Ulaanbaatar is one of the most air-polluted cities of the world as half of the country’s population immigrated to the city. Smoke from shantytown ger districts where over 220,000 families live, is the main culprit of Ulaanbaatar’s air-pollution. This year, the government put a ban on burning coal in the Mongolian capital where the winter temperature falls to as low as -40 Celsius.

In March, the Mongolian government decided to totally ban the use of raw coal. Household offenders are being fined 300,000 tugriks (USD 113), while large businesses – 3 million tugriks (USD 1,134). As of today, a total of 36 violations of burning raw coal have been reported in Ulaanbaatar. In addition, the city stepped up efforts to check the use of the raw coal fuel, with 7 tons of raw coal seized since October.

In the light of the ban, the government is putting an alternative product on the market made from semi-coke, a by-product of coal. While more expensive, these fuel-efficient briquettes are said to burn twice as long and emit far less fumes. However, eight people have died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar and 350 have been hospitalized – 220 of them children, following the introduction of “safe” smokeless briquettes as the official alternative to coal. The incorrect use of the briquettes or inappropriate stoves have been blamed for the loss of human life. Currently, over 350 employees from Tavan Tolgoi Fuel Company are still working in the ger districts to teach people how to burn the briquettes and fix their stoves.

In May, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a probe into allegations that the country’s top diplomat in Mongolia developed collusive ties with a visa broker and abused his authority by harassing subordinates. Following investigation, Ambassador Chung Jae-nam been recalled from Mongolia.

The French delegates today held a meeting with Mongolian entities and farmers who are introducing high-yielding cattle and sheep imported from France, exchanging views on the results of the breeding.

During the meeting and seminar, which was held by the Embassy of France in Mongolia, Counsel for Agriculture in the French Embassy in China Mr. Francois Blanc noted that Mongolian farmers want to import livestock from France again. "This is an indication of our cooperation's results. Most of the cattle imported to Mongolia were pregnant heifers. A few number of steer have been imported. Today we met with delegates of entities that imported livestock, hearing their requests, experience and barriers. This is a good thing that Mongolian herders and farmers who are receiving the livestock are getting involved in necessary training and can build animal breeding house and prepare fodder.

Mr. Francois Blanc also stressed that quality livestock has pivotal role in current intensive animal husbandry sector. “Quality products come from quality livestock. We are aiming to improve quality of livestock in Mongolia, not naturalizing European standard in Mongolia. Because, countries have different conditions and their own adaptive conditions as well”.

Moreover, the French animal husbandry specialists and experts attended the meeting and introduced about methodology of milk and fodder manufacturing and French cooperative system while giving counsel to herders.

Ambassador of France to Mongolia Philippe Merlin, French delegates of animal husbandry as well as delegation of Mongolia’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Animal Breeding Service and companies such as ‘Gatsuurt’, ‘Nuudelchin Agro Farm’, ‘Mongol genetic service’ and ‘Mill House’ took part in the meeting and seminar themed ‘Opportunities to partner with France in animal husbandry sector’.

Additionally, 4-5 entities and farmers including ‘Khishigten Nuudel’ and ‘Taishir Urguu’ are importing cattle and sheep from France to introduce them in Mongolia.

During a reception in Hanoi on November 28 for Mongolian Defence Minister Nyamaa Enkhbold, Deputy PM Binh said the visit is vivid evidence of the development of the traditional friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries, especially on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties this year.

He spoke highly of the outcomes of talks between the two defence ministers and growing cooperation between the two armies, especially in the fields of military medical training, defence industry, sharing of experience in participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities, culture and arts, and military sports.

The Vietnamese government always creates favourable conditions for the two defence ministries to work effectively together, thus contributing to deepening Vietnam – Mongolia traditional friendship, he said, adding that Vietnam also stays ready to serve as a bridge for ties between Mongolia and ASEAN.

Enkhbold, for his part, informed his host on the outcomes of talks between he and his Vietnamese counterpart, which focused on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed between the two defence ministries in 2013.

He believed that defence relationship will lay a trustworthy foundation for the two countries’ ties.

Mongolia wants to lift ties with Vietnam to a greater height, he said, adding that Vietnam is an important and trustworthy partner of Mongolia in the ASEAN.

He also affirmed Mongolia’s external policy of continuing to intensify ties with Vietnam./.

· FRC gave approval to split stock to “Mandal Insurance” JSC and issued a decision within the relevant law and procedure at the meeting of Today. The company highlighted, “If per share price of the company would be decreased, its stock trading activity on MSE and market capitalization would be increased. As a result, shareholders’ equity will be risen.”

· According to the decision of FRC, stock trading of the company will be temporarily halted and executed the operation to split its stock.

The program, covering 2020-2024, will increase the number of public shower facilities and other amenity services and their working capacity. For instance, there were 9019 public shower facilities and amenity service points in 2018, the number will grow 10 thousand by 2024. The number of employees of this industry, which was estimated at 22 thousand, will reach 32 thousand in 2024.

As of 2018, around 25.2 percent of the people working in the amenity service industry was engaged in hairdressing and beauty services, 20.2 percent of them in tailoring and dress making, 11.6 percent in carpentry and others in public showers, photo prints, dry cleaning, shoe repair and others.

"Several people have (died) and hundreds of properties were lost in bushfires in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland. Therefore, the government made the decision during its regular meeting," the government's press office said in a statement.

Around 7,000 Mongolian citizens are studying and working in Australia, mostly in New South Wales, the press office added.

“The Committee has already helped implement cross-border projects worth more than $10 billion. The RDIF and CIC have also invested through the RCIF in a number of projects independently,” the Russian wealth fund said in a statement after the talks.

At the same time Russia’s sovereign wealth fund together with the RCIF and the investment fund for Guangdong province, Guangdong Utrust Investment Holdings, agreed on key terms to set up $1 billion fund. The body, dubbed the Russian-Chinese Greater Bay Area Fund, is aimed at strengthening mutual trade and economic ties between companies from the two states. It will also promote Russian business in Guangdong, the Chinese province that accounts for the biggest share of the country’s GDP, and encouraging local companies to enter the Russian market.

“This fund creates great opportunities for Russian companies,” Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said. “Cooperation between RDIF, RCIF and Guangdong Utrust is developing steadily, and I am confident that we are moving in the right direction towards large-scale joint projects that will serve to further strengthen the partnership between Russia and China.”

China is Russia’s largest trade partner, with the volume of trade exceeding $100 billion in 2018 and expected to double in five years. In recent months, Beijing and Moscow have also been working to boost mutual trade in their national currencies, the ruble and the yuan, as they move to lessen dependence on the US dollar.

Ramachandran made the remarks during his meeting with Mongolian Parliament Chairman Gombojav Zandanshatar, according to the parliament's press office.

"The ADB has been one of Mongolia's closest partners. The Mongolian economy has been recovering thanks to the implementation of the International Monetary Fund's Extended Fund Facility," Zandanshatar said.

"However, getting out of the FATF's 'grey list' is now a major issue for Mongolia," he added.

Mongolia was added to the list by the FATF, an anti-money-laundering organization, in October after the country failed to pass requirements to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.