Economy
Published: 2026-10-25
The Financial Regulatory Commission is preparing rule changes to prohibit non-bank financial institutions from charging commissions and fees linked to loan services. The measure is intended to reduce borrowers’ debt burden, lower the effective cost of credit and strengthen consumer protection. The commission has already decided that monthly interest on app-based loans may not exceed the ceiling set by the Money Lending Policy Council. The proposed changes would also prevent lenders from separately charging customers for costs that are already reflected in interest rates, including funding, operating and risk costs, as well as profit. If adopted, borrowers would pay fewer charges beyond loan interest, while the total cost and repayment terms of loans would become clearer.
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Diplomacy
Khurelsukh Begins First Presidential State Visit to Belarus
Published: 2026-10-25
President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh has arrived in Minsk for a state visit to Belarus at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko. It is the first visit to Belarus by a Mongolian head of state. The presidents are scheduled to hold a private meeting and official talks, followed by a briefing for media representatives. Belarusian parliamentary leaders and the prime minister are also due to meet Khurelsukh. The sides plan to sign cooperation documents covering agriculture, light industry, customs, accreditation, education, health, sports and communications. Minsk will also host a Mongolia-Belarus business forum and Mongolian Culture Days, including a performance by the National Academic Theatre of Traditional Art. The countries established diplomatic relations on January 24, 1992; Belarus’s head of state made a first presidential visit to Mongolia in 2024.
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Infrastructure
More Than Half of Ulaanbaatar Briquette Outlets Had No or Critically Low Stock
Published: 2026-10-25
A government inspection found that briquette-fuel availability was depleted or critically low at more than half of Ulaanbaatar’s 446 sales outlets. As of October 22, 168 outlets had no remaining stock and 80 held only one to 50 bags. The city plans to supply 427,400 tonnes to ger-district households during the 2026-2027 heating season, with 51,200 tonnes in reserve at that date. Chief Inspector P. Batbaatar instructed Tavantolgoi Fuel’s acting chief executive S. Davaasuren to align distribution with demand and outlet workloads. The city’s air-pollution office was also directed to integrate the Hotula app with dashboard.gov.mn for real-time public monitoring of stocks, sales and distribution. A bag costs MNT 3,750; households typically buy seven bags at a time.
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Nighttime Electricity Discount Begins November 1 for Eligible Households
Published: 2026-10-25
Ulaanbaatar’s annual nighttime electricity discount for eligible ger-district households will begin on November 1. The program, introduced in 2017, applies to electricity used between 21:00 and 09:00 by households with no outstanding electricity bills, time-of-use meters, and electricity used only for domestic needs and heating their occupied home or ger. More than 171,000 households live in the capital’s ger districts. The discount runs through April 1 and also covers qualifying households in provincial centers and soums or settlements with populations above 10,000. Customers connected to 220-volt networks receive a full discount for up to 1,500 kWh and a 50 percent discount above that limit; the corresponding limits for 380-volt connections are 3,000 kWh.
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Society
Police Urge Drivers to Switch to Winter Tires as Roads Become Slippery
Published: 2026-10-25
The Transport Police Department has urged drivers to fit winter tires as colder temperatures create icy and slippery road conditions. Winter tires provide stronger grip on snow and ice and can improve a vehicle’s stopping ability on slippery roads by 30-40 percent compared with other tire types, according to the department. Their tread pattern and grooves also improve traction in snow. Summer tires are less resistant to cold, can harden or freeze, and lose grip, increasing the risk of skidding and traffic accidents. Police advised motorists to complete winter preparation for their vehicles and drive with caution to protect people and property. Winter tires are designed for temperatures below 7C and may heat up easily in warm conditions.
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Customs Warns of Drugs Infused Into Paper and Courier Document Requests
Published: 2026-10-25
The General Customs Administration has warned that drug traffickers are using paper infused with narcotics to move illegal substances and urged people not to accept documents from strangers for delivery. Authorities said requests to carry paperwork may conceal drug transport. The warning follows concern over changing trafficking methods, which authorities say are becoming increasingly sophisticated; infusing drugs into paper is one cited method. The report also says Mongolia has shifted from being described as a transit and carrier country to one with drug use, and identifies rising use among people aged 14 to 35 as a concern. The Customs Administration urged the public to treat unsolicited requests to transport another person’s documents with caution, given the possibility that narcotics may be hidden in the paper.
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Environment
Helicopter Survey Considered to Assess Fire Damage at Nomrog Reserve
Published: 2026-10-25
An assessment team is considering helicopter support to measure environmental damage from the forest and steppe fire at Nomrog Strictly Protected Area in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod province. Preliminary figures show that more than 468,000 hectares, or 79.8 percent of the reserve, were affected. The fire began on October 8 and was fully extinguished on October 16. Teams have surveyed several affected areas, but inaccessible wetlands, ravines and water channels prevent access to parts of the eastern core and strictly protected zones by vehicle, motorcycle or horse. The National Emergency Commission and General Authority for Border Protection are reviewing technical support and possible cooperation with neighboring countries. Aerial surveys could document inaccessible areas and help assess forest loss, wildlife habitat, soil and vegetation damage.
“Beyond the area marked by the black line on the map, access by vehicle, motorcycle and horse is no longer possible.” - Ts. Sandag-Ochir (isee.mn)
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Health
Health Center Warns Households Not to Close Chimney Dampers
Published: 2026-10-25
The National Center for Public Health has warned households to keep chimney dampers open during heating, as colder weather increases stove use and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas can form when air circulation in a stove or heater is poor and oxygen is insufficient. Residents are advised to inspect chimneys and stoves for damage, clean them twice each season, and use chimney-and-stove seals regularly. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, the center recommends installing detectors and checking that they work properly. Other advice includes ventilating homes regularly, using fire-safe electrical equipment, and improving insulation. Headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness and confusion can signal poisoning; anyone with these symptoms should move into fresh air, alert others and call emergency medical services at 103.
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Child Health Screenings Flag Dental Problems and Weight Changes
Published: 2026-10-25
A nationwide preventive health screening program for children in kindergartens and general education schools is running from October 1 to December 1. Health Ministry reports dated October 23 said 198,302 children, or 69.4 percent of the target group, had begun screening and 130,450, or 45.7 percent, had completed a medical examination. A separate supplied report gives a different participation figure: 178,000 of 286,000 children, or 62.2 percent. Risk assessments classified 41.2 percent as needing additional evaluation and diagnosis, while 8.4 percent were high risk. Dental disease was most common among moderate-risk children; developmental delay and body-weight changes were prominent among high-risk children. Screenings cover ages 3, 6, 11 and 15, with results and health recommendations available through E-Mongolia and E-Kids.
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