MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The feasibility study of the gas pipeline from Russia to China via Mongolia will be ready in coming weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after the Russian-Mongolian talks.

"The project of cross-border pipeline construction over the territory of Mongolia from Russia to China is considered in practice. The work is in progress and it is progressing successfully," Putin said. This gas pipeline "can be the extension of the Russia’s Power of Siberia-2 pipeline," the head of state said.

"The optimal route, length and other parameters have already been determined. The feasibility study is being prepared. I believe it will be ready in broad terms in weeks to come," Putin noted.

The Soyuz-Vostok gas pipeline will pass across the territory of Mongolia and will be the extension of the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline. Its export capacity can be more than 1.3 times above the capacity of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline. Construction work under the project can start in 2024.

Mongolia reported 240 new daily cases of coronavirus infection as of Dec 21, the Ministry of Health of Mongolia.

169 of them were recorded in Ulaanbaatar, 67 were identified in the regions, and 4 were imported.

The total number of cases increased to 388 544.

2 people died from coronavirus.

Death toll from COVID-19 in Mongolia increased to 1,974.

Venture capital funds have invested around $30 billion in cryptocurrency during 2021, which is more than in all previous years since the inception of crypto, market research firm PitchBook has found, citing transaction data.

According to the findings, crypto-related fintech firms globally raised $33.7 billion in 1,217 deals this year, nearly four times the previous yearly record of $8 billion, set in 2018.

“Investors are funding anything and everything,” PitchBook analyst Rob Le said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Crypto has grown from merely a means of digital exchange into a varied industry with a wide range of projects. There are social media apps that turn celebrities into tokens, blockchain-based play-to-earn non-fungible token (NFT) games and entire NFT market places, which sell everything from collectibles to art pieces. And investors like Coinbase Ventures, Digital Currency Group and Polychain Capital are finding these projects increasingly worth investing in.

“We’ve moved beyond just digital gold. We’ve got financial services, art, gaming as a subcategory of NFTs, Web 3.0, decentralized social media, play-to-earn – all of that made investors think, ‘We don’t have enough exposure,’” according to Spencer Bogart from San Francisco-based Blockchain Capital LLC. His company is among the largest crypto investors, having financed over 120 crypto-related enterprises within the past eight years.

In the US alone, venture capital transactions quadrupled this year with some $7.2 billion in deals, PitchBook data shows.

Among the main fundraising winners of the year is crypto derivatives exchange FTX, which closed a $1 billion funding round in July that raised its valuation to $18 billion. Custodian New York Digital Investment Group also raised $1 billion in mid-December, and is now valued at more than $7 billion. Sky Mavis upped its valuation to $3 billion in October for the crypto-based online game, while Dapper Labs NFT platform pushed its valuation to $2.5 billion after raising $350 million from investors that included basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., said on Twitter that he’ll pay more than $11 billion in taxes this year, an amount that could constitute a record payment to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

The billionaire may face a tax bill of more than $10 billion for 2021 if he exercises all his options due to expire next year, calculations last week by Bloomberg News showed.

The unusually high levy comes after Musk exercised almost 15 million options and sold millions of shares to cover the taxes related to those transactions. That was following a Twitter poll last month when he asked followers whether he should sell 10% of his stake in the electric carmaker, whose shares have rocketed more than 2,300% over the past five years.

A report by ProPublica in June said Musk paid little income tax relative to his outsize wealth. But he’s pushed back against that characterization, saying he doesn’t draw a salary from either SpaceX or Tesla, and pays an effective tax rate of 53% on stock options he exercises. He added that he expects that tax rate to increase next year.

Musk earlier this month said he’ll pay more taxes than any American in history this year. That was in response to another tweet from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who used Musk’s Time Magazine “Person of the Year” accolade to call him out on his taxes.

Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported 125 new COVID-19 cases and two more related deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the total caseload to 388,304 and the national death toll to 1,972, according to the country's health ministry on Monday.

Three of the latest confirmed infections were imported from abroad, and the remaining ones were local infections, the ministry said.

Currently, 2,291 COVID-19 patients are being hospitalized across the country, while 4,201 asymptomatic or mild patients are receiving home-based care, according to the ministry.

So far, around 66 percent of Mongolia's population of 3.4 million have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, while 850,958 people have had a booster. Enditem

According to the preliminary result of the first 11 months of 2021, the gross industrial output reached MNT 17.0 trillion, increased by MNT 2.1 trillion (14.2 percent) from the same period of the previous year. This increase was mainly due to MNT 1.2 trillion (11.3 percent) increase in mining and quarrying gross output and MNT 771.6 billion (23.6 percent) increase in manufacturing output. Also, the electricity, thermal energy and water supply production output increased by MNT 138.4 billion (12.9 percent) and the water supply, and sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities production output increased by MNT 30.9 billion (25.2 percent) from the same period of the previous year.

In November 2021, the gross industrial output reached MNT 1.6 trillion, decreased by MNT 83.9 billion (5.0 percent) from the previous month. This decrease was mainly due to MNT 131.6 billion (11.3 percent) decrease in mining and quarrying gross output.

In November 2021, the mining and quarrying gross output reached MNT 1.0 trillion, decreased by MNT 266.2 billion (20.5 percent) from the same period of the previous year. This decrease was mainly due to decreases in the mining of coal and lignite by MNT 395.3 billion (66.7 percent) from the same period of the previous year.

By the preliminary results of the first 11 months of 2021, the mining and quarrying sector, extraction of copper concentrate, brown coal and crude oil increased by 5.2 percent to 30.1 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. In the manufacturing sector, production of sanitizer, spirit, copper cathode (99 percent), pure water, soft drink, juice, cement, meat, alcoholic beverage, milk, lime, coal briquette, concentrated coal, cigarettes and metal steel increased by 1.0 percent to 2.2 times compared to the same period of the previous year.

In the mining and quarrying sector, the extraction of iron ore, gold, fluorspar, and hard coal decreased by 1.1 – 31.4 percent. In the manufacturing sector, productions of wheat flour, combed cashmere, face covering and cashmere products decreased by 6.2 – 64.8 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. By the preliminary results of the first 11 months of 2021, the sales of industrial output reached MNT 22.7 trillion, increased by MNT 5.1 trillion (28.9 percent) compared to the same period of the previous year. This increase mainly resulted from MNT 4.3 trillion (36.0 percent) increase in sales of mining and quarrying output.

This increase mainly resulted from MNT 4.3 trillion (36.0 percent) increase in sales of mining and quarrying output.

The sales of mining and quarrying output increased by MNT 4.3 trillion (36.0 percent) compared to the same period of the previous year. This increase mainly resulted from MNT 4.4 trillion (56.4 percent) increase in sales of mining of metal ores output, MNT 338.4 billion (93.3 percent) increase in sales of crude petroleum and MNT 84.1 billion (36.5 percent) increase in sales of other mining and quarrying output, respectively.

In the first 11 months of 2021, the total sales of mining and quarrying output was MNT 14.2 trillion, of which, 74.3 percent was metal ores, increased by 13.9 percent points, 5.4 percent was crude petroleum, increased by 1.1 percent points, while 18.8 percent was coal and lignite, decreased by 14.8 percent points, and 1.5 percent was other mining and quarrying, decreased by 0.2 percent points compared to the same period of the previous year. In November 2021, the seasonally adjusted industrial production index was 180.1 (2015=100), increased by 30.4 percent from the same period of the previous year.

Source: National Statistics Office

According to the preliminary results in the first 11 months of 2021, the total revenue of the general government budget was MNT 13.4 trillion, increased by MNT 4.3 trillion (47.3 percent) compared to the same period of previous year. The equilibrated revenue of the general government budget was MNT 11.7 trillion, increased by MNT 3.4 (41.5 percent) trillion compared to the same period of previous year.

On the other hand, the total expenditure and net lending was MNT 13.6 trillion in the first 11 months of 2021, resulting in deficit of MNT 1.9 trillion decreased by MNT 1.8 (49.1 percent) trillion compared to the same period of previous year.

In November 2021, the total equilibrated revenue and grants of general government budget was MNT 1.0 trillion, increased by MNT 31.4 billion (3.2 percent) compared to the previous month. The total expenditure and net lending were MNT 1.4 trillion, increased by MNT 100.3 billion (8.0 percent) compared to the previous month. The equilibrated balance of the general government budget was in deficit of 236.1 billion in September, in deficit of 270.3 billion in October and 339.2 billion in November 2021.

In the first 11 months of 2021, stabilization fund revenue increased by 4.8 percentage points and nontax revenue increased by 1.6 percentage points while tax revenue decreased by 5.3 percentage points and the future heritage fund revenue decreased by 1.2 percentage points compared to the same period of previous year.

In the first 11 months of 2021, tax revenue reached MNT 10.3 trillion, increased by MNT 2.8 trillion (38.0 percent) compared to the same period of previous year. This increase was mainly due to MNT 1.3 trillion (68.3 percent) increase in income tax revenue, MNT 584.0 billion (42.9 percent) increase in social security revenue, MNT 528.2 billion (25.9 percent) increase in value added tax revenue, MNT 169.2 billion (25.2 percent) increase in other taxes revenue and MNT 167.6 billion (24.5 percent) increase in foreign activity revenue.

According to the preliminary results of November 2021, tax revenue reached MNT 939.1 billion, increased by MNT 40.2 billion (4.5 percent) compared to previous month. This increase was mainly due to MNT 77.1 billion (37.9 percent) increase in value added tax revenue and MNT 29.4 billion (50.3 percent) increase in excise taxes revenue.

Source: National Statistics Office

MELBOURNE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Rio Tinto has selected Dominic Barton to succeed Simon Thompson as the company’s new Chair. Dominic will join the Board with effect from 4 April, 2022 and be appointed to the role of Chair at the conclusion of the Rio Tinto Limited annual general meeting on 5 May 2022. Simon Thompson will step down as a non-executive director of Rio Tinto and as Chair at that same time on 5 May 2022, having served as Chair for four years and as a non-executive director since 2014.

A Ugandan-born Canadian, Dominic spent over 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine as the Global Managing Partner and six as Asia Chairman. Most recently, he has been Canada’s Ambassador to China since 2019. He brings a wealth of global business experience having advised clients in a range of industries, including banking, consumer goods, high tech and industrials, as well as a deep insight of geopolitics, corporate sustainability and governance.

Dominic’s previous corporate governance work includes being Chair of Teck Resources, a non-executive director at Singtel Group and a non-executive director at Investor AB. He has held various public sector leadership positions, including Chair of Canada’s Advisory Council for Economic Growth and Chair of the International Advisory Committee to the President of South Korea on National Future and Vision. His business acumen and public sector insights position him to provide critical guidance and oversight to Rio Tinto’s leadership team during a pivotal time for the company.

Dominic said, “It is a great honour to succeed Simon as Chair of Rio Tinto. Returning to the private sector, I am excited to join a company with world-class people and assets as it navigates a shifting competitive landscape and seeks to emerge as a leader in the climate transition. I look forward to working with Jakob and the Board to implement a strategy that puts decarbonisation at the heart of the business and positions Rio Tinto to be a leader in addressing complex global problems, while building and sustaining trust with host communities.”

Jakob Stausholm, Rio Tinto Chief Executive, said, “I am delighted with the choice of Dominic, who I believe brings exactly the skills and experiences that we in Rio Tinto need. I am truly looking forward to working with Dominic in our effort to continue to strengthen Rio Tinto, in particular drawing on his wealth of experience across Asia in both a business and diplomatic capacity. I would like to thank Simon for his dedication to Rio Tinto and the support and counsel he has provided, and continues to provide, to me during a period of transformative change.”

The search for the new Chair was jointly led by Sam Laidlaw, senior independent director of Rio Tinto plc, and Simon McKeon, senior independent director of Rio Tinto Limited. The process included discussions with a cross-section of the company’s shareholders in relation to the attributes, experience and skills they expected in the new Chair. These included proven experience of managing highly complex, cross-border relationships with multiple stakeholders; a strong track record of working in Asia and emerging markets; a commitment to the highest ESG standards; and a proven ability to lead a Board and act as a mentor to the Executive team.

Sam Laidlaw said, “The Board is delighted to have appointed such an outstanding individual and I know Dominic will lead the Rio Tinto Board with distinction. He has an impressive track-record, with extensive and broad business and diplomatic knowledge and a deep understanding of the link between business, governments and society. On behalf of the Board, I welcome him to Rio Tinto.”

Rio Tinto confirms that there are no matters to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 9.6.13(1) – (6) of the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

LEI: 213800YOEO5OQ72G2R82

Classification: 3.1. Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of a Member State.

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.

Researchers at Australia’s RMIT University and the national science agency CSIRO, have developed a copper surface that kills bacteria more than 100 times faster and more effectively than standard copper and that could help combat the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

“A standard copper surface will kill about 97% of golden staph within four hours,” Ma Qian, one of the scientists involved in the study, said. “Incredibly, when we placed golden staph bacteria on our specially-designed copper surface, it destroyed more than 99.99% of the cells in just two minutes.”

According to Qian, the 120-times faster effectiveness rate was achieved without the assistance of any drug.

“Our copper structure has shown itself to be remarkably potent for such a common material,” he said.

Qian and his colleagues believe there could be a huge range of applications for the new material once further developed, including antimicrobial door handles and other touch surfaces in schools, hospitals, homes and public transport, as well as filters in antimicrobial respirators or air ventilation systems, and in face masks.

The team is also looking to investigate the enhanced copper’s effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, including assessing 3D-printed samples.

In a paper published in the journal Biomaterials, the group explained that a special copper mould casting process was used to make an alloy, arranging copper and manganese atoms into specific formations. The manganese atoms were then removed from the alloy using a cheap and scalable chemical process called “dealloying”, leaving pure copper full of tiny microscale and nanoscale cavities on its surface.

“Our copper is composed of comb-like microscale cavities and within each tooth of that comb structure there are much smaller nanoscale cavities; it has a massive active surface area,” lead investigator Jackson Leigh Smith said.

Smith pointed out that the pattern also makes the surface super hydrophilic, or water-loving, so that water lies on it as a flat film rather than as droplets.

“The hydrophilic effect means bacterial cells struggle to hold their form as they are stretched by the surface nanostructure, while the porous pattern allows copper ions to release faster,” the researcher said.

Smith explained that these combined effects not only cause structural degradation of bacterial cells, making them more vulnerable to the poisonous copper ions but also facilitate uptake of copper ions into the bacterial cells.

“It’s that combination of effects that results in greatly accelerated elimination of bacteria,” he said.

Researchers across the world are looking to develop new medical materials and devices that could help reduce the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The reason for this – according to the scientific team behind the new copper surface – is that drug-resistant infections are on the rise, and with limited new antibiotics coming onto the market, the development of materials resistant to bacteria will likely play an important role in helping address the problem.