Mongolia Focus

Send-off ceremony for #Mongolia paralympic athletes (x-country and downhill)

montsame.mn/mn/read/391923

Govt of #Mongolia using PDAC to position itself as investment destination for #criticalminerals. Min of Mining, G Damdinnyam front and centre of that effort.
montsame.mn/mn/read/391944

Terje Rød-Larsen videresendte e-poster fra internasjonalt etterlyst finansmann til Epstein En mongolsk forretningsmann fikk hjemmet ransaket og ble etterlyst internasjonalt. Da havnet en e-post i innboksen til Terje Rød-Larsen.

Some #Mongolia connections have appeared in that ugly cesspool of Epstein contacts. I comment in this 🇳🇴 article, see example of risky practice of some "advisors" acting on behalf of (members of) govt, lack of judiciousness in vetting contacts.
www.aftenposten.no/sharedx/norg...

bau.labor Namibia| Wahlmodul mit Exkursion | Nachbericht Nach zehn arbeitsreichen Baustellentagen, geprägt durch das Einmessen, Mauern, Gießen und Pflastern unzähliger Wände, Stufen, Podeste und Sitzgelegenheiten,  erreichte das motivierte Team sein Ziel. D...

Perhaps some readers recall blog post I wrote w/ G Munkh-Erdene asking why all Mongolian schools are painted orange & turquoise?
mongoliafocus.com/2023/08/oran...
Recently learned abt project in Namibian school and look! similar hue of minty turquoise?
akoeln.de/bau-labor-wa...
🇳🇦🟠🏫🟢🇲🇳

I remain deeply skeptical that the Eurasian Economic Union would ever deliver anything positive for #Mongolia.
#MGLfp

Delighted to see J Elverskog receive Joseph Levenson Prize, even if he's not writing on Mongolia there.

Битүүлэх ёсон XVII жарны "Элдэв эрдэнэт" хэмээх модон тогой жилийн отгон өдөр буюу битүүн өнөөдөр тохиож байна.

Bituu rituals for Tsagaan Sar new year's celebration in #Mongolia
ikon.mn/n/3lik

For more on new year's customs, listen to our podcast episode.
www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e020
🔥 🇲🇳 🐎

Ariunbat ALTANZUL - Olympic Alpine Skiing Athlete | Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics Official profile of Olympic athlete Ariunbat ALTANZUL, including results, medals and more. Follow Ariunbat ALTANZUL at Milano Cortina 2026.

1st #Mongolia Olympic downhill skier, A Ariunbat, who was also opening ceremony flagbearer, made it to 2nd round in men's slalom, coming in 38th on Monday.
www.olympics.com/en/milano-co...
⛷️🇲🇳💪

Шинэ мөнгөн тэмдэгт авах хэрэгцээтэй байгаа бол зөвхөн банк болон баталгаатай байгууллагаар үйлчлүүлэхийг АНХААРУУЛЛАА Түүнчлэн залилан мэхлэх гэмт хэрэгт өртөхөөс сэргийлж үл таних дугаараас ирсэн мессэж дэх холбоос дээр дарж нэвтрэхгүй байхыг санууллаа

Need new, crisp banknotes as Tsagaan Sar gift? Get them at the bank, says #Mongolia police.
ikon.mn/n/3lij
For more on new year celebrations for the year of the fire horse, listen to our podcast conversation.
www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e020
🔥🇲🇳🐴

www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e020

Khusugtun - Хөсөгтөн "12 Jil - 12 жил" / An Anthology of Mongolian Khöömii - Монгол Хөөмийн Сонгомол YouTube video by Routes Nomades

Mongolian folk song outlining the special characteristics of each of the 12 animal years of the zodiac (12 Jil):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4xB...

A very happy new year to my many Mongolian Friends!
Шинэ жилийн мэнд хүргэе!
All the best for the year of the fire horse.

Curious about #TsagaanSar and lunar new year practices?
Listen to @ananddairtan.bsky.social , Dolgion and I discuss on "The Great State Mural"
www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e020

БНСУ-д 60,008 монгол иргэн оршин сууж байгаагийн 13,194 нь оюутны визтэй байна БНСУ-ын Хууль зүйн яамны Цагаачлалын албаны мэдээгээр 2025 оны арванхоёрдугаар сарын 31-ний өдрийн байдлаар БНСУ-д Монгол Улсын 60,008 иргэн оршин сууж байна.

60,000+ Mongolians living in South Korea!
ikon.mn/n/3lh1

On Egg Cartons In Mongolia - Mongolia Focus Like fences, chickens (and their eggs) are seemingly "unnomadic" products. Also like fences, eggs are hardly unavailable in Mongolia, at least in urbanized areas and provincial centers.

Don't miss it before the next post bumps @marissajsmith.bsky.social September post on egg cartons in #Mongolia off the "recent posts" list:
mongoliafocus.com/2025/09/on-e...

Online tomorrow Monday, 16 February 2026:
Greenhouse book talk with Kip Hutchins @songsforhorses.com on A Song for the Horses: Musical Heritage for More-than-Human Futures in Mongolia (University of Arizona Press, 2025) at 16:00 CET / 10:00 EST.

newnatures.org/greenhouse/e...

For more discussion of what happens during #TsagaanSar, listen to the next episode of "The Great State Mural", @ananddairtan.bsky.social, Dolgion and my #Mongolia podcast, coming next Wednesday.
www.agulamedia.com/podcast

Ulaanbaatar

Talented German-Mongolian jazz singer-songwriter Sara Teamusician has a new song "Ulaanbaatar" in time for #TsagaanSar
open.spotify.com/track/5zkwGr...

Updated #Mongolia Scorecard w/ 2025 #CPI. Score of #corruption perception down 2 (of 100), continues steady decline since 2018.
mongoliafocus.com/mongolia-sco...
For more on corruption, listen to episode 16 of our Great State Mural podcast.
www.agulamedia.com/podcast/e016

Useful chart of development of copper production at #OyuTolgoi over past ten years, generated by Lemon Press HT Inside Mongolia.

Shows path to this year's production of >300k t Cu
lemonpress.mn/post/NdeQ4o5...

Screen shot of Spotify notification for new episode of our "Great State Mural" podcast on Mongolia's energy crisis.

Continues to be a bit of a thrill to see this notification...
open.spotify.com/episode/6K6l...

While I obviously wish #Mongolia team all the best in SWAT Challenge 2026, perhaps Physical: Asia style, I am somewhat unnerved by an "international tactical showdown" as a competition.
www.uaeswatchallenge.com/en/teams/mon...

Official Olympics website calls #Mongolia uniform by goyolcashmere.mn "most anticipated Opening Ceremony look".
www.olympics.com/en/milano-co...

1st update for 2026:
@globalpeaceindex.bsky.social ranks #Mongolia 37th (of 163) on 2025 Global Peace Index.
Similar levels of safety in countries like 🇸🇪🇵🇱🇷🇴🇻🇳
Least safe on subindices for perceptions of criminality, violent crime, political instability.
mongoliafocus.com/mongolia-sco...
#GPI

Why? Not to be too cynical, @ladybolor.bsky.social but...
A) Mongolian govt pretty much signs any "international" document placed in front of it
B) Hope to get off T****'s no-visa list.

Social protections overlooked in Mongolia–UK critical minerals cooperation Mongolia–UK critical minerals cooperation risks prioritising resource and economic security at the expense of environmental and social governance, including the rights of nomadic herders.

A Ahearn and N Bayarsaikhan raise concerns @eastasiaforum.bsky.social abt inclusion of voices of herders in pursuit of development of critical minerals in #Mongolia
eastasiaforum.org/2026/01/20/s...

Apparently, Mongolia PM Zandanshatar was quick to join nefarious "Board of Peace". Surely, the Mongolian govt is not planning to pay US$1B membership.
#MGLfp

Identifies elements of Mongolian-repressive policy in China:
-cultural representation
-migration
-disincentivization of language
-undermining tradtnl lifestyles
-crackdown on activism
I am broadly sympathetic, but note, report largely based on activist sources. Social media analysis persuasive tho.

"Since 2020, CCP authorities sought to remake education in #InnerMongolia. Their aim is cradle-to-univ pipeline of ‘soul-casting’, by which Putonghua, Han norms, & patriotic discipline become ‘code of conduct & daily habit’."
Overview of erasure of Mongolian language & identity in China.

List appears to include Mongolia.

Mongolia’s robust politics backslides into electoral autocracy in 2025 Mongolia heads into 2026 with stable policies but fragile leadership and rampant infighting within the Mongolian People’s Party, writes Julian Dierkes.

Mongolia heads into 2026 with stable policies but fragile leadership and rampant infighting within the Mongolian People’s Party, writes Julian Dierkes.