A degree of diplomatic balance between Pyongyang and Seoul has even allowed Mongolia to execute a constructive role in Korean security during the 21st century. It was around the time of the second North Korean nuclear crisis (circa 2003) that Ulaanbaatar first began to see itself as a potential mediator between the two Koreas. Mongolia’s deliberate neutrality makes it stand out in an otherwise tensions-ridden Northeast Asia, and this has helped build trust with Pyongyang. The US has encouraged Mongolia to keep its working ties with Pyongyang intact so as to utilize Ulaanbaatar as both a channel of communication and a source of information regarding North Korea — albeit that, contrary to Mongolian wishes, Washington and its partners have generally been unwilling to extend a mediator role to Mongolia.

To be sure, the simple fact of distance from the Korean Peninsula does not mean that Mongolia would be immune from the effects of a hot conflict on and around the Korean Peninsula, were one to erupt. At the heart of Ulaanbaatar’s position on Korean security, in addition to the inter-related concepts of diplomatic equilibrium and the “third neighbor policy”, is the employment of a preventive diplomacy strategy. Mongolia’s “preventive diplomacy” entails creating a situation in which disputes between its neighbors do not have time to arise. This is not altruism. Mongolia rightly sees relative stability as crucial for the preservation of its own sovereignty.

Therefore, the Korean Peninsula is a critical piece of geography for Mongolia, distant as it is from the Mongolian periphery. Ulaanbaatar’s interests vis-à-vis the Peninsula depend in large part on Mongolia’s ability to remain absolutely neutral between the Koreas themselves, as well as the central actors in the saga of Korean security: China, Japan, Russia, and the United States. The successful execution of this multifaceted balancing act in turn helps Ulaanbaatar preserve itself.

The deciding factor in the success or failure of Mongolia’s delicate Korea strategy is the extent to which the other players involved value Mongolia’s neutrality. Geographic distance and a relative lack of influence in Northeast Asia as a whole need not result in Mongolian insignificance. But the task for Ulaanbaatar is to maintain its relevance.

"A total of 196 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across Mongolia yesterday and one of them was positive," Dulmaa Nyamkhuu, head of the NCCD, said at a daily press conference.

The latest case is one of the over 170 Mongolian nationals who returned home from Kazakhstan on June 10, said Nyamkhuu.

All the 220 cases are imported ones, mostly from Russia, according to the NCCD. Among the confirmed cases, 175 patients have recovered so far.

A French national tested positive for the virus on March 10, becoming the first case in Mongolia. So far, no local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the country. Enditem

The Bank of Mongolia approved the merger on June 23, 2020. All assets, liabilities, equities and branches of UBCB will be consolidated into TDB, taking effect from June 29. TDB will further serve all UBCB clients starting from this day.

The statement issued on the website of the TDB reads “Ulaanbaatar City Bank, named after the capital of the country, has been operating successfully for 21 years since 1999, professionally and swiftly providing comprehensive banking and financial services to its customers. The bank has been proudly making the list of the TOP-100 enterprises, announced by the MNCCI every year, and is one of the six systemically important banks in the banking system, as defined by the Bank of Mongolia.”

The statement continues “Merger of large banks is a common practice in the countries with highly developed banking and financial market, and are often carried out to with objectives to scale up their operations, expand their market reach and increase their value. The merger enables banks to improve their efficiency, reduce costs and enable them to offer more flexible terms of products and service to individual and corporate customers by contributing to cut interest rates on the market and promoting inclusion as well as supports them to develop a customer-centric business model.”

“As a result of the merger of two systemic banks, TDB strengthened its capacity by 400 experienced employees, 33 branches and settlement centers, and over 1,900 merchants. Strengthened human resources, expanded customer base and adequacy of bank branches significantly contribute to achieving our strategic goal of closely serving our customers.”

“Moreover, the merger increases the total assets, shareholders’ equity of TDB and improves profitability, liquidity and other key financial ratios and measures. We believe that we will continue to meaningfully contribute to the prosperity of the country through current and future business activities, values we create for our customers, as well as through innovative products and services we will introduce to the market.”

TDB

Pilots and technical experts from regulators and the company are understood to be planning three days of tests, possibly starting on Monday.

Boeing's best-selling aircraft was grounded last year after two crashes killed all 346 people on the flights.

The tests are a milestone for Boeing, but even if they go well, months of further safety checks will be needed.

Aviation regulators grounded the 737 Max about 15 months ago following two crashes - a Lion Air flight and an Ethiopian Airlines flight - within five months of each other.

The ruling triggered a financial crisis at the 103-year-old company, sparked lawsuits from victims' families, and raised questions about how Boeing and the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), conducted their safety approval process.

Investigators blamed faults in the flight control system, which Boeing has been overhauling for months in order to meet new safety demands.

A 737 Max loaded with test equipment will run through a series of mid-air scenarios near Boeing's manufacturing base at Seattle.

According to Reuters, which first reported the news, pilots will intentionally trigger the reprogrammed stall-prevention software known as MCAS, blamed for both crashes.

The BBC understands that both the FAA, which is leading the testing, and Boeing, are hopeful that the process will get under way on Monday, barring last minutes hitches.

The FAA confirmed on Sunday in an email to the US Congress that it had approved key certification test flights for the grounded 737 Max.

The email noted that the "FAA has not made a decision on return to service" and has a number of additional steps to go, according to Reuters reports.

Test flights had been planned for last year, but investigations uncovered an array of new safety issues that have delayed a return to service.

It could take weeks to analyse data from the test flights. But even if this process is successful, further flying, training of pilots, and clearance from European and Canadian regulators will be needed.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has maintained that clearance by the FAA will not automatically mean a clearance to fly in Europe.

Norwegian Air, TUI, and Icelandair are among airlines using the 737 Max in Europe, while other carriers have the aircraft on order.

Boeing and the FAA declined to comment.

The agreement, which is a revision of the Power Source Framework Agreement (PSFA) signed in 2018, states that the Parties will work towards finalizing a Power Purchase Agreement by the end of March 2021.

In addition, the amended PSFA sets a proposed timetable for development, with construction of the coal-fired power plant set to begin no later than 1 July 2021, and commissioning within four years thereafter.

Oyu Tolgoi currently uses imported power and both the Government of Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi have committed to extending the current arrangement to ensure continued stable power is supplied to the mine and underground project until the State Owned Power Plant is commissioned and is able to supply stable, reliable and continuous power.

Arnaud Soirat, Copper & Diamonds Chief Executive, said, “This agreement provides a potential pathway to securing a domestic power supply for the Oyu Tolgoi mine and underground project for the benefit of all shareholders and the wider community. We look forward to working with the Government of Mongolia to progress the solution.”

“This announcement is authorized for release to the market by Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.” - Rio Tinto

The study, Mongolia’s Economic Prospects: Resource-Rich and Landlocked Between Two Giants, presents an in-depth analysis of Mongolia’s economic opportunities and challenges, including the country’s wealth in natural resources as well as its unique geographical location, bordered by two of the world’s largest economies, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation.

“Mongolia has seen major economic progress in the last 30 years and it has realistic aspirations to continue this development,” said ADB Country Director for Mongolia Pavit Ramachandran. “While challenges such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic presents near-term obstacles, Mongolia has the right tools and opportunities to achieve long-term economic growth. This study provides a menu of policy options for the country to consider as it continues its remarkable economic journey.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) decelerated by 10.7% in the first quarter of 2020 as weaker global economic conditions combined with internal restrictions on economic activity dragged down growth. In a supplement of its Asian Development Outlook 2020, ADB is projecting a 1.9% contraction of Mongolia’s economy this year, before recovering to 4.7% growth in 2021.

Despite an almost threefold increase in Mongolia’s GDP per capita since 2000, the country’s economic growth has suffered from a series of boom and bust cycles over the last few years. The study notes that macroeconomic policy should aim to limit the volatility induced by fluctuating commodity prices, while focusing on a steady fiscal regime to entice foreign investors and creating a permanent savings mechanism.

International trade and long-term regional cooperation and integration should also be a priority for Mongolia given its unique geographic location. This will aid in the government’s goal of economic diversification, with international trade and tourism bringing in more resources, revenue, and technology to the country.

Last, the study notes that a focus on infrastructure with strong private sector participation—particularly in transport, communications, and energy—is key to Mongolia’s long-term economic growth. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s transition to a more services-based economy, policies focusing on strengthening the health care system and ensuring the development of strong human capital through quality education and skills development will also be key.

Asian Development Bank

According to Election law, the General Elections Committee must present a list of elected members of parliament to the President of Mongolia within 15 days after election ends. Then Mongolian President will then announce the date of the first session of the new parliament.

Traditionally, the oldest Member of Parliament must open the first session and MPs will take their oaths. Therefore, 66-year-old MP Kh.Badelkhan, who is an ethnic Kazakh, is expected to open and lead the first session of the new Mongolian parliament.

Mongolia has a significant Kazakh population, who mostly live in the Bayan Uulgii Province, in the mountainous far west of the country.

In 2016, new parliament opened its first session on 1 July.

On 26 June, a working group led by Ts.Tsolmon, director of Department for Deducting Air Pollution in Ulaanbaatar inspected the production process at the Tavan Tolgoi Fuel Company, which has been constructed in Songinokhairkan District of the capital. The facility has a storage capacity of 1000 tonnes. In order to be ready for next winter, Tavan Tolgoi Fuel LLC has produced over 30 thousand tons of refined coal since last March. The company plans to stockpile 200 thousand tons of refined coal during the summer months.

In May, the Mongolian Cabinet amended its resolution banning raw coal in Ulaanbaatar for totally halting the burning of coal burning in plants and companies five of UB’s rural khoroos, namely Bayanzurkh, Songinokhairkhan and Khaan-Uul not mentioning the thermal power plants.