Author: Steven Sahiounie

New York City authorities estimate $3.5 billion will be spent by the end of 2020 in the effort to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press briefing on Monday. “We estimate by the end of this calendar year, the city of New York will spend $3.5 billion to save lives and protect people in the city,” de Blasio said. De Blasio criticized President Donald Trump for remaining “silent” regarding the budget crisis New York City faces and said without adequate federal assistance the city will not be able to recover and provide public…

As Ramzan Kadyrov wrote, he’s certain that this insidious coronavirus disease will be vanquished once and for all. Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia’s Chechen Republic, has followed the example of Russian President Vladimir Putin and visited a hospital with coronavirus patients. Kadyrov visited patients in the city of Grozny where some 76 people infected with coronavirus are being treated. A video posted on Kadyrov’s Instagram page shows him donning a protective suit before visiting the patients, accompanied by the chairman of the Chechen parliament, the republic’s health minister and the head of the local COVID-19 response HQ. Describing his visit,…

According to the media wing of the Houthis (Ansar Allah), units of the Houthis have repelled an attack by Saudi-led forces on the Yemeni-Saudi border. The clashes reportedly took place on the border between the Yemeni province of Saada and the Saudi province of Asir.

In recent days, it would appear that Iran-US tensions are decreasing, within Iraq. This could potentially be a result of an alleged vow by the Untied States to carry out a wide bombing campaign within Iraq, as well as Usbat al-Thayireen, (League of Revolutionaries) promised attacks on US troops, as well as on the US embassy. In a video, released on April 8th, it released a video in which it said that it is addressed to the whole world. The message opens with Quran 3:200: “Oh you who believe! Be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast and be…

A recent video released by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps shows the IRGC Navy warning off a flotilla of US warships in the Persian Gulf as they try to approach the Iranian territorial waters. In this video, released on Sunday, a personnel of the IRGC Navy warns the vessels to stop inspecting and detaining Iranian fishing or commercial ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. He also warns them that they would face consequences according to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran if they ignore this notice. “In the name of God. This is to…

China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned recent remarks by Western officials who criticized the arrest of several protest organizers in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong. The Ministry’s spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday that China and its territories, including Hong Kong, were ruled by law. Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law and relevant parties must respect this, Geng told reporters during a daily briefing in Beijing. Last week, police in Hong Kong arrested more than a dozen organizers of violent anti-government rallies in Hong Kong last year. Police said all of those arrested would appear in court…

A Russian aviation news outlet says Iran may have replicated an Israeli missile that was shot down in Syria, citing a video of the test of a new Iranian anti-tank missile. Avia.Pro reported that the new missile seems to resemble one of the Israeli projectiles that were downed by the Russian electronic warfare system during an attack on Syria,. The report added that the downed missile was later successfully removed from the country by “Iranian intelligence service”, and was studied and completely copied. The news outlet shared a video that showed the accuracy of the Iranian copy of the Israeli “Spike”…

US oil prices dived to 22-year lows at just $11 Monday after crashing almost 40 percent in a market flooded with crude and slammed by evaporating demand in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Just before 1200 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for May delivery tanked to $11.04 — the lowest level since 1998. Trade, however, was also technically driven as investors closed out their positions ahead of the May contract expiry Monday. The June contract was down 11.9 percent at $22.06. “The real problem of the global supply-demand imbalance has started to really manifest itself…

China has called for a stronger testing regime in an attempt to ensure all cases of the novel coronavirus have been detected, despite a drop in new virus infections in the country. China’s National Health Commission announced the decision on Monday, quoting its director Ma Xiaowei as saying that all localities must improve their testing capabilities, including those at border crossings, and report any epidemic information in a timely manner. The coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19, emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province late last year, incrementally affecting the rest of the…

Unidentified armed men have attacked a military vehicle of the US forces in Syria’s easternmost province of Hasakah, a report by Syria’s official news agency says. SANA, citing civil sources, reported on Monday that the vehicle, transporting American troops and members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), came under attack outside Roueished village, south of the province. The report added that the assault on the Kharafi road destroyed the vehicle and inflicted wounds on a number of the American troops. Just recently, SANA, citing local sources, reported that a US convoy, consisting of 35 vehicles carrying cement blocks and logistic supplies,…