Mongolia, Republic of Korea and Australia dominate on Day 4 of FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026 www.fiba.basketball

SINGAPORE – Mongolia (men and women), Republic of Korea (men) and Australia (women) delivered statement performances on Day 4 of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2026, topping their pools and powering into the Quarter-Finals as the Main Draw intensified.

With knockout spots on the line, the tournament’s contenders began to separate themselves at The Kallang.

Mongolia men stay perfect

Mongolia’s men continued their strong run, finishing unbeaten to top their pool and advance to the Quarter-Finals.

They opened with a composed 21-15 win over Chinese Taipei, before surviving a thriller against the Philippines. After trailing early, Mongolia stormed back behind Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon, who delivered key plays down the stretch in a 21-19 victory.

Gantsolmon, currently tied for first overall in player value (24.5), has been central to Mongolia’s success, leading a balanced and resilient unit through a perfect pool phase.

Warrior Queen powers Mongolia

Mongolia’s women were equally impressive, sweeping their group to secure top spot and a place in the Quarter-Finals.

They dismantled Malaysia 20-6 before edging New Zealand 12-10 in a tightly contested showdown.

Leading the charge was the "Warrior Queen" herself, Khulan Onolbaatar, who continues to anchor the team’s performances. Ranked third overall in player value (17.2), Onolbaatar combined scoring and leadership to guide Mongolia through a perfect day.

With both teams advancing unbeaten, Mongolia have firmly established themselves as title contenders.

Prime Minister Uchral Appoints New Cabinet Members www.montsame.mn

At the plenary session of the State Great Khural (Parliament), the members of the Government presented by Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor were discussed. Subsequently, the Prime Minister exercised his power granted under the Constitution and the Law on Government to appoint and formalize the members of the Cabinet.

While appointing the members of the Government, the Prime Minister emphasized that they were being appointed during an extraordinary period marked by disruptions in fuel supply, sharp price increases, shortages, rising inflation, and price surges, circumstances under which many countries around the world have declared states of emergency.

He noted that holding a ministerial position is less about power and more about responsibility. The Prime Minister stressed that ministers are entrusted with a heavy duty to confront challenges, overcome difficulties, work with greater speed and courage, and turn problems into solutions. He underlined the expectation that they will utilize their knowledge and experience to implement the Government’s policies, programs, and objectives, lead their respective sectors effectively, and work free from corruption and conflicts of interest.

He also emphasized strict accountability in both ethics and performance, calling on ministers to demonstrate patriotism through action, and to work with unity, strength, and decisiveness.

Following this, the newly appointed ministers took their oath before Parliament, paid respect to the state flag, and signed the oath document.

The Cabinet led by Prime Minister Uchral consists of:

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development: Enkhbayar Jadamba
Deputy Prime Minister: Dorjkhand Togmid
Deputy Prime Minister: Nomtoibayar Nyamtaishir
Minister and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat: Enkhbayar Battumur
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Battsetseg Batmunkh
Minister of Finance: Mendsaikhan Zagdjav
Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs: Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources: Damdinnyam Gongor
Minister of Defense: Batlut Damba
Minister of Environment and Climate Change: Sandag-Ochir Tsend
Minister of Education: Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren
Minister of Family, Labour and Social Protection: Aubakir Telyekhan
Minister of Road and Transport: Delgersaikhan Borkhuu
Minister of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth: Aldarjavkhlan Jukov
Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing: Bat-Amgalan Enkhtaivan
Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry: Iderbat Tsagaankhuu
Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Communications: Nomin Chinbat
Minister of Energy: Naidalaa Badrakh

Ulaanbaatar to Provide Free LPG Heating Systems to Insulated Households www.montsame.mn

Households that have fully insulated their homes will receive a one-time free installation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) heaters.

In addition, a subsidy of up to MNT 900,000 will be provided during the heating season, from September 15 of the current year to May 15 of the following year. The subsidy will not be paid in cash but will be gradually deducted from households’ LPG heating bills, according to the Media and Public Relations Department of the Ulaanbaatar City Governor’s Office.

A total of 51,080 households have been selected for transition to gas heating, including 14,685 in Songinokhairkhan district, 12,229 in Chingeltei district, 8,483 in Bayangol district, 13,655 in Bayanzurkh district, and 2,028 in Sukhbaatar district.

Residents in the selected khoroos who wish to switch to LPG heating can apply by submitting a request form through their local administrative units. The initiative is part of the city’s plan to improve air quality by gradually transitioning households in 35 khoroos across five districts—designated as “green zones” for air quality improvement—to cleaner LPG-based heating systems.

Parliament Elects Byambatsogt as Speaker www.montsame.mn

The State Great Khural continued discussions on electing the speaker during its afternoon plenary session on April 3, 2026.

At the previous day’s session, the Democratic Party group had requested a three-day recess, but Deputy Speaker Bat-Erdene Jadamba, who chaired the session, granted a one-day break.

Following the expiration of the recess, lawmakers resumed deliberations and voted to elect Byambatsogt Sandag as Chairman of the State Great Khural with 76.3 percent support.

Profile

Sandag Byambatsogt was born in 1974 in Khovd aimag. He is married with three children.

He graduated from the Institute of Finance and Economics in 1999, Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2005, and the School of Law at the National University of Mongolia in 2014. He holds degrees in economics and law, with master’s qualification in business administration and legal studies.

He served as Director and Chairman of the Board of “New Progress” Group from 2000 to 2008. He has been a Member of Parliament in multiple terms since 2008 and held several senior positions, including:

Deputy Head (2012–2013) and Head (2013–2016) of the Mongolian People’s Party group in Parliament

Minister of Justice and Home Affairs (2016–2017)

Chair of the Standing Committee on State Structure (2019–2020)

Chair of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs (2020–2022)

Minister of Road and Transport Development (2022–2024)

Minister of Defense (2024–2025)

Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat (since 2025)

Pension Reserve Fund Assets Increase by MNT 2.7 Billion www.montsame.mn

Along with the implementation of the revised package law on social insurance starting January 1, 2024, Mongolia transitioned to a partially funded pension system and established a Pension Reserve Fund. Under this reform, two percent of pension insurance contributions began to be accumulated in monetary form in the fund.

As of 2025, a total of MNT 302.7 billion has been accumulated in the Pension Reserve Fund. By Government Resolution No. 256 of 2024, the Government approved the “Regulation on the accumulation, registration, allocation, placement, reporting, investment, inheritance, and supervision of Pension Reserve Fund assets.” In accordance with this regulation, the fund’s assets are invested based on the principles of security, efficiency, transparency, and independence. Investments are permitted in four financial instruments: Government securities, Bank of Mongolia securities, cash deposits placed in the Treasury Single Account, and time deposits held in systemically important commercial banks.

On December 31, 2025, “Cash Deposit Agreements” were concluded with four systemically important commercial banks, placing MNT 215.3 billion of the Pension Reserve Fund as one-year deposits with an annual interest return of 15.11 percent. As a result, conditions were created to increase the fund’s assets by MNT 32.5 billion. The fund received an investment return of MNT 2.7 billion for March 2026, further increasing the total assets of the Pension Reserve Fund.

Tender for ‘First Ring Project’ Contractor Announced www.montsame.mn

An international open tender has been announced to select the contractor for the “First Ring Road” project.

The tender has been announced in the form of an “EPC+F” (Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing) model, meaning a turnkey, contractor-financed arrangement. In other words, the selected contractor will be responsible not only for preparing the project design, carrying out construction, and supplying the necessary equipment, but also for fully financing the project, according to the Capital City Governor’s Office.

Four companies have participated in the international open tender for the “First Ring Road” project. The evaluation committee is scheduled to meet next week to select the contractor. Specifically, China First Highway Engineering Company Limited, Shandong Luqiao Group Co., Ltd., China Railway 16th Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and China Gezhouba Group Company Limited are participating.

The total length of the ring road will be 24.7 km, of which 13.7 km will be a ground-level main road with 10 lanes, 2.08 km will consist of tunnel sections, and 9.03 km will include multi-level bridges and overpass structures.

In addition, the project will feature seven multi-level interchanges, three pedestrian bridges, and four underpasses. The total project financing amounts to USD 918.57 million, with completion planned for 2028.

The First Ring Road is designed with two categories: main roads and auxiliary roads. The main road will have six lanes with two directions and a design speed of 80–100 km/h, without traffic lights, allowing uninterrupted medium- and long-distance urban travel. The auxiliary road will have four lanes with two directions and a design speed of 60 km/h, designated for public transport. This separation is expected to reduce the impact of low-speed, short-distance traffic on the main road flow.

The ring road will intersect with the Tuul Highway at two locations. It will run north along the flood protection embankment west of the 1st microdistrict toward ger areas, connect to the Bayankhoshuu subcenter via a multi-level interchange, and continue eastward. It will intersect with Khuvisgalchdiin Avenue, pass north of the Sambalkhundev cemetery through a tunnel, and continue along the Khailaast and Doloon Buudal roads, where additional interchanges will be constructed. It will then pass south of the Selbe subcenter, cross the Selbe River, and connect to the Dari-Ekh Road via a bridge.

Once completed, the project is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the central urban area by 23–50% and increase average vehicle speeds during peak hours by 23.3%. Road capacity is also projected to increase by 23% at Zuun Durvun Zam, 21% at Baruun Durvun Zam, 14% at Bayanburd roundabout, and 10% along Ikh Mongol Street.

Groundwater Exploration to be Conducted at 25 Locations in Dornogobi Aimag www.montsame.mn

This year, Dornogobi aimag’s Food and Agriculture Department has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry to conduct groundwater geophysical exploration at 25 sites across five soums, along with the construction of five engineered wells in the pasturelands of three soums, to be funded by the state budget.

Additionally, with an investment of MNT 110 million from the Local Development Funds of Dalanjargalan, Urgun, and Erdene soums, it is planned to construct and rehabilitate eight wells, both engineered and traditional wells, to improve water supply for pastureland.

In 2025, a total of 13 engineered wells and 10 traditional wells were newly constructed or rehabilitated across the aimag. As a result, 29,500 hectares of pastureland were supplied with water, enabling watering access for 35,300 livestock.

In Dornogobi aimag, 4,226 herder households across 14 soums are raising 1.6 million livestock (equivalent to 3.0 million sheep units) this spring.

Tech Companies Must End Complicity in Online Repression of Mongolian Culture www.techpolicy.press

For decades, the Chinese government has curated how the world sees Mongolian culture—packaging it as colorful, compliant, and “traditional.” But this carefully managed image erases what is actually happening—the systematic destruction of a once-vibrant digital ecosystem where Mongolian language, culture, and dissent flourished beyond state control.

The reality of life for Mongolians living in China, largely in the autonomous region known as Inner Mongolia, is a brutal and uncompromising repression of their voices—both on and offline. This repression should be setting off alarm bells around the world because of the precedent it sets about the harassment and surveillance of people who speak out against the government. It also reaches into Mongolian communities living outside of China.

As technology advanced globally, digital communities became essential hubs for Mongolians to communicate, preserve their language, and create new music and art. This dynamic and creative use of technology to support a minority culture was at odds with the Chinese government’s desire for uniformity and control.

But new research from PEN America’s Freedom to Write Center shows that nearly 89% of known Mongolian-language websites have either been shut down, restricted, or converted into Mandarin Chinese, with all mentions of Mongolian culture removed or sanitized to fit the China-approved narrative.

Taking the eradication further, more than 200 songs in Mongolian have been removed from online music libraries—including protest songs about the death of a Mongolian herdsman who was killed while defending his land from a Chinese mining company. The end result is that more than six million people are having their language ripped away from them.

Tech companies are complicit. There are several documented examples of how US companies have apparently helped power and enable the repression of free expression and culture in China, from companies like Microsoft pre-emptively censoring search results in order to operate in China, to cloud hosting company Vultr carrying out Tencent's request to shut down GreatFire.org, which uses AI to track censorship. Additionally, multiple US companies like IBM and Dell have enabled the spread of the surveillance infrastructure that has targeted minorities in China. By caving to state pressure, tech companies become willing enforcers of Chinese state narratives and human rights violations, not only in China but across the world as well.

All of this amounts to a blatant violation of Mongolians’ rights to free expression, language, and identity, and it shows what could happen the world over if private tech and social media companies continue to cave to government demands.

Mongolia Has Its First Luxury Hotel. It Was Worth The Wait www.forbes.com

Mongolia has long captivated the imagination of travelers drawn to its vast steppe, nomadic culture, and extreme remoteness. What it has lacked, until now, is a hotel worthy of the destination. The opening of Ayan Zalaat Hotel & Spa, the debut property from Mongolian-owned Ayan Hotels & Resorts, marks a genuine turning point for high-end travel in the region.

Situated in the Zalaat Valley on the boundary of the Bogd Khan Uul UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, one of the world’s oldest protected wilderness areas, the property occupies a quietly extraordinary position: removed enough from the capital’s congested center to feel like a true retreat, yet close enough to function as a destination unto itself within Ulaanbaatar.

Across its 32 rooms and suites, 10 dining and lounge venues, a sommelier-led private wine cellar, a members-only cigar lounge, and an expansive spa, the hotel makes a compelling case that serious luxury and serious place-making are not mutually exclusive. The interiors, conceived by Italian architect Fabio Friso, draw on rich materials and a considered spatial vocabulary that manages to feel opulent without tipping into excess.

The name offers a clue to the philosophy underpinning all of it. Derived from a Sanskrit phrase meaning “gift from God,” Ayan Zalaat was conceived as something more than a hotel. The valley itself has been considered sacred ground since the 12th century, when monks sought its quietude for meditation and spiritual study. That contemplative history is not merely acknowledged here; it is actively cultivated. Renewal, stillness, and cultural integrity are treated as foundational to the guest experience, not as amenity add-ons.

The property’s real strengths reveal themselves not in the imported Italian marble, of which there is a considerable amount, but in the more unexpected spaces scattered throughout the grounds.

The Ayan Spa, developed in collaboration with Clinique Nescens of Genolier, Switzerland, and Dr. Burgener of Switzerland, brings a level of medical wellness sophistication that elevates the property well beyond a standard hotel spa. It combines Mongolian cultural traditions with Swiss medical wellness protocols across a program that includes treatment rooms, a hydromassage pool, steam room, sauna, indoor pool, fitness center, yoga studio, and relaxation lounge. Spa treatments are available to outside guests by appointment; the pool, fitness center, and yoga facilities are reserved for hotel guests.
“Ayan Zalaat was envisioned as a place where many experiences could coexist within one setting,” said Tselmuun Nyamtaishir, Founder and CEO of Ayan Hotels & Resorts. “Combining culture, wellness, dining, entertainment, and gathering spaces, while meeting the expectations of both international travelers and local guests. More than a single opening, it reflects our commitment to shaping the future of tourism in Mongolia. At the heart of this vision are our people, my greatest pride and our true strength. Investing in them is a rare and deliberate choice, reflecting our long-term commitment to service excellence, cultural preservation, and the development of Mongolian talent as we grow and evolve this destination over time.”

I’ve been based in Ulaanbaatar for eight years and have stayed everywhere from remote ger camps to roadside guesthouses across the country. After spending a night there last month, it’s difficult to imagine anything in Mongolia surpassing it.

The Junior Suite greets guests with floor-to-ceiling windows framing an unobstructed mountain panorama. On the afternoon I checked in, horses and deer moved across the lower slopes in the late afternoon light. It is the sort of view that, in another context, would be the primary selling point of an entire property.

The rooms are generous, but the bathrooms are what you’ll remember. A glazed hallway connects the bedroom to an Italian marble bathroom, framing the mountain view as it leads you to the soaking tub. It feels indulgent in exactly the right way.

Beyond the rooms and spa, a private cinema, bowling alley, karaoke room, games lounges, and scenic walking paths round out what is an unusually comprehensive amenity offering for a property of this size. For guests wishing to venture further, the hotel curates bespoke itineraries across Mongolia in partnership with remote camps, off-road expedition operators, and small-plane charter services, providing access to regions that remain beyond the reach of conventional tourism.

The property’s induction into Leading Hotels of the World, the first Mongolian property to receive that recognition, is a signal the international hospitality industry is paying attention. Rooted in a landscape of spiritual significance and undergirded by a serious commitment to its people, Ayan Zalaat sets a new standard for what luxury hospitality in Mongolia can and should look like.

Ayan Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open six additional properties by 2030, with sites identified across Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Khövsgöl, Ömnögovi, Bayan-Ölgii, and Dornod Provinces.

Rates at Ayan Zalaat Hotel & Spa start from $850 per night.

N.Uchral: Some Ministers may be retained based on performance www.gogo.mn

On April 1, Prime Minister N.Uchral briefed journalists at the State Palace on the composition of the new government.

He said the government’s work is continuing normally with civil servants and state secretaries in place, and stressed the need to begin work without delay.

“Regarding the composition of the government, we will of course take into account the progress made in each sector. We are reviewing the situation, performance, and results of each minister in their respective field,” he said.

N.Uchral also noted that international issues must be considered, saying there are many tasks related to fuel supplies, including trips to Russia and the signing of agreements. “Some Ministers need to remain in place. This is not just our domestic work,” he said.

He added that the government will consider the performance of sector Ministers and their relations with other countries. “The composition of the government will be decided today or tomorrow. So far, only the HUN Party has been invited,” he said.

When asked about the Tuul river highway issue, N.Uchral said a working group would be established and the Ethics Committee would discuss the matter. “I have officially warned the Mayor,” he said.