GPA Project Headlines August 1-7, 2020

TOP HEADLINES

China’s four largest banks trial digital currency payments

Former Chinese banker urges that digital currency substitutes all currencies

Early start on blockchain prevents West from kicking China out of digital currency race

Coronavirus: WTO warns global trade on the brink as pandemic wreaks havoc on supply chains

GLOBAL

Now Comes the Davos Global Economy “Great Reset”. What Happens After the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Stockman Slams "Lockdown Lunacy" - Your Government Ordered Depression Has Arrived

World on Verge of Spinning Out of Control – John Rubino

‘New Normal’ Emerges for Companies Navigating Covid-19 Pandemic

Pompeo has signalled the start of a new Cold War with China

Worldpay joins governance council of Klaytn public blockchain

Coca Cola bottlers to trial public Ethereum for supply chain transparency

Intelligent label firm Avery Dennison integrates with public blockchain VeChainThor

Guangzhou international airport introduces facial recognition service

Peking University’s ledger breakthrough to promote application of blockchain technology

Scientists Find Efficient Replacement for Lithium Batteries

World’s first COVID-19 vaccine production line wins approval

Fosun and BioNTech jointly begin phase I clinical test of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in China

Russia in talks on production of anti-coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, India

Biocad Discussing Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Production in China

Russia Plans Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Program in October

Russia to make several million doses of COVID-19 vaccines per month by 2021, says minister

No worries about opening schools in traditional format — Russian minister of education

Russian sanitary watchdog chief says sure of safety of Russian anti-coronavirus vaccine

Russia’s Vector research center plans to launch COVID-19 vaccine production in November

No second wave of coronavirus infection in Moscow - mayor

WHO extends state of emergency over coronavirus pandemic

Johns Hopkins Outlines Public Health Challenges of Achieving Massive COVID-19 Vaccination

Biocad Discussing Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Production in China

Another 86 volunteers to be inoculated with vaccine by Vektor during stage two of trials

Trump says coronavirus vaccine possible before Nov. 3

Russia Offers to Supply Anti-Covid Drugs to India

China’s first ISO-containerized P2+ mobile lab delivered in Shanghai to combat COVID-19

Virginia touts nation's first contact tracing app with Apple-Google tech

Anxious WHO implores world to 'do it all' in long war on COVID-19

CDC warns that people are going blind and dying from drinking hand sanitizer

Tyson Foods names new CEO as coronavirus raises costs

Tyson Foods wants China to lift ban on U.S. plant with COVID-19 cases

U.S. teachers protest reopening schools while coronavirus lurks

Pac-12 Football Players Threaten to Sit Out Amid Pandemic, Inequality Concerns

Chicago Schools Reopening Online Only as Coronavirus Cases Rise

Trump threatens to sue Nevada to block universal mail-in ballots

Biden dithers

Trump campaign sues Nevada over mail-in ballots, asserting 'inevitable' fraud

New York sues to break up NRA, accuses it of corruption

Trump says Texas would be great place for NRA to relocate

Trump seeks to go it alone after coronavirus stimulus talks break down

US efforts to contain China's rising high-tech sector weaker than expected: SMIC founder

All New York schools meet state standard to open for in-person classes, Governor Cuomo says

Trump says he is going a 'different way' after coronavirus aid talks break down

UPS plans heavy holiday fees amid coronavirus-related shipment surge

Massive Psyop Continues, Stop Voting Democrat, Economic Update

Homicide Spike Hits Most Large U.S. Cities

Russia to Build Port in Caspian Sea to Connect India & Iran

Lavrov emphasizes need to rule out possibility of nuclear war

US Department of State’s report geared to silence Russia’s cooperation proposals - embassy

Vitaly Saveliev: We can take a punch

Belarusian president says union state with Russia impossible

Russian Voters’ Data on Sale After Blockchain Poll to Keep Putin in Power: Report

Lukashenko: US passport holders among those detained in Belarus ahead of election

Belarusian leader says another foreign unit was deployed to destabilize country

Lukashenko invites Russian, Ukrainian prosecutors to deal with Russians’ affair

Lukashenko says he regards Putin as his elder brother

Lukashenko: Modern wars are triggered by street protests

Huawei shipments set to drop due to lack of Kirin chip supply

China's rare-earth exports drop by 44% in July amid pandemic

US 'decoupling' attempt will be doomed to fail

WeChat US ban cuts off users link to families in China

China's exports, imports improve in July, but trade with US down

US degrades from innovator to digital rogue

New cold war will not stop US decline

'Clean network' is an all-out incitement for a confrontation between China & US

China to develop 600kmph maglev trains

China to strengthen copyright protection to adapt high-tech developments

China, US to hold rare trade talks

China Becomes Largest Importer of Russian Meat

Beirut port blast was equivalent to 4.5-magnitude earthquake — seismologists

Beirut blast: Two-week state of emergency declared in ‘disaster-stricken’ city

Lebanon has no financial means to cope with explosion aftermath, economy minister says

Russian hospital opens in Beirut

‘Corpses everywhere’: apocalyptic scenes in Beirut

Lebanese Kataeb party leader killed in Beirut blast — media

Israel not involved in Beirut explosion, state radio reports

Israeli army says it’s time to ‘transcend conflict’ with Lebanon

Turkey’s Erdogan – From Hagia Sophia to the Shores of Tripoli and Beyond

ECONOMIC

US Printed More Money in One Month Than in Two Centuries

MacroView: Universal Basic Income Is Not An Economic Savior

Fed's Kashkari suggests 4-6 week shutdown; says U.S. Congress can spend big on coronavirus relief

THE CONSEQUENCES OF ‘WORTHLESS CASH’

Gold prices notch record close for fifth straight session as metal approaches $2,100

This ‘dire’ economic situation ‘deserves to be called a depression — a pandemic depression’

Going cashless during the COVID pandemic makes life even more difficult for the 14 million unbanked Americans

Gold rising to $4,000 an ounce ‘would not be an unreasonable move,’ fund manager says

Gold Activity Leads Advance in PrimeXM Trading Volumes for July

Fed policymakers call for fiscal support to save U.S. economy

Fed's Mester says reopening phase may be more protracted than many anticipated

Mnuchin says 'a little bit' closer to larger virus aid deal

U.S. economy needs more stimulus and more masks, Fed policymakers say

America's Coin Shortage Is Getting Worse

More signs point to U.S. economic recovery losing momentum

Fed's Brainard lays out central bank's instant payment framework

Fed's Kaplan: Resurgence of virus is muting economic recovery, more aid needed

EU unemployment up by around 280,000 in June

U.S. jobless claims rise for 2nd consecutive week amid resurgence in COVID-19 cases

Aviation sector has biggest pandemic default risk: insurance survey

U.S. equities won't revisit March lows, corporate defaults next trigger: El-Erian

Virgin Atlantic Files for Bankruptcy Protection in the U.S.

Embraer's commercial aviation revenue falls by 82%

AIG quarterly profit tumbles on catastrophe losses, private-equity losses

New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Cuts Staff by 353

Wynn Resorts' sales drops nearly 95%

Republican senators back extending $25 billion payroll aid for U.S. airlines; shares jump

US Beach Towns Fear Collapse As Summer Of Pandemic Causes Havoc

Challenge to $14 Billion in Illinois Debt Revived

Benevis, Provider of Support Services to Dentists, Files for Bankruptcy

Justice Department Seeks as Much as $18.1 Billion From Purdue Pharma

Mallinckrodt May File for Bankruptcy, Undercutting Opioid Settlement

Bankruptcy Judge Confirms Skillsoft Chapter 11 Plan

More Farmers Declare Bankruptcy Despite Record Levels of Federal Aid

Lord & Taylor, Once-Grand Department Store, Files for Bankruptcy

Tailored Brands files for bankruptcy as pandemic hammers sales

Why the US dollar slide may be a sign of real danger this time

The Dethroning of the US Dollar

Chinese Ex-Banker Says Digital Currency Should Replace Fiat Money

Several Chinese economists, academics predict end of dollar dominance, not only via digital yuan

First Mover: As Fed Nears Inflation Rubicon, Analysts See $50K Bitcoin in Play

Goldman Sachs Promotes Mathew McDermott to Lead Crypto Ambitions

Mastercard and Visa Are Making Bold Moves Toward Mass Crypto Adoption

Now That US Banks Can Offer Crypto Custody Services–Will They?

SEC Seeks Binance Chain Scrutiny, Intends to Tap CipherTrace

SEC Seeking ‘Smart Contract’ Tracing Tool That Can Spot Security Vulnerabilities

Major Italian insurer launches digital guarantee on blockchain supported by central bank

China’s four largest banks trial digital currency payments

Federally Chartered Banks and Thrifts May Provide Custody Services For Crypto Assets

SIA Joins European Digital Payments Body EDPIA

Early start on blockchain prevents West from kicking China out of digital currency race

Japanese government pushes blockchain consortium for ASEAN trade

1.8 Million Retail Investors Flocked to Moscow Exchange in 2020

Russia Bans Cash Deposits to Anonymous Online Wallets

China omits US dollar from forex trading fee waivers in bid to bolster yuan

BRICS New Development Bank to Open Office in Moscow 'in Near Future' - Vice President

Russian antimonopoly watchdog approves Hyundai’s application to buy GM plant

Fitch Affirms New Development Bank at 'AA+'

China's forex reserves score 4-month rising streak

HSBC Bank China fined 530,000 yuan for seeking customers' credit info, further damaging reputation

HSBC warns loan losses could hit $13 billion as profit plunges 65%

China's economic rebound better than expected in Q2: World Bank official

HSBC boosts bad loan provisions, sees second-quarter profit plunge as coronavirus crushes global business activity

Macau's Gaming Revenues Crash 94.5% In July As Recovery Hopes Dim 

Kuwait-Backed Prysm to Split Apart in Bankruptcy

Egypt and Greece sign agreement on exclusive economic zone

ENERGY

China Starts Building Southern Part of China-Russia East Gas Pipeline

China Is Using The Pandemic As An Excuse To Not Buy U.S. Energy

Russia Reportedly Surpassed US in LNG Exports to China in June

Environmentalists' claim against Nord Stream 2 will hardly be successful — German lawmaker

Exxon: 20 Percent Of Global Oil And Gas Reserves May Be Wiped Out

Exxon To Halt Employee Savings Plan Match To Cut Costs

India’s Reliance Overtakes Exxon As Second Most Valuable Energy Firm

Pacific Drilling Considers Filing for Chapter 11

Offshore Driller Fieldwood Energy Files for Bankruptcy Protection

ArcLight-Backed Shale Driller Bruin Seeks Chapter 11 Protection

Japan's Seven & i seals $21 billion deal for Marathon Petroleum's Speedway gas stations

Seven & i seals billion dollar deal for US Speedway gas stations

BP sets new low-carbon goals as it slashes dividend in half and reports $16.8 billion loss

The World’s Largest Nuclear Fusion Reactor Is Finally Being Built

Natural Gas Has Replaced Over 100 U.S. Coal Plants In The Last Decade

Venezuela’s Rig Count Officially Falls To Zero

Saudi Arabia May Be Forced To Cut Oil Prices Once Again

Iran: Oil deal between US firm, SDF militias lacks legal validity

China only fulfils 5% of Sino-U.S. energy trade deal in first half of 2020

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Russian Navy set to receive hypersonic nuclear strike weapons

Russia Delivers Second S-400 Systems to China Amid Flaring Tensions With The US

New ceasefire reached in Donbass, but for how long?

One Ukrainian serviceman killed, three wounded in mine blast outside Volnovakha

Explosion rocks Ukrainian positions outside Novotroitskoye checkpoint

Israel says it strikes Syria targets in response to border incident

Syria's air defenses intercept 'hostile targets' above southwestern Damascus countryside

Why did Israel offer aid to Lebanon knowing it will be rejected?

Will Hezbollah seek revenge against Israel?

American drone operated by Saudi-led coalition shot down by Yemen’s army

Thousands of Yemeni patients at risk of death due to ongoing siege: Health Minister

Pentagon awards United Launch Alliance, SpaceX launch contracts

US sends speedboats and combat arsenal to Ukrainian Navy

Trump security adviser warns against foreign military involvement in Libya

Will US really send troops to Poland?

Blast rocks military base in Somali capital, at least eight dead