December 15, 2020 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Russia’s massive offshore Arctic oil & gas discovery could dwarf Gulf of Mexico & Middle East’s energy reserves

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Russian energy giant Rosneft has announced the discovery of a “unique” gas deposit in the Kara Sea containing an estimated 514 billion cubic meters of natural gas. … Read More >Russia’s massive offshore Arctic oil & gas discovery could dwarf Gulf of Mexico & Middle East’s energy reserves

Russia

Do lockdowns reduce Covid-19 deaths? Russia’s experience says perhaps not, as economy defies catastrophic trends seen elsewhere

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Like most of Europe, Russia is dealing with a new Covid-19 wave. But it’s handling things a little differently. After enforcing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, last spring, it’s now taking a decidedly softer approach. … Read More >Do lockdowns reduce Covid-19 deaths? Russia’s experience says perhaps not, as economy defies catastrophic trends seen elsewhere

Russia

Russia looks to restore status in civil aviation: MC-21 makes maiden flight using Russian-made engines, ending reliance on West

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Russian aviation has taken another step toward complete independence from foreign manufacturers with the maiden flight of the Irkut MC-21-310 aircraft, a narrow-body jet airliner equipped with two Russian PD-14 engines. … Read More >Russia looks to restore status in civil aviation: MC-21 makes maiden flight using Russian-made engines, ending reliance on West

Russia

A deadly cocktail: Spies, cell phone records and the poisoned Negroni behind Bellingcat’s Navalny ‘expose’

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

It might look like any dilapidated Soviet-era apartment block on the outskirts of Moscow but, according to a CNN camera crew, behind its walls lives a state security agent who allegedly poisoned opposition figure Alexey Navalny. … Read More >A deadly cocktail: Spies, cell phone records and the poisoned Negroni behind Bellingcat’s Navalny ‘expose’

China to attract international scientists to world’s largest radio telescope, left unrivaled since fall of US’ Arecibo (VIDEO)

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

The enormous 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) located in southern China will open its doors to foreign specialists sometime next year, having no equivalents since the fall of the US Arecibo telescope. … Read More >China to attract international scientists to world’s largest radio telescope, left unrivaled since fall of US’ Arecibo (VIDEO)

EU

Sweden suffers deadliest November since Spanish flu era as Stockholm ICUs hit 99 percent capacity

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

According to Sweden’s Central Statistics office, the country suffered its deadliest November since Spanish Flu struck in 1918, with 8,088 deaths recorded as the second wave of coronavirus continues. … Read More >Sweden suffers deadliest November since Spanish flu era as Stockholm ICUs hit 99 percent capacity

EU

Twitter fined €450,000 under EU data privacy rules in world first

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Social networking site Twitter has been fined €450,000 ($547,000) under the EU’s GDPR law in a world first, for failing to provide a timely report about a data breach that made some private tweets public. … Read More >Twitter fined €450,000 under EU data privacy rules in world first

World

US sanctions over Russian S-400s have ‘shaken all the values’ of its alliance with Turkey – Ankara

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Turkey has vowed to use its own weapons to defend itself after the US slapped it with sanctions for buying Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, a punishment Ankara said had seriously diminished its relationship with Washington. … Read More >US sanctions over Russian S-400s have ‘shaken all the values’ of its alliance with Turkey – Ankara

EU

‘Dark day for LGBTQ community’: Hungary passes law making adoptions by same sex couples impossible

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

Hungary’s parliament has passed a law that effectively bans same-sex couples from adopting children, provoking a major outcry from human rights groups and LGBTQ activists. … Read More >‘Dark day for LGBTQ community’: Hungary passes law making adoptions by same sex couples impossible

EU

Entertainment workers protest in Paris as venues ordered to stay closed due to coronavirus (VIDEO)

Posted on December 15, 2020December 15, 2020By Editor

A massive protest has been staged in Paris by entertainment sector workers as France emerges from its second coronavirus lockdown. Yet, the authorities have opted not to reopen cultural venues, citing risks of the virus spread. … Read More >Entertainment workers protest in Paris as venues ordered to stay closed due to coronavirus (VIDEO)