November 2020 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

World

US sanctions Chinese tech firm for doing business with ‘illegitimate Maduro regime’ in Venezuela

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

The US has hit Chinese tech company China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation with “Venezuela-related sanctions,” according to the Treasury Department, which issued a license authorizing a winddown of transactions. … Read More >US sanctions Chinese tech firm for doing business with ‘illegitimate Maduro regime’ in Venezuela

EU

French govt DROPS controversial bill curbing filming of police in major u-turn, new version to be written

Posted on November 30, 2020By Editor

The speaker of French President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling party has said the government is dropping part of a controversial bill curbing the right to film on-duty police – which drew huge public anger – and will re-draft it. … Read More >French govt DROPS controversial bill curbing filming of police in major u-turn, new version to be written

Australia vows to drag China to WTO over barley tariffs amid mounting trade tensions between the two nations

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

Canberra may file a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Beijing’s anti-dumping duties on barley, Australia’s trade minister said as a tariff dispute between the two powers escalates. … Read More >Australia vows to drag China to WTO over barley tariffs amid mounting trade tensions between the two nations

Iraq does not want to be exempt from OPEC+ deal as oil exporters close to keeping output curbs

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

Baghdad still wants to be a part of the agreement between OPEC states and allies led by Russia as the historic oil deal proved to be an effective tool in boosting the energy market crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. … Read More >Iraq does not want to be exempt from OPEC+ deal as oil exporters close to keeping output curbs

Air passenger traffic won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024 at earliest, IATA warns

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

The Covid crisis has challenged the global airline industry to fight for survival in 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said this week. It added that the industry’s huge losses will continue into 2021. … Read More >Air passenger traffic won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024 at earliest, IATA warns

Construction of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to restart next month

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

Despite rising US pressure on the Nord Stream 2 project, the company behind Russia’s natural gas pipeline to Germany has announced plans to resume pipelaying works in the Baltic Sea in December after a year-long break. … Read More >Construction of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to restart next month

Russia

Western scientists divided over Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V as developers aim to make ONE BILLION doses in 2021

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

Experts and world leaders continue to have conflicting opinions on Russia’s pioneering Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, as the country moves closer to delivering a mass immunization program at home and exporting it abroad. … Read More >Western scientists divided over Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V as developers aim to make ONE BILLION doses in 2021

UK

British Army spies wage ‘information war’ against anti-vaxx content online – report

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

With a significant number of Britons skeptical of a Covid vaccine, the army has reportedly deployed an “information warfare” unit to stamp out anti-vaxx propaganda online. Offline, citizens still protest lockdowns in the streets. … Read More >British Army spies wage ‘information war’ against anti-vaxx content online – report

UK

More drones & police patrolling French beaches under new UK-France deal to curb illegal immigration

Posted on November 30, 2020November 30, 2020By Editor

London and Paris have signed a new deal in an attempt to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the Channel on boats. The agreement will see more police, drones, and other technology deployed to control movement. … Read More >More drones & police patrolling French beaches under new UK-France deal to curb illegal immigration