Politics
DP Disputes Planned Use of Oyu Tolgoi Revenue in 2027 Budget
Published: 2026-10-22
The DP (Democratic Party) parliamentary group challenged the proposed treatment of MNT 3 trillion expected from Oyu Tolgoi in the 2027 budget. Group leader B. Tuvshin said it remains unclear whether the amount qualifies as a dividend, whether Oyu Tolgoi’s board and management approved it, and whether it has been recorded as a dividend in financial reporting. The group said any funds received should enter the National Wealth Fund under current law. MP L. Gantumur has opened public feedback on a draft resolution that would provide the planned state-share dividend directly to citizens and prepare legislation for citizens to hold the state’s Oyu Tolgoi stake without charge. Prime Minister N. Uchral said Rio Tinto’s chief executive had sought reconfirmation, and proposed allocating MNT 1 trillion to the Savings Fund and MNT 2 trillion to energy and social infrastructure.
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Parliament Considers Allowing State-Company Dividends Into Budget
Published: 2026-10-22
Parliament began considering amendments to the Fiscal Stability Law on October 22 that would allow dividend revenue from state-owned companies to be added to the budget after approval of the medium-term fiscal framework, without breaching special fiscal requirements. Cabinet Secretariat chief B. Enkhbayar said the proposal also addresses additional funding from local securities and prior-year budget balances that cannot be calculated when the framework is approved. A law on governance of state and locally owned companies is scheduled to take effect in 2027 and requires commercially oriented state companies to distribute at least 30% of net profit as dividends. The government plans to collect 3,494.7 billion tugriks in dividend revenue in 2027. The bill would permit the expenditure ceiling to rise by the amount of such additional revenue or funding sources.
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Published: 2026-10-22
Intelligence officers detained three people in August in connection with a case involving alleged cooperation with a foreign intelligence service or special agency, and one of them was U. Enkhtuvshin, sources told Unuudur. Enkhtuvshin, a lawyer and economist, previously served as executive director of the state-owned Mon-Atom LLC, according to the report. The report says he was linked to alleged cooperation with a foreign intelligence service and an individual, but it does not identify the service or country involved. He has worked as an adviser or assistant to several members of parliament since 1999 and most recently advised MP D. Ganbat. In 2014, he founded the Mongolian Nuclear Society, which supports nuclear-science and green-energy education and partners with international nuclear organizations. The reported allegations do not constitute a determination of guilt.
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Parliament Scheduled to Consider 2027 Budget Framework and Belarus Treaty
Published: 2026-10-22
Parliament’s plenary session on October 22 was scheduled to consider the 2027 budget framework statement and fiscal projections for 2028-2029, together with proposed amendments to the Fiscal Stability Law. Its agenda also included bills and resolutions submitted with the 2027 state budget, as well as a separate amendment to the Budget Law proposed by 31 MPs led by S. Tsenguun. Lawmakers were scheduled to consider ratifying a friendship and cooperation treaty with Belarus, a revised law on standardization, technical regulation and conformity assessment, and a resolution linked to amendments to tobacco-control legislation. The session was also to review a Supreme Court justice candidate and consider appointing non-judge members of the General Council of the Judiciary. The session had begun, and four candidates for the judiciary council posts were presented.
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Specialized Family and Child Court to Begin Accepting Cases on November 1
Published: 2026-10-22
The capital has opened Mongolia’s first specialized Family and Child Court, which will begin accepting family and child-related claims on November 1. The court is intended to create a more specialized judicial process for disputes involving families and children, with attention to rights, psychological wellbeing and the best interests of children. It will have specialist staff, mediators, assistants and psychologists. Twelve judges have been appointed to the first-instance court in Ulaanbaatar and five to its appeals court. Courts in the capital resolved 11,689 cases under the Family Law during the past three years. Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Tsogt said the court should seek durable solutions rather than simply punish parties.
“The court should heal and resolve problems, rather than accuse and punish.” - C. Tsogt (unuudur.mn)
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Government Tightens Unemployment Benefit Rules After Funding Shortfall
Published: 2026-10-22
Family, Labour and Social Protection Minister T. Aubakir said unemployment benefits had been interrupted for the previous three months after the 2026 allocation proved insufficient. The government budgeted MNT 92 billion for 2026 and secured an additional MNT 50 billion for the final three months, which the minister said will allow payments to continue through year-end. The proposed 2027 Unemployment Benefit Fund budget is MNT 192 billion. New rules reduce eligibility from 76 days of benefits after nine months of work to 55 days after 12 months of work. Aubakir said the changes target improper claims, including arrangements in which workers formally leave jobs while continuing to work.
“There are citizens who ask their director to dismiss them, but say they will continue doing their job.” - T. Aubakir (ikon.mn)
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Capital MPP Prepares Leadership Change as District Governors Face Removal
Published: 2026-10-22
Ulaanbaatar Governor B. Purevdavaa said resolutions have been adopted to remove the governors of Chingeltei and Songinokhairkhan districts. He said Songinokhairkhan Governor Ts. Battur submitted a resignation request, while a decision was made concerning Chingeltei Governor N. Manduul. Separately, the capital branch of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) is scheduled to meet on November 7, when it is expected to relieve Kh. Nyambaatar as branch chair. Purevdavaa has announced his candidacy for the position. Reports said the MPP leadership is preparing to select him without a rival following the capital party presidium’s October 16 decision. The changes would put the city administration and its party branch under Purevdavaa’s leadership while Uchral leads the national MPP.
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Parliament Approves Tobacco Controls Starting in 2027
Published: 2026-10-22
Parliament has approved amendments to the Tobacco Control Law that will take effect on January 1, 2027. The changes subject electronic cigarettes to the same regulatory approach as conventional cigarettes, including excise tax, and prohibit sales near schools. Retailers will have to keep tobacco products out of customers’ view and show them only on request. The law also bans the sale of tobacco products with mint, fruit and other flavours, while raising tobacco excise taxes. The bill, introduced by 76 lawmakers led by O. Nominchimeg in September 2025, was delayed before final approval. Its sponsors estimate the measures could reduce smoking by 13 percent by 2030. The article cites statistics reporting about 4,300 annual deaths connected to tobacco use.
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Parliament Delays Vote on Judicial General Council Nominees
Published: 2026-10-22
Parliament discussed appointing two non-judge members to the Judicial General Council on October 22, following a hearing organized by its Standing Committee on Legal Affairs. The committee nominated lawyer B. Amartuvshin and lawyer B. Davaajav for the positions. Lawmakers completed questions and debate but postponed the secret ballot until 10:00 a.m. the following day. Amartuvshin graduated from the National University of Mongolia School of Law and has worked as an adviser at Shine Ergelt Partners LLC since 2023. Davaajav graduated from the Police Academy, worked as a representative at the Khentii provincial police department, and later taught at police and law-enforcement universities. Parliament’s session also reviewed a Constitutional Court finding concerning political-party membership rules for human-rights defenders.
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Economy
Winter Diesel Prices Expected to Rise as Fuel Reserves Hold
Published: 2026-10-22
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources reported that Mongolia had 21,474 tonnes of AI-92 gasoline in reserve on October 21, equal to about 10 days of normal consumption. A separate supplied report put the AI-92 reserve at 21,747 tonnes, while also describing it as a 10-day supply. Reported reserves included 1,567 tonnes of AI-95 gasoline for 13 days, 112,800 tonnes of diesel for 28 days, and 7,400 tonnes of jet fuel for 36 days. The ministry said 42,334 tonnes of AI-92 had been imported during the first 21 days of October, with fuel distribution continuing around the clock. Officials said gasoline prices were not currently expected to rise in November. Diesel prices are expected to change as winter-grade supplies arrive, after international diesel prices rose about 20 percent during the seasonal shift.
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Authorities Stop Attempt to Smuggle 8.26 Kilograms of Gold Through Zamiin-Uud
Published: 2026-10-22
Intelligence and customs authorities stopped two Mongolian citizens from allegedly attempting to take 8.260 kilograms of concealed gold across the border to China through the Zamiin-Uud road checkpoint on October 17. The individuals, identified only as G and B, were travelling in a vehicle when officials found the gold hidden in vehicle components. Authorities preliminarily valued the seized gold at about MNT 4 billion and described the case as a suspected attempt to illegally export an especially large quantity of gold. Customs officials have carried out urgent investigative measures, while the General Intelligence Agency is continuing the investigation. The reports did not identify the origin of the gold, its intended recipient, or any charges. The incident occurred at the Zamiin-Uud road border checkpoint while the citizens were travelling to China.
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Debate Opens Over Plan to Cover Mongolbank’s MNT 6.9 Trillion Loss
Published: 2026-10-22
Mongolbank has proposed reducing its accumulated MNT 6.9 trillion loss through government bond issues of MNT 1 trillion to MNT 1.5 trillion annually, with repayment completed by 2030 or 2031. First Deputy Governor Anar Erdene said the loss has built up since 2012 from interest on central-bank securities, swap arrangements with the People’s Bank of China and banks, and residual costs from earlier mortgage and government-related programs. Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan called for the proposal to be withdrawn, arguing that government bonds would shift the central bank’s losses onto the state budget. Anar said the costs arose from monetary-policy operations, including absorbing excess liquidity. He also said preliminary estimates indicate that an expansionary 2027 budget could raise inflation by one to three percentage points, depending on its final size and composition.
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Statistics Office Reports Current Meat Prices Nationwide
Published: 2026-10-22
National Statistics Office data cited on October 22 showed average nationwide prices of MNT 26,000 per kilogram for bone-in mutton and MNT 34,500 for bone-in beef. First-grade flour averaged MNT 2,540 per kilogram, rice MNT 5,000 and bread MNT 2,900. As of October 19, diesel sold for MNT 4,475 per liter and AI-92 gasoline for MNT 3,592. Potato and onion prices were MNT 2,100 and MNT 3,500 per kilogram, respectively. A separate comparison of selected Ulaanbaatar retail prices showed sharp increases between 2016 and 2026, including 503% for bone-in mutton and 480% for bone-in beef. That comparison listed bone-in mutton at MNT 4,225 per kilogram in 2016 and MNT 25,480 in 2026, while bone-in beef rose from MNT 5,215 to MNT 30,270.
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Financial Regulator Enforces 4.5% Monthly Cap on App-Based Loans
Published: 2026-10-22
The Financial Regulatory Commission has ordered non-bank financial institutions to keep monthly interest on loans, including app-based lending, at or below the 4.5% ceiling set by the council under the Law on Regulating Money Lending Activities. The decision took effect on October 21 after inspections found technology-based lenders issuing loans above the cap. The commission said traditional secured loans from non-bank financial institutions have an average monthly interest rate of 2.9%. Lenders must also submit complete information to Mongolbank’s credit information database in real time whenever they issue a loan or amend loan records, a measure intended to reduce overlapping borrowing. Institutions that breach the cap may face legal penalties, suspension of operations or license revocation. The regulator is also preparing legal and regulatory changes on service fees and charges beyond principal and interest.
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Social Insurance Recovers MNT 81.9 Billion From Failed Bank Deposits
Published: 2026-10-22
The General Authority for Social Insurance says it continues work to recover funds deposited with Capital Bank and Chinggis Khaan Bank in 2016. The article body puts the total recovered at MNT 81.9 billion, while its headline reports MNT 89.1 billion. Capital Bank’s original debt was MNT 104.2 billion; MNT 53.2 billion had been recovered, including MNT 21.6 billion in cash and MNT 31.6 billion in assets, leaving MNT 51 billion as of October 21, 2026. Chinggis Khaan Bank’s original debt was MNT 103.6 billion. It had repaid MNT 28.7 billion—MNT 16.6 billion in cash and MNT 12.1 billion in assets—leaving MNT 74.9 billion outstanding.
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Prosecutors Send Vegetable-Subsidy Fraud Case to Court
Published: 2026-10-22
Prosecutors in Selenge Province have sent a case involving alleged fraudulent vegetable subsidies to the provincial inter-soum first-instance court. Investigators say two people, identified as A and U, created false electronic receipts between August and November 2024 claiming they had sold yellow turnips to companies and individuals despite not cultivating the crop. The receipts were submitted to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry to obtain state vegetable incentives. Investigators found that A received MNT2.203 billion between December 20, 2024 and February 24, 2025, while U received MNT354 million. The Selenge prosecutor’s office issued indictments under Article 18.7.1 of the Criminal Code, concerning the preparation and use of counterfeit payment instruments. The charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to five years.
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Diplomacy
Germany and Mongolia Expand Strategic Cooperation During Berlin Visit
Published: 2026-10-22
President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his state visit to Germany. They discussed implementing their 2011 intergovernmental agreement on minerals, industry and technology, and identifying a major investment project symbolic of bilateral ties. They also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, e-government, renewable energy, storage systems, pensions and social protection. A Germany-Mongolia business forum in Berlin on October 21 brought together more than 270 representatives and produced six documents covering trade, investment, construction materials, renewable energy and food production. Mongolbank and Deutsche Bundesbank signed a memorandum covering monetary policy, financial stability, bank supervision, payment infrastructure, cash management and digital transformation. Khurelsukh also met Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner to discuss possible city-level cooperation in urban planning, public transport, housing, air-pollution reduction, green space and infrastructure.
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President Khurelsukh Scheduled to Make State Visit to Finland
Published: 2026-10-22
President U. Khurelsukh is scheduled to make a state visit to Finland from October 22 to 24 at the invitation of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, following the conclusion of his state visit to Germany. It will be the first visit to Finland by a Mongolian head of state in 16 years. The presidents are expected to hold a private meeting and official talks on expanding cooperation in energy, culture, education and geology. The two sides plan to sign about 10 intergovernmental and institutional cooperation documents. The program in Helsinki also includes a performance by the National Art Grand Theatre titled Beautiful Mongolia and a Mongolia-Finland business forum. The two countries established diplomatic relations on July 15, 1963; Finland was the first Nordic country to establish diplomatic ties with Mongolia.
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Infrastructure
Supreme Court Leaves Ulaanbaatar Vehicle-Plate Cap in Force
Published: 2026-10-22
The Supreme Court’s Administrative Chamber declined on October 22 to hear a further appeal challenging Ulaanbaatar’s cap on vehicle registration plates and the criteria for issuing them. Plaintiffs N. Saruul, Sh. Erbol and the Auto Trade and Car Business Association had sought to invalidate a February 8, 2024 Citizens’ Representatives Khural resolution setting the maximum number of vehicle plates issued in the capital, along with a November 15, 2024 mayoral order approving issuance criteria. A first-instance court dismissed the claims in full, and the appellate court upheld that ruling. The Supreme Court panel found that the plaintiffs’ lawyers had not demonstrated grounds required for supervisory review, such as inconsistent application of law, a serious procedural violation affecting the decision, or an issue of broad legal significance.
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Capital Prepares Road Fleet and Flood-Ice Controls for Winter
Published: 2026-10-22
Ulaanbaatar has readied 432 specialized road-cleaning vehicles and 96 salt-spreading vehicles as part of its 2026-2027 winter preparations. The city has stockpiled 16,000 tonnes of salt and de-icing materials, while work continues to upgrade 80.2 kilometers of utility networks and 132 kilometers of roads. Authorities also cleared more than 34,000 cubic meters of sediment from flood-control facilities. Seasonal frazil ice can form from December 10 through winter and early spring at 36 to 45 locations covering 596 hectares. This year, 390 households and land parcels were cleared from areas exposed to flood and frazil-ice risk. Mayor B. Purevdavaa instructed city agencies and nine districts to organize winter safety and carbon-monoxide prevention measures.
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Government Plans 100,000-Home Program With Regional Mortgage Rates
Published: 2026-10-22
The government discussed its planned 100,000 Homes program on October 21. It proposes state-financed homes for 40,000 households and increased housing supply for 60,000 households through private-sector participation, targeting first-time buyers and households moving from ger districts. Authorities are considering region-based mortgage rates of 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 percent: provincial rates could be 6 percent, while Ulaanbaatar rates could begin at 6 percent for three years and then rise. Urban Development Minister E. Bat-Amgalan said selection for state-financed homes would be organized openly through commercial banks. Detailed eligibility, allocation and payment terms have not yet been set. Under the Solongo-1 and Solongo-2 projects, the listed price fell from MNT4.428 million to MNT3.9 million per square meter.
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BRT Design and Operations Tender Enters Second Stage on October 26
Published: 2026-10-22
Ulaanbaatar will open the second stage of tenders for detailed design and operational-planning consulting services for its bus rapid transit project on October 26. The city received 23 submissions for detailed design and 13 for operational planning, then shortlisted six bidders for each contract. The proposed BRT line would run 12.9 kilometers along Ard Ayush Avenue, Ikh Toiruu, Namyangju Street and Niislel Khuree Avenue, with 19 stations. The Asian Development Bank is funding preliminary design work. Officials also reported that the tram project’s feasibility study is complete and that solutions for accelerating land acquisition have been prepared. The first tram line, from Sukhbaatar Square to Zunjin, has an estimated cost of MNT1.2 trillion; the second is estimated at MNT1.5 trillion.
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Published: 2026-10-22
A parliamentary working group has been formed to examine a public petition seeking the cancellation of a 10,000-tugrik local road fee. More than 33,000 people signed the petition initiated by citizen E. Batbayar, prompting a standing committee resolution to study the issue and prepare recommendations. Member of Parliament B. Punsalmaa will lead the 10-member group, which includes M. Badamsuren, J. Galbadrakh, Kh. Gankhuyag, S. Zamira and O. Saranchuluun. The article invites motorists to submit specific problems and complaints from provincial toll points to the group. Under a government resolution dated July 1, 2026, revised charges for international and national roads took effect on August 1: passenger-car fees rose from 1,000 to 5,000 tugriks and truck fees from 10,000 to 20,000 tugriks.
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Society
17 Ice-Breaking Calls Recorded This Year
Published: 2026-10-22
The National Emergency Management Agency recorded 17 calls and reports of river and lake ice breaking nationwide from January 1 through October 22, including two in October. On October 20, a passenger car sank after ice broke on Noogt Lake in Tariat soum, Arkhangai province; emergency personnel recovered the vehicle and returned it to its owner. On October 21, rescuers brought two young children to safety after ice broke while they were playing in Kherlen soum, Khentii province, leaving them unable to return to the riverbank. Authorities said waterways have not yet formed a safe, fully frozen ice cover and urged parents not to let children play on river or lake ice and for people to avoid traveling across it.
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Search Enters Eighth Day for Missing Herder in Uvs Province
Published: 2026-10-22
Search teams in Uvs Province are continuing an eighth-day operation for a 26-year-old woman who went missing while looking for livestock near Mash in the Burgastai area of Tarialan soum. Officials received the report at 4:50 p.m. on October 15, after she left at about 7 a.m. Her disappearance occurred during a snowstorm affecting the province, according to National Emergency Management Agency chief G. Ariunbuyan. Provincial emergency services, a search-and-rescue unit, police, the soum professional team and relatives are involved. The operation includes about 47 personnel, five units of technical equipment, three drones and a search dog. Deep snow is hampering work: ground cover is 30-40 centimeters deep, with drifts reaching about one meter in gullies.
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Police Warn of Bank-Impersonation Scams Targeting Older People
Published: 2026-10-22
Police have warned that scammers are increasingly targeting older people by calling from mobile numbers and falsely claiming to represent commercial banks. Callers say they need to update loan or account information, then seek internet-banking details and remove money from victims’ accounts. In one reported case, a caller claiming to represent Khan Bank obtained a person’s information and the account was emptied about 30 minutes later. Mongolia recorded 9,648 fraud cases in the first half of the year, including 7,174 committed online. Police said fraud has spread beyond Facebook to Instagram, Telegram and TikTok, often using AI-assisted fake accounts, websites, videos, messages and links. They advised people not to share usernames or passwords, open links or messages, and to verify whether sites or pages are official.
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New Base Pension to Reach 435,000 Seniors From November 1
Published: 2026-10-22
Following Parliament’s adoption of the 2026 state-budget revision, 435,000 elderly people are set to begin receiving a new base pension on November 1. The government on October 22 approved a resolution setting the figures used to calculate the payment. It fixed the basic base-pension amount at 100,000 tugriks, the fixed calculation amount at 40,000 tugriks, and the additional amount at 5,000 tugriks for each year of contributions paid. The resolution caps the base pension at 300,000 tugriks. The figures will determine the amounts paid under the new scheme. The measure follows the government’s budget revision, which Parliament discussed and approved before the cabinet adopted the calculation indicators.
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Environment
Snowstorms and High Winds Disrupt Central and Western Provinces
Published: 2026-10-22
Snow, wet snow, snowstorms, strong winds and dust storms were forecast across parts of Mongolia on October 22, with drivers warned of reduced visibility and icy roads at passes and higher elevations. Snowfall of 0.0-8.0 millimetres was expected in areas of Bayan-Ulgii, southern Khovd, eastern Zavkhan, Govi-Altai, Bayankhongor, northern Uvurkhangai, Arkhangai, Khuvsgul, Bulgan, parts of Tuv and much of Selenge. Winds in Govi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Uvurkhangai, southern Dornogovi, eastern Arkhangai, Dundgovi and Umnugovi were forecast at 18-20 metres per second, with gusts up to 24 metres per second. Ulaanbaatar was expected to be cloudy, with light afternoon precipitation and northwesterly winds gusting to 13-15 metres per second. Supplied forecasts put the capital’s daytime temperature between 1C and 5C.
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Mobikom Executives Linked to Fire That Burned Protected Area
Published: 2026-10-22
Japanese media reports say a vehicle carrying Mobikom executives, including Chief Executive Yasuhiro Ochi, may be connected to an October 8 steppe fire in Dornod province’s Numrug Strictly Protected Area. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s preliminary assessment, cited by The Japan Times, put the total burned area at about 530,000 hectares, including 470,000 hectares within the protected area. KDDI, which owns 98.84% of Mobikom, said the executives had notified border authorities in advance of a planned 4G network test. Local media, however, questioned the purpose of the visit and whether proper entry authorization existed. KDDI said it recognizes the scale of environmental damage and apologized. Investigators are determining the fire’s cause and damage, while the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry has said responsible parties will be required to compensate for losses.
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Bear Reports Reach Eight Across Four Locations
Published: 2026-10-22
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change recorded eight bear-related calls and reports nationwide on October 20-21. Five came from Khentii Province, while Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, Arkhangai Province and Darkhan-Uul Province each recorded one. Protected-area administrations reported no bear calls between 8 a.m. on October 21 and 8 p.m. on October 22. The update followed a separate October 19-20 reporting period, when authorities received 14 calls about brown bears entering settled areas, including one false report in Ulaanbaatar. Officials said four bears near homes were killed for public safety, two were driven out of settlements and searches continued after five reports. Authorities have killed 48 bears nationwide under population-management measures, including five in necessary self-defense cases.
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Seasonal Grazing Areas Set to Host 717,400 Sheep This Winter
Published: 2026-10-22
Seasonal grazing reserve areas can accommodate 717,400 sheep this winter, Agriculture Minister Ts. Iderbat told Parliament’s Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture on October 22. Applications from herders seeking seasonal access to state special-use land, border zones and natural-complex parks are being received and processed through otorchin.gov.mn. Nationally, about 61.8 million livestock owned by roughly 195,500 herding households are expected to winter and spring, while pasture-capacity assessments found more than half of the country’s area sufficient and about half over capacity. The ministry is building emergency reserves of 12,100 tonnes of natural hay and 4,900 tonnes of manufactured feed; preparations were 57 percent and 75 percent complete, respectively. It also reported poor summer pasture conditions in parts of Sukhbaatar, Dundgovi, Umnugovi, Khovd, Govi-Altai and Khentii provinces.
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Potato Harvest Ends as Grain and Vegetable Collection Reaches 87%
Published: 2026-10-22
The potato harvest has been completed, while collection of grain and vegetables continued at 87% as of October 19, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry. Farmers had harvested 509,200 tonnes of grain from 303,200 hectares, including wheat, along with 169,100 tonnes of potatoes and 177,600 tonnes of vegetables. Rain and wet snow on October 15-16 temporarily stopped work on 64,000 hectares of grain, 27,000 hectares of fodder crops and 43,000 hectares of oilseeds. Preliminary nationwide results are due on October 30. The Agricultural Corporation has also begun building potato and vegetable reserves in refrigerated warehouses with total capacity of 12,000 tonnes.
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Innovation
Published: 2026-10-22
Mongolia’s Cybersecurity Council reviewed rising online crime and promoted zalilan.113.mn, a website that helps users identify common fraud schemes, check suspicious links and emails, and find guidance on what to do after a scam. Online crimes accounted for 32 percent of all reported crimes in 2026, up from 19 percent in 2021. More than 11,440 cybercrimes were reported in the first nine months of this year. Losses from cybercrime had reached MNT 28 billion by October, while MNT 15 billion in assets had been frozen and MNT 1.5 billion recovered. Prime Minister N. Uchral instructed ministries and agencies to modernize the anti-fraud system. He also requested a proposal for a coordinated, one-stop model involving police, regulators, the Bank of Mongolia and commercial banks.
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First-Term School Break Begins November 2
Published: 2026-10-22
General education schools in Ulaanbaatar and the provinces will begin their first-term break on November 2 under the approved 2026-2027 academic calendar. Reports differ on its end date: one says students will rest through November 6, while three others list November 2-8. All reports say second-term classes will begin on Monday, November 9. The school year has four terms: nine teaching weeks in the first, seven in the second, 10 in the third and eight in the fourth. Primary-school students will have 32 weeks of in-person instruction, middle-school students 33 weeks and upper-secondary students 34 weeks. The calendar includes independent-study weeks in February and March during the third term. The second-term break is scheduled to begin December 28 and last three weeks, with an independent-study week in Ulaanbaatar from December 21 to 25.
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Health
Government Seeks Diagnostic Equipment After Russian Disease Alerts
Published: 2026-10-22
Deputy Prime Minister N. Nomtoibayar said Russia had reported six cases of monkeypox, including four in St. Petersburg and cases in Moscow. Russian authorities were monitoring and treating the patients, he said. The Irkutsk illness was reported not to be pneumonic plague and led to 198 people being quarantined. Nomtoibayar said one report identified two COVID-type viruses, while another described the diagnosis as rhinovirus. More than 200 vehicles and 2,148 Mongolian citizens travelled through the area during the episode, he said. He said the illness was not a highly contagious disease, but stressed the need for preparedness because outbreaks have occurred in neighboring countries. Mongolia lacks equipment to diagnose monkeypox, and the government has submitted requests to two organizations to obtain the equipment urgently.
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Anti-Corruption Agency Calls for Tighter Health Insurance Fund Oversight
Published: 2026-10-22
The Anti-Corruption Agency has sent recommendations to Prime Minister N. Uchral, Health Minister E. Batshugar, Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan and Family, Labour and Social Protection Minister T. Aubakir after reviewing Health Insurance Fund management and provider payments from 2024 through 2026. Approved fund income rose from 1.9 billion to 2.7 billion tugriks, while expenditure rose from 1.9 billion to 2.4 billion tugriks, the agency said. It warned that weak revenue collection and fully executed spending could disrupt the fund. Of 557.9 billion tugriks paid to 192 private hospitals from 2024 through the first half of 2026, about 47% went to 11 hospitals. The agency urged risk-based claim reviews, greater use of technology and an assessment of payment disparities; agencies must report progress by December 10.
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Food-Safety Cases Reach 422 in Third Quarter Review
Published: 2026-10-22
Authorities reviewed 422 complaints and reports of violations of the Food Safety Law through the third quarter of 2026, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. Ulaanbaatar accounted for 160 cases, or 37.9 percent, while 262 cases, or 62.1 percent, were recorded in other areas. Producing, storing or selling food past its use-by date was the most common violation, with 202 cases representing 47.9 percent of the total. Officials imposed penalties on 385 people and legal entities: 210 businesses and 175 individuals. Fines totaled MNT 759.2 million, of which MNT 489.5 million, or 64.5 percent, had been paid. Prosecutors called on food businesses to strengthen oversight of product quality, safety requirements, storage conditions and expiration dates.
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