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