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Tax Law, the Law on Personal Income Tax, and the Law on Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises and Services, have been repealed in connection with the ban on these activities in Mongolia.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.”

How a cup of tea led to the UK heading up the first metro system in Mongolia www.metro.co.uk

Here are a few fun facts you might not know about Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.
It’s the coldest capital city on the planet, with an average temperature barely above freezing point. Its Mongolian name translates to ‘Red Hero’. And nobody has ever managed to build a metro system there.
That’s not for lack of trying. Strenuous efforts to bring light rail transit to tunnels beneath the city’s broad streets have been taking place for at least 15 years, with countries from South Korea to France offering help to no avail.
Now, salvation appears to have come in an unlikely form: an air-conditioned rail line 4,300 miles away, taking passengers from Reading in the west to Shenfield in the east, with tasteful purple branding.
Yep, you read that right – our very own Elizabeth Line is soon going to be also running through the deep depths of Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaanbaatar.
Fiona Blyth, the UK’s ambassador to Mongolia, first brought up the Elizabeth line to Ulaanbaatar Mayor Khishgee Nyambaatar in a meeting last November at her residence, a standard suburban house decorated with local art and Union Jack cushions.
The mayor signalled his ambition by bringing along a book that has quickly become beloved of city planners and infrastructure nerds around the world since being published last year, plainly titled How Big Things Get Done.
Blyth told Metro: ‘He’s straight down to business, you know, he’s not interested in flattery.
‘He is a man who is trying to get big things done.’
She served him and his wife a cup of Yorkshire Tea and a plate of banana bread, the specialty of the embassy’s Mongolian residence manager, then talked him through one of the UK’s ‘biggest things’ of recent years.
That was just a month after the mayor’s election. Three weeks later, Nyambaatar was in London to try out the Elizabeth line for himself.
‘It was quite a surreal moment, being on the tube with someone who’s a big figure in Mongolia,’ recalled Blyth.
‘He’s instantly recognisable, probably to every Mongolian. He’s a pretty senior figure and we’re just, you know, on the Tube.’
Over the course of that visit and a return trip in February, he met figures including Transport Minister Mike Kane, Foreign Office Minister Catherine West, and Crossrail boss Paul Dyson.
Nyambaatar – a man Blyth describes as ‘quite down to the brass tacks’ – immediately dived into the details in a bid to work out how such a system could work in Ulaanbaatar.
The upshot is that Crossrail International, the firm that delivered the Elizabeth line, is now strategic advisor for the 19.4km, 15-station metro project – and UK companies will be invited to bid on linked contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
It’s a big deal for British businesses, and a massive deal for Mongolia. The residents of the capital will enjoy shorter commutes, cleaner air, and a more vibrant city.
Currently, Ulaanbaatar is facing a rapidly growing population, spread across a wide area, with a poor public transport system relying almost entirely on buses. All that is a recipe for one thing: gridlock.
At peak hours, the Yaarmag road carries around 95,000 vehicles. Sitting in traffic for hours every day is, of course, particularly grim in a place where the temperatures can fall to -37°C in winter.
The predominance of cars has also made Ulaanbaatar one of the most polluted capital cities in the world. Children growing up in the centre of the city have 40% less lung capacity than those who grew up in the countryside.
Locals, understandably, are fed up to the back teeth. A metro system is the obvious solution. But every effort to get one off the ground over the past 15 years has fallen flat, to much frustration.
But since Nyambaatar’s election, he’s pushed forward with the planning of the city’s very own Elizabeth Line.
Mayor Nyambaatar said: ‘Mongolia and the UK are jointly building a world-class metro system from the ground up – echoing the bold urban ambition that gave rise to London’s underground in 1861.
‘This project not only meets global standards – it reflects a shared vision for resilient, connected cities.’
Put simply, Blyth said, this is Mongolia’s ‘single biggest infrastructure project since the end of communism at the beginning of the 1990s’.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ambassador’s work was an example of how the government has ‘reframed embassies as an elite salesforce for UK plc’.
He added: ‘From the eighteenth century to the present day, Britain has always been a rail pioneer and I am delighted that the globally-admired Elizabeth line will now be expanded to our partner countries.’
Work on UB Metro is due to begin in next year, as temperatures begin to creep back into positive figures. Spring can’t come soon enough for the residents of the world’s coldest capital.
By Craig Munro