April 20, 2021 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

World

World can bring Covid-19 pandemic under control in ‘matter of months,’ WHO chief says

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

A consistent global approach to the Covid-19 pandemic could bring it under control before the end of the year, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, despite a record week for Covid-19 infections. … Read More >World can bring Covid-19 pandemic under control in ‘matter of months,’ WHO chief says

Taiwan says it’s looking to buy US missiles with 925-km range, as tensions in South China Sea simmer

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The head of Taiwan’s defense ministry’s strategic planning section has told lawmakers that the government is seeking to procure, from the US, air-to-surface missiles with a possible range of 925km, to bolster its defenses. … Read More >Taiwan says it’s looking to buy US missiles with 925-km range, as tensions in South China Sea simmer

EU

German CSU leader Soeder hoping to succeed Chancellor Merkel says candidacy bid is up to CDU sister party

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The leader of Germany’s Christian Social Union (CSU), Markus Soeder, has said his intention to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor is really a matter for the wider Christian Democratic party (CDU) to decide upon. … Read More >German CSU leader Soeder hoping to succeed Chancellor Merkel says candidacy bid is up to CDU sister party

World

WHO rejects Covid passport schemes over fears vaccines don’t stop virus transmission

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The World Health Organization (WHO) has staunchly rejected the use of Covid passports to reopen travel in a meeting of its emergency committee, over concerns that vaccinations alone won’t prevent the transmission of the virus. … Read More >WHO rejects Covid passport schemes over fears vaccines don’t stop virus transmission

EU claims progress on Iran nuclear deal: Washington and Tehran ‘interested in reaching an agreement’

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The EU’s chief diplomat has said there are positive signs coming out of talks in Vienna which would see the US and Iran rejoin the nuclear pact that former US president Trump ditched in 2018, introducing sanctions on Tehran. … Read More >EU claims progress on Iran nuclear deal: Washington and Tehran ‘interested in reaching an agreement’

World

UN chief calls on Washington to halve emissions in order to lead global action on climate change

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The UN secretary general has urged the US to set the bar high when Washington decides on its emissions reduction targets, claiming that the US’ move could trigger other heavily polluting countries to do the same. … Read More >UN chief calls on Washington to halve emissions in order to lead global action on climate change

‘Not anti-China’: EU defends plan to step up activity in Indo-Pacific region amid South China Sea tension

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The EU has defended a newly-unveiled plan to increase its activity in the Indo-Pacific region, insisting the measures are not targeted at China, despite rising international tensions over the South China Sea. … Read More >‘Not anti-China’: EU defends plan to step up activity in Indo-Pacific region amid South China Sea tension

Duterte says he will send Philippines’ navy ships into South China Sea to ‘stake claim’ over oil resources

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

The Philippines will send naval vessels into the disputed South China Sea in a bid to defend what it claims are its oil and mineral resources, President Rodrigo Duterte has said, in remarks he partly directed at China. … Read More >Duterte says he will send Philippines’ navy ships into South China Sea to ‘stake claim’ over oil resources

World

France ‘enabled’ the 1994 genocide, new Rwandan report says, after French report clears France of complicity

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

A Rwandan government-commissioned report on the 1994 genocide has accused France of “enabling” the slaughter, going further than a recent French report that held the country responsible but stopped short of judging it complicit. … Read More >France ‘enabled’ the 1994 genocide, new Rwandan report says, after French report clears France of complicity

Russia

British warships set sail for Black Sea showdown with Russia, days after American sailors ‘cancel’ plan to chart course for region

Posted on April 20, 2021April 20, 2021By Editor

Two British gunboats will soon be cutting through the waters off the south coast of Russia, amid escalating tensions between Moscow and the West over troop deployments and NATO military activity on Russia’s border with Ukraine. … Read More >British warships set sail for Black Sea showdown with Russia, days after American sailors ‘cancel’ plan to chart course for region