May 23, 2021 – Page 3 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

EU

French interior minister calls on cops to crack down on people flouting Covid curfew after ‘deplorable’ scenes at bars & cafes

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has vowed to come down with force on those flouting the country’s Covid-19 rules after footage showed crowds of lockdown-weary revelers flocking to bars and restaurants. … Read More >French interior minister calls on cops to crack down on people flouting Covid curfew after ‘deplorable’ scenes at bars & cafes

EU

Top French court rejects article in controversial security bill that penalizes people for filming police

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

France’s highest legislative court has rejected a key article of a controversial bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government which would make it an offense to share images that identify serving police officers. … Read More >Top French court rejects article in controversial security bill that penalizes people for filming police

EU

‘Not limited to words’: German FM visits Israel; asserts its right for ‘self-defense’ amid continued conflict with Gaza

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

Germany will continue to make it possible for Israel to defend itself as long as there are forces seeking its destruction, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said during his visit to Israel aimed at promoting “ceasefire.” … Read More >‘Not limited to words’: German FM visits Israel; asserts its right for ‘self-defense’ amid continued conflict with Gaza

World

War & climate disasters displaced record 55mn people in 2020 amid global lockdowns, study finds

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

Amid a raging global pandemic, a record 55 million people were displaced from their homes but still living in their countries by the end of 2020, according to the latest report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. … Read More >War & climate disasters displaced record 55mn people in 2020 amid global lockdowns, study finds

EU

EU parliament votes to freeze signing of Chinese investment pact until Beijing lifts sanctions on European politicians

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

The European Parliament has voted 599-30 to suspend the ratification of a major investment deal with China until Beijing removes sanctions placed on EU politicians who raised concerns about human rights violations against Uighurs. … Read More >EU parliament votes to freeze signing of Chinese investment pact until Beijing lifts sanctions on European politicians

EU

Trust in national governments plummets across the EU during Covid pandemic – Survey

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

Support for national governments throughout the EU has fallen in the course of the Covid pandemic, a new bloc-wide survey has found, as sluggish vaccine rollouts fuel criticism of state responses to the crisis. … Read More >Trust in national governments plummets across the EU during Covid pandemic – Survey

Bahrain bars unvaccinated citizens from most public venues amid record spike in Covid-19 cases

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

Starting from Friday, most of Bahrain’s public venues will be off-limits to people who haven’t gotten their Covid-19 jabs yet, the government announced, as the Gulf state sees a national record spike in new coronavirus infections. … Read More >Bahrain bars unvaccinated citizens from most public venues amid record spike in Covid-19 cases

USA

To tackle problem of space junk, ‘cyber-farmer’ proposes building future satellites out of MUSHROOMS

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

A so-called ‘cyber-farmer’ who has worked with NASA is proposing the development of a new type of satellite built out of mycelium fibers to tackle the growing problem posed by space debris. … Read More >To tackle problem of space junk, ‘cyber-farmer’ proposes building future satellites out of MUSHROOMS

Indian government calls on states to declare ‘black fungus’ EPIDEMIC as cases of deadly disease rise

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

The Indian government has told the country’s states to declare a ‘black fungus’ epidemic as cases of the potentially fatal infection continue to rise among Covid-19 patients. … Read More >Indian government calls on states to declare ‘black fungus’ EPIDEMIC as cases of deadly disease rise

Tribal elders secure month-long ceasefire between Taliban and Afghan government after international mediators fail

Posted on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021By Editor

Afghan tribal elders have successfully negotiated a ceasefire between Taliban fighters and the country’s government, effecting a pause in the intense fighting that’s occurred ahead of America’s withdrawal from the region. … Read More >Tribal elders secure month-long ceasefire between Taliban and Afghan government after international mediators fail