Mongolian peacekeepers detain suspected Taliban spy www.news.mn

A man suspected of trying to enter the base of the XI deployment of Mongolian peacekeepers, serving with German troops in the NATO-led “Resolute Support” mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 23 June. Mongolian peacekeepers put the man, Mohammad Mansoor Rahman, into custody after he tried to enter the base driving a truck in the night.

Mini LNG plant to supply fuel for Mongolia’s coal truck fleet www.news.mn

Mongolia coal seam gas pioneer Elixir Energy has signed its first offtake agreement with one of the country’s largest fuel retailers to build a small-scale liquified natural gas (LNG) plant to supply the large truck fleet hauling coal to China. The memorandum of understanding is with MT Group and covers using local coal bed methane gas.

MIAT aims to launch passenger services between Mongolia and the United States www.news.mn

At a time when our skies are almost empty of planes, aviation enthusiasts get excited when they see something unusual and positively ecstatic when a first-time sighting is made. Such an event, involving a Mongolian aircraft has got ‘Simple Flying’ into raptures:

History was made on Sunday when a MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 767-300 aircraft operated the first ever non-stop flight to the United States from Mongolia. Let’s take a look at this historic flight:

The Independent reports that a MIAT Mongolian Airlines flight landed at Seattle International Airport on Sunday, 21st June, as the first ever non-stop service between any city in the United States and Mongolia.

The outbound flight to the US lasted just under 11 hours, and just over 11 hours on the way back to Ulaanbaatar. Although the flight repatriated Mongolian citizens stranded in the USA, strictly speaking, it was not a passenger service, but a cargo one: the purpose was to deliver 60,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE).

This PPE cargo load was a donation made by the Mongolian government to the United States. In particular, it was sent to the Navajo Nation indigenous community, which has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. The community has had 7,000 confirmed infections, for a population size of 175,000. This makes it one of the highest rates in the US, and one of the highest in the world.

The aircraft that MIAT Mongolian Airlines sent to the US for this purpose is a seven-year-old Boeing 767-300, of which Mongolian has two in its fleet. The registration of the one that operated this flight is JU-1021. Interestingly, this aircraft carries the name Chinggis Khaan. This is of course Genghis Khan, the famous 12th-century ruler of a vast Mongol Empire, which at its height extended from Vietnam to Central Europe.

Interestingly, on the way back, the aircraft flew to Ulaanbaatar with over 200 Mongolian citizens on board who had until previously been stuck in the United States due to travel restrictions. It also carried back multiple crates of dinosaur fossils which had been stolen from Mongolia and smuggled to the US.

Photos of the 767 aircraft, and of the unloading of cargo, were posted by the Seattle Tacoma International Airport’s Twitter account two days ago. Also among the photos is a snapshot of a ceremony held at the airport. Michael O’Hare, an official of FEMA (the US Federal Emergency Management Agency), formally accepted the donation on behalf of the United States from the Mongolian ambassador Yondon Otgonbayar, also pictured, who represented Mongolia.

Mongolian Airlines has ambitions for scheduled USA flights

‘Simple Flying; previously reported that MIAT Mongolian Airlines has applied for permission to launch scheduled passenger services between Mongolia and the United States. Despite having an active fleet of just seven aircraft, the airline has expressed an interest in launching a single route between the US and Ulaanbaatar. This could perhaps really happen once MIAT Mongolian Airlines receives its first Boeing 787-9 in 2021.

Similar to this rare sighting, there have been many other unusual sightings of aircraft across the world. An Ethiopian Airlines Cargo 777 flew to Banja Luka, a relatively tiny town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to deliver medical cargo earlier this year. (source: simple flying)

Liverpool win Premier League: Reds' 30-year wait for top-flight title ends www.bbc.com

Liverpool's 30-year wait for a top-flight title is over after Manchester City lost 2-1 at Chelsea to confirm the Reds as Premier League champions.

Jurgen Klopp's side needed one victory to seal the league but City's failure to win means they cannot be caught.

It is Liverpool's 19th top-flight title and their first since 1989-90.

Despite being urged to "stay home" by the city's metro mayor because of coronavirus, thousands of fans gathered at Anfield to celebrate.

Many of the supporters who congregated at the club's ground wore face masks and some lit flares.

Klopp, wearing a Liverpool shirt and clearly emotional, told Sky Sports: "I have no words, it's unbelievable.

"It's much more than I ever thought would be possible, becoming champion with this club is absolutely incredible.

"I haven't waited 30 years, I have been here for four-and-a-half years, but it is quite an achievement, especially with the three-month break because nobody knew if we could go on.

"I know it is difficult for people in this moment but we could not hold back. We will enjoy this with our supporters when we can."

As the global pandemic disrupted life in England and led to the suspension of the Premier League for three months, Reds supporters endured a nervous wait to see how the season would be concluded, with some early suggestions it might have been declared null and void, thus wiping their remarkable efforts from the record books.

Thankfully for them, that did not come to pass, and the Premier League's return this month enabled them to cap their stunning success.

However, because of the measures put in place in response to the virus, the Reds will not be able to celebrate their long-awaited success with their supporters immediately, at least not in the traditional sense.

As with Wednesday's impressive 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, when they next play at Anfield - against Aston Villa on Sunday, 5 July, and for their two other remaining home games - it will be behind closed doors.

As things stand it also seems unlikely they will be able to partake in any of the usual public events in Liverpool, such as an open-top bus parade around the city.

By quirk of fate, though, the next time they take to the field will be at the side they have beaten to this season's title and who pipped them so narrowly last campaign, Manchester City.

Following their defeat at Chelsea, City boss Pep Guardiola congratulated Liverpool on their title success.

A record-breaking season
Winning the title was always the main aim for a club which had endured such a long wait to be crowned champions of England again, having earned that honour 11 times between 1973 and 1990.

But having achieved that ambition things could get better yet, with City's 100-point total for a season one of numerous records Liverpool can still break.

Klopp's side have produced one of the most memorable campaigns in Premier League history, amassing 86 points already, with a record of 28 victories, two draws and a single defeat from their 31 games.

Such has been their dominance, at one stage they led the table by 25 points - a record gap between a side in first and second in English top-flight history.

Liverpool this season v season average from previous 29
2019-20 Average (1990-91 to 2018-19)
28 Wins 19.57
2 Draws 9.72
1 Losses 9.14
70 Goals scored 65.45
21 Goals conceded 38.83
86 Points 68.57
90.32 Win % 50.81
Also still a possibility are the most wins in a season (the record is 32), most home wins (18), most away wins (16) and biggest winning margin (19 points).

Their title win this season is the earliest on record, at least with regard to games remaining, with the Reds having seven still to play.

That it is not the earliest title win by date is only because of the halting of football in England between March and May as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thirty years of hurt...

Premier League: A lot has happened since Liverpool last won the league
Liverpool's triumph represents a huge moment for their fans, who grew accustomed to success in the 1970s and 1980s, including a run between the 1972-73 and 1990-91 seasons in which they only failed to finish first or second in the league once.

They have not been without silverware in the past 30 years, winning three FA Cups, four League Cups, a Uefa Cup, the Champions League twice - the latest coming last season under Klopp - as well as three Super Cups and one Club World Cup.

However, since Kenny Dalglish led them to the First Division championship, they have had to endure three decades without league success, during which their record tally of titles was surpassed by rivals Manchester United, who have 20 to their name.

It was during this period that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson famously revelled in having "knocked Liverpool off their perch".

The Reds have come close during that time to restoring themselves to the top of the English game, finishing second in the Premier League on four occasions.

Gerard Houllier (2001-02) and Rafael Benitez (2008-09) both took them close.

Famously, in the 2013-14 season, Brendan Rodgers' side looked as though they were going to take the crown but a late-season slump - synonymous with a Steven Gerrard slip that enabled Chelsea to score and win at Anfield - saw them fall agonisingly short.

Last season, they racked up a stunning 97 points, losing only one game all campaign, but had the misfortune of coming up against an even better Manchester City side, who beat them to the title by a point. No side had ever achieved so many points without winning the league.

Klopp takes Reds from 10th to title
The appointment of Klopp has been pivotal to Liverpool's rise in recent seasons to this moment of success.

The German arrived at Anfield in October 2015 following the sacking of Rodgers and with the club 10th in the Premier League.

He arrived with a record of success, having led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League final, and with a reputation for fast-paced, high-pressing attacking play, which he described as "heavy metal football".

The club has not only seen an improvement in their style of play but also their results, with his four full seasons to date yielding finishing positions of fourth, fourth, second and now first.

Intelligent dealing in the transfer market has also been key to his success, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane signed during his reign. Along with Roberto Firmino, who arrived shortly before Klopp, the trio have scored a sensational 211 goals in less than three seasons (92 for Salah, 65 for Mane and 54 for Firmino).

The additions of world-class goalkeeper Alisson and centre-back Virgil van Dijk were also crucial.

Klopp has also improved players who were at the club before he arrived, including midfielder Jordan Henderson - his captain - and young full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The German is the only Reds manager since Dalglish left (including the Scot himself during a second spell from January 2011 to May 2012) with a win percentage over 60.

Dalglish delivered Liverpool their 16th, 17th and 18th league titles and now, after 30 years, the Reds have found a fitting successor to provide them with their 19th.

"The last two years and since Jurgen's come in has been very positive," Dalglish told BT Sport. "He's been fantastic and epitomises everything Liverpool football club stands for. Whatever they got, they have deserved it.

"Onwards and upwards. We have a lot more happy days to look forward to as long as Jurgen is here."

Ruling Mongolian People's Party wins landslide election www.reuters.com

ULAANBAATAR (Reuters) - The ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) will remain in power after a landslide general election victory secured 62 out of the 76 seats in the State Great Khural, the country’s parliament, according to results released overnight.

Mongolia’s 2020 parliamentary election: Preliminary results and voter turnout www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The polls have closed across Mongolia in the 2020 parliamentary election. The results are being updated at this moment as ballots being counted at the 2070 polling places throughout the country following the closure of the polls where Mongolians voted to elect a new parliament with 76-seats.

Landslide Victory for Mongolia’s ruling party! www.news.mn

The official results of Wednesday’s Mongolia parliamentary election have been announced: The Mongolian People’s Party, which is the country’s ruling party, has won 62 seats in a landslide victory, while the once formidable opposition Democratic Party won a meagre 11 seats; the Right Person Electorate Coalition and Our Coalition, which is run by former President N.Enkhbayar, each took one seat respectively. Out of a record 121 independent candidates Mr. N.Altankhuyag won a seat in the Among Democratic Party’s winners, J.Erdenebat who was recently imprisoned in the 461st detention centre pending trial in a highly controversial case, also won a seat in the State Great Khural.

EU considers barring Americans from travel list www.bbc.com

EU ambassadors are to continue talks on Friday to plan reopening external borders on 1 July, and travellers from the US could be among those not allowed in.

Some European countries are keen to open up to tourists but others are wary of the continued spread of the virus.

On Wednesday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he expected a solution "in the coming weeks".

The virus is spreading in the US, so it is likely Americans would be barred.

The 27-member bloc must first agree the measures that non-EU countries should meet before deciding on a safe list.

Brazil, Russia and other countries with high infection rates would also be left off a safe list, according to reports from Brussels.

The EU is not yet thought to have agreed how they will assess which countries meet health standards - one of the criteria for entry. Part of the problem is assessing reliable health data, reports say.

What did Pompeo say?
Travel has largely been banned between the US and EU during the pandemic, but Mr Pompeo said he was "very confident" a solution could be found.

"We certainly don't want to reopen in a way that jeopardises the United States from people travelling here and we certainly don't want to cause problems anyplace else," he said.

He did not give details, but added that the US was working "to get the global travel back in place".

Comparing infection rates with other countries
Latest figures from the EU's health agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, highlight Brazil, Peru, Chile, Panama and Saudi Arabia as countries with the highest "case notification rate".

Russia and the US have a lower rate of cases per 100,000 inhabitants but are still higher than most of Europe. The US has seen 2.3 million infections and 120,000 deaths and cases are climbing in several states.

Top health officials warn of 'disturbing' new US surge
The European Commission is advising ambassadors only to consider countries that are comparable or better than the EU average when it comes to new infections, the trend in new infections, as well as testing and tracing.

Reports said member states were assessing two different lists. The Politico website said one covered countries with fewer than 16 cases per 100,000 people and the other with up to 20 cases, which would include Canada and Turkey. The New York Times said the list would be revised every two weeks, so the US could be added later.

Other criteria also being considered are reciprocity and links to the EU. France wants the EU to give access only when it is reciprocated by other countries, while Spain is said to be keen to reopen the border with neighbouring Morocco.

Earlier this month the European Commission also stressed that reopening borders with non-EU states in the Western Balkans was a priority from 1 July. However, EU member Croatia announced on Wednesday that travellers from Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia would all face 14-day self-isolation from the end of the day, because of an increase in infections.

The US may also be a problem diplomatically, as on 14 March President Donald Trump unilaterally closed US borders to countries in the EU's Schengen border-free zone. The EU condemned the move at the time.

Why this is a fraught decision for EU countries
Which countries' travellers are allowed in, and which are not?

At first this may seem a practical decision for the EU: if a country outside the EU and Schengen area has high rates of infection, its citizens won't be allowed in to the bloc.

If infection rates are similar to or lower than the EU average, then willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!

Except it's not that simple.

Producing a list of outside countries "acceptable" for EU travel is also a political - and economic - decision.

Tourists bring much-needed revenue to Covid-19-ravaged economies, of course. But EU leaders are not keen to take risks. Even countries wanting an economic boost are aware the political backlash would be huge if tourists bring Covid-19 with them.

And, as is so often the case, opinion between the EU's 27 countries is divided.

Some worry that barring a particular country over Covid-19 could cause political friction with allies or worsen existing tensions. EU relations with Washington and with Moscow are already delicate, shall we say.

Then there's the issue of reciprocity.

France is particularly attached to this. In other words, if a country bars entry to tourists from an EU or Schengen nation, then that country should be allowed to return the "favour", thinks Paris. Also, if a non-EU country grants access to EU visitors, should the EU be diplomatically obliged to respond in kind?

I'm told the list of outside countries whose citizens will have access to EU/Schengen as of 1 July is likely to be "small" to start with.

Discussions between member states' ambassadors to Brussels are due to continue on Friday, with an outcome to be decided unanimously on Friday or "shortly after".

Can Europe save its tourist season?
The EU is split into two groups that include those hoping to salvage something from this year's summer tourist season and those that fear for the health situation.

Although the EU urged the 27 member states to reopen internal borders from 15 June, several countries have moved carefully to avoid a second spike in infections.

Denmark, which was among the first European countries to start lifting its lockdown, has begun reopening its borders more slowly than others. Denmark is a Schengen state but it still has strict criteria for those visiting the country.

Island isolation over as Greece lets tourists back
Tourists were allowed to return from mid-June from Norway, Iceland and Germany, but not from neighbouring Sweden.

Greece, meanwhile, opened its borders to much of Europe on 15 June in a bid to kick-start its tourist season. Visitors from some countries including Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands face compulsory testing for Covid-19.

Mongolian soldiers march in Victory Day Parade in Moscow www.montsame.mn

Military contingent of 78 servicemen of the Mongolian Armed Forces headed by Colonel B.Khash-Erdene participated in the Victory Day Parade in Moscow city today, June 24, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Mongolia's ruling party wins landslide parliamentary election www.channelnewsasia.com

ULAANBAATAR: Mongolia's ruling party won a landslide election victory to retain an overwhelming majority in parliament - a reward from voters who approved of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, according to near-complete results on Thursday (Jun 25).

The Mongolian People's Party of Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa now faces the task of keeping the economy afloat as businesses struggle under virus containment measures and closed borders.

The MPP will have 63 of 76 seats in the legislature, two fewer than before but still a huge majority to rule the landlocked country of three million people squeezed between Russia and China.

The opposition Democratic Party won 10 seats, according to 99 per cent of votes counted following Wednesday's vote.

An independent and candidates from two new third parties won the remaining seats. The Election Commission will confirm the results later on Thursday.

"Voters did obviously reward the handling of the corona crisis by the Mongolian government and put their trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Khurelsukh," Niels Hegewisch, country director of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German non-profit foundation, told AFP.

"Certainly, a victory of this magnitude comes with a great responsibility. Economically, Mongolia is facing tough times," he said.

Despite its mineral wealth, the country's economy has been weak and required a US$5.5 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in 2017.

The pandemic has not helped, with cafes, restaurants and pubs ailing as the government imposed early closing times as part of coronavirus measures. Schools have been closed since January.

Coal exports have fallen due to lower demand and prices, and border closures. They were down by more than half to 6.2 million tons in the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2019.

A number of corruption scandals have also erupted in recent years and there is growing anxiety about graft in the young democracy, which ended decades as a Soviet satellite in 1990.

Despite calls by some for the election to be delayed due to the pandemic, three-quarters of two million eligible voters cast their ballots.

Voters queued two metres apart to enter, with medical staff checking temperatures, passing out hand disinfectant and masks, and providing single-use plastic gloves to fill out ballot papers.

"I think it's good to organise our election as planned even though there is a pandemic," said Amarzaya Enkhbayar, a 35-year-old voter who runs her own business.

"These elected decision-makers must improve our life. We have to do something for the development of our country," she told AFP after voting in Ulaanbaatar.

About 8,000 Mongolians are currently stranded abroad and protests inside the country calling for their return have been broken up by authorities on the grounds that they break social distancing rules.

There have only been about 200 reported coronavirus cases in Mongolia - most imported from Russia - and no confirmed fatalities.

"I thought the election should be delayed," argued another voter, 39-year-old Enkhtsetseg Bandi.

"However, the state is spending billions to organise this election, so I must participate not to waste our budget."

The country's two main political parties broke bans on gatherings of more than 30 people by holding big campaign rallies and ignoring social distancing rules.

There were a record 606 candidates, including 121 independents. But voters chose the ruling party.

Gerelt-Od Erdenebileg, professor of political science at the Mongolian State University of Education, said the country's majoritarian system favours the big parties.

"If we keep this system, the MPP will win forever," he said.

Munkhzaya Ankhbaatar, a 19-year-old car parts salesman, said he had done his homework on the candidates before voting.

"I studied all the parties' agenda," he said. "I like the MPP most, so I voted for it."

Source: AFP