January 2021 – Page 88 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Seoul dispatches anti-piracy unit to Persian Gulf after South Korean-flagged tanker seized by Iran

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

The South Korean Defense Ministry has said that it will send its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit, normally based in the Gulf of Aden, along with helicopters to the Persian Gulf where a South Korean vessel was seized by Iran. … Read More >Seoul dispatches anti-piracy unit to Persian Gulf after South Korean-flagged tanker seized by Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seize South Korean-flagged tanker for ‘oil pollution’ in Persian Gulf

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has confirmed detaining a South Korean-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. The ship had earlier been spotted off-course in the country’s waters. … Read More >Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seize South Korean-flagged tanker for ‘oil pollution’ in Persian Gulf

USS Nimitz remains in Persian Gulf ‘due to Iran threats against Trump,’ Pentagon announces days after sending warship home

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

Just three days after announcing that the USS Nimitz was leaving the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon has reversed the decision, saying the warship would remain in the Middle East due to Iranian ‘threats’ against President Donald Trump. … Read More >USS Nimitz remains in Persian Gulf ‘due to Iran threats against Trump,’ Pentagon announces days after sending warship home

Tokyo faces state of emergency over coronavirus case surge as Japan prepares to host Olympics

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

Tokyo could soon be placed in a state of emergency over a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, even as the Japanese capital gears up to host the Olympics. … Read More >Tokyo faces state of emergency over coronavirus case surge as Japan prepares to host Olympics

EU

Anti-Muslim Polish duo plotted to ‘BOMB MOSQUE’ and ‘POISON’ people after writing Breivik-like manifesto against Islam

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

State prosecutors in Poland charged two men with conspiring to attack a mosque with explosives. The suspects are also accused of planning poisonings, while one wrote a manifesto on the need to “exterminate religious groups.” … Read More >Anti-Muslim Polish duo plotted to ‘BOMB MOSQUE’ and ‘POISON’ people after writing Breivik-like manifesto against Islam

World

‘We’ll give him protection’: Mexican president promises asylum for Julian Assange

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

Mexico’s president has offered asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, hours after a British judge refused to extradite Assange to the US to face espionage charges. … Read More >‘We’ll give him protection’: Mexican president promises asylum for Julian Assange

USA

Trump supporters turn up the heat on Marco Rubio with protest outside his home, demand that he challenge Biden’s electoral victory

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

Dozens of Donald Trump supporters demonstrated outside the home of US Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida), demanding that he join a Republican effort to fight congressional certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral win. … Read More >Trump supporters turn up the heat on Marco Rubio with protest outside his home, demand that he challenge Biden’s electoral victory

Norwegian company turns its back on Nord Stream 2 under threat of US sanctions

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

Spooked by the US’ latest punitive measures, a Norwegian Nord Stream 2 contractor has refused to support the Gazprom-led gas pipeline project after eight years of close cooperation with Russian energy giant. … Read More >Norwegian company turns its back on Nord Stream 2 under threat of US sanctions

How gold, silver and platinum are used in the battle against Covid-19

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

As Covid-19 spread across the globe last spring, investors rushed to precious metals as a financial safe haven. Gold rose to over $2,000 by early August, up more than 30 percent from the start of the year. … Read More >How gold, silver and platinum are used in the battle against Covid-19

USA

‘Those are real numbers!’ Fauci clashes with Trump over Covid cases data, as virus fuels political divide

Posted on January 4, 2021January 4, 2021By Editor

President Donald Trump and disease expert Anthony Fauci publicly traded barbs after Trump claimed that the US’ Covid-19 situation is “exaggerated.” With Trump sour over Fauci’s positive media coverage, commenters took sides. … Read More >‘Those are real numbers!’ Fauci clashes with Trump over Covid cases data, as virus fuels political divide