Politics
Temuulen Takes Office as Justice and Home Affairs Minister
Published: 2026-09-22
Parliament appointed G. Temuulen as justice and home affairs minister on September 22, ending repeated delays caused by insufficient attendance at earlier sittings. Prime Minister Uchral removed S. Amarsaikhan and used his constitutional authority to nominate Temuulen, who then took the cabinet oath. The appointment came as parliament was also expected to consider a 2026 budget amendment and wider fiscal measures, but the session initially focused on the ministerial change. Temuulen, a three-term MP and former chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy, said combating drug-related crime would be a priority. He cited reported increases in drug crimes and violations and pledged firm action against organized crime. His move to the cabinet leaves parliament needing to choose a new chair for the security and foreign-policy committee.
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First-Time Voluntary Social Insurance Enrollees to Receive 50 Percent Exemption
Published: 2026-09-22
The General Authority for Social Insurance said amendments to the General Law on Social Insurance, approved by Parliament on July 2, 2026, will provide a contribution exemption for first-time voluntary enrollees. A Mongolian citizen who has never enrolled in compulsory or voluntary social insurance may receive a 50 percent exemption on the pension-insurance contribution calculated from the current monthly minimum wage. The exemption may last for up to 24 months. The measure applies only to a person’s first voluntary enrollment and does not provide a reduction in every type of social-insurance contribution. The authority said the policy is intended to encourage young people and newly self-employed citizens to enter the social-insurance system and strengthen their social protection.
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National Audit Office Opens Review of COP17 Spending
Published: 2026-09-22
The National Audit Office has begun a financial and compliance audit of spending for COP17, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification hosted in Mongolia. Opened on September 8, the audit will examine funding sources, budget treatment, whether money was used for its intended purposes, and the results achieved. It will cover the national organizing committee as well as the finance, environment and climate change, foreign affairs, and culture ministries, the State Property Policy and Regulation Agency, and the Ulaanbaatar Governor’s Office. Auditors will review decisions, policy documents, reports, financial records and procurement contracts issued from 2023 to 2026. Before the conference, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ts. Sandag-Ochir said approximately MNT 250 billion from the state budget was planned for organizing it.
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Published: 2026-09-22
Mongolia’s Anti-Corruption Agency has completed its investigation into allegations that former Darkhan Metallurgical Plant executive director G. Dugarjav received a large bribe. Investigators initially detained him in May 2024 over suspicions that companies with iron-concentrate sales and purchase contracts received preferential treatment, causing significant losses to the state budget. According to information obtained by Unuudur, B. Khatan-zorig, a shareholder in Mandakhgrand and Hulagu Holding LLC, is accused of giving US$40,000, or MNT135 million, to Dugarjav and former Strategy and Business Development Department head G. Erdenesukh in connection with contracts. The case was sent to prosecutors for an indictment in winter 2024 but returned for additional investigative work. A separate alleged MNT140 million bribery case involving Erdenesukh was also recently completed.
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Economy
Ministry Says Fuel Prices Will Not Rise Despite Tighter Supply
Published: 2026-09-22
Fuel supply has weakened in Ulaanbaatar and provincial areas, with motorists continuing to queue for AI-92 gasoline and some central-city stations reportedly not selling it over the weekend. Ch. Khishigdalai, head of the Petroleum Policy Implementation Coordination Department at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, said a major refinery in Moscow was hit by a drone attack on September 18 and railway maintenance in Russia had also reduced deliveries. He said the ministry was working to keep domestic supplies stable and that consumers should not expect price increases, while acknowledging that reserves were below normal levels. Mongolia normally holds 25 to 30 days of fuel reserves. On September 21, AI-92 cost MNT 3,040 per liter, diesel MNT 4,760, Euro-92 MNT 4,970, and AI-95 MNT 4,980.
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Food and Fuel Drive Annual Inflation to 12.5 Percent
Published: 2026-09-22
Consumer prices nationwide were 12.5% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office, with food, beverages and water accounting for 46.9% of overall inflation. Their prices rose 21.5% year on year. Meat and meat products increased 48.4%, including beef by 51.6% and mutton and goat meat by 58.2%; average boneless beef in Ulaanbaatar reached MNT 36,521 per kilogram. Transport prices rose 11.2%, education services 17.4%, and hotel, restaurant and dormitory services 16.4%. The central bank said fuel prices rose 7.3% during August and 28.2% year on year, contributing 1.7 percentage points to inflation. Imported goods accounted for 3.6 percentage points of the annual rate. Ulaanbaatar inflation was 11.6%, while provincial rates ranged from 9.4% to 17.5%.
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Published: 2026-09-22
Officials will present legal reforms affecting the investment environment and investor protections at an English-language consultation on Thursday, September 24, from 09:00 to 12:00. The event will take place at the Investor Protection Center on the first floor of Government Building XI, which houses the Ministry of Economy and Development. Deputy Prime Minister T. Dorjkhand, Deputy Minister of Economy and Development S. Davaasuren, Investment and Trade Department head B. Zandan, and adviser G. Javkhlantugs are listed as participants. They will explain amendments to the Economic Freedom Law and Investment Law, their implementation, and proposals to strengthen the investor-protection system, then exchange views with public- and private-sector representatives.
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Parliament Speaker Urges 2027 Monetary Policy to Address Household Strain
Published: 2026-09-22
Parliament Speaker S. Byambatsogt met Bank of Mongolia Governor S. Narantsogt on September 22 to discuss economic conditions and 2027 monetary policy. Byambatsogt pointed to positive macroeconomic indicators: economic growth of 7.6 percent, export revenue of USD 14.4 billion and a USD 826 million balance-of-payments surplus. He said these gains had not been sufficiently felt in household finances, citing August statistics as evidence. He said monetary policy should protect incomes, increase jobs and strengthen the tugrik’s purchasing power, alongside maintaining macroeconomic stability. Byambatsogt also raised concern about growing high-interest consumer lending and cited total outstanding loans issued by non-bank financial institutions, which rose from MNT 1.7 trillion in 2021 to MNT 7.2 trillion in 2025. Narantsogt said the recommendations would be considered in the 2027 policy framework.
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Fiscal Council Member Questions Expansion of Proposed 2027 Budget
Published: 2026-09-22
The proposed 2027 budget sets expenditure at MNT 43.6 trillion, revenue at MNT 41.3 trillion and a MNT 2.3 trillion deficit. The Fiscal Stability Council concluded that the proposed budget framework conflicts with macroeconomic policy direction. Council member N. Uuganbaatar noted that the five-year development policy targets total expenditure at 30 percent of GDP and current expenditure at 23 percent in 2027, while the proposal puts current spending near 30 percent and total spending near 40 percent. He said wage and pension increases could create long-term pressure if GDP does not grow sharply, and he separately described welfare as a large allocation. Uuganbaatar questioned budget assumptions tied to Oyu Tolgoi dividend revenue: distribution has been discussed, he said, but its timing, amount and terms remain unclear. The council’s analysis found a positive but weak association between election years and faster spending growth.
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Draft 2027 Budget Proposes Expanded Mortgage Options
Published: 2026-09-22
The government’s draft 2027 budget proposes funding mortgage lending for 16,000 households at a 6 percent interest rate, while officials consider a broader range of loan terms. Bank of Mongolia Governor S. Narantsogt said about 47,000 people are waiting for 6 percent mortgages, showing that the existing program alone cannot meet housing demand. The proposed framework would offer mortgages at 6, 8, 10, and 12 percent, allowing borrowers to choose based on their income. Narantsogt said the central bank will not print new money or launch a new mortgage program. He said the government has included more than MNT 100 billion for swap-related costs in the 2027 budget, potentially helping banks secure additional funding.
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Copper Futures Near Record High on London Market
Published: 2026-09-22
Copper futures on the London Metal Exchange rose 1 percent on Monday to USD 14,661 per tonne, nearing the record level reached earlier this month. The price reached an all-time high of USD 14,875 per tonne on September 10 before stabilizing. The report attributed Monday’s increase mainly to rising equity markets and lower oil prices. Expectations surrounding a meeting this week between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping also supported market sentiment. Uncertainty over when the United States may impose tariffs on metal imports has contributed to the recent stabilization in copper prices.
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Oyu Tolgoi Agreement Cuts Shareholder-Loan Rate and Management Fees
Published: 2026-09-22
Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi CEO B. Telmuun said amendments to the Oyu Tolgoi shareholders’ agreement, signed on September 11, cut Rio Tinto’s shareholder-loan interest rate from SOFR plus 6.5 percent to SOFR plus 4.0 percent. The agreement also reduces the review period for the rate from seven years to three years, halves management-service fees, and ends an additional operational management fee charged since 2015. Preliminary estimates put total future cost savings at USD 8.4 billion, with the Mongolian side’s future benefit rising by USD 4 billion. Telmuun stressed that this is not an immediate cash payment and that dividends remain under negotiation. Use of Entrée Resources licence areas would require an investment agreement and parliamentary approval.
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Coking-Coal Exports Could Reach 95 Million Tonnes in 2027
Published: 2026-09-22
Mysteel projects Mongolia’s coking-coal exports at 82–95 million tonnes in 2027 if new cross-border rail links enter service and China’s domestic coal supply remains constrained. Mongolia supplies more than half of China’s imported coking coal. Exports exceeded 40 million tonnes in the first eight months of 2026 and are projected to total 82–84 million tonnes for the year. Construction of 291 piers on the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod cross-border railway has been completed, putting the project at about 50% completion. The line is planned to enter service in April 2027, when trial freight operations would begin. Mysteel estimates exports at 75–80 million tonnes if the link is not commissioned. Work on Shiveekhuren-Sekhee is stalled for lack of funding, while Khangi-Mandal awaits government approval and financing.
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Diplomacy
Australian House Speaker Begins Official Visit to Ulaanbaatar
Published: 2026-09-22
Australian House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick arrived in Ulaanbaatar on September 22 for an official visit running through September 23 at the invitation of State Great Khural Speaker S. Byambatsogt. He was received at Chinggis Khaan International Airport by Deputy Speaker J. Bat-Erdene, MP M. Enkhtsetseg, Ambassador D. Davaasuren, and other officials. Dick and Byambatsogt held formal talks on parliamentary cooperation and bilateral relations, while Dick also met Prime Minister N. Uchral. Their discussions covered Oyu Tolgoi benefits, trade, renewable energy, professional training, technology transfer, and support for Mongolian students in Australia. Bilateral trade reached USD 66.8 million in 2025, and about 28,000 Mongolian citizens live in Australia. This is the third visit by an Australian House speaker; diplomatic relations began in 1972.
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Infrastructure
Three Days of Electricity-Use Adjustments Requested in Gachuurt and Khuandai Valley
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network will upgrade the 10-kV Khuandai overhead line from the 35/10-kV Gachuurt substation between September 23 and 25. The project will convert the line to a double-circuit configuration and reduce load as part of work to improve electricity supply for customers in Gachuurt and Khuandai Valley in Bayanzurkh District. Customers in the affected areas have been asked to temporarily manage electricity use and protect their equipment during the work. The advisory covers 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on September 23, followed by 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on September 24 and 25. The company described the work as part of its 2026 technical and organizational program. The notices ask consumers to adjust their electricity use during the specified periods.
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Winter Energy Preparations Reach 79 Percent
Published: 2026-09-22
Preparations for the 2026-2027 winter season in the energy sector had reached 79 percent by September 15, according to the Ministry of Energy. Forty-six plants and companies have planned about 1,600 maintenance and readiness tasks. Central-region thermal power plants held 576,700 tonnes of coal as of September 18, meeting 94 percent of the planned stockpile. Nine of 20 scheduled major and medium boiler repairs at nine thermal power plants had been completed, while work continued on the other 11. Repairs were completed on eight turbine generators, with work planned across five plants. Authorities have also prepared a 14-zone electricity-restriction plan for Ulaanbaatar if peak demand creates shortages or imported power is limited or disrupted.
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Ulaanbaatar to Close Central Roads for Car-Free Day
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar will restrict vehicle traffic in central areas from 07:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, September 26, for Car-Free Day. The closure will cover routes from West Four Roads to East Four Roads, including sections around the Ogooj intersection, Seoul Street, Tsetseg Center, the Meteorological intersection, Government House, the Chinggis Khaan Museum, National University of Mongolia, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, and Mongolian National University of Education. Residents within the restricted zone are advised to move their vehicles outside it the previous day. Electric scooters, mopeds and Sur-Ron vehicles will also be barred. The restricted area for daytime events has been reduced this year. A night marathon with 5 km, 10 km and 21 km races will run from 17:00 to 23:00.
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Proposed Project Seeks World Bank Financing for Flood Defenses and Trenchless Sewer Upgrades
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar Mayor B. Purevdavaa met World Bank Regional Director Julia M. Fraser to discuss preparations, financing and further implementation of a proposed 2026-2032 project that seeks World Bank loan financing to reduce flooding and introduce trenchless sewer-pipe lining and rehabilitation. About 560,000 people live in flood-risk areas, and rapid urban expansion and unplanned ger-district settlement have increased flood risk. The city plans to upgrade 66 kilometers of flood-protection embankments and channels and 40 kilometers of stormwater drainage pipes at seven highest-risk sites. Officials said the feasibility study is complete and the environmental and social impact assessment is 95 percent complete. The city requested support for appraisal and internal approval processes, concessional-financing talks, financing structure, and remaining technical and organizational work. Estimates say the project could reduce flood risk by up to 90 percent and avert MNT 82.2 billion in annual losses.
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Ulaanbaatar Heat Supply Reaches 90 Percent as Winter Preparations Continue
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar’s district-heating supply has reached 90 percent, according to Ulaanbaatar District Heating Network state-owned company Executive Director Ts. Amarsanaa. Heating began on September 15 for apartments, schools, kindergartens and public buildings in parts of the capital’s six central districts; organizations are scheduled to receive heat from September 20 under the annual timetable. The company says routine repairs were completed during a citywide heating shutdown from May through August 20. Separately, the city is renewing 57.3 kilometers of external engineering networks as part of winter preparations. Mayor B. Purevdavaa said 573 preparation projects and measures are 83 percent complete. He said heat demand is operating at 149 percent of capacity, electricity at 106 percent, and sewerage at 105-117 percent, while 60 percent of networks have exceeded their service life.
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Construction Starts on Emeelt Industrial Park Power Plant and Treatment Facility
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar has broken ground on a thermal power plant and wastewater-treatment facility for the 539-hectare Emeelt Eco-Industrial Park in Shar Khovii Valley, Khan-Uul District, 30 km from the city centre. The planned 24 MW plant will provide electricity and heat to park industries, producing 156 million kWh of electricity and 265,600 Gcal of heat annually while using 665,000 tonnes of water. The treatment plant is designed to process 6,700 cubic metres of domestic and industrial wastewater per day, with expansion capacity to 20,000 cubic metres. The MNT224.6 billion project is scheduled for completion from 2025 to 2028, with MNT50 billion approved for 2026. The park is intended to consolidate leather and wool processors currently operating near Khargia and support processing of livestock-derived raw materials for export-oriented production.
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Ulaanbaatar Plans 16 Bus Routes for Underserved Outlying Areas
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar plans to open 16 new public-bus routes in outlying areas that currently have no service, the city administration said. More than 363,000 people live in the areas covered by the proposal, and 46 medium-capacity buses are being prepared for deployment. The plan would expand the road network by 27.3 km. Mayor B. Purevdavaa said the city currently operates 1,316 buses on 139 routes, but gaps in service lead residents to rely on private vehicles. He said the number of vehicles has risen 56%, citing research that people are more likely to choose public transport when buses run within 400 metres. The city is also bringing in 60 electric buses and says school buses have been made available to students from any state-owned school. The Public Transport Policy Department will identify the specific new routes; no route details have yet been announced.
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X:17 Bus Route to Add a Stop Near Tsonjin Boldog
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar’s X:17 bus route will begin stopping near Tsonjin Boldog on September 26. The route connects Ulaanbaatar, Erdene soum in Tuv province and Baganuur, allowing domestic and foreign visitors to travel from Tenger Plaza toward Tsonjin Boldog. Reports say stop signs and markings for northbound and southbound stops were installed following requests from residents and visitors; they name the Capital City Tourism Department working either with the Public Transport Policy Office or the Road and Transport Development Center. Most reports list fares of MNT 10,000 for adults and MNT 5,000 for children, while one lists MNT 15,000. A bus-stop facility is planned for next year. Tsonjin Boldog lies about 54 kilometers northeast of Ulaanbaatar.
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Society
Directors of Two Companies Detained in Housing-Order Fraud Case
Published: 2026-09-22
Directors of two companies have been detained in a case involving numerous people who reportedly lost money through housing-order contracts, according to O. Batkhuu. The cases concern alleged fraud involving advance payments and brokerage fees collected from people seeking apartments. A parliamentary petitions committee formed a working group to examine complaints from people affected by housing orders and discussed its findings in July 2026. During the first three months of the year, the working group received more than 600 petitions and complaints from individuals and a nongovernmental organization representing them. The review identified recurring problems including delayed or halted construction, apartments sold to multiple buyers, fundraising before permits were secured, and alleged misuse of funds collected from buyers. Court records also include criminal cases alleging substantial losses caused through misleading housing contracts.
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Court Finds Ulaanbaatar Council Member Guilty and Orders MNT 43.56 Million in Compensation
Published: 2026-09-22
The Bayangol, Khan-Uul and Songinokhairkhan District Criminal Court found Ulaanbaatar Citizens’ Representative Khural member B. Erdenesukh guilty of domestic-violence-related offenses, repeated abuse, cruel treatment, conduct against a child and unlawful surveillance. The court dismissed a separate allegation that he repeatedly beat his wife in specified years between 2005 and 2020, finding that allegation did not constitute a crime. Based on expert assessments of psychological harm, it ordered MNT 27.72 million for his wife and MNT 15.84 million for a minor victim, totaling MNT 43.56 million. The court accepted a request from Erdenesukh and his lawyers for a five-working-day adjournment to pay the compensation. Proceedings are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. on September 28, 2026.
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Environment
Search Continues After Bear Sightings Near Ulaanbaatar
Published: 2026-09-22
Environmental authorities and emergency services are continuing searches around the Tuul River and Bogd Khan Mountain after bears were reported near Ulaanbaatar on September 21. A video showed a bear running near the Botanical Garden before dawn, while another reported sighting occurred near the 61st Crossing in Songinokhairkhan District. Authorities said they had found no evidence that the bear had left the city area. The Capital City Environmental Department, emergency services and Bogd Khan Mountain protected-area administration are involved in the search. About 10 bear-sighting reports have been recorded around the capital this year, compared with four from 2018 through 2025. Nationally, more than 80 reports have been recorded, with scarce pine nuts and berries cited as a possible factor. Residents should not approach, frighten or attempt to catch bears and should report sightings to 72720303 during work hours or 11-310005 otherwise.
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Firefighters Battle Forest Fire That Crossed From Russia
Published: 2026-09-22
Emergency crews are working to fully extinguish a forest fire that crossed from Russia into Khuvsgul Province on September 15. The blaze entered Mongolia near border marker 320 at Busiin Gol in Gun bagh, Ulaan-Uul soum, about 275 km northwest of Murun and 110 km northwest of the soum center. The National Emergency Management Agency, Khuvsgul emergency personnel, Border Protection troops and Ulaan-Uul professional response teams have divided into three groups. They have established firebreaks around the affected area and are suppressing burning fallen timber. The agency reported that the fire had affected an estimated 80 hectares. Heavy accumulations of fallen wood have complicated efforts to put out remaining hot spots. Operations to contain the fire and prevent its further spread were continuing on September 22.
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Wildfires Burn 1.16 Million Hectares This Year
Published: 2026-09-22
Forest and steppe fires have burned 1,158,974 hectares nationwide so far this year, as dry autumn conditions and limited rainfall raise fire risks. Authorities reported 157 fires across two Ulaanbaatar districts and 59 soums in 12 provinces. The same report separately lists 41 forest fires and 115 steppe fires. Dornod recorded 49 fires, followed by Sukhbaatar with 31 and Khentii with 28. The affected area includes 33,229 hectares of forest and 1,125,745 hectares of steppe. One person died and two were burned. The fires also damaged 12 gers, two houses, six winter shelters, 38 fences and sheds, six vehicles or pieces of equipment, 131 head of large livestock and 1,012 small livestock, causing estimated losses of about MNT 6.5 billion. Rescuers evacuated eight people and about 3,760 animals.
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City Orders Cleanup of Illegal Tuul River Dump
Published: 2026-09-22
Ulaanbaatar authorities have ordered the rapid removal of an illegal dump covering 38.7 hectares near Nisekh and Sonsgolon along the Tuul River in Songinokhairkhan District’s 20th khoroo. Construction waste has accumulated at the site since 2010, reaching about 1.1 million tonnes. Governor B. Purevdavaa said the city will hold companies that dumped waste there accountable and require them to cover the estimated MNT 9.5 billion transport cost to move it to the Morin Davaa landfill. Officials will test the riverbank, soil and nearby drinking-water wells, then carry out remediation and disinfection measures. The area will be fenced and monitored with cameras to prevent further dumping. Companies could face penalties and possible revocation of operating permits, while the city is considering a public park after cleanup.
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Published: 2026-09-22
Uvs Province has formed an emergency task force after reports of brown bears near herder households and settlements. Two reports say bears were seen in the territories of Turgen, Sagil, Khovd, Bokhmoron, Tes, Zuungovi and Zuunkhangai soums, while another report says bears entered four soums in the province. The provincial governor established the group on September 21 under order A/590 to collect and consolidate information on bear locations and movements, monitor high-risk areas, issue public warnings and coordinate rapid action with specialist agencies when needed. Provincial authorities have sent a formal request to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change regarding possible measures and permits if bears repeatedly approach people, livestock or homes and create a serious threat. No attack on people or livestock by food-short bears has been reported in Uvs. Hunting bears without a permit remains illegal.
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Wet Snow May Hit Crop Regions This Weekend, Forecasters Warn
Published: 2026-09-22
Meteorological authorities have warned farmers that wet snow has a 50 percent chance of affecting agricultural areas in Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Selenge, Darkhan, Tuv, Khentii and Dornod on September 26-27. Snow is forecast to have a 90 percent probability in those provinces, plus Uvurkhangai, on September 28-29. Farmers were advised to complete windrow harvesting or direct harvesting promptly, depending on crop conditions, before wet snow arrives. The warning also calls for harvest machinery and equipment to be prepared, and for grain to be dried and stored to standard to prevent moisture damage and spoilage. During harvesting and transport, producers should protect grain, potatoes and vegetables from moisture and cold, adjust combine components in advance, and plan post-harvest field work around weather conditions.
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Pine Nut Harvest Banned This Year, With Prison Terms for Violations
Published: 2026-09-22
Authorities have banned the collection and preparation of Siberian pine nuts for household and commercial purposes in 2026, citing a shortage of wild-animal food and research on this year’s pine-nut yield. Collecting, selling, buying, transporting or processing pine nuts without authorization will be treated as a criminal offense. Penalties under the applicable legal provisions range from fines of MNT 5.4 million to MNT 27 million to restrictions on movement for one to five years or imprisonment for one to five years. Relevant authorities urged residents not to illegally collect, sell or transport pine nuts and appealed for protection of nature.
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Drilling Finds Rapid Permafrost Loss in Khentii Mountains and Baganuur
Published: 2026-09-22
Researchers from the Mongolian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Geography and Geoecology report that permafrost has disappeared at drilling sites in the Khentii Mountains where it was recorded 20 years ago. Similar findings emerged near a monitoring station in Baganuur District, where residents also reported that small rivers and streams have dried up. At a site first drilled for engineering-geology work in 2012, the underground ice layer was found substantially deeper during new drilling this year. The institute has established 12 stations since 2023 under a Eurasian permafrost monitoring network and is conducting phased drilling around them. Researchers have established a monitoring station in the affected Khentii area to track the changes. The findings highlight risks to water availability, land degradation and desertification as warming continues.
“If permafrost thaws and disappears completely, we will be left without water.” - A. Saruulzaya (unuudur.mn)
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Government to Seek Funding for Bear-Response Equipment
Published: 2026-09-22
Environment and Climate Change Minister T. Sandag-Ochir said the government will present a proposal to its September 23 meeting to draw more than MNT1 billion from the reserve fund for bear-response equipment, fuel and food. The proposed purchases include tranquilizer guns, each estimated at MNT32 million, and remotely applied spray; the ministry also plans to provide guns to provincial governments. A six-person search team using drones is looking for a bear reported near Ulaanbaatar’s Botanical Garden and Adam and Eve Monument. An examination of a bear that entered a settlement in Khentii Province found malnutrition and parasites. Officials link food shortages to poor pine-nut harvests in forest areas including Khuvsgul, Selenge and Mungunmorit, which may be drawing bears toward settlements, camps and grazing areas. Mongolia currently lacks sufficient equipment to capture bears safely and return them to forests.
“There is a risk to human life when bears enter provincial centres and the capital.” - T. Sandag-Ochir (urug.mn)
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Innovation
Investigators Recover MNT 11.2 Billion in Education Loan Repayments
Published: 2026-09-22
Investigators have recovered MNT 11.2 billion in overseas-study loans issued by the Education Loan Fund since beginning inquiries into cases connected with the fund, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office. A joint task force includes investigators from the Criminal Police Department and the Anti-Corruption Agency’s Investigation Department, while the Capital City Prosecutor’s Office supervises the cases. The task force has investigated 12 registration-stage cases and two formal investigation cases. It closed one registration-stage case, merged another, and prepared indictments in two formal cases that were decided by courts. One registration-stage case remains with the Criminal Police Department, and nine cases remain under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Agency. The fund operates under the Ministry of Education and Science.
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Health
Seasonal Flu Vaccination Reaches 49 Percent of Target Groups
Published: 2026-09-22
Seasonal influenza vaccination is continuing nationwide. The Ministry of Health reported that nationwide seasonal-flu immunization had reached 49 percent, while 245,108 people in listed priority groups had been vaccinated. Eligible groups include children up to age six, older adults and pregnant women, who can receive the vaccine free of charge. Health authorities estimate that vaccinating priority groups before flu season, particularly young children, could reduce influenza cases by 20 percent and hospital admissions by 30 percent. The vaccine used in Mongolia is manufactured in South Korea and meets World Health Organization requirements. Vaccination locations and schedules are available through local family, soum and settlement health centers. Residents are advised to tell health staff about vaccines received during the past month, current fever or illness symptoms, and previous allergic reactions to vaccines or medicines.
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Health Center Rejects False HIV Claims Circulating Online
Published: 2026-09-22
The National Center for Communicable Diseases has rejected baseless social-media claims that named individuals have AIDS or have given birth to children with the infection. The statement followed online rumors involving actress B. Batmaa and Baji of the band Lumino, both of whom denied the allegations. The center reported 451 confirmed HIV cases in Mongolia since 1992, including 24 new cases recorded in 2026 as of September. Figures cited by Ikon show 39 new cases in 2025, described as the highest annual total on record. The center’s figures concern confirmed cases officially registered through its voluntary counseling and testing centers.
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