March 2, 2021 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Bad timing: Iran rejects EU & US offer to hold direct talks on reviving 2015 nuclear deal

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Iran won’t take part in an informal meeting with the EU and US on ways to restore the nuclear deal, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, citing recent US actions. It said sanctions must first be lifted before any talks can begin. … Read More >Bad timing: Iran rejects EU & US offer to hold direct talks on reviving 2015 nuclear deal

Israel launches Covid-tracking ‘FREEDOM BRACELET’ as alternative to quarantine, as court reins in spy agency’s contact tracing

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Israel has unveiled a coronavirus-tracking bracelet as an alternative to a two-week quarantine for incoming travelers, sparking privacy concerns as a top court moved to curb the Shin Bet spy agency’s role in contact tracing. … Read More >Israel launches Covid-tracking ‘FREEDOM BRACELET’ as alternative to quarantine, as court reins in spy agency’s contact tracing

At least 18 killed on bloodiest day of Myanmar protests as UN demands military stop using force

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Myanmar security forces have again employed live fire against those protesting the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, killing at least 18 protesters and injuring dozens, the UN human rights office said. … Read More >At least 18 killed on bloodiest day of Myanmar protests as UN demands military stop using force

USA

Biden administration will NOT sanction Saudi Prince over Khashoggi killing, but will use ‘more effective’ tools – White House

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Despite Joe Biden’s past promises to sanction Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki claims the US will instead use “more effective” methods. … Read More >Biden administration will NOT sanction Saudi Prince over Khashoggi killing, but will use ‘more effective’ tools – White House

UK

US activists condemn Boris Johnson’s voter ID plan, accuse him of copying Trump

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

As Boris Johnson prepares to introduce voter ID laws in the UK, US activist groups such as the ACLU have spoken out against the proposal, comparing its proponents to Donald Trump and warning it would “suppress the vote.” … Read More >US activists condemn Boris Johnson’s voter ID plan, accuse him of copying Trump

World

Armenian nationalists stage torch-lit march & demand ‘return’ of Nagorno-Karabakh amid continued political crisis in Yerevan

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Yerevan to demand the resignation of embattled Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and the reinstatement of control over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh in a torch-lit march. … Read More >Armenian nationalists stage torch-lit march & demand ‘return’ of Nagorno-Karabakh amid continued political crisis in Yerevan

Syrian air defenses repel ‘Israeli aggression’ over Damascus, intercept most of the missiles – state media

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Syrian air defenses have shot down most of the missiles in a strike targeting the area outside Damascus from the territory of the occupied Golan Heights, the country’s state media reported, blaming Israel for the attack. … Read More >Syrian air defenses repel ‘Israeli aggression’ over Damascus, intercept most of the missiles – state media

USA

Trump calls for breaking up Big Tech, says failure to restore freedom of speech would doom Republican Party

Posted on March 2, 2021By Editor

Former president Donald Trump has called for giant technology companies to be broken up and for their Section 230 liability protections to be removed. He argued that the Big Tech mutes conservative voices like his own. … Read More >Trump calls for breaking up Big Tech, says failure to restore freedom of speech would doom Republican Party

Iran ‘clearly’ behind Gulf of Oman ship explosions – Israeli PM Netanyahu

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Iran was behind the explosions on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed. The Jewish state reportedly retaliated by launching a missile attack in Syria. … Read More >Iran ‘clearly’ behind Gulf of Oman ship explosions – Israeli PM Netanyahu

Indian PM Modi receives domestic coronavirus vaccine as country expands inoculation program to seniors

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021By Editor

Indian PM Narendra Modi has received his first shot of the country’s domestically produced Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, kicking off the second stage of the nation’s massive inoculation drive, which is now focused on the elderly. … Read More >Indian PM Modi receives domestic coronavirus vaccine as country expands inoculation program to seniors