February 18, 2021 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Israeli PM Netanyahu says he had ‘friendly and warm’ call with US president Biden

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

After almost a month in office, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House confirmed. Netanyahu described the hour-long conversation as friendly and warm. … Read More >Israeli PM Netanyahu says he had ‘friendly and warm’ call with US president Biden

India’s trade union demands ‘serious action’ against Amazon after report alleges it worked to dodge country’s regulations

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

India’s leading trade union has urged the government to punish Amazon after a media report alleged that Jeff Bezos’s company has been secretly discriminating small sellers on its platform. … Read More >India’s trade union demands ‘serious action’ against Amazon after report alleges it worked to dodge country’s regulations

USA

US-developed Pfizer & Moderna vaccines produce THREE TIMES LESS antibodies against South African strain of Covid-19 – lab studies

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

Vaccines developed by US companies Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are producing fewer antibodies against the coronavirus mutation that has emerged in South Africa, according to studies reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. … Read More >US-developed Pfizer & Moderna vaccines produce THREE TIMES LESS antibodies against South African strain of Covid-19 – lab studies

World

‘Quick, easy and not so painful’: S. Africa’s Ramaphosa gets J&J Covid jab as nation turns back on AstraZeneca

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

South Africa’s president has been vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 jab, joining thousands of healthcare workers taking part in a trial to test the efficacy of the single-dose vaccine against the local virus variant. … Read More >‘Quick, easy and not so painful’: S. Africa’s Ramaphosa gets J&J Covid jab as nation turns back on AstraZeneca

EU

Letter bomb blast injures 3 at Lidl headquarters in Germany

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

A letter bomb has exploded at the headquarters of the Lidl supermarket chain in Neckarsulm, Germany, injuring three people. It’s the second such incident in two days in the state of Baden-Württemberg. … Read More >Letter bomb blast injures 3 at Lidl headquarters in Germany

EU

Lockdown surrender? Sweden warns of more restrictions, gears up to close restaurants & gyms

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

The Swedish government, which was previously reluctant to impose tough Covid-19 restrictions, has now proposed vastly expanding its lockdown powers, as the country warns of a third wave of infections. … Read More >Lockdown surrender? Sweden warns of more restrictions, gears up to close restaurants & gyms

EU

EU fighting increasing cases of Covid-19 vaccine fraud, von der Leyen says

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

The EU faces growing cases of coronavirus vaccine fraud, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned, adding that the bloc is doing everything it can to tackle the trend. … Read More >EU fighting increasing cases of Covid-19 vaccine fraud, von der Leyen says

After Olympic sexism row, Japan’s ruling party tells women they can attend meetings…if they keep quiet

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

Women can attend top-level Japanese government meetings as long as they keep their mouths shut, the country’s ruling party has said, just days after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief stepped down from his role over similar comments. … Read More >After Olympic sexism row, Japan’s ruling party tells women they can attend meetings…if they keep quiet

EU

Germany’s vaccination program to pick up pace but contagious UK variant now accounts for 22% of cases, health minister warns

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

Germany’s health minister has said the country will receive a further 3.2 million Covid-19 vaccines before the end of the month, allowing the health service to speed up inoculations amid the concerning spread of the UK variant. … Read More >Germany’s vaccination program to pick up pace but contagious UK variant now accounts for 22% of cases, health minister warns

IAEA chief to visit Iran as country prepares to scale back cooperation with nuclear watchdog

Posted on February 18, 2021February 18, 2021By Editor

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog is expected to visit Iran later this week as the country is preparing to drastically scale back its cooperation with the international body, including banning short-notice inspections. … Read More >IAEA chief to visit Iran as country prepares to scale back cooperation with nuclear watchdog