January 15, 2021 – Page 4 – THE OVAL CIRCLE

EU

Germany will have lockdown beyond January & new travel restrictions, but no mandatory vaccination – health minister

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn has said the situation with Covid-19 is too dangerous to start relaxing restrictions by the end of January. But he rejected the idea of making vaccination mandatory. … Read More >Germany will have lockdown beyond January & new travel restrictions, but no mandatory vaccination – health minister

Bullying and racism won’t prevail: Iran’s president hails Trump’s departure, compares him to former Shah

Posted on January 15, 2021By Editor

Iran’s president has compared the outgoing US leader’s regime with that of the former Shah, and said his rule “with a mindset of a merchant and a gambler” has ended in scandal. … Read More >Bullying and racism won’t prevail: Iran’s president hails Trump’s departure, compares him to former Shah

EU

Italy kicks off its BIGGEST mafia trial in 30 years, 350+ defendants slated to testify via video link & in person

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Hundreds of suspected mobsters and associates, including former politicians, are slated to be brought before a court as Italy’s biggest mafia trial in three decades begins on Wednesday. … Read More >Italy kicks off its BIGGEST mafia trial in 30 years, 350+ defendants slated to testify via video link & in person

EU

‘High protein content’: Insects set to crawl their way onto Europeans’ plates as EU regulator rules MEALWORMS are SAFE to eat

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Europeans are a step closer to finding all sorts of creepy crawlies on the menu as the EU Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has officially deemed the first such species – a yellow mealworm, to be specific – safe to eat. … Read More >‘High protein content’: Insects set to crawl their way onto Europeans’ plates as EU regulator rules MEALWORMS are SAFE to eat

US targets Iranian foundations under Supreme Leader’s control in latest sanctions hit

Posted on January 15, 2021By Editor

The US has blacklisted two organizations controlled by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, citing alleged corruption among Iran’s elite as the reason for the Trump administration’s latest sanctions against the country. … Read More >US targets Iranian foundations under Supreme Leader’s control in latest sanctions hit

World

Google admits experimentally blocking some Australian news sites from searches as row over paying outlets for content gains steam

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Internet users can’t find the latest Aussie news on searches as outlets say Google is flexing its muscles against the country’s senate’s proposed code that would make it pay media for news. … Read More >Google admits experimentally blocking some Australian news sites from searches as row over paying outlets for content gains steam

EU

‘Stay at home’: Portuguese PM announces new lockdown after record Covid-19 death and infection rates

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa urged people to stay at home as he announced on Wednesday that the country would enter another national lockdown following record rates of Covid-19 deaths and new cases. … Read More >‘Stay at home’: Portuguese PM announces new lockdown after record Covid-19 death and infection rates

World

‘Perfect storm’: WHO warns second year of fighting Covid-19 could be ‘even tougher’ than the first

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

Ongoing transmission dynamics show the world needs to brace for an even tougher year of fighting Covid-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, while the disease has turned into the “perfect storm” in Europe and the US. … Read More >‘Perfect storm’: WHO warns second year of fighting Covid-19 could be ‘even tougher’ than the first

World

Irish PM apologizes on behalf of the state for the ‘profound generational wrong’ inflicted on mother-and-baby-home residents

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

The Irish prime minister has issued an apology on behalf of the state following an investigation into the country’s mother and baby homes, which revealed an “appalling level of infant mortality” at the institutions. … Read More >Irish PM apologizes on behalf of the state for the ‘profound generational wrong’ inflicted on mother-and-baby-home residents

World

Sinovac says its Covid-19 vaccine has ‘good’ efficacy after Brazilian partner claimed it was only 50% effective

Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021By Editor

The chairman of Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac has insisted that the company’s Brazilian partners were incorrect to suggest its jab is only 50 percent effective against Covid-19 after stage-three trials. … Read More >Sinovac says its Covid-19 vaccine has ‘good’ efficacy after Brazilian partner claimed it was only 50% effective