Trending on X, 2 PM: Oyu Tolgoi dividends, S. Bayar, US midterms, Tulga, Karl Bushby, Qeshm, Shinebayar

Below are the nine topics Mongolian users discussed most on X between 10:00 and 14:20 on November 3. The main story of this window was President U. Khurelsukh's instruction to the government to pay Oyu Tolgoi dividends directly into citizens' accounts. A post on defence spending by former Prime Minister S. Bayar and the US midterm elections also drew wide attention. Engagement figures were taken at 14:26.

1. President tells the government to pay Oyu Tolgoi dividends into citizens' accounts

President U. Khurelsukh met Prime Minister N. Uchral and Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan today and instructed them to transfer the 3 trillion tugrik in Oyu Tolgoi dividends to citizens' accounts "each time they come in". He noted that more than 100,000 citizens had backed the idea on the D-Parliament platform and said the government should draft rules on when and how the money is paid. Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan told Eguur.mn that cash payouts carry an inflation risk, but that the president's instruction means the legal framework will need to change. MP N. Altankhuyag criticised the idea, saying it is wrong for someone to hand out taxpayers' money "like Santa Claus". The most shared post of the window came from journalist G. Lkhagvadorj, who recalled that the prime minister had said ten days ago that payouts would push the price of bread to 10,000 tugrik. Read more.

2. Former PM S. Bayar: defence spending rose 2.5 times in four years (new development)

Earlier roundups covered Defence Minister D. Batlut's remark that the ministry cannot meet its needs. Responding, former Prime Minister S. Bayar cited Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data to say Mongolia's defence spending grew from $90 million in 2022 to $221 million in 2025. He argued that cutting unnecessary costs would leave enough to provide for soldiers. The post was among the most liked of the window.

3. Voting begins in the US midterm elections

The United States holds its midterm congressional elections today, with polls opening from 18:00 Ulaanbaatar time. All 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and many state and local offices are on the ballot. Mongolian users discussed how a shift in Congress could affect President Donald Trump's agenda. Zogii.mn reported that Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV became the first pope to vote in a US election.

4. Yakut brand UCHUR presents gifts to wrestler T. Tulga

Wrestler T. Tulga, who won bronze at the freestyle wrestling world championships in Astana, received hunting and fishing gear from the team behind the Yakut brand UCHUR. Tulga thanked them and said he also enjoys hunting and fishing at home.

5. Karl Bushby completes his 28-year walk

British adventurer Karl Bushby completed a 31,000-mile (about 50,000 km) journey on foot that began in Punta Arenas, Chile, in 1998, arriving in his home city of Hull on November 2, BBC, AP and Reuters reported. His route took him across the Bering Strait and through Mongolia and China, and he swam the Caspian Sea and the English Channel before reaching his mother's house. Read more.

6. Oil prices rise after reported US strike on Iran's Qeshm Island

Brent crude rose 0.5% to above $105 a barrel after reports of a US strike on Iran's Qeshm Island, Reuters reported. Brent had fallen more than 7% the previous day. Iran's IRNA news agency reported five powerful explosions on the island in a short period. Mongolian users discussed the possible impact on fuel prices and supply.

7. Asset declaration of new Chingeltei district governor Z. Tömörtömöö (new development)

An earlier roundup covered the replacement of the Chingeltei and Songinokhairkhan district governors. UBN.mn published newly appointed governor Z. Tömörtömöö's 2025 asset and income declaration filed with the Anti-Corruption Agency. It lists income of 78.8 million tugrik and 150 million tugrik in jewellery, and no apartment or car. He previously served as deputy to former Ulaanbaatar mayor D. Sumiyabazar and as an adviser to former parliament speaker G. Zandanshatar. The post was among the most viewed of the window.

8. Journalist T. Shinebayar's phone kept as evidence, police say

At today's session of parliament's Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, MP N. Altankhuyag criticised the detention of journalist T. Shinebayar following a complaint by the head of the Office of the President's press service, and the fact that his phone had not been returned for more than 20 days. Colonel N. Mishigdorj, head of the National Police Agency's investigation department, replied that a prosecutor-approved search found traces of a crime on the phone, so it is being kept as evidence and cannot be returned, Dorgio.mn reported. Shinebayar was detained on October 11 and released on October 16.

9. South Korean president's passport details leaked online

The passenger list from President Lee Jae-myung's June trip to Europe, with passport details of 168 people including the president, the first lady, officials and security staff, was exposed on a paid website for about five months, KBS reported. Police have opened a formal investigation, SBS reported.

Methodology: We ranked posts from about 200 major news and influential accounts found through X search, plus more than 50 keyword searches, by an engagement score (likes + 2× reposts + views/100), and checked the facts against news sites. Posts that could not be verified or that carried a risk of defamation were left out. Views expressed by individuals on X do not represent the position of egov.mn.