GPA Project Headlines June 15-30, 2021

 

TOP HEADLINES 

• Global COVID Certificate Network to enable interoperable COVID-19 health passes
• Good Health Pass publishes Blueprint for health credential interoperability
• A Sinister Agenda Behind California Water Crisis?
• Blatant Media and Free Speech Censorship without Shame or Remorse!
• Pakistan refuses to host U.S. military bases for counterterrorism in Afghanistan
• At G7, democracies are failing
• Helping countries with COVID-19 vaccine is Russia's responsibility to the world - Putin
• Arctic miners get financing for one of world's biggest palladium projects
• World's northernmost railway to carry 52 million tons of petro products
• US voices concern over presence of Belarus, Syria at WHO board
• This chart shows just how little people want to return to the workplace
• Decentralized Finance heats up: new approaches needed for industry transformation
• Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Brought by Texas Healthcare Workers Forced to Get COVID Vaccine or Lose Jobs
• Companies Push Employees to Prove They Are Vaccinated for Covid-19
• Pandemic Hangover: $11 Trillion in Corporate Debt
• Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Tops $8T for First Time
• BIS Survey Finds Central Banks Keen on Tourists, Non-Residents Using Upcoming CBDCs
• No more dollars in Russia’s National Welfare Fund: mainly euro, yuan and gold
• US Consumer Prices Rise Faster Than Expected in May
• Visa Partners with Goldman Sachs to Facilitate Global Payments
• China’s yuan could become world’s ‘currency of choice’ by 2050 under dual circulation plan
• China says ‘extraordinary’ coronavirus stimulus policies from US, Europe have ramped up global inflation risks
• Arrests within months if ICC crimes against humanity probe into Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war goes ahead: rights lawyer

• Lufthansa to allow check-in with digital vaccine pass
• What is causing outbursts of rage on planes and grocery checkout lines?
• Oil to rise to $100/barrel by 2022, for 6 reasons — Bank of America

TECH

Global COVID Certificate Network to enable interoperable COVID-19 health passes

Fortune: Vaccine Passports Are Here - So Why Are There Still So Many Travel Restrictions?

Good Health Pass publishes Blueprint for health credential interoperability

Lufthansa to allow check-in with digital vaccine pass

Russia to build 50,000 electric filling stations for transport by 2030 — Novak

BIO-NEWS

Helping countries with COVID-19 vaccine is Russia's responsibility to the world - Putin

YouTube removes Russian lawmaker’s video on discrimination of Sputnik V vaccine

Russia has own strains of coronavirus circulating on its territory, expert says

Peking University researchers find third-dose RBD-vaccine can help combat COVID-19 variants

Deputy DM: Iran-Made Fakhra Vaccine Developed Based on Global Standards

More evidence suggests COVID-19 was in US by Christmas 2019

US voices concern over presence of Belarus, Syria at WHO board

27 Experts Launch Citizen Petition Demanding FDA ‘Slow Down and Get the Science Right’ Before Approving COVID Vaccines

Anti-vaxxers are weaponizing Yelp to punish bars that require vaccine proof

Workers push back against hospitals requiring COVID vaccines

Pockets of Unvaccinated Americans Threaten to Prolong Pandemic

Almost 42,000 people signed up for vaccination against coronavirus in Moscow over past day

Kremlin expects no social tensions after measures that benefit vaccinated citizens taken

Russia has no shortage of coronavirus vaccines — Minister

WHO warns that the Delta coronavirus variant is the 'fittest' strain yet and will 'pick off' the most vulnerable people

Almost 4,000 fully vaccinated people in Massachusetts have tested positive for COVID-19

GLOBAL

USA

The living's not easy for worker-hungry U.S. businesses this summertime

Biden’s Disastrous ‘Infrastructure’ Bill

A Sinister Agenda Behind California Water Crisis?

Blatant Media and Free Speech Censorship without Shame or Remorse!

Young American Adults Are Dying — and Not Just From Covid

What is causing outbursts of rage on planes and grocery checkout lines?

US reserves funds for Kiev in case of escalation at Russia-Ukraine border - White House

Biden agrees with Putin Russian-US relations are at ‘low point’

US President Plans to Discuss Cryptocurrency Issues at G-7

NATO to implement new concepts to counter "threats" from Russia - White House

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Brought by Texas Healthcare Workers Forced to Get COVID Vaccine or Lose Jobs

Companies Push Employees to Prove They Are Vaccinated for Covid-19

Brazos Urges Texas Governor to Veto Winter Storm Finance Legislation

Sheriff: Cashier fatally shot after argument over face masks

Biden administration pushes plan to combat domestic terror

Mississippi: Ex-lawmaker killed near home of slain relative

AP: Some stolen US Military guns used in violent crimes

Police: 4 dead, 4 hurt in shooting on Chicago’s South Side

Military stumped by stolen box of armor piercing grenades

Police: Gunman dead after killing 2 at fire hydrant factory

Albertville police identify shooter who killed 2, injured 2 more at Mueller Company

2nd arrest made in deadly downtown Austin mass shooting

With Massachusetts armory theft, military guns went public 

Stolen Army assault rifles keep showing up in California

US intel report warns of more violence by QAnon followers

One dead, seven wounded in Savannah shooting

Police: Vehicle plows into Minnesota protesters, killing 1

Arrest made in deaths of 4 found slain in Ohio village

Woman killed in Chicago shooting of 10 was mother of 3

Two US Soldiers Charged With Smuggling Mexican Nationals Into Texas

Police: 2 shooters killed 1, hurt 9 on Chicago’s South Side

Rash of mass shootings stirs US fears heading into summer

Unmasked man denied Chicago bus entry opens fire: police

Portland police’s entire crowd control unit resigns after indictment of officer

White House to host July 4 ‘independence from virus’ bash

With COVID tamed, it’s a ‘grand reopening’ in California

US seeks to fine Air Canada $25.5 million over slow refunds

House Votes to Make Juneteenth a Holiday, Bill Goes to Biden

Massachusetts offers $1M prizes, scholarships for vaccinated

North Dakota’s 1Q taxable sales, purchases drop nearly 10%

Virginia Prosecutor Reportedly Receives $200k Donation From Soros For His Attorney Campaign

In-person marches, music and reflection as Americans mark Juneteenth

Federal holiday pressures companies to give Juneteenth off

Bank of America Makes Juneteenth a Holiday, Joining JPMorgan, Wells Fargo

Russia

Arctic miners get financing for one of world's biggest palladium projects

Ships set out on trans-Arctic voyage as spring comes to Northern Sea Route

Russia brings back largest global uranium project

Russia to Launch Tours to North Pole for Chinese Tourists

Putin expects Biden summit to restore contacts and establish dialogue

Helping countries with COVID-19 vaccine is Russia's responsibility to the world - Putin

Putin says Russia ready to extradite cyber criminals to US on reciprocal basis

Putin denies Russia waging cyber attacks against U.S.

Lavrov says return of Russian, US ambassadors is important, symbolic gesture

Russian-US relations ‘not a one-way street,’ says Lavrov

Russian Minister Says Cryptos Could Play Role in International Settlements

Russians Could Inherit Cryptocurrencies with New Law Proposed by Lawmakers

US sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt formally come into force on Monday

One person dead, 1,500 people evacuated, 300 houses flooded in Crimea due to heavy rains

About 90 houses flooded in Yalta, 49 people evacuated — Emergencies Ministry

Alcohol-related mortality grew in Russia last year

Lack of imported car components to trigger use of Russian equivalents, says ministry

Belarus

G7 leaders urge Belarusian authorities to conduct new presidential election

Betting on The Future of Belarus

Belarus, Russia to further counter efforts of history falsification, says top diplomat

Russia, Belarus have common vision of progress towards integration — Lavrov

Russia, Belarus agree to coordinate efforts to protect sovereignty — Lavrov

Belarus, Russia to strengthen cooperation within EAEU, CSTO and CIS, says top diplomat

EU reaches deal on Belarus economic sanctions, according to Austria, diplomats

Ukraine/DPR-LNR

Strong parliament first: Russian diplomat comments on Ukraine plans for ‘strongest army’

Ukraine introduces sanctions against Russian executives, Ukrainian businessmen

Ukraine considers buying the Iron Dome - report

Illegal arms and explosives trade on the rise in Ukraine, says Russian OSCE envoy

Biden’s remarks about corruption quite telling for Ukraine's NATO aspirations — expert

Sberbank still plans to sell its business in Ukraine — First Deputy CEO

DPR head says Zelensky gives no answer to his proposal to meet

Ukrainian saboteurs shot five LPR militiamen near Golubovskoye

Russia calls on UN Security Council to discuss Ukraine’s diversion in LPR

Minsk remains venue for Contact Group talks, they won’t be relocated — senior official

US’s role in settlement in Donbass depends on Washington’s position — official

Blast hits gas pipeline in Lugansk

Philippines 

Arrests within months if ICC crimes against humanity probe into Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war goes ahead: rights lawyer

China

China’s yuan could become world’s ‘currency of choice’ by 2050 under dual circulation plan

Russia-China Trade in Jan.-May Up by 23.6% Hitting $50.65 Billion

China Says BRICS Countries Pursue Openness, Inclusiveness; Rejects Bloc Politics

Hong Kong protests: a ‘colour revolution’ or peaceful demonstrations hijacked by radicals? Let’s not twist history

Chinese Embassy in UK blasts G7 statement

G7 deluded if it believes communiqué will impact China

G7 infrastructure plan can hardly rival BRI

Nato says China presents ‘systemic challenges’ and vows to counter its rise

China’s closed borders ‘a real problem’ for foreign business operations amid coronavirus

China Busts a Crypto-Related Money Laundering Network of 1,100 People

China food security: soybean imports ‘exceptionally large’ as pig population nears pre-African swine fever level

China population: three-child policy will not ‘drastically raise birth rate’, top Chinese economist says

China-Australia relations: top exporting state down under calls for reset in China ties

China fine-tunes pork reserve system as panic selling and sluggish demand send prices tumbling

China credit slowdown ‘happening faster than expected’ even as bank loans rose unexpectedly in May

Taiwan “enthusiastic” with Blinken’s announcement, but Beijing warns of “sending false signals”

GT Exclusive with Russian ambassador: What position would Russia take in case of an armed conflict between China and US?

China fires back at NATO's claims, says it won't sit back in face of systemic challenges

E.U.

EU must follow example of Geneva summit and maintain dialogue with Russia, says Kurz

EU has no reason to change policy on Russia after Putin-Biden summit

Airbus-Boeing deal still leaves other US-EU rifts unresolved

Why G7 not offering an alternative to BRI

At G7, democracies are failing

Hungary Bars LGBTQ Content for Children as Orban Eyes Elections

Middle East

Israel’s new government begins, Netanyahu era ends

People in Tel Aviv celebrate end of Netanyahu

Hady Amr likely to be US consul-general to Palestinians

Poll: 43% of Israelis believe new government will fail

Palestine condemns Israel's plan to build 534 new settlement units

Israel demolishes Bedouin homes in the West Bank

1,500 Palestinian homes face demolition in Jerusalem's Silwan

Israel army: 'We failed to prevent Palestine resistance from launching rockets'

Gantz approves new targets for attack in Gaza

Jordan ex-royal court chief faces trial over alleged monarchy plot

Paper details US, Israel, Saudi role in coup plot against Jordan king

Ousted Israel PM plotted with Saudi's MBS to undermine Jordan king

Kata'ib Hezbollah warns against continued US presence in Iraq

President: Iraq defeated Daesh thanks to army, Hashd al-Sha'abi

Rouhani: Iran Not After War, But Never to Surrender to Aggressors

Joint IRGC, Army air defenses ready to confront any threats

Magnitude 5.2 quake strikes Ilam, no casualties reported

FM Zarif: Israel's tyrant falls as Iran continues march of glory

Army Commander: Iranian Navy’s Sailing in Western Hemisphere A Turning Point

Spokesman Asks G7 to Stop Meddling with Iran's Domestic Affairs

Russia soldier killed, three injured in Syria

Syria hospital hit in artillery attacks on Afrin, at least 13 killed

Russia FM warns US over supporting separatists in Syria

Kurdish militia shoots anti-child conscription protesters

France NGO financing Syria militia guilty of war crimes, report says

New Evidence Shows US Forces Training Terrorists in Syria

Erdogan: Turkey signs new $3.6bn currency swap deal with China

Turkish police detain 47 officers over failed coup

Turkey strikes YPG positions in northern Syria after attack on hospital

Turkey’s offer to run Kabul airport aims to project power over Kashmir against India

US' support for Kurdish groups is biggest problem for Turkey, DM says

Turkey: NATO vital to security but needs clear vision, says official

Pakistan refuses to host U.S. military bases for counterterrorism in Afghanistan

On Pakistan’s Current Foreign Policy Course

Spokesman: Yemeni forces' drone carried out new attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha Intl. Airport

Houthi after new sanctions: US prioritizes war in Yemen

US Treasury imposes sanctions on Yemeni, Syrian individuals, entities

FINANCIAL

Record rise in US wholesale prices over the past year

China says ‘extraordinary’ coronavirus stimulus policies from US, Europe have ramped up global inflation risks

Mall Owner Washington Prime Seeks $950 Million Debt Cut in Bankruptcy

Pandemic Hangover: $11 Trillion in Corporate Debt

Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Tops $8T for First Time

Fed’s Kashkari opposed to rate hikes at least through 2023

New Stimulus Checks Could Start Hitting Your Account Automatically

Gold Tokens Take Off as Inflation Accelerates, Bitcoin Retreats

No more dollars in Russia’s National Welfare Fund: mainly euro, yuan and gold

US Consumer Prices Rise Faster Than Expected in May

Gold Steadies After Losing ‘Mojo’ as Fed Set to Trim Stimulus

Stablecoins, CBDCs Don’t Present Inherent Risk to Financial Stability: Bank of England Executive Says

BIS Survey Finds Central Banks Keen on Tourists, Non-Residents Using Upcoming CBDCs

Jack Dorsey Suggests Twitter Likely to Integrate Lightning Network

Texas State Regulator Greenlights Banks to Custody Crypto

El Salvador’s Bitcoin Bill Raises ‘Issues’: IMF Spokesperson

Nigeria’s Central Bank May Launch a Digital Currency Pilot in 2021

State Street Bank Launches Cryptocurrency Division

Bank of France, Swiss National Bank Begin Cross-Border CBDC Experiment

BIS and BOE Launch the Innovation Hub London Centre

Visa Partners with Goldman Sachs to Facilitate Global Payments

Fed’s 2 Hikes, No Paris Helicopters, Digital Currencies: Eco Day

Companies With $2.1 Trillion of Debt Face Natural Capital Risks

Russian stocks close in the red amid negative external environment

ENERGY

World's northernmost railway to carry 52 million tons of petro products

Under mounting pressure from renewables, Russia's top oilman says new Arctic giga-project will produce "green barrels"

Russia’s Novatek Agrees Long-Term Arctic LNG Supplies to China

Gazprom Neft was the First in Russia to Launch an Oil and Gas Field Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

First Plane Landed at the Utrenniy Airport of the Arctic LNG 2 project

Pakistan and Russia in Gas Cooperation

Efficiency of solar, wind energy to become equal to oil, gas in 2027-2035, says Novak

Rosneft to complete first stage of Vostok Oil construction in 2024 — project director

Nord Stream 2 more economically expedient and has no political risks — Putin

Oil to rise to $100/barrel by 2022, for 6 reasons — Bank of America

Decade Of Chaos Could Send Oil To $130 Per Barrel

Exxon Doubles Down On World’s Hottest Offshore Play

EXCLUSIVE Chevron to sell swath of Permian assets valued at more than $1 bln -sources

U.S. natural gas producers hope customers will pay more for 'green gas'

Mesquite Energy weighs sale of some Eagle Ford assets - sources

OPEC+ countries oil output down 114% of plan - by 7.5 mln bpd in May

Iran ships tankers containing 1.4m barrels of crude oil to Syria

The Real Reason Big Oil Is Giving Up On Iraq

EBRD stops investing in upstream oil and gas to align with Paris goals

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Russia’s top brass to test new troop financing scheme in Zapad-2021 strategic drills

Commandos from Russia, Belarus, Serbia seize terrorists in Slavic Brotherhood drills

Russia’s most advanced cruise missile nuclear sub arrives at Zapadnaya Litsa

Teriberka gets Russia’s second Arctic research station powered by renewables

20 warships sail out for new Barents Sea exercise

Russia keeps a close eye on information Turkey may create military base in Azerbaijan

US military base near Baghdad airport hit by drones: report

US military logistics convoys targeted in 4 Iraqi provinces

Iran: US Should Give Guarantees Not to Repeat Trump-Era Mistakes

Navy Commander: US Embarrassed by Iranian Warships’ Presence in Atlantic Ocean

Scandinavian states work alongside the U.S. to contain Russia in the Arctic

PLA deploys AI in mock warplane battles, 'trains both pilots and AIs'

GPA Project Headlines June 1-15, 2021

 

TOP HEADLINES 

• Texas Hospital Staff Says Vaccine Mandate Breaks Nuremberg Code
• Alarming Casualty Rates for mRNA Vaccines Warrant Urgent Action
• Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 should not be introduced, Putin says
• Lavrov points to Western attempts to politicize issues related to COVID-19 origin
• Genetically modified salmon head to US dinner plates
• All of JBS’s U.S. Beef Plants Were Forced Shut by Cyberattack
• Largest meat producer getting back online after cyberattack
• Inflation in Rich Countries Hit a 12-Year High in April
• Diem plans to replace USD stablecoin with gov digital dollar
• Fed acknowledges foreign CBDC, including China, is a driver for digital currency
• As Diem looms, the Fed gets serious about digital currency
• BIS digital currency paper predicts money will be unbundled
• Americans Are Done With 5-Days a Week in the Office. Here’s What That Means for the Economy
• Goldman Sachs Analyst Says Crypto Is an Alternative to Copper, Not Gold
• Russian scientist calls for ban on developing biological weapons
• Russian Finance Ministry to fully abandon dollar in National Wealth Fund structure
• San Jose Shooting: How COVID & Unresolved Socio-Economic Issues Trigger Violence in US
• 'New world order' being formed before our eyes, Russia’s deputy defense minister tells RT ahead of key Moscow security conference
• Seven EU countries just got a digital vaccine passport

BIO-NEWS

Alarming Casualty Rates for mRNA Vaccines Warrant Urgent Action

‘Crusade for cash': Putin blasts Western efforts to discredit Russia’s vaccine

Russia to open for vaccine tourism starting July, says investment fund’s head

Genetically modified salmon head to US dinner plates

Bombshell Salk Institute science paper reveals the covid spike protein is what’s causing deadly blood clots… and it’s in all the covid vaccines

Israel sees probable link between Pfizer vaccine and myocarditis cases

Russia among most prepared worldwide for ‘epidemiological shocks’ — top sanitary doctor

Efficacy of Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus surpasses 96%, Health Minister says

Russia’s EpiVacCorona vaccine expected to provide immunity for one year — developer

Western healthcare systems less prepared for pandemic than CIS ones — sanitary watchdog

WHO approves Sinovac COVID shot in second Chinese milestone

China hits out at vaccine ‘hoarding’ nations during BRICS talks

US to detail ‘no strings’ global distribution plan for 80 million vaccine doses

Nebula Genomics to auction genome sequence as NFT

TECH

Seven EU countries just got a digital vaccine passport

Russia planning to use AI to assess epidemiological situation
Bill Gates and EU pledge $1 billion boost for green technology

Bill Gates Backs New Venture Fund Focused on Metamaterials
Kremlin does not curb activity of regions willing to cooperate with Elon Musk

Largest meat producer getting back online after cyberattack

Moscow to consider any US requests over hacker attack on world’s largest meat supplier

High Performance Computing and Information Communication Technologies Discussed at BRICS Working Group Meeting

GLOBAL

United States

Texas Hospital Staff Says Vaccine Mandate Breaks Nuremberg Code

Restaurateurs still struggling as worker shortages ‘getting worse’

The Gun to America’s Head

It’s Not Sunday: But Here’s A Babylon Lesson Anyhow

The Tulsa Libel

Biden Renews Vaccination Push to Counter Faltering U.S. Demand

GOP reps. demand Fauci testify on Covid-19 origins & request briefing on controversial ‘gain of function’ research

Biden’s Disastrous ‘Infrastructure’ Bill

Americans Are Done With 5-Days a Week in the Office. Here’s What That Means for the Economy

Texas Senate Passes Crypto Bill, Goes to the Governor to Be Signed into Law

All of JBS’s U.S. Beef Plants Were Forced Shut by Cyberattack

Hackers Allegedly Breach New York Transit Authority Systems Amid Wave of Cyberattacks, Media Point Finger at China

Massachusetts Ferry Service Slowed by Ransomware Attack

San Jose Shooting: How COVID & Unresolved Socio-Economic Issues Trigger Violence in US

Two US children, armed with AK-47 and shotgun, engage in shoot-out with officers

Russia

Russian scientist calls for ban on developing biological weapons

NATO’s encroachment of Russian borders signifies malevolent plans — Lavrov

Russia to set up 20 new military units in country’s west in response to NATO’s activity

Possible Disconnection From SWIFT System Will Not Be Disaster for Russia, Envoy to EU Says

Russia slowly coming out of difficult epidemiological situation but risks remain — Putin

State Duma adopts bill on foreign IT-giants activities in Russia in 1st reading

Russian diplomat says Moscow set on abandoning another accord with US

Government forecasts 4.5-5% inflation in Russia by end of 2021

Mass vaccination of Russians against COVID-19 reaches 25% completion — official

Infant mortality in Russia falls by half in past 15 years

Goals of decreasing infant mortality reached, among the lowest worldwide — Health Minister

Over 230 suspects behind bomb hoaxes caught in Russia this year

FSB sweep nets nearly 100 clandestine gunmakers in Russia

FSB nabs 14 members of Ukrainian radical group in southern Russia

Sixteen wildfires break out in Russia’s Tyumen Region over 24 hours

Localization of Aurus production to grow to 80% by 2022 — Putin

Belarus

West’s hostile moves against Belarus are assault on Russia, Lukashenko says

Preparations in full swing for Russia-Belarus strategic drills, says defense chief

Minsk to open borders for citizens of neighboring states who want to get COVID-19 jab

Detained blogger admits guilt in organizing actions violating public order

Roman Protasevich Served in the Azov Battalion

‘No indication’ Belarus agents were on diverted flight: Greek PM

Belarus: Activist stabs himself with pen while in court

Lukashenko unveils details of Sochi talks with Putin
Lukashenko: Belarus’ ill-wishers move from riot methods to strangling tactics

Lukashenko, Putin agree second tranche of loan, new Belavia flights

Ukraine/DPR-LNR

Kiev to address UNSC, Donbass if it wants to review accords, Russian official says

Russia does not intend to discontinue gas transit to Europe through Ukraine — Kremlin

Recent conflict escalation in Donbass was man-made, Russia’s deputy chief of staff says

UNSC “ARRIA FORMULA” MEETING: DONBASS AND MAIDAN

Advanced weapons to be supplied to Ukraine under the guise of NATO’s drills, says general

Czech citizen sentenced to 20 years in prison for participation in Donbass events

Kiev forces shell DPR 111 times in May, kill two civilians, 11 militiamen

DPR parliamentarian calls Kravchuk’s bid to relocate Minsk talks ‘crazy,’ nonsensical

Kiev’s refusal to interact with Donbass is key reason behind negotiation deadlock – Kozak

LPR says Belarusian blogger Protasevich was sniper in Ukrainian Azov nationalist battalion

Ukraine in top 3 of world’s child porn suppliers, Prosecutor General says

Ukraine's leader moves to strip oligarchs of power with new bill

Head of Ukrainian Cyber Police Advocates for Regulating Cryptocurrencies

Iran Briefs ICAO on Ukrainian Plane Crash Case

Diesel fuel shortages expose Ukraine’s reliance on Russian, Belarus imports

American congressional delegation visits Kyiv

China

China Calls Partnership with Russia 'Solid as a Rock' After Russia Denies Alliance Against U.S.

RZD Logistics Transports 230-Ton Pressing Machine from Voronezh to China

Russia, China Acting Together Can Change Balance of Power in Their Favor

US spying all over world unacceptable, intolerable, China foreign ministry says

China raps US' maximum pressure, wants revocation of all unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran

US keeps up spy plane flights over South China Sea, in ‘huge increase’ from 2020

China to supply 1 billion vaccine doses overseas by year end

China reports world’s first possible human case of H10N3 bird flu

Coronavirus: shipping rates to stay at ‘unprecedented’ levels until pandemic brought under control

China vows to protect Chinese firms amid reports of new US crackdown

China's CNPC cuts methane emission intensity by 6% in 2020

China makes desalination push to ease water scarcity

China-Australia relations: barley dispute going to WTO as headwinds loom in Australia’s alternative markets

Analysis: China's banks are bursting with dollars, and that's a worry

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor faces new opportunities to boost industrial cooperation

Europe
SWIFT will ‘shoot itself in the foot’ by disconnecting Russia — lawmaker

EU to Discuss Disconnecting Russia From SWIFT Before Making Decision

SWIFT May Suffer Losses If Russia Is Disconnected, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Says

Why EU Report Calling for Regime Change in Russia is Last Ditch Effort to Save the Bloc's Relevance

Nord Stream 2 meets Austria’s economic interests — Kurz
EU, Russia need to cooperate in areas of mutual interest — Kurz
Russia’s EU partners in Nord Stream 2 fighting for own interests — Putin


Middle East

Zarif: Netanyahu meets same fate of anti-Iran co-conspirators in history’s dustbin

Israel rejects US plan to reopen consulate in occupied Jerusalem

Palestinians demand the removal of Abbas from his leadership positions

Lebanon suffering one of world's worst economic crises, World Bank says

From hope to despair: Israelis react to new anti-Netanyahu coalition

Netanyahu launches legal bid to stop opposition's unity government

Israel’s Lapid enlists Gantz, moves closer to unseating Netanyahu

Gantz flies to Washington for whirlwind talks with senior Biden officials

Israel Will Ask US for $1bln to ‘Replenish’ Iron Dome

Gantz slams Netanyahu over threat that Israel will ignore US on Iran

No ‘provoking’: Israeli official vows quieter tone with US

Israel claims destroying Syrian army post in occupied Golan Heights

Haaretz: Israel’s 'War between the Wars' doctrine fatally weak against Axis of Resistance

Tel Aviv Strongly Warned Against Assassination Bids Targeting Resistance

New Mossad chief hints at more assassinations, attacks against Iran

Iranian DM: Palestinians’ Defense Power Nightmare for Israel

IRGC Aerospace Force Commander: Israel’s Bones Cracked in Gaza War

IRGC Qods Force Commander: Israelis Need to Start Reverse Immigration

Iran's Judiciary Chief Vows to End Corruption after Winning Presidential Election

Iran’s biggest navy ship sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman - media

Iranian Logistics Vessel Kharg Sinks

Syria’s election results demonstrate public resistance against imperialist war: Analyst

SANA: Ankara-backed militants transfer Syria’s cultural heritage, antiques to Turkey

Assad vaccinated as Syria receives first shipment of Russian shots - report

Yemen censures UAE for transferring Israeli tourists to Socotra Island

Muslim nations must mobilize against Israel to remove it from Palestinian territories: Houthi

Erdogan threatens to strike refugee camp inside Iraq

Turkey’s currency plummets to historic low

Turkish mobster’s revelations extend to arms shipments to Syria

Turkey touts assassination of top PKK militant as retribution to US

Baghdad, Erbil condemn Turkey for logging in Duhok

Turkish military ops force 47 villages in N Iraq to flee

FINANCE

Russian Finance Ministry to fully abandon dollar in National Wealth Fund structure
Inflation in Rich Countries Hit a 12-Year High in April

The shocking truth about the future of the economy

US actions damage dollar as global reserve currency — Putin
China’s yuan slips against US dollar after Beijing taps financial tools to cool exchange rate

China moves to slow yuan’s rise as concerns rise over hot money flows, asset bubbles

Diem plans to replace USD stablecoin with gov digital dollar
Fed acknowledges foreign CBDC, including China, is a driver for digital currency
As Diem looms, the Fed gets serious about digital currency
BIS digital currency paper predicts money will be unbundled

Goldman Sachs Analyst Says Crypto Is an Alternative to Copper, Not Gold
Bankrupt Oil Field Contractor OFSI Sues to Unwind 2019 Stock Deal
Avadim Health Files Chapter 11 to Put Lenders in Control

HSBC Exits US Retail Banking Business

PayPal Plans to Enable Users to Withdraw Their Cryptocurrencies

ENERGY

Suspending investment in oil to push price up to $200 per barrel, says Novak

Russia to consider ditching dollar-denominated oil contracts if faced with more U.S. sanctions

Russia, Pakistan sign Pakistan Stream pipeline construction protocol
Oil exports from Russia down 13% to 91.2 mln tonnes in January-May

Nord Stream 2 more economically expedient and has no political risks — Putin

Nord Stream 2 sections in Russia to start working in test mode next week

Nord Stream 2 construction to be completed — commercial director

Rebounding energy investment to fall short of net zero path - IEA

As GCC turns 40, all eyes on post-oil era

Iran can offer up to 1.5 mln barrels/day of extra oil to market - Lukoil VP

U.S. Cities And States Clash Over Natural Gas

Blackrock: Investors Cannot ‘’Run Away’’ From Oil Industry

Texas Gas Companies To Pay Steep Bill To Avoid Another Power Crisis

U.S. Natural Gas Storage Capacity Hardly Increased Since Start Of Shale Boom

Climate Revolt Against Big Oil May Lead To Surge In Crude Prices

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

'New world order' being formed before our eyes, Russia’s deputy defense minister tells RT ahead of key Moscow security conference

Defense Ministry: Russia Will Monitor Ukraine-US Military Drills, React If Necessary

Russia will not tolerate US refusal to count some delivery vehicles — Foreign Ministry

Russia expands Syrian air base to boost regional presence

Russia increases border troop strength in Armenia, ambassador says

USNORTHCOM leads large-scale, multi-combatant command homeland defense exercise with Truman CSG

Space Force seeks $832 million in classified spending, new missions and more in annual wishlist

Multibeam antenna to improve communication passes first Air Force trials

This move risks DoD electromagnetic superiority, a senior leader says

Analyst: US and KSA dug themselves into a hole in Yemen