December 2020 – Page 96 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Health

After years of research, top Moscow health official reveals Russia may be close to unveiling prototype ‘HIV vaccine’

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

Russia’s research into the development of a HIV vaccine appears to be bearing fruit with progress reported in relation to a number of prototypes, the head of the country’s health regulator said on Tuesday. … Read More >After years of research, top Moscow health official reveals Russia may be close to unveiling prototype ‘HIV vaccine’

Russia

Opposition figure Navalny could face investigation for calling for ‘violent overthrow’ of Putin’s government

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

Authorities in Moscow could open a new file on opposition activist Alexey Navalny after he made a series of statements earlier this year that, they say, condone extremism against the Russian state. … Read More >Opposition figure Navalny could face investigation for calling for ‘violent overthrow’ of Putin’s government

Health

UK expert says Russia presented sufficient evidence of Sputnik V’s efficacy — TV

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

A UK expert in virology and epidemiology believes Russia had presented sufficient evidence to prove the efficacy of its Sputnik V vaccine against the novel coronavirus, Canada’s CBC channel reported. … Read More >UK expert says Russia presented sufficient evidence of Sputnik V’s efficacy — TV

Russia

Moscow to ban state officials & military personnel from holding foreign citizenships & residence permits as part of major reform

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced a new bill to ban civil servants and armed forces personnel from holding other allegiances. The measure is set to apply to around one million state employees. … Read More >Moscow to ban state officials & military personnel from holding foreign citizenships & residence permits as part of major reform

‘Seems to be fake news’: Iran’s foreign ministry denies that senior IRGC commander was killed in drone strike on Iraq-Syria border

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

Iran’s foreign ministry has apparently denied reports that a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander and three of his escorts were killed in a drone strike on their car near Iraq’s border with Syria. … Read More >‘Seems to be fake news’: Iran’s foreign ministry denies that senior IRGC commander was killed in drone strike on Iraq-Syria border

China’s economic activity continues to gain momentum amid strong recovery from Covid crisis

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020By Editor

China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has expanded for the ninth straight month to 52.1 in November. A reading above 50 on the index indicates expansion. … Read More >China’s economic activity continues to gain momentum amid strong recovery from Covid crisis

Russia wants to ditch US dollar in favor of national currencies trade between SCO countries

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020By Editor

Switching from the US dollar to trade in national currencies is one of the most prospective areas of cooperation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. … Read More >Russia wants to ditch US dollar in favor of national currencies trade between SCO countries

Russia

Eyebrows raised in Moscow as Biden picks notoriously gaff-prone Russia critic Jen Psaki as future White House press secretary

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020By Editor

Here’s a blast from the past! Joe Biden has chosen Russian sanctions aficionado Jen Psaki, the blooper making face of Obama-era foreign policy, to be his main spokesperson when he presumably moves into the White House in January. … Read More >Eyebrows raised in Moscow as Biden picks notoriously gaff-prone Russia critic Jen Psaki as future White House press secretary

China’s Chang’e-5 successfully lands on moon to collect samples

Posted on December 1, 2020December 2, 2020By Editor

The Chang’e-5 probe successfully landed on the near side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Tuesday. … Read More >China’s Chang’e-5 successfully lands on moon to collect samples

Russia

‘Russian disinformation’ is Western focus, but Carole Cadwalladr libel case exposes how real problem is ‘British disinformation’

Posted on December 1, 2020December 1, 2020By Editor

Russian Disinformation. Russian Disinformation. Russian Disinformation. How many times have you heard that over the past four years? But what about British disinformation? This phenomenon seems to completely escape scrutiny. … Read More >‘Russian disinformation’ is Western focus, but Carole Cadwalladr libel case exposes how real problem is ‘British disinformation’