Public Health & Safety: A suspected plague case in Russia’s Irkutsk region has triggered a “full range of anti-epidemic” measures after the death of a 28-year-old lab worker, with nearly 200 people placed under observation and a hospital wing quarantined; officials say contacts are symptom-free and tests are negative, while details of exposure remain disputed. Mongolia Health System Funding: Mongolia signed Asian Development Bank loan agreements totaling $455 million for education and health, including modernization of provincial hospitals and emergency/intensive/surgical services, plus upgrades to remote soum health centers and a new 300-bed model provincial hospital. Cross-Border Health Cooperation: Mongolia and Kazakhstan reaffirmed plans to expand cooperation under a trade and economic roadmap, with a signed protocol covering areas including healthcare, environment, climate change, and disaster risk reduction. Disease Prevention in Animals: Goat pox has spread to Govi-Altai soums after cross-border introduction, prompting culling of thousands of goats and lab-confirmed surveillance in affected areas. Climate & Health Context: Mongolia reported planting 140 million trees since 2021 under its “Billion Trees” campaign, alongside pest-control efforts to protect forests from degradation.