World – THE OVAL CIRCLE

World

‘No one cares if we die’: Ex-Syrian rebels recount Nagorno-Karabakh nightmare as ‘disposable force for Turkey’

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021By Editor

Repurposed into a mercenary force by Erdogan’s Turkey, the remnants of Syria’s armed opposition were sent off to fight for Azerbaijan with promises of sweet paychecks. They met abuse, humiliation, and death instead. … Read More >‘No one cares if we die’: Ex-Syrian rebels recount Nagorno-Karabakh nightmare as ‘disposable force for Turkey’

World

British Politicians Slam Facebook for Selling Amazon Forest Via Secret Ads

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021By Editor

Online users say that Facebook can no longer adopt the “apologies, we did not know” act in the face of criticism of its integrity policies. … Read More >British Politicians Slam Facebook for Selling Amazon Forest Via Secret Ads

World

4 arrested in international investigation over attempted $10mn extortion of senior Iraqi politician

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021By Editor

Four individuals have been detained in morning raids conducted at homes in Canada and Australia, after they attempted to extort a senior Iraqi politician in what authorities described as a year-long campaign of intimidation. … Read More >4 arrested in international investigation over attempted $10mn extortion of senior Iraqi politician

World

UK, France & Germany urge Iran to reverse ‘dangerous’ decision to suspend agreement on short-notice nuclear inspections

Posted on February 27, 2021February 27, 2021By Editor

The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany have called on Iran to return to a protocol allowing international monitors into its nuclear sites. Tehran suspended the pact as part of its campaign against US sanctions. … Read More >UK, France & Germany urge Iran to reverse ‘dangerous’ decision to suspend agreement on short-notice nuclear inspections

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Facebook says it ‘erred on the side of over-enforcement’ when blocking news content in week-long standoff in Australia

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

Social media giant Facebook said Wednesday it “inadvertently” blocked some content including a large swathe of charity and state health pages when it imposed a week-long ban on news in a standoff over Australia’s new media code. … Read More >Facebook says it ‘erred on the side of over-enforcement’ when blocking news content in week-long standoff in Australia

World

Global airline industry body to launch Covid ‘travel pass’ by March

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that it will launch a Covid-19 travel pass by March, which it says will give travelers a way to display test results and confirmation they’ve received a vaccine. … Read More >Global airline industry body to launch Covid ‘travel pass’ by March

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Australian defense minister hospitalized ‘as precaution’ amid scandal over alleged rape of young staffer

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds has unexpectedly taken sick leave just as she was about to answer questions about a young staffer’s claims that she was raped by a male colleague inside the minister’s office. … Read More >Australian defense minister hospitalized ‘as precaution’ amid scandal over alleged rape of young staffer

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Israeli PM urges Biden to keep Trump’s sanctions on International Criminal Court to stave off war crimes investigation – media

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly urged US President Joe Biden to maintain his predecessor’s sanctions against the International Criminal Court, arguing that even if he disagrees with them, the US and Israel must stick together. … Read More >Israeli PM urges Biden to keep Trump’s sanctions on International Criminal Court to stave off war crimes investigation – media

World

Australian parliament passes law requiring Big Tech to pay media after last-minute changes prompted by Facebook news ban

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

Australian lawmakers have passed a law that forces tech giants like Facebook and Google fork out money for the media content. Critics argue the bill was watered down after Facebook imposed a week-long ban on Australian news. … Read More >Australian parliament passes law requiring Big Tech to pay media after last-minute changes prompted by Facebook news ban

World

Violence in Kiev sees 27 cops injured as protesters come out against court decision to lock up far-right nationalist Sternenko

Posted on February 26, 2021February 26, 2021By Editor

Twenty-seven Ukrainian policemen were injured in clashes on Kiev’s central Bankova Street, on Tuesday night, after a demonstration against the imprisonment of far-right Odessa activist Sergey Sternenko descended into violence. … Read More >Violence in Kiev sees 27 cops injured as protesters come out against court decision to lock up far-right nationalist Sternenko