August 18, 2020 – Page 2 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Blast hits joint Russian-Turkish military patrol in Syria’s Idlib

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

A Turkish military vehicle has been hit by an unidentified explosive device while patrolling a highway in Syria’s Idlib, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation has said. … Read More >Blast hits joint Russian-Turkish military patrol in Syria’s Idlib

EU

Berlin mulls taking US threats over Nord Stream 2 to UN – head of German Energy Committee to RT

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

Germany is looking at bringing in the UN over Washington’s threats of sanctions against the Russian-led pipeline, saying the US pressure runs contrary to international law. … Read More >Berlin mulls taking US threats over Nord Stream 2 to UN – head of German Energy Committee to RT

USA

US blacklists 38 Huawei affiliates as Pompeo calls on allies to take similar measures to protect ‘international stability’

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

Washington has added dozens of companies to a list that bars the firms from gaining access to certain US technologies, as part of its ongoing battle against Huawei. Mike Pompeo has urged US allies to adopt similar restrictions. … Read More >US blacklists 38 Huawei affiliates as Pompeo calls on allies to take similar measures to protect ‘international stability’

Russia

Head of Russian team behind world’s 1st registered Covid-19 vaccine says Western countries want to ‘lure away’ his scientists

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

Western research institutions are attempting to poach specialists from the center that created ‘Sputnik V’ – the formula which made global headlines last week after it became the world’s first registered coronavirus vaccine. … Read More >Head of Russian team behind world’s 1st registered Covid-19 vaccine says Western countries want to ‘lure away’ his scientists

Russia

Moscow says increased US military presence in Poland worsens security situation in Europe, warns NATO trying to ‘distort reality’

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

The US increasing its military presence in Poland aggravates the situation near Russia’s western borders and facilitates the escalation of tensions, while claims from NATO that the expansion isn’t significant aren’t credible. … Read More >Moscow says increased US military presence in Poland worsens security situation in Europe, warns NATO trying to ‘distort reality’

Russia

Europe still dealing with initial stage of Covid-19 pandemic, real ‘second wave’ likely to arrive in fall – leading Russian expert

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

A top Russian expert in virus control says Europe is experiencing the continuation of the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the current increase in infections is not a sign of a “second wave” as many experts speculate. … Read More >Europe still dealing with initial stage of Covid-19 pandemic, real ‘second wave’ likely to arrive in fall – leading Russian expert

Russia

Moscow outraged after bug found in Russian military attache car in The Hague, summons Dutch Charge d’Affaires

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed its outrage after tracking equipment was found in a Russian military attache car in The Hague, the home of the Dutch government and the International Court of Justice. … Read More >Moscow outraged after bug found in Russian military attache car in The Hague, summons Dutch Charge d’Affaires

World

Lukashenko’s offer to change Belarus’ constitution likely an attempt to buy time as opposition lacks mechanism to remove him

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

If Belarus’ opposition succeeds in removing Alexander Lukashenko from the presidency, the big question is what happens next? The country lacks institutions for managing the transfer of power, working to the president’s advantage. … Read More >Lukashenko’s offer to change Belarus’ constitution likely an attempt to buy time as opposition lacks mechanism to remove him

Health

Another Russian Covid-19 vaccine on the way? Siberian lab begins 2nd phase of trials just days after registration of Sputnik V

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

A mere week after Russia registered the world’s first coronavirus vaccine, the ‘Vector’ virology center in Novosibirsk has announced that an entirely different Covid-19 solution is entering the second stage of clinical trials. … Read More >Another Russian Covid-19 vaccine on the way? Siberian lab begins 2nd phase of trials just days after registration of Sputnik V

Russia on track to have one of its largest-ever grain harvests

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020By Editor

Grain production in Russia is expected to reach an all-time high this year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), with wheat production reaching 78 million tons. … Read More >Russia on track to have one of its largest-ever grain harvests