Author: Steven Sahiounie

Authorities in Harbin, China have imposed a slew of restrictions and ordered a range of venues – including spas, cinemas and mahjong salons – to temporarily close after detecting a Covid case in the Northeastern city. On Tuesday, local officials urged residents to stay put in the capital of the Heilongjiang province to stop the virus from spreading elsewhere. In case of essential travel people are required to show a green health-code pass to prove they are safe. Public spaces, such as entertainment venues including karaoke halls, dance and game venues, as well as pedicure and massage salons, were instructed…

France has reiterated its unwillingness to set aside its dispute with Australia, claiming EU ministers are firmly on the side of Paris amid concerns that Gallic anger may derail a trade deal between Brussels and Canberra. Speaking on Tuesday, France’s European affairs minister Clement Beaune said that his European counterparts supported France in its dispute with Australia after the latter cancelled a $40 billion submarine contract with Paris in favor of a new deal with the UK and US. He welcomed the EU support, noting that this was more than just a French problem, but a European problem. “We cannot act…

A German man has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder after shooting dead a young cashier in a gas station in the western German town of Idar-Oberstein after the worker told him to wear a mask. On Monday, authorities issued a statement confirming that the 49-year-old male is in custody after being suspected of a shooting that took place late on September 18. According to law enforcement, the suspect first entered the gas station just before 8pm local time on Saturday to make a purchase, where the cashier asked the man to wear a face covering. After an…

EU powerhouse Germany says France being snubbed by Australia in favor of a partnership with the US and the UK is a signal to continental European nations to stand together and boost self-reliance. France invoked EU solidarity after Australia cancelled a $40 billion contract for French-made attack submarines in favor of US-made nuclear-powered boats. The deal, which was announced as part of the so-called AUKUS cooperation mechanism also involving Britain, blindsided France. German European Affairs Minister Michael Roth called the ongoing row a “wake-up call” for the EU. “We cannot exclusively rely on others but must cooperate, and we have to overcome…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Daraa is returning to peace. The summer saw heavy clashes between illegal armed groups and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Daraa al-Balad, the old section of Daraa, which sits on the border with Jordan and Israel. About 900 men belonging to illegal armed groups have laid down their arms in a Russian mediated peace deal, which has brought stability to Darra. These men are battle weary and want to rebuild their lives and homes in Daraa. They have begun to work alongside the SAA to restore peace and stability throughout the area. The…

The lions and tigers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington are recovering from Coronavirus after getting infected last week, veterinarians said. Donald Nefer, the chief veterinarian at the zoo, mentioned on Friday that these animals may have contracted Coronavirus from a zoo guard who had the disease without showing any symptoms. He also added that the zoo noticed that the lions and tigers were sick because they were moving with difficulty and not eating well. It is noteworthy that after providing the animals with treatment, their symptoms are reducing and they will recover soon. The zookeepers earlier explained that…

Xiaomi, the leading Chinese tech company, has registered a new patent for a smartphone technology that has been described as potentially “lifesaving.” A report published by Times News Now website mentioned that Xiaomi has created a new mobile technology that can monitor seismic activity and predict earthquakes long enough before they occur. How does it work? The mobile phone will quickly transfer key data information to an earthquake processing center. In case of an earthquake, the processor will be able to identify and predict it based on multiple readings. It is noteworthy that Xiaomi had previously registered a patent for foldable smartphones…

Overwhelmed with planet Earth? Scientists have now created a universe that one can download at the disposal of their fingertips. This application cost aplenty to make, and it is marvelously realistic. The universe is constantly expanding, and there are infinite numbers of details that one can observe; but, the Uchuu Simulation contains 2.1 trillion ‘particles’ observable in a space that is 9.6 billion light-years across. The resolution of this simulation is so high, that it enables astronomers to identify the most wonderous of details: galaxy clusters to dark matter halos. This makes the simulation the largest and most meticulous simulation to be created in…

A news conference took place in Baghdad where the future of Iraqi oil was discussed. According to Iraqi oil minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar, in the first quarter of 2022, OPEC and its allies would try to keep crude oil prices at $70 a barrel, and that they are to stick to their October deal if prices were to remain consistent throughout. The minister reiterated that the total Iraqi oil exports should remain at an average of 3.4 million barrels a day in September, including those in ‘Iraqi Kurdistan.’

A report by SchengenVisaInfo.org says that the Ministry of Justice in Sweden has taken the decision to issue an entry ban on six European countries, which will come into effect on Monday, September 20, 2021. The banned countries are Albania, Azerbaijan, Japan, Brunei, Serbia and Armenia. The decision spurs from a background that deems the banned countries epidemiologically unsafe for travel due to COVID-19. However, there are some exceptions. Travellers from banned countries to Sweden can enter if their reasons are ‘necessary’, and only if they hold a Swedish residence permit. According to the website, workers in the healthcare sector, those who…