maximum range.
About Textron Aviation
We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com | www.defense.txtav.com | www.scorpionjet.com .
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com
Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations of orders.

New Bird-Like Dinosaur from Mongolia Had Extremely Robust Hands www.sci.news

Paleontologists have identified a new species of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from an almost complete and articulated skeleton found in the 2000s in Mongolia.
The newly-identified dinosaur roamed our planet during the Campanian age of the Cretaceous period, between 75 and 72 million years ago.
Based on several derived features in its skull, vertebrae and skeleton, the species is referrable to a group of bird-like theropod dinosaurs called the Dromaeosauridae.
Named Shri rapax, it is only the second species in its genus; the other species, Shri devi, was described in 2021.
“Dromaeosauridae is a clade of small- to medium-sized theropod dinosaurs known from several Cretaceous units from North America, Asia, Europe, South America and eventually Antarctica and Madagascar,” said lead author Andrea Cau and colleagues.
“Feather-like integumentary structures, true pennaceous feathers and remnants of the digestive tract are found in exceptionally-preserved dromaeosaurids from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota of north-eastern China (e.g. Daurlong wangi, Sinornithosaurus millenii, Microraptor zhaoianus).”
“Along with troodontids, dromaeosaurids are universally considered as the closest relatives of birds among dinosaurs.”
An almost complete skeleton of Shri rapax was likely found in the Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia.
“This dromaeosaurid specimen was illegally poached before 2010, then retained in private collections in Japan and England before being acquired by the French company Eldonia,” the paleontologists said.
“The exact locality of the specimen is unknown.”
“Based on the documentation associated with the specimen, we tentatively refer it to Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia.”
Holotype of Shri rapax in 2010, before preparation at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; the arrow indicates the single femur reconstructed using elements from both femora (elements separated during preparation). Image credit: Moutrille et al., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148.
Holotype of Shri rapax in 2010, before preparation at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; the arrow indicates the single femur reconstructed using elements from both femora (elements separated during preparation). Image credit: Moutrille et al., doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2530148.
Shri rapax had a peculiar combination of vertebral and pelvic features as well as exceptionally robust hands.
“The most unusual feature of Shri rapax is the exceptional robustness of the hand,” the researchers said.
“In particular, when scaled to the same length, all elements of the pollex are approximately 150% transversely more robust than the homologous elements in other Djadokhtan dromaeosaurids, and proportionally stouter than any other known dromaeosaurid.”
“We suggest that frequent interactions with the ceratopsians, combined with active antipredatory behavior by the latter, could had promoted the evolution of more robust forearms and stockier hands among some Djadokhtan velociraptorines.”
“If we assume that Shri rapax shared the predatory behavior of its close relative Velociraptor mongoliensis, the more robust proportions of its hands imply that it was better adapted to target larger and more robust prey than those usually preyed on by Velociraptor.”