Air Quality & Housing: The EU’s SWITCH-Asia II SOAP II project (2022–2026) wrapped up in Mongolia, helping thousands of ger-area households insulate homes, cut winter heating costs, and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Health Procurement: Mongolia’s Cabinet approved single-source procurement for 16 essential strategic pharmaceuticals plus anti-hemophilic Factor VIII and IX products, aiming to prevent shortages and counterfeit risks while saving MNT 3.15 billion. Budget Austerity (Health Exemptions): The government moved into austerity mode through Dec 31, 2026, but said the health sector is exempt, keeping key services like student screening, vaccinations, and seasonal flu prevention funded. Infection Control Research: A prospective ICU pilot study explores chlorhexidine decolonization and how Candida auris colonization dynamics may shift in ICU patients. Desertification & Nutrition: In the Gobi, herders report the wild onion “taana” is failing to bloom, a sign desertification is accelerating and threatening a long-used protein-rich food source. Conservation Enforcement: Mongolia plans intensified inspections to curb illegal marmot hunting and trade, with hunting tightly restricted by law. Global Human Development: UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Index shows Mongolia at 0.747, below the global average of 0.756.