Bolor Lkhaajav: “Mongolia does not need to choose between Russia and China” www.novastan.org

Mongolia’s position between Russia and China is often portrayed as a geopolitical constraint. Researcher and writer Bolor Lkhaajav argues that Ulaanbaatar instead seeks to combine strong ties with both neighbours with an increasingly ambitious “third neighbour” policy spanning critical minerals, energy, technology, diplomacy and security.

Bolor Lkhaajav is a specialist in East and Northeast Asia who has published more than 200 articles and commentaries in multiple languages. She writes regularly on diplomatic history, foreign and security policy, geopolitics, economics, politics and society. She is currently working on Mongolia’s foreign-policy grand strategy and has been accepted to a PhD programme beginning in autumn 2027.

In this interview with Novastan, she discusses how Mongolia is navigating the geopolitical consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the growing importance of South Korea and other “third neighbours”, the country’s critical-mineral potential, environmental pressures and Mongolia’s distinctive position in a rapidly changing Northeast Asia.

Novastan: You are currently working on Mongolia’s foreign-policy grand strategy. How would you describe the country’s strategic approach today, and how has it evolved in the changing geopolitical environment since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine?
Bolor Lkhaajav: In 2011, the Mongolian Parliament adopted the country’s Foreign Policy Concept, a legal document mapping out Ulaanbaatar’s foreign-policy strategy to meet modern-day demands while maintaining a balance between its two neighbours – Russia and China.

One of the important elements of the concept was the formal introduction of the “Third Neighbour” Doctrine. The idea of a “third neighbour” had long existed in Mongolian history and diplomatic circles, but it had never been explicitly defined and applied in such a transparent way. Since 2011, the policy has become one of the pillars of Mongolia’s foreign-policy grand strategy.

It is specifically intended to strengthen Mongolia’s diplomatic, political, economic and cultural links with countries outside Russia and China, while at the same time reinforcing bilateral and trilateral engagement with Moscow and Beijing.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mongolia has experienced the consequences of Russia prioritising its domestic energy supply. Given Mongolia’s heavy dependence on Russian fuel, intermittent shortages have become a regular occurrence over the past six months. This also highlights why it is crucial for Mongolia to invest in renewable energy and work with third-neighbour partners to strengthen the country’s energy sector. I would not say that Mongolia can achieve energy independence at present, because that is simply not realistic.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has also changed the geopolitical and security dynamics of Northeast Asia. For Mongolia’s foreign-policy grand strategy, it is crucial that its only two neighbours remain free of conflict.

Mongolia’s grand strategy seeks to position Ulaanbaatar as a stable, democratic actor on the world stage. It is not dependent on the foreign policies of its neighbours, or of any other country, nor on their global engagements. Mongolia may respond differently to external challenges, but these will not fundamentally alter the country’s foreign-policy grand strategy.

Mongolia’s “third neighbour” policy has been central to its diplomacy for decades. Which relationships do you think have the greatest potential to deepen in the coming years – whether with South Korea, Japan, India, the European Union, the United States or others – and why?
Mongolia’s “Third Neighbour” Doctrine provides a much broader framework that envisages mechanisms for cooperation across different sectors and stages of development. It is not restricted to the mining sector.

At its core, the Third Neighbour Doctrine is both a concept and a foreign-policy practice encompassing multiple mechanisms that support Mongolia’s geopolitical balance between the two major powers surrounding it, Russia and China, while also placing an emphasis on reinvigorating the country’s bilateral and multilateral engagements outside their respective spheres of influence.

Within the region, relations between Mongolia and South Korea have certainly expanded tremendously. This is partly because of South Korea’s successful commercial presence in Mongolia and its more recent interest in diversifying its critical-mineral supply chains. Japan’s interest and investment follow, although not to the same extent as South Korea’s.

European partners will continue to play a crucial role in Mongolia’s democracy and development. Building on strong bilateral relations with European partners, Ulaanbaatar aims to increase cooperation on climate change, renewable energy and sectors that align both with Mongolia’s development priorities and with European standards and regulations.

With the United States, however, environmental and renewable-energy cooperation is unlikely to be a central focus under Donald Trump’s administration. In many respects, the current administration’s priorities do not align with Mongolia’s core values at present.

The US has shown interest in Mongolia’s critical minerals. However, given Washington’s posture towards both Moscow and Beijing, Ulaanbaatar is not particularly confident about the prospects of concluding a major deal.

One of the largest US contributions to Mongolia to date has been the successful implementation and launch of the Water Compact funded by the US Millennium Challenge Corporation.

You have written extensively on Mongolia’s relationship with South Korea, as well as on India and the European Union. How far can these partnerships help Mongolia translate diplomatic diversification into real economic diversification, given the constraints of geography, infrastructure and export routes?
Mongolia’s partnerships with South Korea, India, the European Union and others vary considerably according to the kinds of investment each partner is interested in pursuing. These are not all equivalent partners, and each can offer something different.

For example, India’s $1.7 billion soft loan for Mongolia’s first major greenfield oil refinery is a major boost for the country’s domestic supply and also has potential for exports.

The EU, on the other hand, is more interested in investing in human capital and civil society, promoting democratic values, and supporting the green transition, forestry and governance. Mongolia has a great deal to gain from its relations with the EU.

For example, the Mongolian government can learn from the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act as the country moves towards establishing data centres and becoming a more digital nation. These ambitions will in turn create a need for greater cybersecurity capabilities, which countries such as South Korea, India and the United States can provide.

The logistical challenge involved in exporting Mongolian goods is obvious, and there are no magical solutions. All exports ultimately need to transit through Russia or China.

It is therefore strategically important for Mongolia to maintain the strongest and most stable possible bilateral and trilateral relations with both neighbours. Mongolia-China railway connections, as well as Mongolia-Russia transit corridors, are equally important for expanding Mongolian exports to Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Critical minerals and uranium are attracting growing international attention to Mongolia. What opportunities does this create, and what would Mongolia need to do to turn this interest into durable economic and strategic benefits?
Mongolia’s exploration and export of critical minerals and uranium form part of the country’s diversification strategy, even though they remain within the mining sector.

Mongolia holds an estimated $1-3 trillion in untapped mineral reserves, including significant deposits of copper, fluorspar, coal and rare earth elements.

South Korea is already working on building a stable supply chain to support its technological development. During South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to Mongolia in July, Ulaanbaatar and Seoul signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which included the elimination of 2-5 percent tariffs on critical minerals.

In 2025, a South Korean critical-minerals research hub was established in Ulaanbaatar. This was recently followed by the launch of joint scientific research between the Mongolian National Rare Earth Corporation and the Korea Basic Science Institute.

Given South Korea’s advanced manufacturing industries, including steel, automobiles and semiconductors, the country has considerable demand for high-purity molybdenum powder. Moreover, South Korea’s growing interest in becoming more active in the defence industry and manufacturing makes Mongolia’s natural resources a strategic asset.

France has also become the first European country to seal a major uranium deal, signing a $1.6 billion investment agreement in 2025. These interests can be mutually beneficial: France requires uranium for its nuclear-energy sector, while Mongolia can use the partnership to diversify its exports.

For Mongolia to continue attracting investment from global partners, however, the country’s political system needs to be stable.

More than anything else, I think the constant changes of government, government plans and budgets, changes to the taxation system, and corruption are among the main obstacles to Mongolia’s development.

Mongolia recently hosted UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, a subject you have also written about. Beyond the diplomatic visibility of hosting a major UN conference, what could COP17 realistically mean for Mongolia in areas such as desertification, land restoration, water security and environmental finance?
This year’s COP17 included discussions on finance, water, land and people, and food systems. Each of these issues has direct implications for Mongolia.

Water security, water pollution and land restoration in particular are closely linked to major mining operations in the country. Over the years, we have come to understand that environmental-protection clauses must be included as part of responsible mining. These requirements are understandably costly, but they are something the Mongolian side needs to demand regardless.

During COP17, mining giants such as Rio Tinto announced strategies to contribute to Mongolia’s fight against desertification and water pollution and to restore forests, including planting 5,000 hectares of forest, investing in renewable energy for company use and introducing new technologies to replenish groundwater.

Oyu Tolgoi, one of Mongolia’s largest mining operations, began paying water-pollution fees in 2026, with regular quarterly payments of 150-200 million Mongolian tugrik, or roughly $42,000-$55,000. These practices are intended to set an example for other major mining companies operating in the country.

Water security and water pollution will become even more important issues in the coming years as the construction of data centres is already being discussed at government level.

Their environmental impact needs to be studied thoroughly, and Parliament will need to develop appropriate legal and regulatory mechanisms for such projects.

You have also written about the changing geopolitical environment in Northeast Asia. What new opportunities or challenges does this create for Mongolia, particularly as relations among Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan continue to evolve?
Over the last five years, Northeast Asia has become a hotspot of geopolitical transformation, and recent events have only highlighted these shifts in the post-Second World War international order.

These are dynamic and complex international-relations issues, but I will mention the most significant ones here.

Russia’s war in Ukraine created tremendous opportunities for North Korea. Pyongyang is moving towards becoming a de facto nuclear state, most likely with the backing of both Russia and China.

For Mongolia, regional peace and security are crucial, and this includes peace on the Korean Peninsula. Mongolia currently maintains, and will continue to maintain, open diplomatic channels with North Korea regardless of Pyongyang’s actions. There are also some economic incentives for doing so.

Despite Mongolia’s landlocked position in Northeast Asia, one of its geopolitical advantages is that it is the only country in the region without territorial disputes or unresolved historical grievances with neighbouring states. This is a significant advantage for Mongolian diplomacy and creates opportunities for Ulaanbaatar to develop diverse political, economic and cultural engagements.

In the short to long term, Mongolia’s economic engagement with all regional actors is likely to continue.

Moreover, in order to diversify its energy sources – a need that has become more pressing because of the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine and fuel shortages – Mongolia will require support from China as well as third-neighbour investment in the energy sector.

India is currently supporting Mongolia’s first greenfield oil refinery, which is expected to become operational in 2028.

Finally, what aspect of Mongolia’s international position do you think remains most misunderstood outside the country, and looking five to ten years ahead, what would successful diversification actually look like for Mongolia?
I think one of the main misconceptions among observers of Mongolia is the idea that the country somehow has to choose between Russia and China.

Mongolia’s histories with Russia and China differ, and its diplomatic and economic relations with the two countries also differ tremendously. To think that Ulaanbaatar needs to choose between Russia and China in modern-day diplomacy is therefore not only a misconception, but also something that simply does not apply to Mongolian foreign policy.

The second misconception is that, because of Mongolia’s landlocked position between Russia and China, the third-neighbour policy is unsuccessful.

I have come across views that undermine Ulaanbaatar’s third-neighbour approach, arguing that the policy cannot genuinely counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence. But the misconception lies in assuming that this is what the policy is designed to do.

Mongolia needs robust relations with Russia and China. That is itself a foreign-policy priority. The Third Neighbour Doctrine is an addition to strong relations with Mongolia’s only two neighbours, not an alternative to them.

From both a foreign-policy and implementation perspective, since 2011 – over a period of 15 years – Mongolia’s third-neighbour relationships have flourished and will continue to develop through niche partnerships and new mechanisms for cooperation.

If one looks at the impact of Mongolia’s third-neighbour policy in its entirety, it becomes clear that it is not limited to economic diversification. It also encompasses culture, education, technology, innovation, modernisation and everything else that a modern society demands.

If there is one thing slowing Mongolia’s third-neighbour engagement, it is the country’s political instability, constant changes of government, shifts in investment laws and regulations, and, finally, corruption.

By Mathieu Lemoine, Editor-in-Chief for Novastan English.

Mongolia, Montenegro Sign Joint Declaration, Cooperation Agreements www.montsame.mn

The state visit to Mongolia by President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, who arrived at the invitation of President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, is continuing.

Following their official talks, Presidents Khurelsukh and Jakov Milatović attended a signing ceremony for intergovernmental and inter-institutional documents aimed at expanding and developing bilateral relations and cooperation.

The two heads of state signed the Joint Declaration between Mongolia and Montenegro.

The following agreements and memoranda were signed:

The Agreement between the Government of Mongolia and the Government of Montenegro on Mutual Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, signed by Battsetseg Batmunkh, Foreign Minister of Mongolia, and Adis Pepić, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro;
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro on Cooperation in Diplomatic Training, signed by Battsetseg Batmunkh, Foreign Minister of Mongolia and Adis Pepić, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro;
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts on Cooperation, signed by  Demberel Sodnomsambuu, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and Adis Pepić, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro;
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the University of Montenegro, signed by Demberel Sodnomsambuu, President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and Adis Pepić, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro;
The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, signed by Lkhagvajav Baatarjav, President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Nikola Vujović, Vice President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro;
The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the national radio and television broadcasters of the two countries, signed by. Gerel. G, Director General of the Mongolian National Broadcaster, and Boris Raonić, Director General of Radio Television of Montenegro.
The two sides had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between their National Olympic Committees in Ulaanbaatar in 2023 and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs in New York in 2025.

About 20,000 Foreign Nationals Issued Visas www.montsame.mn

Based on requests submitted last month by enterprises, organizations, and individuals seeking visas and visa authorizations, the Immigration Agency of Mongolia issued visa authorizations to 5,707 foreign nationals and visas of the appropriate category to 19,373 foreign nationals.

The Agency reported that visas were denied to 382 foreign nationals for reasons including an unexpired waiting period following an earlier refusal, incomplete documentation, and an unexpired deportation period.

In addition, residence permits were granted to 4,700 foreign nationals sponsored by 1,633 inviting individuals, organizations, and enterprises, while requests to extend residence permits for 6,911 foreign nationals, submitted by 1,480 inviting individuals, organizations, and enterprises, were reviewed and approved. Compared with the same period last year, these figures show that visa authorizations rose by 5.1%, visa issuance by 34.7%, and residence permit issuance by 50.4%.

As of August 31 this year, 47,413 citizens of 131 countries held residence permits in Mongolia for official or private purposes, including 32,222 for employment, 5,983 for investment, 2,992 for study, 3,018 for family reasons, and 3,198 for other purposes.

Influenza vaccination underway www.ubpost.mn

The “Together Against Influenza” vaccination campaign has been launched across Ulaanbaatar and will run for one month until October 3. Last year, around 146,000 residents of the capital received influenza vaccines, reducing their risk of contracting the flu by 13 percent. This year, the city plans to provide free vaccinations to 293,619 people in high-risk target groups, including children aged zero to six, pregnant women, senior citizens and people with chronic underlying conditions.

N.Naranbaatar, director of the Ulaanbaatar Health Department, said that 106,912 cases of influenza were recorded in the capital last year, with children aged zero to six accounting for up to half of all cases. “There are approximately 230,000 children aged zero to six living in the capital, and we aim to vaccinate around 210,000 of them, or more than 80 percent,” he said. N.Naranbaatar also said, “Influenza activity typically begins to increase from mid-October. Therefore, we aim to vaccinate residents before infections begin to rise significantly.”

According to N.Naranbaatar, immunity develops within 10 to 14 days after vaccination, providing protection against influenza infection. Fully vaccinating the targeted high-risk groups could reduce the risks associated with influenza by up to 75 percent. Residents can receive the influenza vaccine free of charge by visiting their nearest family health clinic or health center.

For this year’s campaign, the authorities selected a four-strain influenza vaccine manufactured in South Korea and recommended by the World Health Organization. With government funding, 500,000 doses of the vaccine have been procured through the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant Construction Reaches 70% Completion www.montsame.mn

Construction of the 63 MW Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant, jointly implemented by the Ulaanbaatar City Administration and the Asian Development Bank, is now 70% complete.

According to Tsend Ts., a heating supply engineer with the Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant Project, construction is currently underway on the main buildings and equipment for three boilers, as well as metal structures, a coal storage facility, conveyor system, bag filters, chimney, and other auxiliary facilities, the Ulaanbaatar City Administration’s Public Relations and Communications Department reported.

Once commissioned, the Dambadarjaa Thermal Power Plant will provide a reliable heat supply to around 5,000 households in the Dambadarjaa and Selbe sub-centers. The project is also expected to increase Ulaanbaatar’s heating capacity and help reduce heat supply restrictions during peak winter demand.

In addition, the completion of 77 apartment blocks being developed under the “Selbe 20-Minute City” project will create the necessary conditions to connect new consumers to the district heating system.

Around 150 engineers and technical personnel from China’s Second Metallurgy Group Co.,Ltd, the project’s general contractor, are currently working on the construction.

Azzuro Resources Identifies Nine New Anomalies at Oval Cu-Ni-PGE Project in Mongolia www.kalkine.com.au

Azzuro Resources PLC (ASX:AZ9) has disclosed results from its first-stage 3D induced polarisation survey at the Oval Cu-Ni-PGE project on the Yambat tenement in southwestern Mongolia, identifying nine new anomaly trends including five priority-1 targets around the Oval intrusive body.

Key Points
Nine new resistivity anomalies identified around the Oval intrusive body from first-stage 3D IP survey results
Five priority-1 targets (Ta-01 to Ta-05) defined, each supported by coincident chargeability, low-resistivity and magnetic-constrained model data
A new Novaminex DHEM system has been imported into Mongolia and is being calibrated at the Red Hill project, with surveys planned over the Oval Cu-Ni area in September
The 3D IP survey is expected to be completed in Q3 2026, with further results to be reported
Priority-1 and Priority-2 Target Details at Oval
The five priority-1 targets — designated Ta-01 through Ta-05 — are each supported by coincident magnetics, resistivity and chargeability data. Ta-01 is located southeast of the Oval intrusion, beneath and beyond drillhole OVD0522, extending the geophysical interpretation into an area at depth not previously tested by drilling. Ta-02, Ta-03, Ta-04 and Ta-05 occur at shallow depth, are oriented sub-parallel to the Oval intrusion and are described as drill-ready. Ta-05 is spatially coincident with a previously defined south FLEM plate. Four priority-2 targets — Ta-06, Ta-07, Ta-08 and Ta-09 — were also identified, supported by two of the three geophysical datasets.

Historical Drilling Context at Oval Cu-Ni Project
According to the filing, previous drilling at the Oval project demonstrated that low-resistivity responses can be associated with mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion. Drillhole OVD049 was designed to test a low-resistivity anomaly and intersected 23 metres of mineralised mafic-ultramafic intrusion, including 16.8 metres at 0.39% copper and 0.41% nickel. The magnetic-constrained model applied to the new targets was completed in August 2026 by Terra Resources Pty Ltd, identifying a new magnetic anomaly extending from the western side of the Gossan zone towards North Oval, an area described as previously untested.

Next Steps and DHEM System Deployment
The company disclosed that it will continue and complete the 3D IP survey at Oval, with the programme expected to finish in Q3 2026. Following completion of downhole electromagnetic measurements using the new Novaminex DHEM system, the company said it will refine priority drill targets within the southern and southeastern extent of the Oval system. Planning of a drilling programme at the Oval Cu-Ni project is also listed as a next step. The company also disclosed it will continue integrating the constrained magnetic model from Terra Resources Pty Ltd with 3D IP interpretation, FLEM survey results and existing geological and drilling datasets.

Korea targets Mongolia's wealthy miners for its next big health care boom www.koreatimes.co.kr

Far from the sleek aesthetic clinics of Gangnam in southern Seoul, a quiet revolution in global health care is taking shape in the mining region of Mongolia. Korea is expanding its reach beyond typical cosmetic tourists, turning its attention toward high-earning industrial workers in booming resource economies.

This strategic pivot was on full display as the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) concluded a targeted medical tourism roadshow in Ulaanbaatar and the southern mining hub of Dalanzadgad. Rather than pitching routine wellness escapes to general consumers, the initiative zeroed in on a lucrative demographic: executives, engineers and miners backed by Mongolia’s powerful natural resource sector, which drives 30 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and accounts for nearly all of its exports.

The push highlights a notable shift in Asia's medical travel market.

Medical visitors from Mongolia spend an average of 9.88 million won ($7,400) per trip — nearly 1.5 times the average spent by general international health tourists in Korea. Last year alone, more than 35,000 Mongolian patients traveled to Korean facilities, making up over 20 percent of all Mongolian visitors to the country.

To capture this high-margin market, Korean tourism officials bypassed traditional marketing channels, going straight to corporate boardrooms and financial institutions. During the roadshow, KTO leadership held direct talks with the Mongolian National Mining Association, which represents 90,000 workers, to propose customized health screenings and executive wellness retreats. Similar agreements were negotiated with the Chinggis Khan Wealth Fund, which oversees state mining enterprises, and Mandal Financial Group, an entity controlling roughly 90 percent of Mongolia’s asset management market.

The strategic rationale is straightforward: mining is capital-intensive, physically demanding work, and regional healthcare infrastructure in remote provinces like Omnogovi often falls short of high-end corporate standards. By packaging top-tier medical care in Seoul alongside regional leisure travel for workers and their families, Korean health providers are offering an attractive corporate perk.

Individual consultations held during the event drew over 200 high-net-worth clients from Mandal Financial Group, while an outreach center in Dalanzadgad fielded inquiries from more than 800 mining employees and local residents. In total, the three-day effort generated 803 direct consultations and an estimated 19.6 billion won in projected revenue.

"Through this roadshow, we held a series of meetings with key local institutions and financial leaders, including the Mongolian National Mining Association, medical tourism agencies, TDB Bank, the Chinggis Khan Wealth Fund, and Mandal Financial Group," said KTO President Park Sung-hyeuck.

"We are currently operating a Healthy Miner package in partnership with leading local travel agencies. Moving forward, we plan to roll out the Happy Miner Campaign — a multilateral health promotion initiative uniting our organization, travel agencies, the mining industry, and the financial sector, including card and insurance companies — to go all-in on attracting medical tourists among Mongolian mining executives and employees."

Rather than relying on volatile consumer travel, Korea is institutionalizing its medical tourism through enterprise contracts, corporate benefits and financial partnerships. As global competition for medical travelers intensifies, KTO officials said this new effort shows that the future of health care destination marketing may lie not in glossy lifestyle magazines, but in the heavy industries powering emerging economies.

Lee Kyung-min
Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

Dwight Howard, NBA Champion, Arrives in Mongolia www.montsame.mn

NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Dwight Howard has arrived in Mongolia for the second time.

Now 40, Howard has come this time to play for the SG Apes in the 2026-2027 season of the Mongolian Basketball League. Standing 208 cm tall, Howard was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Over his NBA career, Howard also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, averaging 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. He won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020 and was selected to eight All-Star Games over the course of his career. He ranks 10th in NBA history in total rebounds and 13th in total blocks, was named to the All-NBA First Team five times, and was voted Defensive Player of the Year three times. Howard also won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. Most recently, he played for the Taoyuan Leopards of Taiwan's T1 League during the 2022-2023 season.

Howard first visited Mongolia in 2011 and is now meeting Mongolian basketball fans again 15 years later, this time arriving in the country as a league player himself. On September 9 at 19:00, he will take part in a preseason game between the SG Apes and Selenge Bodons at M Bank Arena.

Budget Savings to Support Household Incomes, Strategic Reserves www.montsame.mn

The Mongolian People’s Party group in the State Great Khural discussed a draft law on amendments to the 2026 state budget at its meeting today, with a majority of members supporting its consideration.

Under the proposed budget amendment, adjustments will be made to the structure of government revenues and expenditures, with savings from government spending redirected toward protecting household incomes, building strategic reserves, and stabilizing energy and food supplies.

The amendment proposes total savings and expenditure cuts of MNT 1.44 trillion in government operating expenses. The savings will be allocated to the following social and economic priorities:

An increase in the basic pension for senior citizens will take effect from November 1, 2026.
The average pension will be increased by MNT 233,800.
Pay disparities among employees in the public service sector will be eliminated.
The “School Close to Home – Best School” initiative will be implemented.
Strategic food reserves will be increased.
Energy supply and distribution will be stabilized without raising energy prices.
MNT 196.3 billion will be allocated for pension increases, while MNT 844.6 billion will be allocated for salary increases for civil servants.
To reduce price and supply risks, the government plans to build reserves of 100,000 tonnes of wheat, 12,000 tonnes of vegetables, and 20,000 tonnes of meat. It also plans to expand cold-storage and warehouse capacity and increase petroleum product storage capacity by 300,000 cubic meters.

A total of MNT 200 billion has been earmarked to ensure reliable energy supply and operations. Of this amount, MNT 107.3 billion will be allocated as subsidies for the energy sector, while MNT 92.7 billion will be used to upgrade equipment.

Nightly marathon to be organized in late September www.ubpost.mn

Ulaanbaatar City will host its first-ever nightly marathon on September 26, bringing runners together for an evening race and entertainment festival in the capital. Registration for the event is now open. Participants can choose from three race distances, five km, 10 km and 21 km, and must be at least 16 years old. Registration fees range from 29,000 to 100,000 MNT, depending on the race category.

The night marathon is a running festival held after sunset, typically between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Unlike conventional daytime races, the event is designed to combine running with entertainment, allowing participants to enjoy the city’s nighttime atmosphere while taking part in a major sporting event.

In addition to road races, the event will feature live performances, music, DJ sets and cultural and artistic programs. The illuminated streets and nighttime scenery of Ulaanbaatar are expected to create a distinctive atmosphere for both runners and spectators. Organizers aim to promote an active lifestyle and encourage greater public participation in running while introducing a new format of sporting and cultural entertainment to the capital.