December 7, 2020 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Venezuela’s Maduro claims solid victory in opposition-boycotted parliamentary elections

Posted on December 7, 2020By Editor

A socialist alliance, led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has scored a major win in parliamentary elections, getting over two thirds of the vote. The polls have been boycotted by opposition and faced allegations of fraud. … Read More >Venezuela’s Maduro claims solid victory in opposition-boycotted parliamentary elections

Middle East

Israel ‘very comfortable’ with US sale of F-35 jets to UAE, ambassador says

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

The Israeli ambassador to the US has said Israel is “very comfortable” with Washington selling up to 50 F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as part of a $23 billion arms deal. Legislation is being tabled in US Congress to block it. … Read More >Israel ‘very comfortable’ with US sale of F-35 jets to UAE, ambassador says

World

‘Cold War mindset’: China hits out at US after Washington ends exchange programs and curbs visas for officials

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

Beijing has slammed Washington after it terminated cultural exchange programs, put visa restrictions on officials and plans to delete shares of Chinese companies blacklisted by the US, as hostility between the states continues. … Read More >‘Cold War mindset’: China hits out at US after Washington ends exchange programs and curbs visas for officials

Macron and Sisi at odds over free speech & Prophet Mohammed cartoons during Egyptian leader’s French trip

Posted on December 7, 2020By Editor

Egypt’s president has spoken of his belief in the “sacred” nature of religion during a discussion about free speech and the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed at a media event with France’s Emmanuel Macron. … Read More >Macron and Sisi at odds over free speech & Prophet Mohammed cartoons during Egyptian leader’s French trip

Business

Chinese retail giant JD.com becomes first big online shop to accept digital yuan in $3mn ‘lottery’ trial

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

China is set to hold one of the biggest trials of its sovereign digital currency, making it available for payments at one of its biggest e-commerce platforms, JD.com, after yet another massive giveaway. … Read More >Chinese retail giant JD.com becomes first big online shop to accept digital yuan in $3mn ‘lottery’ trial

Business

US makes last-ditch effort to freeze Nord Stream 2 as massive gas project nears completion

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

The US wants Germany and its European partners to halt construction on Nord Stream 2, a top American diplomat has said. Russian ships have increased activity in the area where the last stretch of the unfinished pipeline lies. … Read More >US makes last-ditch effort to freeze Nord Stream 2 as massive gas project nears completion

Shows

On Contact: Global economic machine

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

On the show this week, Chris Hedges talks to Fabian Scheidler about how the global economic machine came to dominate our lives, and with looming social upheavals caused by predatory capitalism, what can be done to blunt its destructive power. … Read More >On Contact: Global economic machine

Business

China to build over a million new 5G stations next year

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

Chinese telecom carriers have managed to build more than 600,000 new 5G base stations this year, in addition to about 100,000 5G stations built in 2019, said Wu Hequan, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. … Read More >China to build over a million new 5G stations next year

Business

Time for record global oil demand may have already passed, Russia says

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

Days of peak oil consumption might be over for the global economy and the trend may impact Russia’s budget revenues, the country’s Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev has warned. … Read More >Time for record global oil demand may have already passed, Russia says

Russia

Russian authorities to investigate after forged negative Covid-19 test certificates found on sale for just $33 each

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020By Editor

A criminal case has been opened in Russia after mass forgeries of negative Covid-19 test certificates were discovered. The documents were found to be on sale online for 2,500 rubles ($33) each. … Read More >Russian authorities to investigate after forged negative Covid-19 test certificates found on sale for just $33 each

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