Mongolia is full of high expectations toward the 9th Asian Winter Games underway in Harbin City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, with the country's athletes aiming to excel in the competitions, said Minister of Finance Bold Javkhlan, also head of the Mongolian delegation.
In an interview with China Central Television, Javkhlan said Mongolia has sent a total of 35 athletes for the 9th Asian Winter Games to compete in seven events, including skiing, short-track speed skating and curling. He also noted that the city of Harbin, being the closest host city to Mongolia in the history of the Asian Winter Games, has provided the Mongolian team with significant advantages.
"From a geographical and distance perspective, Harbin is the closest Asian Winter Games host city to Mongolia. This time, we've sent a relatively large delegation, with 35 athletes competing in seven events of four major sports. We will continue to work hard and strive to build on the excellent results we've achieved in the past," said Javkhlan.
The 9th Asian Winter Games officially opened last Friday and runs until Feb 14.
Mongolia filled with high expectations toward Asian Winter Games: minister
The U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.2 percent year on year in May, marking its highest level since May 2023, as energy prices remained high, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.
Notably, the energy index for May increased 3.9 percent month on month, accounting for over 60 percent of headline inflation.
Gasoline and fuel oil prices increased 40.5 percent and 58.9 percent year on year, respectively, in May.
The national average price of gasoline reached 4.555 U.S. dollars per gallon on May 20, a 50 percent rise since the Iran conflict started in February, according to data released by the American Automobile Association. The price later eased to 4.151 dollars per gallon on Wednesday.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.9 percent year on year in May.
Statistics show that U.S. headline CPI for May rose 0.5 percent month on month, down from 0.6 percent in April, while core CPI increased 0.2 percent, compared with a 0.4 percent gain in April and below the market consensus forecast of 0.3 percent.
The report arrives at a critical juncture for markets and Federal Reserve policymakers. While the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its June 17 meeting, policymakers acknowledged that the inflation surge caused by the Iran conflict will likely delay any rate reduction. The data are likely to reinforce this stance.
Oil prices rose while U.S. stocks traded lower in the morning session on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran has "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and will "have to pay the price."
U.S. May CPI rises to highest level since May 2023
