US Basketball Player’s Buzzer Beater Saves His Iranian Side
The Shahrdari Gorgan team was 3 scores behind their rivals in the fourth final match of the Iranian Basketball Super League when the American player Perry Petty scored the equalizer in the last moment with his buzzer beater only to give his team the chance to win and secure the championship title in extra time.
It was a breathtaking, tough game where Shahrdari Gorgan finally won 110-103 in extra time and became champions with an overall score of 3-1.
The video of Petty’s buzzer beater was even tweeted by US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley, who praised the American player’s “extraordinary” shot and congratulated him and his team on their championship.
Following the Saturday night’s match, hundreds of people in the northern Iranian city of Gorgan poured into streets to celebrate their championship.
They had the chance to win the title in 2019-2020 tournament, but the league was left unfinished over the pandemic, even though Shahrdari Gorgan was the top team of the tournament.
Iranian Strain of COVID-19 May Emerge in Future: Official
Alireza Raisi said spring is the season when viruses mutate, and it is totally possible that it mutates in Iran as well.
He underlined currently different strains of the vaccine are threatening the nation.
“We should take the British strain of the virus seriously. But another important point we are facing is the Indian mutated version of coronavirus which can take a much higher toll, even higher than the British and South African strains,” said Raisi, the spokesman for Iran’s National Coronavirus Headquarters.
“[Residents in] provinces located along [Iran’s] eastern borders next to Pakistan and Afghanistan should be more careful and strictly observe health protocols. Accordingly, certain instructions have been communicated to provincial governors,” the spokesman added.
Iran’s Top General Warns of Measures to ‘Bring Israel to Its Senses’
“The Zionists think they can constantly target the Syrian soil, and make mischievous moves in various places and the seas, and not receive any response,” General Baqeri said on Sunday.
He pointed to the “moves made in the past few days” and “future moves that will endanger their interests”, and said these will bring Israelis to their senses.
General Baqeri said Iran does not know who was behind the recent incidents (attacks on Israeli-owned ships and an area near Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility), and is not going to declare anything about them.
“However, the Resistance Front gives a serious response to the Zionists,” he added.
He also warned that should the Zionist regime does not stop its acts of mischief, it is not clear how Iran will respond, but Israel will not remain calm.
Iran to Start Phase III of Clinical Trial of Cuban-Iranian COVID-19 Vaccine
“Phase three of the clinical trial of this vaccine kicks off on Monday, April 26, 2021, in seven provinces and eight medical sciences universities across the nation, and some 24,000 people will receive jabs in this phase,” said the head of the Pasteur Institute of Iran, which is jointly producing the vaccine with Cuba.
“The 44,000 people who were injected with the Iranian-Cuban vaccine received the first dose, and based on a study conducted during phases one and two, this vaccine can create more than 85% immunity,” he added.
He also said COVID-19 vaccination should be free of charge for all as decided by the health ministry.
Zarif Condemns US for ‘Hoarding’ COVID-19 Vaccines
In a tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif said COVID-19 patients in Iran are suffering due to Washington’s sanctions on drugs and medical equipment.
He added Palestinians are also having a hard time dealing with the pandemic while the US has a vaccine surplus.
“Many have been left to fend for themselves, whether due to sanctions and Medical Terrorism against Iranians, or out of malice toward Palestinians,” wrote Zarif.
“US has a vaccine surplus,” Zarif said, using the hashtag “hoarding” in his tweet.
Zarif also called for an international inoculation program to tackle the pandemic.
“Global COVID-19 pandemic should’ve had a global vaccination response,” he said.
Many Iranian coronavirus patients are struggling to cope with the disease due to Washington’s sanctions on medical items and medicines.
Iran has, time and again, lambasted the US for its “medical terrorism,” dismissing the sanctions as cruel and inhuman.
Iran Offers Condolences to Iraq over Deadly Hospital Fire
“I condole with the brotherly nation and government of Iraq and the families of the victims on the tragic incident and huge catastrophe of Baghdad’s Ibn Khatib Hospital,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet.
“I wish divine mercy for the martyrs of this incident and speedy recovery for the injured,” he added.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also extended the Iranian nation and government’s condolences and deep sympathy to the Iraqi nation and government, especially the families of the victims.
In his Sunday statement, Khatibzadeh also wished divine mercy for the martyrs of the incident, speedy recovery for the injured, and patience and divine rewards for the families of the victims.
At least 82 people were killed and 110 injured in a fire on Saturday at the hospital in southeastern Baghdad that had been equipped to house COVID-19 patients, AP reports.
The fire at the Ibn Khatib hospital in the Diyala Bridge area of the Iraqi capital occurred after an accident caused an oxygen tank to explode, the sources said.
Many ambulances were rushing towards the hospital, ferrying away those hurt by the fire, a Reuters photographer nearby said.
Patients not injured in the incident were also being transferred out of the hospital, the medical sources said.
The head of Iraqi civil defence unit said the fire broke out in the floor designated for the pulmonary intensive care unit and that 90 people have been rescued from the hospital out of 120, state news agency INA quoted him as saying.
Major General Kadhim Bohan added that the fire has been put out.
Iraq’s healthcare system, already ruined by decades of sanctions, war and neglect, has been stretched during the coronavirus crisis.
The total number of people infected with COVID-19 in Iraq is 102,5288 including 15,217 deaths, the health ministry said on Saturday.
Iran Calls for End to Israeli Atrocities against Palestinians
“Stop crimes against Palestinian people and residents of al-Quds,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh on Saturday night.
He praised resistance by Palestinians, especially the residents and youths in al-Quds, against criminal Zionists, urging the international community to take action to halt the Israeli regime’s anti-human rights moves against defenceless Palestinians and Israel’s aggression against holy sites in al-Quds.
Khatibzadeh touched upon Israel’s continued occupation and crimes against Palestinian people, and emphasised the necessity of supporting the resistance front until Palestine is liberated.
“The Palestinian land belongs to Palestinian people, and the Israeli regime is a usurper and occupying regime, and the only way to settle the Palestinian crisis is to hold a referendum among the real residents of Palestinian territories.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Visits His Grandmother’s Grave in Iran
The Pakistani Foreign Minister’s grandmother is buried at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth imam of Shiite Muslims.
Iran Bans All Flights to/from India, Pakistan to Contain COVID-19
Mohammad-Hassan Zibakhsh, a spokesman for the CAOI, said on Saturday that the flights have been banned upon the Iranian health ministry’s decision.
The CAOI had earlier banned flights to and from 41 countries and those who want to take flights for high-risk countries are required to do coronavirus test in Iran, according to Zibakhsh.
The spokesman said travelers over the age of eight need to submit a PCR test with 96-hours validity and do another test upon arrival.
Earlier this month, Iran’s Transport Minister Mohammad Eslami had said that travel to 39 countries has been banned amid the fourth wave of coronavirus epidemic in Iran.
Travel bans have been placed on 39 countries to prevent the further spread of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, Eslami said on Sunday April 11.
