Mongolia

Older Mongolians lined up outside health centers on Thursday hoping to get their second shot of COVID vaccine, but the public vaccination program only resumed Friday. (Photo by Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir)
COVID vaccines

Mongolia resumes vaccinations as worst outbreak rolls on

Free from COVID in 2020, nation of 2m grapples with a sudden surge

23 April 2021
A woman walks past Drum Tower during morning rush hour as Beijing is hit by a sandstorm on March 15. 
Caixin

Vast sandstorms expose Mongolia's long-ignored ecological crisis

Desertification threatens largely agricultural country of 3.4m people

29 March 2021
Big sky country: Mongolia's plans for more renewable energy capacity will move forward with a new storage-equipped solar plant.
Engineering & Construction

Mongolia's first solar-plus-storage project won by Japan-led bid

Plant engineer JGC teams with local builder on plant to power city of 20,000

20 March 2021
In December, Rio Tinto admitted the underground expansion of Oyu Tolgoi would take an additional two years and $1.5 billion more than expected. 
Materials

Rio and Mongolia agree to replace $7bn plan to expand copper mine

New leaders to work out deal to better share rising project costs

1 March 2021
Mongolians stand in an hourslong line in bitter cold to get tested for COVID-19 in order to leave Ulaanbaatar and return to their native provinces. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Coronavirus

Mongolia loses battle to stay COVID-free

People cry foul at impromptu measures imposed following months with no cases

16 December 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wears a protective face mask on Sept. 29. 
30 September 2020
Ulaanbaatar's residential area, the district where the poorer part of the population lives: nearly a third of the nation's 3.2 million people live below the poverty line.
Opinion

Mongolia's economy is stuck between China, Russia and US

Reelected prime minister must navigate geopolitical tensions

29 June 2020
Supporters of the Mongolian People's Party rally in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, ahead of the country's parliamentary elections. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Politics

Mongolian ruling party set to retain power with virus success

As economy slips, prime minister pushes Wednesday poll despite calls for caution

23 June 2020
SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son will face investors at the company's annual shareholders' meeting. 
Your Week in Asia

SoftBank's Son faces investors, China-EU summit, Korean War at 70

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 June 2020
Delegates applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening session of China's National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 22. (Xinhua via AP)
Politics

Xi's Hong Kong power grab deftly masks domestic shortcomings

With a single stroke, president shuts down critics in his party and justifies US tensions

23 May 2020
With Chinese and European clients canceling orders across the board for processed cashmere, Khatant International Chief Executive Bayarmaa Byambaa has idled her factory in Emeelt, Mongolia. (Photo by Anand Tumurtogoo)
Commodities

Cashmere piles up in Mongolia as coronavirus cripples trading

Herders fret over debts with prices two-thirds lower than 2019

17 May 2020
With exports and domestic consumption crashing, China, the world's second largest economy, could be on course for losses of up to $1.6 trillion this year, according to the ADB. 
Economy

ADB warns coronavirus threatens to chop 10% off global output

Bank says fiscal and monetary responses needed immediately to soften fallout

15 May 2020
(All images from Amazon.com)
Arts

Top 10 East Asian books to read during lockdown

From Chinese sci-fi to Tibetan short stories, we have something for everyone

15 May 2020
Beijing is expected to focus on investing in infrastructure like power generation as it tries to restart the economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak.
Caixin

China fires up coal power plant construction

Surge in first-quarter approvals possibly related to COVID-19 outbreak

5 May 2020
Stream article image
Nikkei Asia Prizes

Grab co-founders, clean water pioneer and museum curator honored

Nikkei recognizes outstanding contributions to quality of life in Asia

30 April 2020
Proceeds from the canceled IPO of Tavan Tolgoi were earmarked toward building a railway to carry the mine’s coal output, now transported by truck, to China.
Materials

Mongolia says international IPO for coal mine no longer needed

Government had talked of raising up to $3bn in Hong Kong stock sale

28 April 2020
The loan would be the first investment through a local-currency linked instrument in Mongolia by the International Finance Company, the World Bank's private sector arm. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Finance

World Bank Group plans $12m loan to Mongolia microfinance company

Transcapital earmarks funds for small companies and rural areas

15 April 2020
Tourist and school buses are seen at a parking lot near Kwai Chung Container Terminal in Hong Kong, April 1: The novel coronavirus outbreak has devastated the territory's tourism industry.
Economy

Pandemic to cut Asian growth to 2.2%, worst since 1998 crisis: ADB

Thailand, Hong Kong and seven other economies to shrink, China to slow sharply

3 April 2020
A child wears a mask in Thailand slum. The World Bank's forecast of a "third shock" could devastate economic growth and increase poverty across developing Asia. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

World Bank warns of 'third shock' after coronavirus and trade war

Developing Asia urged to address expected poverty surge, financial distress

31 March 2020
A girl stands in the doorway of her family's ger in Altanbulag, Mongolia. Her family, herders, began accepting guests via Airbnb in 2016. 
Life

Mongolians embrace 21st century tourism boom

Business opportunities blossom as nomads discover Airbnb

14 February 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lambasted China for its treatment of its Muslim minorities on his visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
International relations

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan spurn US call to confront China

Pompeo's plea to end 'repression' of Muslim minorities also draws Chinese ire

13 February 2020
Foreign students in Japan are allowed to work in unskilled-labor positions, such as convenience store work, for up to 28 hours per week. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Japan immigration

Japan intensifies crackdown on student visa overstayers

Number of countries subject to stricter checks to increase tenfold

11 February 2020
Despite the fanfare surrounding use of Gwadar port for trade with Afghanistan, experts say the facility has a long way to go before China sees any return on its investment.
Belt and Road

Beijing-backed Pakistan port opens as hub for Afghanistan trade

Gwadar challenges Indian interests in region, but China's ROI remains unclear

23 January 2020
Where's the beef? Aono's investments in Mongolia are in areas unrelated to its meat business, such as heavy machinery leasing.
Companies

Japanese meat dealer hungers for fresh start in Mongolia

Falling domestic demand sends Aono Freshmeat overseas in search of new business

23 December 2019
An Azerbaijani company will sell these chocolate candies, made with green tea from Mie Prefecture, at local supermarkets, with plans to eventually take the confections to Russia, Europe and the Middle East.
Trade

Japan's farmers find customers abroad through H.I.S. travel agency

Discount trip planner puts Azerbaijan branches to work selling green tea

21 December 2019