GPA Project Headlines August 25-31, 2020

TOP HEADLINES

• Davos Forum postpones meeting to summer 2021 due to coronavirus
• How the US uses the dollar payments system to impose sanctions on a global scale
• China’s wish to end US dollar dominance is unlikely to come true with no genuine challenger in the wings
• China’s digital yuan wallet trial goes public, then withdrawn
• Putin says his daughter feeling well after coronavirus vaccine injection

GLOBAL

China‘s Growing Agriculture Crisis

Is California Over?

Tech

• The World's Most Efficient Supercomputer
• First manned flight of Boeing Starliner spacecraft planned for summer 2021
• Russia is Willing to Cooperate with China, Huawei on 5G Tech, Lavrov Says
• China’s semiconductor drive stalls in Wuhan, exposing gap in hi-tech production capabilities
• NASA explores blockchain for inter-satellite communications
• Russian scientists develop device capable of finding people under 5 meters of snow
• Hainan launches center for studying gibbons in Haikou

Bio-News

Putin says his daughter feeling well after coronavirus vaccine injection

Research center Vektor may provide first batch of coronavirus vaccine in October

Sputnik V vaccine is supplied to medical institutions for Phase 3 of trials

• Russian biologists create cell culture producing COVID-19 antibodies
• Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine gives good immune response, says health ministry expert
• Russia’s Chumakov Center applies for clinical tests of its anti-coronavirus vaccine
• Biocad company to produce Russia’s second coronavirus vaccine
• Over 2,500 volunteers picked for Russian COVID-19 vaccine’s post-registration trials
• Russia to supply over 2 mln doses of Sputnik V vaccine to Kazakhstan
• Four Chinese COVID-19 vaccines undergoing phase-3 clinical trials
• Coronavirus Vaccine Sputnik V: Russia Eyeing to Produce COVID Vaccine in India
• China and Russia Share Tech, Data for Vaccine Trials Amid Hopes of Mass Production
• China seeks to manage supply of horseshoe crab's indispensable blood in race to develop COVID-19 vaccines
• Moderna and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine candidates require ultra-low temperatures, raising questions about storage, distribution
• From ‘Freezer Farms’ to Jets, Logistics Operators Prepare for a Covid-19 Vaccine
• Trump Claims COVID-19 Vaccine Will be Available by the End of 2020 in Speech
• Coronavirus: Canada confirms planned Chinese vaccine trial has been scrapped after shipments delayed
• British universities should not reopen next month, says union
• Colleges have threatened a return to remote instruction and suspended students over safety violations
• Uncontrolled lifting of COVID-19 restrictions ‘recipe for disaster’ - WHO
• China's Wuhan says all schools to reopen on Tuesday

USA

U.S. House panel announces contempt proceedings against Pompeo

House Chairman Moves to Hold Pompeo in Contempt of Congress

Deepfake text: Potential AI influences on the upcoming US election

Top U.S. general foresees no military role in resolving disputed election

Trump administration halts election security briefings, Democrats complain

Facebook and Twitter are concerned about what is going to happen after Election Day

Biden says he would be open to shutting the economy down to halt the spread of COVID-19

Trump claims Biden win would crash market, cause depression

Pelosi says sides remain ‘miles apart’ on stimulus bargaining

Wilford Brimley, ‘Natural’ and ‘Cocoon’ actor, dies at 85

Trump pardons Alice Johnson, whose cause was backed by Kim Kardashian

Trump tours parts of Louisiana, Texas hit by Hurricane Laura

Trump promises tariffs on companies that leave U.S. to create jobs overseas

America must brace itself for a double-dip economic recession

Hurricane Laura: Trump surveys damage from ‘tremendously powerful storm’ in Louisiana and Texas

Trump Administration Begins Payroll Tax Deferral Plan

More than 20 states sue over Trump changes to key environmental law

Bayer acknowledges 'bumps' in $11 billion Roundup deal after judge raises doubts

The Breathtaking Ignorance and Gullibility of America’s Elites

It Is Live Or Die Time America?

Stand Between The Beast and the Dismantling of America’s Culture

Republican senator, swarmed by protesters after Trump speech, calls for FBI probe

In Portland, Man Is Fatally Shot in Another Night of Unrest

Remington Won’t Have to Answer Questions From Sandy Hook Families

Amy Klobuchar: 'We are not safe in Donald Trump's America'

Trump Decries Washington DC Protesters as 'Thugs'

Trump Says He Will ‘Go in, Take Care of Matters’ in Portland If Mayor Fails to Reclaim City from ‘Anarchists, Looters’

Protesters in Portland Target Mayor's House, Police Union Building

Thousands March on National Mall, Continuing Racial-Justice Push

Minneapolis under curfew, state of emergency after Black homicide suspect's death

Teenager in Wisconsin shootings charged with six criminal counts: complaint

Wisconsin Identifies Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake

US troops injured after encounter with Russian vehicle in Syria

Trump Confirms US Plans to Reduce Military Presence in Iraq

US to slash number of troops in Iraq by about one-third: Report

White House says Russia breached de-confliction protocols after incident in Syria

Russia

Diplomat blasts US sanctions for targeting Russian scientists working on COVID-19 vaccine

Russian major general killed in roadside bomb in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor

Russia ready to intervene if Belarus situation out of control: Putin

Western stance on Belarusian election was prepared in advance, Putin thinks

Foreign Ministry warns Russians of threat of persecution from US intel agencies

Putin: Detention of Russian citizens in Belarus set up by Ukrainian and US intelligence

Russia sets up law enforcement unit on Lukashenko’s request to aid Belarus — Putin

Lukashenko says agrees with Putin that situation in Belarus could be used against Russia

Kremlin says situation in Belarus under control, no need to use Russian police reserve

Size of Russia’s backup law enforcement unit set up to aid Belarus ‘reasonable’ — Kremlin

Putin hopes Russia’s law enforcement units won’t be used in Belarus — Kremlin

There is enough evidence of foreign meddling in Belarus, Moscow says

Brussels pushes ahead with its policy of rewriting history of World War II - diplomat

Putin discusses development of Russia-Belarus ties with Security Council

President Putin expects increase in road construction pace in Russia

Navalny still in coma, on ventilator but his life is out of danger — Charite hospital

DPR

DPR education centres to start new school year onsite from September 1 – decree

August in Donbass is calmest period in six years of conflict – JCCC

DPR to adopt Russian classification system for occupations, standards by 2021

Russia delivers 60 tons of medications, medical supplies to DPR – Emergencies Ministry

Monument to legendary “Somali” commander added to Donetsk’s Alley of Heroes

DPR coal mining companies to launch three new coal faces by late 2020

DPR to resort to extraordinary measures unless Kiev eliminates violations of Additional Measures – Pushilin

Belarus

Protection of Lukashenko’s residence in Minsk tightened as protesters are approaching

Protesters come close to Lukashenko’s residence in Minsk

Belarus leader vows harsh response to sanctions

Riot police block protesters in downtown Minsk

Two BBC journalists de-accredited in Belarus

Lukashenko claims 'hybrid war', 'diplomatic onslaught' being waged against Belarus

Belarusian Foreign Ministry summons Polish envoy over meddling in internal affairs

Belarusian opposition leader says ready to consider Russia as mediator

Russia to consider debt refinancing request from Belarus if it is received

Putin and Lukashenko plan to meet in Moscow - Kremlin

Talks on refinancing Belarus state debt to Russia continue — Kremlin

Belarus to be first country to get Russia's coronavirus vaccine

Belarus mulls over refocusing trade flows from Lithuanian ports

China

China calls on Europe to unite against ‘extremist’ US forces

China could weaponise drug exports to retaliate against US chip restrictions, Beijing adviser says

China puts drones and laser tech on restricted export list after US tightens rules

US products used to smuggle suspected Canadian drugs into China: customs officials

China’s industrial profits grow 19.6% year-on-year in July, rebounding for the 3rd month in a row

Xi stresses building new modern socialist Tibet

Chinese President Xi Jinping turns focus onto Tibet border security

US-China trade war: both sides cling to phase one deal as wider relationship crumbles

China keen to work with ‘US states, local councils, businesses’ despite Washington’s hostility, Xi Jinping says

Beijing Urges US "Not to Make an Issue Out of China in Its Election"

US-China trade war: who is really bleeding more from Donald Trump’s tariffs?

China Keen to Establish BRICS Innovation Base Focussing on 5G

Taiwan lifting US beef, pork import restrictions an ‘important start for economic cooperation’, Tsai Ing-wen says

China and India’s road to peace blocked as both sides build in border region

China warns of 'accidental' military confrontation with US

US-China relations: Chinese military mounts another show of force in Bohai and Yellow seas

Taiwan unveils F-16 maintenance hub as China tensions build

Israel

Netanyahu: Palestinians no longer have a veto on peace

Time to Deal With Israeli Nukes

Israeli Tanks Shell Southern Gaza on 24th Day of Attacks

The IDF continues to batter Hamas for balloon terror

Israel strikes Hamas in Gaza over rockets, fire balloons

Right dismisses Netanyahu’s pledge to annex and not uproot settlements

Israel-UAE flight - Kushner to Arab world: 'We are all children of God'

Tens of Thousands of Anti-Netanyahu Protesters Hit Israel Streets

Middle East

One Killed, Several Injured in Two Explosions in UAE
Greece plan to extend territorial waters could cause war: Turkey
Turkish-Greek gas row boils up as each plan rival exercises in E. Mediterranean
Turkey Expects 'Equity' from EU Amid East Med Tension
Top Official: Saudi-Led Coalition, Mercenaries Plunder Oil in Yemen

Countdown begins for most decisive battle of Yemen war

Yemeni forces arrest senior al-Qaeda leader in Sana'a: Interior ministry
Assad approves new Syrian government led by Hussein Arnous
UAE intelligence agents training YPG militants in northern, eastern Syria: Report
Nearly two dozen Saudi troops enter US base in northeastern Syria: Report
QSD Commander, 4 Militants Killed in Syria’s Deir Ezzor
Iran, Russia, Turkey slam Israeli attacks on Syria

Is Syria’s eastern front about to boil over?

Clashes between US, regime forces present new challenges for Russia in Syria

Hezbollah open to discussing new political order in Lebanon, says Nasrallah
Hamas vows to end all forms of Israeli siege on Gaza
Sayyed Nasrallah to Zionists: ‘One Israeli Soldier for Every Hezbollah Fighter’
Palestinian Resistance Ready for Long-term Battle with Israeli Occupation: Report
After Mannequin, Frightened Israeli Army Uses Robot at Lebanon Border
Lebanon Army: Seven Still Missing after Beirut Port Blast
Video Shows Fire in Vicinity of Israeli Military Post on Lebanon’s Border
Sayyed Nasrallah Denies Fabrications about Missile Cashes in Beirut Port: Hezbollah Eyes Haifa Port (Video)
Palestinian Groups Ready for 'Long-Term' Battle Against Israel Amid Gaza Escalation

Iran

Iran Blasts US, EU for Sheltering Terrorists

Parliament aide highlights expulsion of ‘American cowboys’ from region

China and France should safeguard Iran nuclear deal, Chinese FM says

Dredging project to give 30,000-ton vessels access to Bushehr port

Military Official: Iran Ranks 5th in World in Drone Production

Anti-Revolutionary Terrorist Team Disbanded by IRGC in Northwestern Iran

Notorious Terrorist Hunted Down by Border Guards in Southeastern Iran

Iran's Navy to Receive Long-Range Abu Mahdi Cruise Missiles Soon

Iran Ranks 1st in World in Production of Sponge Iron

Iranian steel industry outshining the world against the odds

Non-oil trade tops $24b in 5 months

Rouhani inaugurates 3 major industrial, mining projects worth $641.6m

Construction of Iran’s biggest mineral port terminal to begin soon

ECONOMIC

Davos Forum postpones meeting to summer 2021 due to coronavirus

The Fed’s new policy may have just ushered in a new era of uncertainty on Wall Street

New wave of layoffs points to fresh hurdles for U.S. economic recovery heading into the fall

U.S. is closing in on doing something it hasn’t done since World War II — borrowing more money than it raises

Smith & Wesson Shuffles Finance Chiefs Amid Boom in Gun Sales

Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech Could Hint at US Dollar’s Future

WATCH: Fed Chair Powell Lays Out Plan to Let Inflation Rise Above 2% for a While

First Mover: Monetary Challenges Aren’t Just Virtual as Fed’s Powell Returns to Jackson Hole

Commentary: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Details Inflation Target Changes

Owner of Kings and Balducci’s Supermarkets Files for Bankruptcy

MGM Resorts to lay off 18,000 furloughed U.S. employees

Operator of Trump International Hotel in Vancouver files for bankruptcy

Thousands of MGM Resorts workers to be laid off Monday

Global Bankruptcies Soar Despite Trillions In Liquidity

The U.S. Will See a Monetary Regime Change

Chuck Reed warned of city services ‘insolvency’ after the Great Recession. He thinks the corona-crisis may be worse

The Silver Market Is Manipulated

Breakingviews - Rolls-Royce self-harms by selling family silver

Gold Debate: Is A New Gold Standard Coming?

CBDCs/Crypto

• JPMorgan Chase to Launch UK Digital Bank in Q1 2021
• JP Morgan confirms Quorum blockchain transfer to ConsenSys
• Libra Taps Ex-Homeland Security General Counsel as New Legal Chief
• Bitwage Rolls Out Tax Calculator Tool as IRS Ramps Up Crypto Pressure
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• BIS explores drivers of central bank digital currencies
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• Nobel laureate: why central bank digital currencies will drive out cryptocurrencies
• China’s digital yuan wallet trial goes public, then withdrawn
• Korean central bank looking for digital currency partner
• Boom or bust? Welcome to the freewheeling world of crypto lending
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• The Government Just Took This Big Step Closer to Controversial 'Fedcoin'
• China’s digital currency tests to remain small scale for some time
• Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, tokenizes travel agent payments using blockchain
• Chainalysis Report Shows Healthy Crypto Usage in Venezuela
• More Than 95% of Crypto Futures Volume Is in Asia: Report
• ‘Gasless’ Technical Update Brings USDC One Step Closer to Venmo
• Figure launches blockchain loan marketplace

China and Russia Imagine a World Without the Dollar

BRICS supreme audit institutions approve declaration of cooperation

Russian economy may see 5-6% slump, Putin says

Ex-PM: Russian companies will need support measures if EU introduces carbon tax

St. Petersburg’s 50 companies and Arctic regions ink contracts worth $9.4 million

China Construction Bank posts worst earnings in more than a decade on bad loan surge

Economic decoupling of US, China "long way away": former IMF economist

American Express's China bank card clearing venture begins operations

Remaining Virgin Atlantic creditors back £1.2 billion rescue plan

Finnair to cut up to 1,000 jobs, seeks further savings

ENERGY

Merkel supports completion of Nord Stream 2 project

Gazprom expects gas exports to Europe in 2020 at 170 bln cubic meters

Russia’s Yamal Gets Third China-Built LNG Vessel

Russian SIBUR Breaks Ground on Amur GCC Project, Looks to China

Hurricane-related shut-ins curb 82% of oil, 59% of natural gas output in U.S. Gulf of Mexico, regulator says

Seismic-Data Provider SAExploration Files for Bankruptcy

U.S. energy exports severely disrupted by Hurricane Laura

Fracking Company FTS to File for Bankruptcy

U.S. court rejects bid to halt Kinder Morgan gas pipeline

Oil markets flat as restarts begin at storm-hit energy operations

South Pars daily gas production at 700 mcm

94% of POGC annual goals realized, says managing director

Plan for offering oil via salaf bonds temporarily stopped

Gas extraction from 3rd platform of South Pars phase 13 started

Gas supply to power plants hits record high

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Hopefully, ‘carrier killer’ missiles would never be used in the South China Sea: Global Times editorial

Launch of US Delta IV rocket with spy satellite to take place not earlier than September 5

Washington concerned over China’s attempts to buy Ukraine’s Motor Sich

Six US Air Force B-52 bombers make symbolic sweep over all NATO members

The DoD needs to rethink long-range strike in its joint war-fighting concept

Pentagon wins brief waiver from government’s Huawei ban

DARPA awards contracts for advancing modeling and simulation capabilities

US Army Space and Missile Defense Command firms up role with new space organization

Trump administration sends mixed signals on nuclear weapons budgeting

Airbus unveils B-model Lakota helos to enter US Army fleet next year

US Army Cyber Command to get new uniformed deputy

US Navy wants to create a ‘hardware factory’

US Space Force tests new anti-jamming capability

US claims Russian Su-27 jets intercepted B-52 bomber in ‘unprofessional manner

First batch of latest Armata tanks to arrive for Russian troops

Russia’s latest helicopter carriers to carry multi-purpose gunships

Russian submarine surfaces near Alaska during war exercise

Russia considers creating stealth parachute

Tanks, artillery and aircraft eliminate enemy force in large-scale Urals drills

Russia’s latest nuclear-powered subs to carry cruise missiles with range of over 4,000 km

Russian troops to get most compact satellite communications station by year-end

Russian tech firm to develop army flying vehicle for airborne operations

Belarus kicks off large-scale drills on western borders

Nigerian forces kill reporter, mourner in Kaduna’s Ashura procession