August 25, 2021 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

World

Australian PM vows to keep lockdowns until 70% of population is vaccinated as more protesters hit streets despite police crackdown

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

A day after hundreds of protesters were arrested for breaching Covid restrictions, PM Scott Morrison has reiterated that Australia will keep battling the virus with lockdowns until the majority of citizens are fully vaccinated. … Read More >Australian PM vows to keep lockdowns until 70% of population is vaccinated as more protesters hit streets despite police crackdown

Op-ed

Pride flag dispute shows the inherent divisiveness of identity politics

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

The demand for better representation on the famous rainbow Pride flag by trans activists perfectly illustrates their conceited pettiness and exposes the fragile unity that underpins the entire LGBTQ+ community. … Read More >Pride flag dispute shows the inherent divisiveness of identity politics

Russia

Putin and Xi pledge to keep peace in Central Asia, after US withdrawal from Afghanistan sparks fears of drug trafficking & terror

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

Moscow and Beijing will work together to secure the region around Afghanistan, after Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese premier Xi Jinping reiterated their commitment to Central Asia in a telephone call on Wednesday. … Read More >Putin and Xi pledge to keep peace in Central Asia, after US withdrawal from Afghanistan sparks fears of drug trafficking & terror

Russian economy ‘practically restored’ to pre-pandemic level – President Putin

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

The Russian economy is nearing its pre-Covid-19 pandemic level, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday at a meeting with representatives of the United Russia party. … Read More >Russian economy ‘practically restored’ to pre-pandemic level – President Putin

Russian banks nearly double profits in first half of 2021 – central bank

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

The net profit of Russian lenders in January-July totaled 1.429 trillion rubles ($19.2 billion), which is nearly twice their earnings in the same period last year, the Central Bank of Russia reported. … Read More >Russian banks nearly double profits in first half of 2021 – central bank

Israeli airstrikes & heavy blasts hit Gaza after border clashes with IDF troops (VIDEOS)

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

Multiple blasts have rocked Gaza after the IDF launched a series of airstrikes in an apparent retaliation to violent border clashes, in which an Israeli soldier was critically wounded earlier in the day. … Read More >Israeli airstrikes & heavy blasts hit Gaza after border clashes with IDF troops (VIDEOS)

‘IMPOSSIBLE’ to evacuate Afghan allies by end of August: EU foreign policy chief says Americans create problems

Posted on August 25, 2021By Editor

The EU’s top diplomat has declared it “impossible” for Europe to evacuate all of its Afghan allies from Kabul by the end of August. Josep Borrell blamed American troops at the city’s airport for preventing evacuees from leaving. … Read More >‘IMPOSSIBLE’ to evacuate Afghan allies by end of August: EU foreign policy chief says Americans create problems

Taliban fighters killed & captured after Afghan militias seize 3 districts just north of Kabul – reports

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

Anti-Taliban forces have reportedly captured three northern districts in Afghanistan just days after the militant group seized Kabul and reestablished its so-called Islamic Emirate. … Read More >Taliban fighters killed & captured after Afghan militias seize 3 districts just north of Kabul – reports

China wants to ‘emulate Taliban’, Taiwan claims, vowing to defend itself from Beijing

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

China wants to emulate the Taliban and take over Taiwan the same way the Islamic radicals seized power in Afghanistan last week, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said, warning that the island is ready to defend itself. … Read More >China wants to ‘emulate Taliban’, Taiwan claims, vowing to defend itself from Beijing

No country has ‘clear picture’ what flights its citizens are actually on, Dutch FM says, amid chaotic evacuation from Kabul

Posted on August 25, 2021August 25, 2021By Editor

The persisting “chaos” at Kabul airport has made it hard to tell which evacuation flights carry nationals of what country, the Netherlands’ foreign minister has said, adding that over 700 Dutch citizens are still in Afghanistan. … Read More >No country has ‘clear picture’ what flights its citizens are actually on, Dutch FM says, amid chaotic evacuation from Kabul