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Mongolia News Summary for October 12, 2024

Mongolia News Summary for October 12, 2024
The following news articles are the opinions of their authors and publications. They are presented here as translations for informational purposes and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Mongolia Strategy Center or its members.

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Politics

Economy

Diplomacy

Infrastructure

Health

Politics

Provincial, Capital, Soum and District Citizen Representative Council Elections Voting Begins

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The voting for the 2024 regular elections of the Provincial, Capital, Soum, and District Citizen Representatives' Councils has begun today from 07:00 and will continue until 20:00. In this local election nationwide, 17,278 candidates from 10 parties, one coalition, and independents are competing for 8,031 mandates. Specifically, there are 558 constituencies with 751 mandates in 21 provinces, 1,642 constituencies with 6,922 mandates in soums, 12 constituencies with 45 mandates in the capital, and 181 constituencies with 313 mandates in districts. Additionally, there are 268 independent candidates competing. According to data jointly released by the General Registration Office and the Central Election Commission, a total of 2,246,164 people are expected to vote nationwide. From this total, 1,146,000 are to vote in local areas, and 1,100,000 are to vote in Ulaanbaatar City. Nationwide, 2,230 precinct committees have been established. In terms of technical equipment, vote counting devices are placed in pairs—two devices—at precincts with more than 1,500 voters. A total of 2,824 devices have been distributed and are ready for voting. Once the voting process has started, the voters who have voted using a mobile sealed ballot box will be registered with their registration numbers, and their voter registration slips will be obtained by authorized staff. The sealed ballot box will be opened, and the voted ballots will be inserted into the vote-counting device. An authorized staff member at the polling station will verify the voter's fingerprint against the electronic database of the voter list of that section. If no discrepancies are found, they will issue a voter registration slip. If failing to identify a voter by their fingerprint, the voter's civil identification information will be checked against the voter list, a voter registration slip will be issued, and electronic and paper archives will be created and preserved. Voter registration will stop at 20:00 on the voting day, after which voters who have received their registration slips will be allowed to cast their votes.

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P.Delgernaran: The Election Voting Closed with a Turnout of 53.1%, Expected to Increase Slightly

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The regular elections for the local councils of provinces, the capital, and districts concluded at 20:00 with a turnout of 53.1%. During this time, the chairman of the General Election Commission, P. Delgernaran, provided information. He stated, "The voting for the 2024 provincial, capital, and district local council elections concluded successfully. Today, the process of collecting votes from 2,230 precincts was successfully completed between 07:00 and 20:00. The Election Commission of the capital will soon present the results of the districts. The results of the provinces and districts will be presented by the provincial election commission. During today's voting, there were no disputes or legal violations. Although power outages occurred in some precincts, the technical team resolved them promptly. The election voting concluded with a total turnout of 53.1%. There will be a slight increase on top of this as the results from remote precincts without internet connectivity are added. However, these are few, as precincts near the state border do not have access to Starlink devices or mobile internet. After the results of the provincial and capital local council elections are announced, they must be submitted to the local council within a week. After that, a decision must be made within 14 days to call the first meeting of the new local council. If results are tied in some areas, additional voting will be organized urgently. The weather is expected to cool from next week," he said.

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The Prime Minister Encourages Voters to Actively Participate in Elections

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The Prime Minister of Mongolia, L. Oyun-Erdene, cast his vote in Bayanzurkh district for the 2024 regular election of the Citizens' Representative Khural of aimags and the capital city. He stated, "In the parliamentary election, Mongolia for the first time established a unique and progressive parliament in Asia with 126 representatives, including more than 25% women and multi-party representation. The parliamentary election is about policy choices, whereas local elections involve decisions that are closer to your life. I hope you make a pragmatic choice that is close to and realistic for your life." The Prime Minister urged citizens, voters, and youth to actively participate in the election.

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Voter Turnout for Local Council Elections Concludes at 53.1% Nationwide

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

Voter turnout for provincial, capital, district, and city local council elections concluded at 53.1% nationwide. The local council elections, commonly referred to by citizens as the local elections, were held from 07:00 to 20:00 today. As of 20:00, the national voter turnout was 53.1%. In this local election, Bayan-Ölgii province had the most active participation, with 48,799 voters or 76.3% of the total electorate casting their votes. Conversely, voter turnout in Ulaanbaatar was the lowest. Specifically, only 425,207 eligible voters in the capital, or just 42.3%, participated in the election. Examining voters who exercised their right to vote, as granted by the Constitution, by age group shows that those aged 35 and older were the most active. The least active group was 18-19-year-olds, with only 34.4% of them voting. Voter turnout by region: - Bayan-Ölgii: 76.3% - Sükhbaatar: 72.6% - Zavkhan: 71.8% - Govisümber: 70.1% - Khovd: 69.2% - Gov-Altai: 68.4% - Arkhangai: 67.2% - Uvs: 67% - Bayankhongor: 66.7% - Dundgovi: 66.2% - Ömnögovi: 66% - Töv: 64.3% - Bulgan: 64.2% - Khentii: 62.2% - Selenge: 60.4% - Övörkhangai: 59.7% - Dornod: 59.5% - Khövsgöl: 59.2% - Dornogovi: 57.8% - Orkhon: 48.7% - Darkhan-Uul: 46% - Ulaanbaatar: 42.3% Warning: Media organizations (television, radio, social media, and websites) must cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in any form, either fully or partially.

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Voter Turnout Across the Country Reaches 53.1% According to Preliminary Data

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar. With the 2024 regular elections for the provincial, capital city, district, and city councils culminating in the polling process, the General Election Commission (GEC) provided updates. The Chair of the GEC, P. Delgernaran, stated, "The polling for the 2024 regular elections of the provincial, capital city, district, and city councils was conducted in accordance with the law, resulting in a national voter turnout of 53.1%. In short, 1,119,600 out of the 2,107,000 registered voters have cast their votes. These numbers are subject to slight adjustments as results from remote districts not connected to the internet are added. Currently, some district committees are still transmitting their results to the central server. The capital city is expected to announce its polling results shortly. Provinces are required to openly report their results within their territories, installing displays as needed. According to the law on provincial, capital city, district, and city council elections, the respective election committee must submit the election results to its council within one week. Subsequent to that, the first session of the council will be convened 14 days later as stipulated by the legal regulations," he explained. Furthermore, the election equipment used in the local elections will not be relocated to the capital city as they may need to be reused in the event of a tie among the candidates, explained the chair of the General Election Commission.

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L. Oyun-Erdene: In the Future, Holding Local Elections Together with Parliamentary Elections is Correct

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene cast his vote in the aimag, capital city, soum, and district Citizens' Representative Khural elections. He stated, "First of all, I urge voters to cast their votes. The parliamentary election is one where policy choices are made. In the case of local elections, these are elections for meetings that make decisions very close to citizens' lives. Therefore, I hope that very realistic and correct choices are made. Think about what kind of representative would facilitate the implementation of the government's action plan. The government will implement quite some focused policies towards Ulaanbaatar city. We will develop the regions in a decentralized manner. I think it is correct to hold local elections together with parliamentary elections in the future. We will discuss and negotiate this with other parties. Due to the electoral cycle, the government is unable to make significant decisions. It is true that there has been no substantial investment in the capital city over the past years. Since 1992, about 10 trillion tugriks have been invested. It is planned to increase this to 30 trillion tugriks in the coming years," he said.

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No Ink Marking on Voters' Fingers

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

The regular elections for the Citizens' Representative Councils (ITX) of aimags, the capital city, soums, and districts for 2024 are taking place today. In the local elections, there are candidates competing for 8,155 seats to represent people in 2,393 electoral districts. In the parliamentary election, voters had their fingers marked with ink. However, in this ITX election, there will be no ink marking on the fingers of voters. Nationwide, 2,246,164 voters are expected to cast their votes. As of 9:30 in the morning, the voter turnout nationwide was 8.5 percent.

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18,617 Voters Cast Their Ballots Using Mobile Sealed Boxes

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

In the regular election for the Citizens' Representatives Khural of aimags, the capital, soums, and districts, the process of casting votes using mobile sealed ballot boxes began under the supervision of political party coalition observers from 9:00 a.m. and concluded at 8:00 p.m. According to preliminary information submitted to the electronic system of the General Election Commission from local committees, 18,617 voters cast their ballots using the mobile sealed boxes. According to the Law on Elections for the Citizens' Representatives Khural of aimags, the capital, soums, and districts, voters who are unable to physically attend the voting station due to health reasons; voters engaged in public mobilization based on the Law on Mobilization; voters detained due to violations; voters arrested and detained according to the Criminal Procedure Code; and voters forcibly treated in administrative order or detained in relation to violations are allowed to cast their ballots using a mobile sealed ballot box based on their request, medical opinion, or relevant organization's certification. Following the procedure prescribed by law, when the voting process begins, the seal of the mobile sealed ballot box is opened, and the ballots of such voters are read by the vote counting machine. Warning: Media organizations (Television, Radio, Social, and Web pages) are reminded to always cite the source (ikon.mn) when using our information in full or in part in any format.

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In the Capital, MPP Becomes the Majority and Will Govern for the Next Four Years

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

Voting for the elections to local councils in provinces, cities, districts, and localities across the nation concluded at 8:00 PM. Provincial election commissions set up screens to broadcast their results, while the capital's results were delivered directly from the General Election Commission (GEC). By 9:00 PM, results from all constituencies in the capital were consolidated, and preliminary results were presented. The capital's nine districts were divided into 12 constituencies, and a total of 45 representatives were elected. According to preliminary results, 40 of the 45 representatives elected in the capital were from the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), and 5 were from the Democratic Party (DP). Thus, MPP won the majority in the Capital City Representative Council. However, this local election had the lowest voter turnout in the capital, with only 42.3% participation. According to the law, there is no turnout threshold for the local council elections, so no additional voting will be held. Let us introduce the candidates who received the most votes in each district. Bayanzurkh District - 3 constituencies with 9 mandates. MPP candidates G.Uuganbayar, Ch.Batzorig, A.Bayar, B.Munkhbaatar, E.Odontuya, G.Jargalsaikhan, U.Oyunzul, T.Davaadalai, D.Javkhlan, and DP candidate T.Batsogt received the majority of votes. Chingeltei District - four mandates. MPP candidates N.Manduul, B.Munkhbat, L.Ariuntuya, and Z.Tomortoomoo received the majority of votes. Sukhbaatar District - four mandates. DP candidates D.Badarsan and Kh.Erdenesukh, and MPP candidates Kh.Erdenesuren, B.Anu-Ujin, and B.Dulguun received the most votes. Khan-Uul District - six mandates. MPP candidates A.Amartuvshin, J.Enkhjargalan, T.Khosbayar, G.Batsaikhan, B.Myagmar, and DP candidate O.Zunduudorj received the majority of votes. Songinokhairkhan District - two constituencies with 10 mandates. MPP candidates Ts.Torkhuu, G.Batzorig, Ts.Battor, E.Khulan, B.Sergelenbaatar, Kh.Nyambaatar, D.Undarmaa, J.Sundagsuren, B.Khuyagbaatar, and G.Batbayar received the majority of votes. Baganuur District - two mandates. MPP candidates S.Davaasuren and T.Otgonbold received the majority of votes. Bagakhangai District - one mandate. DP candidate B.Zoltuya received the majority of votes. Bayangol District - 6 mandates. MPP candidates O.Sumiyabatar, J.Batbayasgalan, D.Ikherbayar, B.Semjidmaa, Ch.Mendbayar, and E.Enkhtor received the majority of votes. Nalaikh District has two mandates, but the results have not yet been consolidated.

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Check if You Are Registered in the Voter List for the Regular Local Election

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The voter list for the 2024 regular election of the Citizens' Representative Khural of aimags, the capital city, soums, and districts has been posted on the website https://election.burtgel.gov.mn/ since July 13. The General Authority for State Registration compiles the name, age, gender, civil registration number, and permanent residence address information of eligible voters by province, soum, district, capital city, city district, and each election precinct. This list is required by the law on elections of the Citizens' Representative Khural of aimags, capital city, soums, and districts to be available on its website starting at least 90 days before the day of voting until the local Khural election concludes. Voters are advised to check whether they are registered in the voter list by visiting https://election.burtgel.gov.mn/.

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Economy

By the Wealth Fund Law, citizens will accumulate, inherit, and use funds from specialized funds

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: news.mn

Every citizen of Mongolia has the right to benefit from the natural resources of their homeland and the land they own. Not only should this be talked about, but with proper legislation, the time has come to turn it into reality. Over the past years, people thought that only the companies owning mining sites and some authorized government officials had the right to benefit from the enormous natural wealth. However, this year, that prevailing notion has been abolished, creating an opportunity for every citizen to equally share in the nation's natural wealth. With the constitutional amendments of Mongolia, the state policy for utilizing natural resources is based on long-term development policies, ensuring every citizen's right to live in a healthy and safe environment. The benefits derived from the land's resources are concentrated in the National Wealth Fund to ensure fair and equal distribution. It is specified that the legislation should establish a legal basis for ensuring that the majority of the benefits from the exploitation of strategically significant mineral deposits should belong to the people, in alignment with the principle that natural wealth belongs to the people. In short, the National Wealth Fund is established with the aim of ensuring that the benefits from Mongolia's subsoil resources are distributed equally and fairly to both present and future generations of citizens. This fund consists of three specialized sub-funds, each with its distinct cumulation, advantages, and uses. Some believe that equitably sharing the natural wealth among all citizens means dispersing it in small profits of today without any projects or constructions beneficial for future development. However, the Wealth Fund composed of specialized funds fully encompasses accumulation, expenditure, and inheritance in its contents. Firstly, the Future Heritage Fund is intended for saving for the future and inheritance for future generations, accumulating foreign currency in the Mongol Bank, and managing capital on international markets. Secondly, the Accumulation Fund allows for current citizens to distribute and accumulate resources. Citizens can use their savings on housing, health, and educational services. Thirdly, the Development Fund supports crucial socio-economic projects specified in Mongolia's medium and long-term development policy documents. The main goal of being owners of our wealth is to support every citizen. In addition to accessing necessary healthcare and educational services, citizens can use their benefits from the wealth fund to purchase housing. If not necessary, citizens can save and increase its returns, as provided by the National Wealth Fund Law. Therefore, it is advisable for every citizen to improve their understanding of the National Wealth Fund from which every citizen can benefit.

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Diplomacy

Mongolia Expresses Willingness to Expand Mutually Beneficial Trade and Economic Cooperation with Central Asian Countries

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, met with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the National Leader of the People of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, during an official visit to Turkmenistan. President Khurelsukh expressed that Mongolia is committed to expanding and developing mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan. He also noted his satisfaction with making the first official state visit to Turkmenistan as the President of Mongolia and being able to closely observe the development and prosperity of Turkmenistan and the everyday life of its people. The parties expressed confidence that this state visit would strengthen the legal basis of the relations between Mongolia and Turkmenistan, enrich their relations and cooperation with new content, and make a significant contribution to enhancing the friendship and camaraderie between the peoples of the two countries. The Halk Maslahaty, or People's Council of Turkmenistan, is an independent body exercising the supreme constitutional authority. The Halk Maslahaty holds the authority to discuss amendments to the Constitution and other laws, as well as the main directions of the state's internal and foreign policy. Source: President's Office Note: Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social and Web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using any form of our information in full or in part.

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President of Mongolia Visits Turkmenistan with Business Delegation

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: montsame.mn

The President of Mongolia, U.Khurelsukh, has arrived in Turkmenistan along with more than 40 businesses aiming to open new markets.

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VIDEO: President Khurelsukh of Mongolia Becomes the First President from a Democratic Country to Visit Turkmenistan

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: isee.mn

Isee.mn brings news and reports from Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, has landed in Ashgabat for a state visit at the invitation of the President of Turkmenistan. This visit is considered "historic" as it marks the first visit at the level of heads of state since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992. Furthermore, President Khurelsukh is the first President from a democratic country to visit Turkmenistan. This state visit is significant for expanding and developing the friendly relations between Mongolia and Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan. It aims to enrich these relations with economic content and strengthen the friendship and camaraderie between the people of the two nations. Intergovernmental agreements and documents are planned to be established during this visit, which will contribute to strengthening the legal foundations of the relations between Mongolia and Turkmenistan. President Khurelsukh met with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the former President and Chairman of the People's Council, and the father of the current President of Turkmenistan. The official state visit is set to begin soon. During the meeting, President Khurelsukh expressed Mongolia's commitment to expanding and developing mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries. The parties believe that this state visit will substantially strengthen the legal foundations of the relations between Mongolia and Turkmenistan, enrich cooperation with new content, and reinforce the friendship and camaraderie between the people of the two countries.

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The State Visit of the President of Mongolia Khurelsukh to Turkmenistan Begins

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, has arrived in Ashgabat to conduct a state visit to Turkmenistan. President Khurelsukh and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Ashgabat's international airport by Turkmenistan's Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Head of the Government Office, Batyr Atdayev, along with other officials. This visit is significant as it is the first state visit by a Mongolian head of state to Turkmenistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Turkmenistan on April 23, 1992. The visit aims to enhance the development of friendly relations and cooperation between Mongolia and Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, by enriching it with economic content, and strengthening the friendship and partnership between the two peoples. During the visit, it is planned to establish government-to-government agreements and inter-organizational documents that will contribute crucially to strengthening the legal framework between the two countries. As a side note, Ashgabat is a city with a population of one million, featuring 543 structures made of white marble and was registered in 2013 in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "White Marble City." Currently, the city hosts a total of 28 embassies of foreign countries, and 15 representative offices of international organizations. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA Warning: Media outlets (Television, Radio, Social, and Websites) must credit the source (ikon.mn) when using our information either fully or partially in any form.

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President's State Visit to Turkmenistan Begins

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: news.mn

The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, has arrived in Ashgabat for a state visit to Turkmenistan. Accompanying President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, a delegation was welcomed at Ashgabat International Airport by representatives led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, Deputy Head of the Government Office, Batyr Atdayev. This visit is notable as it is the first state visit at the level of the head of state from Mongolia since diplomatic relations were established between Mongolia and Turkmenistan on April 23, 1992. The state visit is of great importance for expanding and developing friendly relations with Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, enriching economic cooperation, and strengthening the friendship between the two peoples. During the visit, it is planned to establish intergovernmental agreements and documents between organizations that will significantly contribute to strengthening the legal foundation of the two countries. Incidentally, Ashgabat is a city with a population of one million, with 543 buildings made of white marble, and it was registered in the Guinness Book as the "White Marble City" in 2013. Currently, 28 embassies of foreign countries and 15 international organizations operate in the city.

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President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh Visits Turkmenistan

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, is visiting Turkmenistan for an official state visit in Ashgabat. President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Ashgabat International Airport by Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Batyr Atdayev along with other officials. This visit is notable for being the first state visit at the head of state level by Mongolia since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Turkmenistan on April 23, 1992. The state visit is important for expanding and enhancing the friendly relations between Mongolia and Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, enriching economic cooperation, and strengthening the friendship and partnership between the two nations. During the visit, government-to-government agreements and inter-organizational documents that will make a significant contribution to strengthening the legal foundation between the two countries are planned to be signed. As a side note, the city of Ashgabat has a population of one million and features 543 buildings made of white marble, earning it the "White Marble City" distinction in the Guinness Book of Records in 2013. Currently, the city hosts embassies from 28 countries and representative offices of 15 international organizations. Source: President.mn

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Putin Visits Ashgabat

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: news.mn

Russian President Vladimir Putin is participating in an international forum titled “The Relationship Between Time and Civilization: The Foundation of Peace and Development,” which is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy. According to media reports, he arrived at the event venue in his "Aurus" brand car. During his visit, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov welcomed him. The leaders greeted each other and took pictures together. Berdimuhamedov is scheduled to deliver an opening speech at the forum, while Putin is expected to speak at the plenary session. Additionally, the presidents of Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, as well as the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, are participating in the summit. SOURCE: TASS

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Infrastructure

Kh. Nyambaatar: We will initiate a major development boom from 2024 to 2028

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The City branch of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) provided information related to the election results. In the preliminary results of the recent local elections, MPP candidates have won in 14 out of 21 provinces. Specifically, they have won in Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Övörkhangai, Zavkhan, Uvs, Bulgan, Khuvsgul, Orkhon, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge, Dornod, Govisumber, Dornogovi, and Dundgovi provinces, securing the majority seats. Furthermore, MPP has won in 8 out of 9 districts of the capital, obtaining 40 out of 45 seats in the capital city's Citizens' Representative Assembly. Kh. Nyambaatar, who won in the sixth district of Songino Khairkhan, stated, "The City MPP nominated nine women in this election, all of whom have won. We will implement the program put forward by the City MPP for 2024-2028, addressing many pressing issues of our city and initiating a major development boom. We express our gratitude to the voters who showed confidence in us. Even for those voters who did not vote for us but are concerned for the wellbeing of our capital city, we pledge to work hard to gain their trust." Warning: Media organizations (television, radio, social media, and web pages) must mention the source (ikon.mn) when using this information in any form, either in full or in part.

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Kh. Nyambaatar: The Next Four Years Will See Major Development and Growth

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: itoim.mn

The voting for the 2024 regular election of the Citizens’ Representative Khurals of aimags, the capital city, soums, and districts has concluded, and preliminary results have been announced. In relation to the election results, Y. Sodbaatar, the General Secretary of the MPP (Mongolian People’s Party), and Kh. Nyambaatar, the Chairman of the Capital City MPP, held a press conference. Y. Sodbaatar, General Secretary of the MPP, stated: "This local election saw a voter turnout of 53%. In the 2020 local elections, the MPP won in 13 out of 21 aimags, and lost in eight, while claiming victory in eight districts of the capital. In this local election, based on preliminary results, we have won in 14 out of 21 aimags. We also achieved a victory by securing 40 out of 45 seats in the Ulaanbaatar City Citizens' Representative Khural (NICC). We won in eight out of nine districts of the capital. I extend my gratitude to the citizens who confirmed their trust and voted for the MPP again in the parliamentary elections." Kh. Nyambaatar, Chairman of the Capital City MPP, remarked: "Among the 45 seats of the NICC, candidates from the MPP won 40 seats. This time, the capital’s MPP nominated nine women, all of whom achieved victory, which is great news. During 2024-2028, we will implement the platform proposed by the capital's MPP, resolve many pressing issues facing Ulaanbaatar, and undertake significant infrastructure development to trigger substantial growth."

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H. Nyambaatar: We Will Solve Our City's Pressing Issues and Achieve a Great Development Leap

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: gogo.mn

The city branch of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) held a press conference regarding the election results. During this occasion, the Mayor of the city, H. Nyambaatar, stated: "The MPP nominated nine women, and all nine achieved victory. We will solve many pressing issues of our capital city and initiate a great leap in development and construction. We extend our gratitude to the voters who placed their trust in us. We will work diligently to earn the trust of those voters who did not support us but are concerned about our capital city." The MPP won in 14 out of 21 provinces. According to the information we received, the MPP won the majority seats in the provinces of Arkhangai, Bayankhongor, Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan, Uvs, Bulgan, Khuvsgul, Orkhon, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge, Dornod, Govisumber, Dornogovi, and Dundgovi. In the city council, the MPP secured 40 out of 45 seats. Preliminary information shows that they won in 8 out of 9 districts, as reported by the MPP.

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Health

Not all medicines require prescriptions

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: ikon.mn

The new revision of the "Law on Medicines and Medical Devices" has come into effect, requiring most medicines to only be dispensed with a valid doctor's prescription, making it impossible for people to obtain medicines with an invalid or without a prescription from pharmacies. Due to the enforcement of the law, a misconception among the public has arisen that "all medicines will be dispensed by prescription." In this regard, the "Health and Regulatory Authority for Medicines and Medical Devices" (EEMC) has issued a correction. It stated, "In our country, the legal regulation to dispense medicines with a doctor's prescription has been effective since 1998, and out of the 4,110 registered medicines, more than 2,800 medicines are dispensed by prescription, and around 100 medicines are indicated for use in medical conditions. However, more than 1,100 medicines are normally dispensed from pharmacies without a prescription. With the adoption of the revised law on medicines and medical devices, no new regulations regarding prescription medicines have been issued, and we warn that medicines that require a prescription must be dispensed from pharmacies with a doctor’s written prescription according to the law." Warning: Media organizations (TV, Radio, Social Networks, and Websites) should note that when using our information in any form (in full or in part), they are required to mention their source (ikon.mn).

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Will Kuwaitis Help Build a New Cancer Hospital?

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: news.mn

If the new Burn Center hospital was built and put into use in Mongolia with the support of the Kuwait Fund, the necessary financial support for building the second Cancer Research hospital is also sought from the Kuwait Fund. In the country, more than 7,000 new cancer cases are registered annually, and 60% are diagnosed at a late stage. By 2040, the incidence of cancer is expected to increase by 108%, and the number of deaths is expected to double, according to preliminary research results. Therefore, it has become urgently necessary to establish additional cancer research hospitals. The mayor of Ulaanbaatar, H. Nyambaatar, recently announced that the land for building the new Cancer Research hospital has been prepared. This implies that once the funding source is fully secured, it will be possible to build the new hospital. The Minister of Health, T. Munkhsaihan, has requested support for this issue from the acting Director-General of the Kuwait Fund, Waleed Shamlon Al-Bahar, and other delegates. The Kuwait Fund has stated that they will focus on settling the financing. To remind, the Burn Center received an 8 million USD non-refundable aid from the Kuwait Fund.

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Ömnögovi Province Leads in Syphilis Cases

Published: 2024-10-11 | Translated from: news.mn

As of the first eight months of 2024, there have been 6,899 cases of sexually transmitted infectious diseases recorded nationwide, accounting for 27.5% of all infectious diseases. Notably, this is an increase of 38 cases compared to the same period last year. We interviewed B. Jügderjava, head of the STI Treatment, Assistance, and Services Department at the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), regarding prevalent sexually transmitted infections and their spread. INCREASE IN SYPHILIS CASES Of sexually transmitted infectious diseases, syphilis accounts for 45.1%, gonorrhea for 33.8%, trichomoniasis for 20.8%, and HIV/AIDS for 0.2%. Compared to the previous year, syphilis cases have increased by 402, with the incidence per 10,000 population as follows: - Ömnögovi Province: 14.2% - Govisümber Province: 11.6% - Bayankhongor Province: 11.3% - Dornod Province: 11.2% - Ulaanbaatar City: 12.1% These figures are 2.3-5.3% higher than the national average. B. Jügderjava stated, "Sexually transmitted infections remain a significant public health issue not only in our country but globally. The prevalence of these infections in Mongolia is higher compared to previous years, particularly among sexually active young people aged 19-34. More than 30 types of sexually transmitted infections are recognized worldwide. In Mongolia, the most common infections recorded and reported are syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and trichomoniasis. Among young people, there is a lack of knowledge and information about these diseases. Despite awareness of the high spread of these infections, there are still many cases of transmission, indicating a deficiency in condom use and habits among youth." "People tend to underestimate the risk at the moment they are infected, thinking ‘it won't happen to me,’ which leads to mistakes. There is also a significant spread of infections among married individuals, suggesting high rates of casual sexual encounters. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the routes of transmission and practice prevention, particularly for pregnant women who should enroll in regular prenatal check-ups to prevent transmitting infections to their babies. As of the first eight months of 2024, 38,648 women have newly enrolled in prenatal care. Among them, 92.5% underwent testing for trichomoniasis, 92.4% for gonorrhea, 98.8% for syphilis, and 97.9% for HIV/AIDS. THE SPREAD OF INFECTIONS UNKNOWINGLY One major reason for the high prevalence of infections is that symptoms of sexually transmitted infections are often mild or vague, meaning people can unknowingly have and spread the infection. In some cases, there are no symptoms at all initially, but the infection can become severe over time. Others who experience symptoms may not seek medical attention, further increasing the spread. Another important point is that there is not just one type of sexually transmitted infection; often, multiple infections co-occur, with similar symptoms, leading to self-medication without proper diagnosis. Using antibiotics without professional guidance does not effectively treat the specific infection and can only mask the symptoms. This can result in antibiotic resistance, making future treatment difficult. Therefore, it's advised not to rely on unverified online information or advice from acquaintances to treat symptoms. TREATMENT REQUIRES INVOLVING ALL PARTNERS Sexually transmitted infection treatment also involves treating all sexual partners. The NCID's STI clinics are operational in 21 provinces and 9 districts, offering services by professional doctors. People should not feel embarrassed to seek help, as these infections concern public health, affecting anyone with an active sexual life.

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