Courtesy Call on Prime Minister ISHIBA by H.E. Ms. Batmunkh BATTSETSEG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia www.mofa.go.jp

Mongolians celebrate the Jubilee of Hope www.vaticannews.va

Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, shares how the central focus of Jubilee activities emphasizes formation and sharing with celebrations involving everyone.
On a day of intense cold, with temperatures plunging to 30 degrees celsius below zero, the extraordinary participation of the people warms the heart—and the soul.
On 29 December 2024, in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the 2025 Jubilee opened with a solemn celebration that, even here in the farthest reaches of the world, could not be missed or overlooked.
The memory of that day remains vivid in the mind of Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect of this tiny Church community, which numbers around 1,600 baptized individuals out of a population of 3.2 million spread across a territory of more than 1.5 million square kilometers.
A grand procession
His detailed recollection, shared in an interview with Vatican News, helps reconstruct that day, which began with a grand procession that started outside the Cathedral dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, the seat of the apostolic prefecture.
"We began from the great cross that was used during the papal Mass during Pope Francis' Apostolic Visit in September 2023," he said. "After praying part of the Rosary outside, we solemnly entered the Cathedral, looking towards the other crucifix that stands above our altar, to which we directed our gaze and our prayers. It was a very intense celebration that allowed our people to feel in communion with the universal Church."
The Word of God and formation
The celebration marked a culmination in preparations by the faithful of the Ulaanbaatar Apostolic Prefecture. There have been many opportunities for formation and in-depth reflection, one of which best encapsulated the need to exercise hope, the central theme of the Holy Year.
"It was the experience of communion and animation with Gen Rosso, the international group of artists who came to visit us between the end of November and the beginning of December. Together, we prepared workshops and a concert. The common thread of these activities was the concept we called 'hoping together,' which was also the theme of the papal visit nearly two years ago."
Preparing well for the Jubilee also meant rediscovering the history of a local Church that has roots in an ancient Christianity but, in contemporary times, boasts only thirty-three years of existence.
"This too has been an exercise in hope, wanting to accept the Jubilee invitation to look to the future with eyes full of faith, never discouraged," he said.
Renewal and rebirth
During the Holy Year, the formation of the faithful will be a constant focus of activities. Information and catechesis will be made available to everyone so that the deep meaning of the grace of the Jubilee can truly be appreciated.
"In this regard, we are also thinking about a pamphlet with explanations on how to obtain an indulgence, which will highlight the true meaning of the conversion journey that we are all trying to undertake here. A renewal that must start from the continual purification of our hearts."
What Cardinal Marengo values most in this context of faith is the dimension of charity, an essential condition for receiving the Jubilee grace.
"The works of mercy, offering our struggles and sufferings to the Lord, are not insignificant. Nor are the sacrifices that everyone can make to participate in our formation meetings, like the pastoral week we will have in May," he said.
Parish pilgrimages
Although it will be difficult, almost impossible, for the faithful from Mongolia to journey to Rome on pilgrimage—not only due to the vast distance but also because of the high travel costs—the Apostolic Prefect explains that "the graces of the Jubilee reach us where we are and are manifested in initiatives that relate to everyday life: prayer, caring for others, multiplying mercy as a concrete way to exercise hope."
But beyond the pilgrimage that the faithful can make to the Ulaanbaatar Cathedral, there is another that is especially close to the Cardinal's heart: one aimed particularly at young people, which will take place in the nine parishes of the Prefecture.
"Five of them are in the capital, four are spread across the country. We realized that, in many cases, the faithful of one parish don't know the other communities well. So we thought that, when the good weather comes, we could organize mutual visits."
And since the distance between one parish and another can be hundreds of kilometers, Cardinal Marengo has thought of a "Jubilee passport," especially for young people.
"It will be a sort of identity card with personal data that can be stamped each time someone visits a parish. I believe this is a really beautiful way to thank the Lord for the gift of these communities scattered across such a vast territory."
The gaze of Mary
In Ulaanbaatar, the Jubilee is unfolding under the loving gaze of the Mother of Heaven, a title Pope Francis gave to the statue of Mary, which was miraculously found a few years ago in a northern city's landfill by a non-Catholic woman and then enshrined in the Cathedral.
"This is why the Cathedral is increasingly playing a fundamental spiritual role for the faithful, who can go before this small wooden statue and entrust their lives to the Virgin Mary."
By Federico Piana

Ban or Regulate? Mongolia’s Sports Betting Dilemma www.mongoliaweekly.org

Mongolia's government has launched a forceful campaign against online gambling and sports betting platforms, targeting the ubiquitous 1xbet. While cracking down on illegal operations and the alleged $500 million annual outflow is understandable, the move raises a fundamental question: Is prohibition the most effective long-term strategy? Or is it a costly, and ultimately futile, game of whack-a-mole?
The immediate actions – blocking websites, pressuring Meta to remove accounts, and contemplating a total ban on betting – are presented as a response to the "epidemic" of online gambling addiction and its devastating social consequences. These are genuine concerns.
The government is right to address the financial ruin and social disruption caused by problem gambling and sports betting.
However, Cabinet Secretary Nyam-Osoryn Uchral has also highlighted a critical economic dimension: the massive outflow of funds represents significant lost tax revenue.
This dual threat – social harm and economic damage – strengthens the argument for a regulated, rather than prohibited, gambling market. Experience globally demonstrates that outright bans rarely eradicate online activity. Determined users and operators find workarounds, such as VPN usage. 
The activity persists, driven underground or offshore, making it more difficult to monitor, control, and tax. 1xbet's continued presence in Mongolia, despite a previous Communications Regulatory Commission blacklist, is a stark reminder.

Golden statue of Chinggis Khaan installed in Mongolia www.akipress.com

The opening ceremony of the Chinggis Khaan's Royal Chamberand the installation of his 7-meter golden statue took place at the Chinggis Khan National Museum in Ulaanbaatar.
The sketch and modeling of the statue took two years. They were approved at the end of 2022, embodying the ideas of historians, researchers and scientists.
The details of the monument were based on the artifacts of the khans and nobility of the Mongol Empire and other periods.
President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa emphasized in his speech that Chinggis Khaan is not just a historical figure, but a source of pride for all Mongols.

China could restart import controls on coal as oversupply mounts www.bloomberg.com

Mongolia keeps mining for growth amid economic uncertainty www.eastasiaforum.org

Statement by Secretary Marco Rubio on On Mongolian Tsagaan Sar www.mn.usembassy.gov

To all those celebrating Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia, the United States, and around the world, we hope the new year will bring greater security, strength, and prosperity for all.  
The United States is proud to be Mongolia’s Strategic Third Neighbor and democratic partner. We look forward to deepening the relationship between our two countries in the coming year.

President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa Extends Lunar New Year Greetings www.montsame.mn

UAE and Bahrain to invest $500 million in Mongolia in first round www.gogo.mn

The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain will collaborate on the exploration and production of oil, natural gas, and mineral resources in Mongolia, with an initial investment of $500 million.
Additionally, discussions have highlighted the potential for up to $10 billion in investment for a major renewable energy export project.
Negotiations are currently underway to conduct research and feasibility assessments. According to First Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjkhand, the interest of Gulf countries in investing in Mongolia is growing due to large-scale construction projects proposed by the joint government, as well as the country’s political and policy stability.

Volume of accumulated investments from UAE to Eurasian region grows by 18.4% in 1.5 years - EDB www.akipress.com

The accumulated investments of the UAE in the Eurasian region have showed stable annual growth for more than 8 years, according to the report of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB, 2025).
The volume of accumulated investments of the UAE increased by 71% compared to 2016 and reached $12.2 billion at the end of the first half of 2024. The growth was 18.4% over the past year and a half.
The bulk of investment (90.3%)  in 2024 are primary investments.
According to the EDB, the total number of active projects involving investments from the UAE reaches 15. Purchase with expansion accounts for 8.2% of the total volume of accumulated investments with a total project value of $1 billion.