Author: Steven Sahiounie

The approval rating for the Japanese cabinet has fallen 9% since June to 34%, according to a survey conducted by local media. Disapproval centers on Covid-19 concerns linked to the Summer Olympics, which kicked off last week. The survey conducted by Nikkei and TV Tokyo was released on Monday morning, only three days after the Summer Olympic Games began. The analysis was undertaken between Friday and Sunday and the results showed the lowest ratings since Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office last September. According to the survey, the most popular response for disapproval was ‘lack of leadership’, cited by 53%, followed by…

The African nation of Equatorial Guinea slammed the UK for interfering in its domestic affairs, as it announced the “total closure” of its embassy in London in response to UK sanctions on the son of the country’s president. The move, announced by the country’s foreign minister, Simeon Oyon Esono, followed the UK’s decision on Thursday to slap the president’s son, who serves as Vice president, with sanctions. The UK Foreign Office claims that Teodoro Obiang Mangue reportedly spent $500 million on properties, cars and other items, as part of a jet-setting lifestyle fuelled by corrupt behavior and the soliciting of bribes. In response,…

Councilors in New South Wales have voted to change the name of an Australian island popular with tourists after it was deemed to carry racist connotations, though a survey found more than half of locals opposed the switch. On Monday, councilors from Lake Macquarie, a city on Australia’s east coast, voted 8-5 in favor of scrapping the monikers ‘Coon Island’ and ‘Coon Island Point’ following a four-month consolation process. Though the island has been known by the name for around 100 years, it was recently deemed problematic given the word ‘coon’ has racist connotations as a pejorative term for a…

Lebanon’s new prime minister designate, Najib Mikati, has secured enough votes to form a government and implement a French-devised plan aimed at saving the country from its financial crisis after months of political deadlock. On Monday, businessman Mikati, a two-time former PM, received the support of the Lebanese groups Hezbollah and Amal among others, securing enough votes to form a government following parliamentary consultation. Mikati, who does not hail from a political bloc, was appointed PM by President Michel Aoun after securing a majority of 72 votes from the 118 members of parliament. “I don’t have a magic wand and…

The Israeli occupation forces continue assaulting Palestinians, especially Jerusalemites, and violating their rights. The occupation forces forced another Jerusalem family to self demolish their home in Silwan on Sunday. Palestinian citizen Ali Khalil Shquairat was forced to self demolish his home by a municipal decision under the pretext of “unpermitted construction.” Furthermore, a few days ago, the occupation municipality workers stormed Shquairat’s house and handed him the demolition order. Shquairat then received a call from the occupation police telling him to self demolish, otherwise he would have to pay for the demolition of his home. Israeli occupation protects settlers storming Al-Aqsa…

The Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, hailed Iran’s presence in the annual Russian Navy Day parade. He muses, “This success means the opening of the gates of the North Sea and Finland to the fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.” Admiral Khanzadi, who was invited by the Russian Defense Minister, arrived at St. Petersburg as the head of an Iranian delegation, said, “In this long voyage, these ships entered the world’s strategic areas, something that is unprecedented.” “The two Iranian ships, which began their voyage a few months ago, have now reached…

Tens of thousands of Brazilian protestors took to the streets in several Brazilian cities on Saturday to demand Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s impeachment, as the pandemic exacts a disturbing toll, according to AFP. It was the fourth weekend of anti-Bolsonaro protests organized by leftist political parties, labor unions, and social groups. Bolsonaro is being investigated in the senate, which is probing the possibility of corruption tied to the purchase of coronavirus vaccine. In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Brazilians dressed in red and wearing face masks marched with banners bearing slogans such as “No one can take any more” and…

A high-powered Afghan government delegation will soon fly to Qatar’s capital to prepare for political negotiations with the “Taliban”, according to Al Mayadeen reporter. The “Taliban” may soon accept to engage in the political process with the Afghan government which stresses that any Transition of power should begin with elections, Al Mayadeen reporter added. Besides, Taliban Spokesman Mohammad Naeem said on Saturday evening that “Washington and Kabul have accepted an agreement that provides for a new Islamic order.” In an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen, Naeem stressed that “the Afghan regime must be Islamic, but how will be left to dialogue.”…

Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raeisi considered that “the expansion of relations between Oman and Iran in various political, economic and cultural fields is a completely achievable goal given the level of trust that exists between the two countries”, stressing that “dialog with neighboring countries is top on the foreign policy agenda of his administration.” During a phone call with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, Raeisi said that “the history of brotherhood among the two nations as well as friendship between the two governments is deep-rooted and solid that regional and international developments have never been able to weaken it.”…

Ahead of a planned trip to Washington, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that “the US and Iraq agreed in April that the US transition to a train-and-advise mission meant the US combat role would end.” During an interview for AP, al-Kadhimi said that “there is no need for any foreign combat forces on Iraqi soil. “ “Iraq’s security forces and army are capable of defending the country without US-led coalition troops”, he added. Al-Kadhimi went on to say that “the war against ISIS and the readiness of our forces require a special timetable, and this depends on the negotiations that…