Cuba loosens some regulations on state-run companies and farmers, and allows for U.S. dollars to be used in internal trade, as the country seeks to revitalize its economy in the midst of both the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and the economic decline of its trading partner Venezuela. (Reuters)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The United States economy suffers its worst quarter since World War II, with the GDP shrinking by an annualized rate of 32.9% in the April–June period. (The Guardian)
The United States economy suffers its worst quarter since World War II, with the GDP shrinking by an annualized rate of 32.9% in the April–June period. (The Guardian)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic declares itself bankrupt and files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York amid a decline in international flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic declares itself bankrupt and files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in New York amid a decline in international flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods forbids his employees and those visiting his offices from wearing face masks in most circumstances. The Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses. Ocala’s mayor, Kent Guinn, vetoed the county rule on Monday. (The Ocala Star-Banner) (The New York Times)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 recession Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The Office for National Statistics reports the worst quarterly job losses in the United Kingdom since the financial crisis in 2009. (BBC News) COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore Singapore enters technical recession for the first time in a decade after its economy contracts by 13.2% in the second quarter, which translates to a record 42.9% plunge in its annualised GDP. (The Straits Times)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods forbids his employees and those visiting his offices from wearing face masks in most circumstances. The Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses. Ocala’s mayor, Kent Guinn, vetoed the county rule on Monday. (The Ocala Star-Banner) (The New York Times)
Marion County, Florida, Sheriff Billy Woods forbids his employees and those visiting his offices from wearing face masks in most circumstances. The Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses. Ocala’s mayor, Kent Guinn, vetoed the county rule on Monday. (The Ocala Star-Banner) (The New York Times)
Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The Ocala, Florida, City Council overrides Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn’s veto of the Council's earlier emergency ordinance that requires people to wear masks inside businesses. (WCJB-TV)
The Ocala, Florida, City Council overrides Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn’s veto of the Council's earlier emergency ordinance that requires people to wear masks inside businesses. (WCJB-TV)
Foreign relations of Israel, Arab–Israeli peace projects The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates announce in a joint statement that Israel and the UAE will establish normalized diplomatic relations, in exchange for Israeli suspension of plans to annex occupied West Bank territory. (BBC News)
The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates announce in a joint statement that Israel and the UAE will establish normalized diplomatic relations, in exchange for Israeli suspension of plans to annex occupied West Bank territory. (BBC News)
China–United States trade war, Chinese espionage in the United States, Concerns over Chinese involvement in 5G wireless networks The United States Department of Commerce expands its sanctions on Chinese technological vendor Huawei by adding 38 of the company's affiliates to its "entity list", limiting Huawei's access into U.S. integrated circuits and other technology. The Trump administration has viewed Huawei as "an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state." (AFP via The Independent)
Norway–Russia relations The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms it has expelled a diplomat from the Russian embassy in Oslo for alleged espionage. The embassy claims the expelled individual was their deputy trade representative who was arrested by Norwegian police on August 20 during a meeting with a suspected spy. The embassy protested to the Norwegian foreign ministry, calling the arrest "a violation of the diplomat status." The ministry, however, has not disclosed the identity of the Russian diplomat nor that of the suspected spy. (Al Jazeera)
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms it has expelled a diplomat from the Russian embassy in Oslo for alleged espionage. The embassy claims the expelled individual was their deputy trade representative who was arrested by Norwegian police on August 20 during a meeting with a suspected spy. The embassy protested to the Norwegian foreign ministry, calling the arrest "a violation of the diplomat status." The ministry, however, has not disclosed the identity of the Russian diplomat nor that of the suspected spy. (Al Jazeera)
The Mail on Sunday reports that British Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans to abolish an Internet tax expected to raise £500 million ($654M) a year. The tax was introduced in April 2020 and could reportedly be an impediment to a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States. (Reuters via The Jakarta Post)
Protests erupt in Lancaster, Pennsylvania after a police officer shot and killed a man who charged the officer with a knife following a domestic disturbance. Police arrest 13 people after members of the crowd allegedly damaged police vehicles and threw bricks at the police station, the post office, and nearby businesses. (Lancaster Online)
Canada–United States relations Canada–United States trade relations, Trump tariffs The United States announces the suspension of the 10 percent tariff imposed on Canadian aluminum imports since August with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative citing a "sharp" decline in imports for the decision. (AFP via RFI)
Canada–United States trade relations, Trump tariffs The United States announces the suspension of the 10 percent tariff imposed on Canadian aluminum imports since August with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative citing a "sharp" decline in imports for the decision. (AFP via RFI)
The United States announces the suspension of the 10 percent tariff imposed on Canadian aluminum imports since August with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative citing a "sharp" decline in imports for the decision. (AFP via RFI)
London's Metropolitan Police reports that around 200 books worth £2.5 million were recovered from a house in Neamț County, Romania. The books, believed to have been stolen by Romanian gangs from a London warehouse in January 2017, include first editions by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and English scientist Isaac Newton, and sketches by Spanish painter Francisco Goya. (DW)
Tax returns of Donald Trump The New York Times reports that it has obtained more than two decades of tax-return data for Donald Trump and his business enterprises, including The Trump Organization. The documents show that Trump paid no federal income tax in 11 of the last 15 years, and paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016, and $750 in 2017. (BBC News)
The New York Times reports that it has obtained more than two decades of tax-return data for Donald Trump and his business enterprises, including The Trump Organization. The documents show that Trump paid no federal income tax in 11 of the last 15 years, and paid just $750 in income taxes in 2016, and $750 in 2017. (BBC News)
Kioxia, the Japanese computer memory manufacturer spun off from Toshiba, postpones its initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, citing the volatility of the semiconductor industry caused by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. Its initial public offering, which would have launched on October 6, was projected to be Japan's largest for this year. (The Japan Times) (NikkeAsia)
A consortium between Mohsin and Zuber Issa, owners of the British-based retailer Euro Garages, and the private equity firm TDR Capital acquire a majority stake in the supermarket chain Asda worth £6.8 billion (US$8.7 billion) from American retailer Walmart. Walmart will maintain a minority shareholding. (AFP via Mint)
Cineworld announces it is temporarily shutting down all its cinemas in the United Kingdom and United States, putting more than 5,500 jobs at risk, after reporting £1.3bn in losses since the COVID-19 lockdown. (BBC News)
Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema Cineworld announces it is temporarily shutting down all its cinemas in the United Kingdom and United States, putting more than 5,500 jobs at risk, after reporting £1.3bn in losses since the COVID-19 lockdown. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York governor Andrew Cuomo orders schools to close starting tomorrow in several "hot spots" around the state, including parts of the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. This comes after COVID-19 test positivity rates rose above 3% in those areas for seven days in a row. Cuomo declined to close non-essential businesses and religious institutions. (CNN)
New York governor Andrew Cuomo orders schools to close starting tomorrow in several "hot spots" around the state, including parts of the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. This comes after COVID-19 test positivity rates rose above 3% in those areas for seven days in a row. Cuomo declined to close non-essential businesses and religious institutions. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) New York state will reinstate restrictions on businesses, houses of worship and schools in and near areas where coronavirus cases are spiking, governor Andrew Cuomo said. The new rules will affect parts of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, sections of Orange and Rockland counties in the Hudson Valley, and an area within Binghamton in the Southern Tier. This restrictions will take effect no later than Friday. (ABC News)
New York state will reinstate restrictions on businesses, houses of worship and schools in and near areas where coronavirus cases are spiking, governor Andrew Cuomo said. The new rules will affect parts of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, sections of Orange and Rockland counties in the Hudson Valley, and an area within Binghamton in the Southern Tier. This restrictions will take effect no later than Friday. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state) COVID-19 pandemic in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces that the city will close an additional 61 schools to combat COVID-19 hotspots. (Patch.com) COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey New Jersey records 1,301 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day count since May. (Politico) COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan Wayne County, Michigan issues a mask mandate for outdoor spaces and businesses. (The Detroit News)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces a new restrictions banning indoor service for bars without a food license and impose non-essential business curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. CT for two weeks from tomorrow. In addition, all liquor sales at all establishments must end at 9 p.m. and all Chicagoans should refrain from gatherings of more than six people or any social gatherings after 10 p.m. (Chicago Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces a new restrictions banning indoor service for bars without a food license and impose non-essential business curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. CT for two weeks from tomorrow. In addition, all liquor sales at all establishments must end at 9 p.m. and all Chicagoans should refrain from gatherings of more than six people or any social gatherings after 10 p.m. (Chicago Tribune)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposes a curfew on non-essential businesses in the city at 8 p.m. ET except grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations as COVID-19 cases in New Jersey continue to increase. (WPIX 11)
A man is shot dead by police in Montfavet, Avignon, after threatening police and a trader of a North African background with a handgun. The man was reported to be a member of a far-right French organisation and also having a history of psychiatric treatment. (Libération)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses eight million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to pass the milestone after the United States. (Times of India) COVID-19 pandemic in Iran Iran reports a record 8,293 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide total to 596,841 cases. (Bloomberg) COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japan surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Kyodo News) COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia surpasses 30,000 cases of COVID-19. (The Edge Markets)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announces new restrictions for the state, including a stay-at-home order, curfew for businesses, reduction of indoor gatherings, and a tighter mask mandate. The restrictions will take effect on November 6. (WBZ-TV) (The Boston Globe) COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana The first round of Indiana National Guard troops are expected to arrive at nursing homes in the state. The move was announced by Governor Eric Holcomb during a press conference in Indianapolis on October 28. (The Chicago Tribune)
Fifteen Asia-Pacific nations sign the world's largest free-trade agreement in Vietnam. It replaces the Trans-Pacific Partnership, from which the administration of Donald Trump withdrew the United States in early 2017. (DW) (Financial Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in California Los Angeles County reports 5,031 new cases, the highest single-day total since the pandemic began. (Los Angeles Times) Governor Gavin Newsom orders a curfew (limited stay-at-home order) for all 41 counties in the purple tier of the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy reopening system; these counties include more than 90% of the state population. The order will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. PST beginning November 21. (KABC-TV)
Israel–United States relations, Palestine–United States relations, Syria–United States relations Mike Pompeo visits settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories of West Bank and Golan Heights, making him the first United States Secretary of State to do so. (NBC News)
Mike Pompeo visits settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories of West Bank and Golan Heights, making him the first United States Secretary of State to do so. (NBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in California Los Angeles County announces that it will issue a new safer-at-home order that restricts the capacity of businesses, closes playgrounds and cardrooms, and prohibits all public and private gatherings of individuals from different households except for religious services and protests. This order will begin November 30 and will expire on December 20. (CBS News)
Nauru–United States relations The United States and Nauru sign a trade deal which is expected to provide access to the full range of investment support offered by the United States to the Pacific Island nation. Nauru High Commissioner Michael Aroi thanked Joseph Cella, the U.S. Ambassador to several Pacific Island nations, for continuing American support to boost relations between both countries. (RNZ)
The United States and Nauru sign a trade deal which is expected to provide access to the full range of investment support offered by the United States to the Pacific Island nation. Nauru High Commissioner Michael Aroi thanked Joseph Cella, the U.S. Ambassador to several Pacific Island nations, for continuing American support to boost relations between both countries. (RNZ)
A 13-year-old Palestinian is killed by Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank. (The Washington Post)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict A 13-year-old Palestinian is killed by Israeli troops during clashes in the West Bank. (The Washington Post)
Libyan peace process The Central Bank of Libya agrees to a devalued exchange rate of 4.48 Libyan dinars to 1 U.S. dollar beginning January 3, in its first board meeting since 2014. (Reuters)
The Central Bank of Libya agrees to a devalued exchange rate of 4.48 Libyan dinars to 1 U.S. dollar beginning January 3, in its first board meeting since 2014. (Reuters)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces that American passengers traveling from the United Kingdom will be required to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours due to the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. The order is expected to take effect on December 28. (MarketWatch)
Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Variant of Concern 202012/01 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces that American passengers traveling from the United Kingdom will be required to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours due to the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. The order is expected to take effect on December 28. (MarketWatch) United Airlines and Delta Air Lines will require passengers from the United Kingdom to test negative for COVID-19 due to the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (Reuters)
China–European Union relations The European Union announces that it is close to reaching an investment deal with China. The deal would immensely impact the global economy, especially with the U.S.-China trade war. (AFP via ABS-CBN News)
The European Union announces that it is close to reaching an investment deal with China. The deal would immensely impact the global economy, especially with the U.S.-China trade war. (AFP via ABS-CBN News)
The United States announces plans to impose additional tariffs on certain products from France and Germany, particularly aircraft parts, in retaliation to tariffs imposed by the European Union on similar U.S. products this year. (AFP via The Straits Times)
United States–European Union relations, Trump tariffs The United States announces plans to impose additional tariffs on certain products from France and Germany, particularly aircraft parts, in retaliation to tariffs imposed by the European Union on similar U.S. products this year. (AFP via The Straits Times)
