UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar: Mongolia kicked off COP17 on desertification with a push for “restore the land, restore hope,” as Prime Minister Nyam-Osoryn Uchral warned that 80% of Mongolia’s territory is already degraded and urged concrete, measurable action beyond speeches. Local-first climate and health links: A UNCCD COP17 message from Morocco’s High Atlas Foundation stressed that restoration projects must be designed and managed by local communities—especially women and youth—to improve health, education, and livelihoods. Cities and cooperation: Ulaanbaatar hosted a mayors’ forum calling for city partnerships to tackle pasture degradation, water scarcity, and dust storms that don’t respect borders. Medicine procurement update: Mongolia’s Health Minister reported progress on single-source procurement, including hemophilia factor and other high-cost therapies, plus plans to cut duplication by compiling 179 quality-compliant medicines and sending price requests to international partners. Medical tourism: Busan announced a 2026 Medical Tourism Business Fair next week, with buyers from 10 countries including Mongolia, aiming to expand referral channels. Traditional medicine spotlight: An international symposium in Lhasa highlighted Tibetan medical treatises and thangka scrolls, with experts from Mongolia among participants.