COP17 Countdown in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia is gearing up to host UNCCD COP17 (Aug. 17–28), with hundreds of Blue Zone meetings for accredited delegates and a public Green Zone open via QR pre-registration, featuring projects, panels, films, and daily province showcases on land restoration and herder-led solutions. Global Pastoralist Focus: The Global Pastoralist Gathering and Conference opened in Ulaanbaatar, with President Khurelsukh urging rangeland protection and outlining Mongolia’s “Steppe Action” priorities for pasture management, land–water links, and nature-based infrastructure. Desertification at Scale: Mongolia’s preparations come as new reporting highlights how much of the world’s rangelands are degraded—an issue tied directly to food security and livelihoods. Mongolia–Museum Tech: The National Museum of Mongolia added multilingual QR audio guides and upgraded exhibit descriptions across its permanent halls to make heritage easier for visitors. Rare Earth Push (Inner Mongolia): China plans a major Bayan Obo rare-earth mine expansion, underscoring the wider race for critical minerals used in high-tech industries. Ecology Law in China: China’s Ecological and Environmental Code took effect, with officials touting progress in forest and grassland restoration.