GPA Project Headlines September 15-30, 2020

TOP HEADLINES

• U.S. Retail Bankruptcies, Store Closures Hit Record in First Half
• Bahamas to launch digital currency in October
• The EU’s draft legislation on crypto-assets including stablecoins
• More details of digital yuan revealed in rare article by central bank VP
• Alibaba on Track to Be the Largest Blockchain Patent Holder by End of 2020: Study
• Facebook suspected behind Tencent ban, which hurts US gaming companies
• US convoy transports stolen Syrian oil to Iraq: SANA
• Russia-US dialogue on arms control must be based on parity — ambassador
• Russian supersonic bombers set world record for longest non-stop flight - Aerospace Forces
• Hackers attack computers of Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine’s developers
• China set to lure billions of dollars in funds as sovereign debt enters FTSE index amid decoupling concerns
• Bypassing the Dollar: The Rise of Alternative Currency Systems

GLOBAL

Twilight in the Desert for Saudi and MBS?

China’s surging corn prices blamed on speculators as Beijing plays down fears of grain shortage

ANTIFA, Red Herrings and Fanning the Flames of Discord!

The Strange Case of Trump’s New ‘Socialist Republic of Northern Syria’

Is Social Media like a Weapon of Mass Destruction?

Tech

Dorsey talks about Twitter’s Blue Sky blockchain plans

U.S. House of Representatives passes two blockchain bills

Almost 40% of job seekers look for work on social media, survey reveals

US Space Force awards blockchain contract to Xage Security

Korea Internet Security Agency involved in identity interoperability initiative

Libra appoints former HSBC Bank CEO to lead operating subsidiary

State of Utah implements blockchain solution for medical record sharing

Leveraging DeFi to fund major public infrastructure projects

BNP Paribas Securities creating DLT apps for ASX, HKEX with Digital Asset

Alibaba on Track to Be the Largest Blockchain Patent Holder by End of 2020: Study

Societe Generale to Use as Many as Five Blockchains in Capital Markets Trials

VeChain to Supply Blockchain Tech for Chinese Food Safety Group That Includes McDonald’s

McAfee files for return to public markets

Bio News

Mass vaccination against coronavirus to start in Russia in late October, expert says

Hackers attack computers of Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine’s developers

Second Russian COVID-19 vaccine develops immunity for at least 6 months, researcher says

China conducts clinical trials of 11 COVID-19 vaccines

Sputnik V research team responds to criticism in The Lancet

Over 60,000 sign up for COVID-19 vaccine trials in Moscow - mayor

Vector’s clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine are successful

Russian investment fund to supply 25 mln doses of Sputnik V vaccine to Egypt

Police and protesters clash in London with 16 arrested during anti-vaccine rally

'US could have enough coronavirus vaccine by April'

'Space bubbles' offer safety at NYC restaurant

Coronavirus can become seasonal infection — WHO director for Europe

USA

US policy in Asia Pacific rests on Sinophobia — Russian ambassador

Russia-US dialogue on arms control must be based on parity — ambassador

Twitter Tightens Security Ahead of US Presidential Election

US President approves deal on TikTok segment acquisition by US companies

Washington finally admits it has been interfering in Hong Kong

US pork exports to China surge beyond pre-trade war levels

US court suspends White House ban on TikTok downloads

US snapback push against Iran 'theatrical performance': Russia

US seizes $30bn in assets of Venezuela through sanctions

Putin invites US to exchange guarantees of non-interference in election processes

Envelope with ricin addressed to Trump intercepted

US creates time pressure in New START issue, names unacceptable terms — ambassador

American Space Force installs military base in the Persian Gulf to monitor Iran

US threatens to shut embassy in Iraq if attacks continue on American compounds

Yemen’s al-Masirah TV publishes documents disclosing US interference in Arab country

US warns Iraq about possible shutdown of embassy in Baghdad - report

Trump unveils Platinum Plan for Blacks, calls BLM supporters 'fools'

Thomas Friedman: US potentially heading to 'second Civil War'

61 percent support abolishing Electoral College in US: Poll

Bloomberg pays fines for 32,000 felons in Florida so they can vote in US election

US: Shops Vandalised in Louisville after Another Night of Unrest over Breonna Taylor Ruling

California wine country wildfire forces evacuation of hospital, hundreds of homes

United Airlines scales back furlough plans as pilots agree to deal

Russia

Putin unwilling to return to restrictions imposed in spring 2020

Road to Moscow could open route to riches for more Chinese firms in Russia

Sweden urges US, Russia to agree on New START extension

Elysee Palace could not leak Putin-Macron conversation tape to the media — Kremlin

Putin: Russia, US must reach agreement on incident prevention in cyberspace

Putin instructs government to stop uncontrolled export of unprocessed timber

Drunk driver crashes into gates of US ambassador’s Moscow residence

Arctic tensions rise as Britain leads show of force against Russia in the Barents Sea

Russia to boost defense industry’s human capacity, says Putin

Russia plans to send mission to Venus

Russian Su-27 scrambles over US strategic bomber over Poland

Kremlin calls dialogue between Russian and Belarusian presidents ‘trust-based

NATO’s presence near Russian, Belarusian borders seen as potential threat - diplomat

European Parliament’s claims indicate foreign intelligence behind Navalny case — speaker

Too much absurdity in Navalny case to take anyone’s word on trust — Kremlin

Germany, other Western states actively "cultivated" OPCW in Navalny situation - diplomat

Merkel visited Kremlin critic Navalny in hospital

German government confirms Merkel visited Navalny in hospital

Belarus

Russian investment fund supplies Sputnik V vaccine to Belarus for clinical trials

Lukashenko talks about seven stages of Belarus destruction scenario

Russian intelligence head says CIA, Pentagon implicated in Belarus unrest

Lukashenko’s legitimacy requires no statement of recognition, Switzerland says

Minsk forced to shut down borders with Lithuania, Poland and boost control with Ukraine

Russia to issue loan to Belarus after additional negotiations

Belarus’ response to EU sanctions may be applicable to foreign media, says top diplomat

Polish foreign minister flags possibility of national sanctions against Belarus

DPR/LNR

DPR passports issued to more than 500,000 residents – Migration Service

Civilian wounded in Ukrainian ammunition round blast in southern DPR – militia

Ukraine disavows additional ceasefire control measures – DPR Foreign Ministry

Ukraine

Russian embassy asks US to explain report on assistance to 'Ukrainian units in Crimea'

An-26 military plane crashes in northeastern Ukraine, casualties reported

Death toll in northeastern Ukraine plane crash rises to 25

‘Black boxes’ of crashed Ukrainian plane recovered

China

Facebook suspected behind Tencent ban, which hurts US gaming companies

China’s WTO win over US offers no concrete reward but Beijing gets moral high ground, experts say

TikTok confirms proposed deal with Oracle, Walmart as US delays app store ban by one week

China making progress in rebuilding pig population, but supply gap likely to last at least until 2021

China’s northeastern corn belt left flattened by typhoons, fuelling food-security concerns ahead of autumn harvest

China’s corn heartland Heilongjiang grapples with shortage of farm workers

CGTN: China calls for global green revolution in the post-COVID era

Xi Jinping defends ‘totally correct’ Xinjiang policies despite growing human rights concerns

Huawei CFO Meng back in Canadian court fighting U.S. extradition

Sino-Russian Ties Vital Amid Turbulence, Wang Yi Stresses

Israel

Ehud Olmert to 'Post': Political power is in reckless hands

Iran: Israeli Nukes Biggest Threat to Region, Nations Need to Stand for Nuke-Free World

Rabbi David Mivasair: Stopping Israeli Annexation Just Immediate Goal

Gantz flies to Washington for Pentagon talks

All-inclusive 16-day lockdown goes into effect on Friday

The government prepares to tighten Israel’s lockdown

Middle East/Levant

US convoy transports stolen Syrian oil to Iraq: SANA

Turkish military shell Syria’s Tell Rifaat north of Aleppo, reports say

Hack reveals UK's propaganda campaign to drive Syrian regime change

Lebanon’s Prime Minister designate Mustapha Adib bows out after failing to form government

Military targets at airport in Saudi’s Asir region hit by Yemeni drone strikes: Yemen’s army

Saudi king had better directly face Iran if he has scores to settle: Yemen’s Ansarullah

Several killed in Yemen army's attack on Saudi base

Exiled Saudi dissidents launch political party; hope to dethrone MBS and open door to democracy

Putin expresses concern over escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenian government introduces martial law, announces general mobilization

16 Karabakh defense army soldiers killed - defense ministry

Armenian PM tells Macron about Turkey’s aggressive position on Karabakh

About 200 military servicemen wounded in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenian PM says Azerbaijan’s operation in Karabakh was plotted during drills with Turkey

Armenian envoy says Turkey sent 4,000 Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan amid fighting: Ifax

Armenia reports fierce fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh’s north and south

Armenia says Azerbaijani forces attack republic’s territory

Iran

Zarif: Cowardly, vicious US killed Daesh’s No. 1 enemy

Iran rejects Saudi Arabia’s claim on terror cell, advises kingdom to embrace honesty

IRGC Aerospace Force unveils third-generation naval strike ballistic missile

ECONOMIC

U.S. Retail Bankruptcies, Store Closures Hit Record in First Half

Global economic outlook better than June, but ‘not out of the woods’, IMF says

Decline of global GDP will be 4-4.5% in 2020 - Economic Development Ministry

JPMorgan permits home working until 2021 for staff in consumer unit

Euro zone firms continue to load up on credit as economy reopens: ECB data

Fed's Powell says Main Street may use up to $30 billion by year end

Mnuchin, Powell say some $380 billion in unused aid could help U.S. economy

UBS mum on role in 'inevitable' European bank consolidation

Impresa, Parts Maker for Boeing 737 MAX, Files for Bankruptcy

Bankrupt Gun Maker Remington Outdoor to Be Broken Up and Sold

Investors Question Garrett Motion Chapter 11 Strategy

California Pizza Kitchen Nears Bankruptcy Deal With Creditors

Drugmaker Mallinckrodt Nears Bankruptcy Filing Over Opioid Lawsuits

Steel Giant ArcelorMittal to Sell U.S. Business to Cleveland-Cliffs

U.S. Durable-Goods Orders Rise for Fourth Straight Month

Gold’s Record High Gives New Life to Dollar Doomsayers

Bypassing the Dollar: The Rise of Alternative Currency Systems

CBDC/Crypto

Bahamas to launch digital currency in October

The EU’s draft legislation on crypto-assets including stablecoins

More details of digital yuan revealed in rare article by central bank VP

Wyoming Bank Regulator Taps Chainalysis to Boost Crypto Tracing Efforts

French CBDC tests: SocGen uses Tezos blockchain

Germany pledges to speed up EU efforts on crypto-assets, capital market

US Homeland Security Challenges Freelancers to Design It a Digital Wallet

How US States Are, and Aren’t, Easing Crypto Firms’ Compliance Burden

Leveraging DeFi to fund major public infrastructure projects

Investment Firm Blockchain Capital Joins Libra Association

Bank of Russia keeps key rate at 4.25% after four rounds of reduction

China set to lure billions of dollars in funds as sovereign debt enters FTSE index amid decoupling concerns

China’s government bonds to be added to FTSE Russell’s trillion dollar WGBI in 2021

ENERGY

Germany looks into participation in Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project

President Putin to instruct government to appoint Gazprom as single gas program operator

Russia’s crude production projected to recover to record level only in 2023

Russia supports renewable resources-based economy concept - energy minister

Gazprom expects to see growth of Russian gas purchases by Turkey in 2020

Valaris Bondholders Win Dispute Over Bankruptcy Financing

Equinor plans $2 billion Breidablikk oilfield development

First Iranian tanker carrying fuel enters waters of Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions

Former president Hadi amenable to Aramco deal

Libya’s NOC announces oil production, export in ports without Haftar’s rebels

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Russia, Belarus train to repel military aggression against Union State

Russian supersonic bombers set world record for longest non-stop flight - Aerospace Forces

Russian radars track 44 planes, 10 drones conducting reconnaissance near Russian borders

Russia's Sukhoi Su-34 jets make first-ever nighttime flight into stratosphere

NATO boosts its presence in Black Sea, Russian Defense Ministry says

Work on Avangard complex comparable to USSR nuclear project - Putin

Russian army to be 70% provided with new weapons by year-end - deputy PM

Russian military use newest TOS-2 heavy flamethrower for the first time

Trump claims Russia created hypersonic missile after receiving info about it from US

UK boasts of attacking and 'destroying' its enemies in cyberspace

China-India border row: stay alert for surprise Indian attack, retired Chinese general warns

In a US-China war, whose side is Southeast Asia on? Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia ponder the unthinkable

GPA Project Headlines September 8-14, 2020

 

TOP HEADLINES

• This many young Americans haven't lived with their parents since the Great Depression
• ECB explores digital euro: state backing essential for trust in payments, money
• Mastercard launches virtual testing environment for central bank currencies
• European Crypto Tax Companies Announce Merger to Power US Expansion
• Chinese yuan to become No 3 global currency by 2030 after US dollar, euro, Morgan Stanley predicts
• America’s Current Jobs ‘Great Depression’
• See Spot Scan: Ford Deploys Robot Dog
• From ageing populations to automation - is this what the world will look like in 2030?
• Belarus to go to war in case of Western aggression against Russia — Lukashenko
• US bombers flying over Ukraine raise regional tensions, warns Russian top brass
• Scores of wildfires scorch U.S. West Coast, killing at least nine
• Cyberattacks during vote on Russian Constitution originated from US, UK, Ukraine — envoy

GLOBAL

Gates Foundation is Also Destroying Africa’s Food Economy

Baltic States At Epicenter Of Military Exercises – OpEd

Cavalry Attack in Georgia by US Ambassador Kelly Degnan

A Truly Poisonous Foreign Policy. The Blame Putin Narrative…

Russian Union of Journalists awards its Solidarity prize to Julian Assange

NSA whistleblower Snowden applies for extending Russian residence permit

The world’s biggest carbon trading market faces a major overhaul under European Union climate change plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions faster this decade

David Ray Griffin says 9/11 attacks were engineered by Cheney and Rumsfeld

The Truth behind 9/11: Who Is Osama Bin Laden?

Tech

Intl Chamber appoints leader for digital standards

UN backed Green Chain aims to decarbonize manufacturing with blockchain, German industry help

Blockchain platform Zilliqa mentors eight startups in Open Finance

Emerging technologies are reshaping financial services. Here's how

From ageing populations to automation - is this what the world will look like in 2030?

How to put AI ethics into practice: a 12-step guide

The UN says climate-smart cities are the future – these 3 projects show their potential

See Spot Scan: Ford Deploys Robot Dog

Digital Reasoning’s Breakthrough AI Research Allows Customers to Rapidly Build Multilingual Models

Opera Limited to present at Key Banc Future of Technology Series

Russia creates app to track side effects of coronavirus vaccine

New PD-14 plane engine to be equipped with artificial intelligence elements

Snow studies: how to control drifting snow in Arctic regions

Beijing achieves full 5G coverage

Digital Asset’s DAML to enable blockchain interoperability for China’s Blockchain Service Network

China-EU relations: Liu He set to promote Beijing’s global data security initiative at Thursday’s talks

Bio News

First batch of Sputnik V vaccine has been shipped to Russian regions - Health Ministry

Coronavirus: AstraZeneca pauses Oxford vaccine trial after unexplained illness

Supplies of Russian coronavirus vaccine to Brazil may be doubled - RDIF

Russian investment fund agrees supply of up to 50 mln doses of Sputnik V to Brazil

Pfizer, BioNTech conclude talks over supplying EU with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate

LSU Researchers to Test Campus Wastewater for COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 vaccine shipped to all Russian regions to be delivered on September 14

Pfizer CEO: Coronavirus vaccine could be distributed in U.S. by end of year

China bans German pork imports after African swine fever case

No antibody-dependent enhancement effect observed in China-developed COVID19 vaccines: experts

USA

Trump has called on US firms to leave China, but no mass exodus among ‘well-rooted’ companies

Trump plans to withdraw more U.S. troops from Iraq

U.S. Military Is Offered New Bases in the Pacific

US Department of Commerce, Rosatom poised to extend uranium agreement

US weekly blasts Trump over failure to contain pandemic

U.S. Gulf Coast prepares for second hurricane in a month

JP Morgan says investors should prepare for rising odds of Trump win

Mike Bloomberg pledges $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida

U.S. House Speaker Pelosi voices optimism about passing coronavirus aid bill

What will be the foreign policy of the next US President?

Democrats unveil green alternative for U.S. economic stimulus

Amid Fire And Flood, Americans Are Looking For Action

More helicopter rescues made as conditions worsen in California

Oregon's wildfires force mass evacuations, but shifting weather offers some hope

Arson probe opened into deadly Oregon wildfire: police chief

Scores of wildfires scorch U.S. West Coast, killing at least nine

Showers and a place to sleep: Portland Convention Center shelters wildfire evacuees

At least 28 killed in wildfires raging in western US states - TV

Half a million forced to evacuate as blaze rages across Oregon

Western US 'literally out of firefighters and equipment,' Clackamas fire official says

Enter Austin "At Your Own Risk" - Texas Billboards Warn Motorists Amid Police Cuts

Las Vegas Strip violence causes security, room rate increase

Shooting of 27-year-old man under investigation in Pennsylvania

Gunman wounds two Los Angeles County deputies in ambush attack on their car

Man arrested after admitting he used Molotov cocktail to start brush fire in Portland

America's Color Revolution

Facebook And FBI Wage Infowar On West Coast Wildfire Arson "Conspiracy Theories"

Princeton Math Prof Dares To Challenge University's "Systemic Racism" Narrative

Tyson Foods Becomes First U.S. Food Company to Verify Sustainable Cattle Production Practices at Scale

Russia

US bombers flying over Ukraine raise regional tensions, warns Russian top brass

Number of NATO military flights near Russian borders on the rise, says military official

Putin to lead Russian delegation to General Assembly's 75th session, to address it online

Kremlin not ready to recognize that there are political prisoners in Belarus

Moscow City Court sentences war historian to 12.5 years for high treason

Despite sparring on many issues, Lukashenko stands with Putin on security

SCO became stronger despite canceled events due to pandemic, says Putin

Putin, Lukashenko to discuss many issues, including state debt of Belarus — Kremlin

Moscow to host second Caspian Economic Forum in 2021

About half of Russians balking at vaccination for coronavirus, suggests survey

Russia ready for honest dialogue with US on election interference — top diplomat

Microsoft report about Russian interference in US election lacks proof — Kremlin

Russia calls on Apple Inc. not to indulge Ukraine in regard to Russian apps

Russian statement on the situation around Alexei Navalny

Lavrov blasts Germany for snubbing Russian inquiries on Navalny

Russian Foreign Ministry expresses protest to German ambassador over Navalny accusations

Navalny And A Palace Coup Against Putin?
 – OpEd

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Poisoning of Alexei Navalny

No materials on Navalny case received by OPCW Secretariat from Germany - Russian envoy

Navalny case could be staged by those who benefit from it — Russia’s UN envoy

No materials on Navalny case received by OPCW Secretariat from Germany - Russian envoy

Russia will react to possible new Western sanctions - Lavrov

SCO winning bigger authority within international formats - Lavrov

DPR/LNR

Pushilin cancels order to destroy Ukrainian army fortifications in Shumy

Ukrainian forces used life-threatening methods to prevent joint inspection – DPR militia

DPR initiates extraordinary meeting of Contact Group to deescalate situation in Donbass

DPR reports Ukraine’s new engineering activity along contact line

DPR militia views Shumy inspection derailing as Ukrainian authorities’ publicity stunt

Ukraine

Ukraine Leads Global Crypto Adoption, Chainalysis Says in New Report

Kiev sends note to Minsk over search of ambassador’s car by Belarusian border guards

Ukraine Security Service demands to delete more Russian media apps from Ukraine’s AppStore

Belarus

US redeploys armor unit to Lithuania, 15 km from Belarusian border — Minsk

Putin, Lukashenko to discuss integration processes on September 14

Belarus to go to war in case of Western aggression against Russia — Lukashenko

Russia will be next if Belarus collapses, Lukashenko tells Russian journalists

Lukashenko blames US for protests in Belarus

Americans, ‘young bourgeois’ behind protests in Belarus, Lukashenko says

Belarus has not received Serbia’s refusal to participate in exercise

Lukashenko says there is unpublished fragment of intercepted conversation about Navalny

Lukashenko says won’t talk to opposition’s Coordination Council

Lukashenko attributes heavy-handed response by police during rallies to heat of the moment

Lukashenko says most Belarussians supported him, though many may see him as a "bore"

Lukashenko admits he ‘sat a bit too long' in presidential chair

Lukashenko does not rule out snap presidential election in Belarus

Belarusian opposition launches talks with German foreign ministry

Opposition leader’s representative disappears in Belarus

Belarusian Coordination Council member Maria Kolesnikova detained at the border

Belarusian activist Kolesnikova taken to Gomel Region — ex-presidential nominee’s team

Belarusian opposition member Kolesnikova arrested in Minsk

Police detaining most active protesters in central Minsk, TASS reports from the site

Belarus’ Interior Ministry: Police officer fired warning shot in air during Minsk protest

China

Chinese military calls US biggest threat to world peace

China’s inbound foreign investment surges 18.7 per cent in August, as bank loans grow more than expected

China to revive international yuan drive along belt and road countries

China, Russia Deepen Ties Amid Pandemic, Conflicts With West – Analysis

US must drop China decoupling threats and ‘stop burying its head in the sand’, ex-Beijing trade officials say

China’s corn-supply concerns grow after three typhoons flatten crops in main northeastern grain region

China’s export machine keeps humming, despite geopolitical woes and decoupling pressure

China continues to sweet-talk foreign firms, but business groups ‘need something solid’

China focuses on modern, efficient logistics system as Beijing plots response to ‘grim and complicated’ outlook

China tech firms embrace inward economic pivot, but some wary of ‘technological isolation’

China, Hungary overcome difficulties to pursue common development under BRI

Huawei won't run out of microchips despite US’ coercion: expert

TikTok sees big potential in Southeast Asia as digital economy grows

China-US phase one trade deal on track, farm purchases continue

Israel

Deal between ‘Israel’ and UAE to Be Signed on September 15 in Washington: WH

Netanyahu Says Bahrain Deal Will Result in Direct Flights

Bahrain follows Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel

Netanyahu will fly privately to the White House peace ceremony

Israel faces lockdown of up to a month from next week

Ministers will fight to dilute full lockdown over the festivals

Israel’s Biological Inst ready for volunteer covid testing

Lapid: Lockdown will lead to loss of life

Middle East

HTS terrorists plotting to carry out false flag chemical attack in Syria's Idlib: Russia

Power balance in the East Mediterranean is changing as France sends nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Hamas pledges resistance against Israel, says regime's blockade will fail to bring Gaza to its knees

Arab League must be disbanded after failing to condemn UAE-Israel deal: Ansarullah

Lebanese president says fresh Beirut fire likely deliberate act of sabotage

Syrian air defense units intercept, destroy Israeli missiles over Aleppo

US, Turkey send more military reinforcements into bases in oil-rich northeast Syria

US-backed SDF abducts, forces locals in Syria’s Hasakah for fighting

At least 4 civilians killed, several others wounded in bomb attack in Syria’s Hasakah

Turkish occupation forces, their mercenaries attack with artillery shells on villages in Raqqa northern countryside

Bodies of three civilians found in al-Hawl Camp in Hasaka Countryside

US-Backed QSD prevents students in Hasaka city from entering their school

US occupation brings in weapons and logistic materials to its illegitimate bases in Al-Jazeera area

Rocket targets Baghdad Airport, reports say

Yemen launches drone, missile attacks against Saudi capital; key target hit: Al-Masirah

Yemeni forces pound Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport with drones for 4th time in days

Saudi warplanes attack Houthi sites in Yemeni capital: Report

Four civilians killed in Saudi air raid on Yemen’s Ma'rib

Four major tribes strike non-aggression agreement with Ansarullah fighters in Yemen’s Ma’rib

Iran

Iran’s Power Grid Soon to Connect to Azeri, Russian Grids

IRGC Launches Massive Anti-Terrorism Operations in Northwestern Iran

Navy Commander: Iran’s New Marine Cruise Missile Worries US Forces in Region

US Plane, Drones Chased Away by Iranian Homemade Drone

Army Commander Warns Enemies of Testing Iran’s Power

Military Commander Cautions Enemies Not to Try Iranian Army, IRGC’s Power

Iran rejects claim of meddling in US elections, blasts US' own intl. election meddling

Three-Day Zolfaqar Wargames End

Iran's Defense Ministry Asks Britain to Pay Long-Awaited Debt

Iran’s Cyber-Defense to Enjoy Knowledge-Based Firms’ Gadgets

Russia, China reject U.S. unilateral actions aimed at kill nuclear deal: Lavrov

Monthly red meat output rises 41% yr/yr

Iran Exports $2.5bln Worth of Non-Oil Goods to Middle Eastern Countries

Iran’s Five-Month Steel Exports Up 1.7mln Tons

Over 6m tons of steel products produced in 5 months

Sponge iron production increases 8% in 5 months on year

ECONOMIC

This many young Americans haven't lived with their parents since the Great Depression

American national debt increases and becomes unpayable

Former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan Says Deficit and Inflation Worrisome

Hawaiian Airlines parent lowers third-quarter capacity outlook 'slightly' to down 87%

Cathay Pacific planning to park up to half its fleet in desert as aviation industry struggles to recover from coronavirus

Amazon to Hire 100,000 in U.S. and Canada

Airbus CEO warns of compulsory layoffs as airline crisis deepens

Las Vegas Monorail Files for Bankruptcy Again as Coronavirus Shuts Service

Fuddruckers, Luby’s Restaurant Chains to Be Sold in Liquidation Plan

Chuck E. Cheese Lines Up $200 Million Bankruptcy Loan

U.S. Division of Maison Kayser Files for Bankruptcy With Offer From Aurify

Century 21 Wants to Move Covid-19 Insurance Fight to Bankruptcy Court

Owner of New York Sports Clubs, Lucille Roberts Files for Bankruptcy

YRC Worldwide Provides Quarter-To-Date Operating Data for Third Quarter 2020

US Jobless Claims Hit 60 Million as Congress Dithers

America’s Current Jobs ‘Great Depression’

Despite Increasing Trade with Chinese Yuan US Dollar Is Likely to Remain the World’s Biggest Currency Reserve

China to prioritize currency deal with ASEAN that could sidestep US dollar

CBDC/Crypto

• Mastercard launches virtual testing environment for central bank currencies
• New York Fed Designates MarketAxess as Eligible Seller for Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility
• Good for Bitcoin? US Senate rejects stimulus without $1,200 checks
• ECB explores digital euro: state backing essential for trust in payments, money
• French Central bank governor makes forceful case for digital Euro. Says there’s a 1-2 year window
• Swiss Blockchain Industry Praises Expanded Regulatory Framework
• 5 EU finance ministers raise concerns re stablecoin threats
• China’s new digital currency will challenge US dollar hegemony: analysts
• Issue, circulation of digital yuan under the same legal guideline as cash

Export of Russian vodka down 3.8% in Jan-July 2020 to $75.7 mln, says customs service

Companies with foreign capital will do business in Russia despite crisis - official

Russia, Cyprus sign protocol on amending tax agreement

Russian economy hedged from global volatility-related risks, says Kremlin

Russia adheres to G20 regardless of upcoming summit’s format — Kremlin

Decline of Russia’s GDP is 8% yoy in 2Q, 3.4% yoy in 1H 2020 - statistics service

Accounts Chamber warns of risks of SMEs’ bankruptcies due to low consumer demand

Explainer: What we know about China's 'dual circulation' economic strategy

Chinese yuan to become No 3 global currency by 2030 after US dollar, euro, Morgan Stanley predicts

China’s forex reserves rose to US$3.165 trillion in August, but increase less than expected

China signals shift to stronger yuan exchange rate policy to help develop domestic demand, analysts say

China becomes Germany's top export market in Q2, illuminating future cooperation

Red Chris Drill Hole Returns 3.0 g/t Gold and 1.5% Copper Over 166 Metres

Congo gold miners scour rubble for bodies after cave-in

In Turkey, Weak Lira Powers Fresh Gold Rush

ENERGY

Blackstone’s Energy Alloys Files for Bankruptcy

OPEC Extends Forecast for Decline in Global Oil Demand

BP evacuates non-essential workers from Nakika, Thunderhorse due to Storm Sally

Oil companies idle production as U.S. Gulf Coast braces for hurricane

More Electricity Outages Threaten Californians

Mexico’s Pemex Slashes Oil Production Target For 2021

Mexico Shuts The Door To Foreign Oil Companies

Russia Expects Oil Demand To Drop By 10 Million Bpd In 2020

Kremlin sees no risk that Germany will block Nord Stream 2 project

Germany should complete Nord Stream 2 project in any case — German politician

Foreign players to tap 50% of Russia’s oilfield services if local firms receive no support

Russia can increase its global oil market share due to reduced competition

Gazprom supplies 2.3 bln cubic meters of gas to China in January-August

Gazprom Supplied 1 bln Cubic Meters of Gas to China at Prices Higher than European in Q2

Zvezda shipyard to construct 15 Arc7 tankers for Arctic LNG 2

API comments on offshore energy moratorium extension

U.S. natgas output, demand to fall in 2020 from peaks due to coronavirus: EIA

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia rejoins Chevron board

Industry ingenuity and care in a crisis

Rystad Energy: Europe could see US$35 billion in CCS spending till 2035

Experts: Oil price to remain low in September, and then to rise again

Sinopec Holds First Virtual Open Day Event in Saudi Arabia

Iran’s oil storage capacity improved with terminal launched in Persian Gulf

Combining theory and practice, a must for indigenizing oil equipment

Overhaul operations for South Pars platform SPD8 completed

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Upcoming Kavkaz 2020 military drills to involve nine foreign countries

Northern Fleet keeps track of US destroyer-led NATO group in Barents Sea

Russia’s Shoigu worried about constant presence of non-littoral states’ ships in Black Sea

Military pilots from Russia, Belarus demonstrate high skills at Aviadarts contest

Russia’s Sukhoi-27 fighter intercepted US spy plane over Black Sea Wed

Specialists decide not to adjust ISS orbit due to US satellite - Roscosmos

Russia’s 14 air regiments, long-range aviation unit take part in CIS exercise

Russian Northern Fleet submarine fires anti-sub missile in Barents Sea

Russian, Serbian military to arrive in Belarus for military drills on September 10-15

Serbia freezes military exercises with other countries at EU demands over Belarus

Here’s how Global Strike Command is shifting its focus to China, Russia

Pentagon AI tool for battling coronavirus hold lessons for war

Trump’s talk of secret new weapon fits a pattern of puzzles

The future US Navy carrier air wing will be effective at extended ranges, admiral says

Maintenance delays are ‘blood in the water’ for aircraft carrier critics, admiral says

US Space Force developing a strategy to improve satellite communications

Iranian, Chinese, Russian Military Forces to Participate in Joint Wargames

China-India border dispute: video of violent clash between soldiers goes viral

China-India border dispute: PLA bombers pictured close to troubled region

India-China border: Tibetans at Pangong Tso race to help amid warnings military face-off could take ‘any trajectory’

China-India border dispute: armed parachute drills by elite PLA forces point to military build-up