Trending on X, 2 PM: Garage tax, hospitals, Black Sea, Nomrog, Tserensambuu, Trump and Norway

These are the topics Mongolian users discussed most on X between 10:13 and 14:28 on October 26, ranked by engagement. Activity was moderate on Monday, and 10 topics were confirmed against news sites. Topics from earlier roundups appear only when there is a new development. Posts with unverified claims or unsupported accusations against named people were left out. Post metrics are as of 14:28.

1. Online petition to scrap the garage tax nears the 100,000-signature threshold (new development)

The "Scrap the garage tax" e-petition started by lawyer O. Batkhuu was the most widely shared topic of the day as it approached 100,000 signatures. TAC.MN reported 97,644 signatures today, while ShugelUleegch.mn put the figure at 97,851, up from 93,303 in an earlier roundup. The initiator argues that a garage is not an income-generating asset but infrastructure for storing cars in a harsh climate, and that it helps ease congestion by keeping cars off streets and sidewalks. He has proposed an amendment to the Law on Immovable Property Tax. According to TAC.MN, once it reaches 100,000 signatures the proposal is to go to the Prime Minister and be presented at a Cabinet meeting. Users wrote that only about two thousand more signatures were needed and urged others to sign.

2. Mayor B. Purevdagva: no children will be treated in hospital corridors this winter

On October 25, Ulaanbaatar Governor and Mayor B. Purevdagva met the heads of 28 organizations under the capital's Health Department to discuss winter readiness and investment proposals for the 2027 budget, Zogii.mn reported. "This winter, no beds will be placed in hospital corridors and no children will be treated there. We plan to add 1,607 beds during peak demand," he said, adding that four hospitals will open in 2027. Twelve specially equipped ambulances were handed over to district health centers, general hospitals and the Emergency Center during the meeting.

3. Financial Times: the Black Sea is now the world's deadliest route for merchant seafarers

Citing maritime security firm Ambrey and the International Maritime Organization, the Financial Times reported that at least 40 seafarers have been killed in the Black Sea in 2026, more than the 24 confirmed deaths in the Strait of Hormuz. More than 570 vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea since January, 387 of them between July and September, more than five times the previous quarter. Ambrey estimates that Russia was responsible for about 90% of attacks on shipping over the past 45 days, and insurance costs in the region can reach 15% of a vessel's value, LIGA.net wrote.

4. Nomrog fire: criminal registration case opened, compensation working group formed (new development)

The Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the head of the General Authority for Border Protection and Mobicom executives met today on the fire in the Nomrog strictly protected area and set up a working group on compensation, UBN reported. Deputy Justice Minister D. Munkh-Erdene said a criminal registration case has been opened and that the ecological police and expert teams are at work. Environment Minister Ts. Sandag-Ochir said the people who entered the protected area had not obtained permits, and that the forensic agency will assess whether the working group's findings meet evidentiary standards for court (iToim). He also said some fire images circulating online were from 2023 fires in Dornod and Sukhbaatar. MP U. Otgonbayar, whose name has come up online in connection with the fire, told reporters he was attending a parliamentary session on October 8, has never been to Nomrog, and will accept responsibility if found at fault (iSee). Earlier reports covered plans to assess damage by helicopter. Now a criminal inquiry and compensation work have formally begun.

5. Anti-corruption agency holds former Erdenes Tavantolgoi acting CEO N. Tserensambuu for 48 hours

The Independent Authority Against Corruption detained N. Tserensambuu, former acting chief executive of Erdenes Tavantolgoi JSC, for 48 hours on suspicion of abuse of power under Article 22.1 of the Criminal Code, UBN and iSee reported. According to the agency, he has not been remanded in custody, and the investigation continues. Before being appointed acting CEO in October 2025, Tserensambuu headed the company's procurement department.

6. Lexus LX 600 catches fire after driver loses consciousness in Chingeltei district

In Chingeltei district's 5th khoroo, east of Tasgany Ovoo, the driver of a Lexus LX 600 lost consciousness today and hit a road barrier, and the car caught fire. According to Arslan.mn, emergency workers put out the fire and an ambulance took the driver to hospital. Citizen videos spread widely on X. No official update on the driver's condition has been released yet.

7. Budget transparency bill: lawmakers explain their votes

Last week, parliament's plenary session declined to take up an amendment to the Budget Law, submitted by S. Tsenguun and 30 other MPs, that would require detailed public disclosure of budget spending (MassTV). Today, Democratic Party caucus leader B. Tuvshin said he supported the initiative but was unable to vote and had apologized to Tsenguun. MP L. Soronzonbold said members voted against it because the bill skipped the queue and was brought in within two weeks. MP Sh. Byambasuren said he was surprised that MPP members who co-sponsored the bill did not support it (UBN).

8. Trump insults Norway over Nobel Peace Prize snub

At a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on October 25, US President Donald Trump lashed out at Norway with vulgar language because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Reuters and Newsweek reported. He said he was "not in love with Norway" and that he did not want anybody from Norway. Reuters noted there was no indication of any official policy change.

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9. Democratic Party caucus again fails to reach quorum as three deputy leaders ask to step down

Only three members attended today's meeting of the Democratic Party caucus in parliament, so it was postponed again, iSee reported. The caucus has not held a regular meeting since B. Tuvshin was elected its leader on October 12, and it also failed to reach quorum last Monday. Meanwhile, MPs B. Jargalan, Ch. Lodoisambuu and Kh. Temuujin submitted requests to be relieved of their posts as deputy caucus leaders, according to iSee.

10. Mongolian State Seal monument behind Government House taken down for repairs

Videos and photos of heavy machinery taking down the Mongolian State Seal monument north of Government House drew wide attention today. According to UBN, the capital's Urban Landscaping Agency is restoring the monument's base and will put the monument back once the work is done. Contractor staff told iSee the cement core will be replaced with granite, and that the work began three days ago and should finish in two days. Erected in 2006, the monument shows the seals of the Great Mongol State, the Bogd Khaan's Mongolia, and the states established under the 1924 and 1992 constitutions on its four sides, with 168 Mongolian clan tamgas carved into its base.

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.