Mongolia

The prime minister ousted by parliament had promoted a New Recovery Policy to make Mongolia independent from the mining industry interests. Despite economic growth and the reduction of public debt, his government has had to face growing criticism, triggered by the luxury flaunted by his son on social media. Now a new phase of political uncertainty has opened for the country nestled between Russia and China.

Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has called for a vote of confidence in Parliament, after protesters accused him of promoting corruption and inequality. Instead, the PM blames instead mining oligarchs for the problems. Meanwhile, fears are growing that the powers of the country’s presidency might be enhanced ahead of the 2027 elections.

In his new book, the Spanish writer recounts his trip to Ulaanbaatar with Pope Francis in 2023. As a convinced atheist, he discovered the "radicality" of men and women religious who help people without proselytising. For him, they embody the pontiff’s “missionary and poor Church”, he said yesterday at a meeting with the press in Rome. The novel narrates the meetings with Fr Ernesto Viscardi and Sr Ana Waturu.

The agreement, which provides Mongolia with an air traffic control radar system, is part of Japan’s defence assistance programme inaugurated in 2023. For the Japanese government, it enhances its commitment to regional stability in an anti-Chinese perspective.

Today's news: Defying CPI arrest warrant, Putin visiting Mongolia to strengthen economic and industrial relations; 1School bus crashes into a group of parents and children outside a school in Shandong, 11 dead; Explosion on the south-western outskirts of Kabul, six dead and 13 injured; Flooding and mudslides caused by Typhoon Yagi killed 13 people in the Philippines.

On his visit to Tashkent, President Khürelsükh was accompanied by a large delegation from Mongolia's business community. In the past two years the Uzbek economy has grown a lot, doubling all its indicators.

Today's headlines: WFP says floods in Afghanistan have exacerbated the country’s hunger crisis. Over 300 people are killed and 1,182 houses buried in a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea. Tens of thousands of people take to the streets in Taiwan against pro-Chinese reforms currently before parliament. Laos fails to stop human trafficking, especially of young people.

Today's news: Hong Kong denied access to a Reporters Without Borders representative, who was searched and then deported; At least 16% of the candidates in the first phase of the Lok Sabha vote have pending criminal cases; Taiwan earthquake death toll rises to 16, over 1100 injured; The Houthis claim an attack on four boats in the Gulf, also a 'US warship'.

Today's news: Arab diplomacy meets in Saudi Arabia to end the war in Gaza; Delhi aims to discontinue the visa-free policy to Myanmar and block entry to the north-east; A Houhti court sentences 13 people to death by public execution for homosexuality; Ulan Bator aims to launch the country's first satellite to strengthen communications; Outgoing president Ilham Aliev in the lead with counting almost complete.

All private military companies similar to Wagner have now been assimilated by the new imperial opričnina. As at the end of Ivan's reign, even in Putin's twilight, after the final deification of the presidential elections next March, the real question will be how far the teams of power-mongers will be able to maintain an internal balance among themselves.

Mongolia signed a declaration with other countries in favour of the development of nuclear power to reduce greenhouse gases. This is one of the country's latest initiatives to promote its domestic mining industry, which represents an important part of the country’s economy. This will require a reassessment of relations with Russia.

With the mobilisation for the war in Ukraine, several thousand Buriati - ethnic Mongols living within Russia's borders - moved to Ulan Bator. But in recent decades, the capital has changed a lot, turning over a new leaf from its Soviet heritage. And despite their historical and cultural affinity, the Rlokanty are finding it hard to settle in a world very different from the one they were used to living in.