June 19, 2021 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

Largest shipment of Covid-19 vaccines, 2 million doses, set to arrive in Tehran

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has announced that two million doses of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Iran on Thursday, in the fourth and largest shipment of lifesaving jabs. … Read More >Largest shipment of Covid-19 vaccines, 2 million doses, set to arrive in Tehran

Videos

Putin’s full press conference after meeting with Biden in Geneva (English translation)

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he and U.S. President Joe Biden have agreed to return their ambassadors to their posts in a bid to lower tensions. … Read More >Putin’s full press conference after meeting with Biden in Geneva (English translation)

World

Australia limits AstraZeneca Covid jab to over-60s days after second blood clot death ‘likely linked’ to the vaccine

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

The Australian Department of Health announced on Thursday that it will be limiting the AstraZeneca vaccine to over-60s, days after reports of the second death of someone who received the jab “likely linked” to blood clots. … Read More >Australia limits AstraZeneca Covid jab to over-60s days after second blood clot death ‘likely linked’ to the vaccine

Japan to start accepting vaccine passport applications in mid-July in hopes of boosting international travel

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

While barring foreign spectators from attending the Tokyo Olympics due to Covid-19, Japan is aiming to facilitate travel for its own citizens with plans to introduce dual-language vaccination passports next month. … Read More >Japan to start accepting vaccine passport applications in mid-July in hopes of boosting international travel

World

Australian banks ‘urgently investigating’ after online banking apps stop working

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

Several of Australia’s largest banks have reported issues with their online banking apps, sparking chatter on social media about what could have caused the large-scale service outage. … Read More >Australian banks ‘urgently investigating’ after online banking apps stop working

China launches crewed Shenzhou-12 mission to test core component of its future space station

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

A rocket carrying the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts on board has blasted off from China’s Inner Mongolia in a historic launch that is critical for the completion of the country’s own space station. … Read More >China launches crewed Shenzhou-12 mission to test core component of its future space station

EU

Trial of Germany’s CureVac vaccine shows only 47% effect against Covid-19, falling short of great expectations

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

Praised recently as “hope for the unvaccinated world,” a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Germany’s CureVac is only 47% effective against the coronavirus. As its stock collapsed, the company blamed new virus variants. … Read More >Trial of Germany’s CureVac vaccine shows only 47% effect against Covid-19, falling short of great expectations

EU

Brussels to assess if Hungary’s new ban on sharing LGBT content with under-18s breaches EU law – von der Leyen

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

The president of the European Commission has announced the body is looking into whether Hungary’s ban on the sharing of homosexual and transgender content to those under 18 years of age is a breach of EU law. … Read More >Brussels to assess if Hungary’s new ban on sharing LGBT content with under-18s breaches EU law – von der Leyen

US-China relationship headed toward new Cold War – RT’s Boom Bust

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

As the US picks up its fight against Chinese 5G technology, offering incentives to combat Beijing, analysts say relations between the world’s two largest economies will only worsen under the Biden administration. … Read More >US-China relationship headed toward new Cold War – RT’s Boom Bust

Russia

Hardcore regulations? Russian government could control access to porn under new proposals designed to protect underage children

Posted on June 19, 2021June 19, 2021By Editor

Russian lovers of adult content could soon be forced to ask their government for permission before they can access saucy snaps and spicy clips online, with a public services portal acting as the gateway to all legal pornography. … Read More >Hardcore regulations? Russian government could control access to porn under new proposals designed to protect underage children