Author: Steven Sahiounie

Japanese officials have extended Covid restrictions to more than 70% of the country’s population, amid a surge in infections that is threatening to overwhelm hospitals across the nation, including the Olympics hub of Tokyo. The new measures, laid out by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday, will declare ‘quasi-emergencies’ across a further eight of Japan’s 47 prefectures, with some experts in the country warning that the growing infection rate is now severe enough to warrant a nationwide state of emergency. Six Japanese prefectures are under full states of emergency, including Tokyo, where the Olympics are currently being held, as well…

Google co-founder Larry Page was allowed to travel to New Zealand after seeking medical treatment for his child, exempting him from rules that prohibit most non-residents from entry. Page went to New Zealand earlier this year because his young child required hospital treatment in Auckland, but details about his visit to the country are sparse, including where he stayed and whether he was required to quarantine. He and his child were in Fiji at the time of the reported medical emergency. Getting into New Zealand is an arduous task even for citizens, with the government requiring permanent residents to undergo…

President Jair Bolsonaro insists the probe into his claims that the Brazilian electronic electoral system is vulnerable to fraud violates the constitution, and he has vowed to act outside of it himself in response. The investigation against Bolsonaro was approved by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Wednesday. The president addressed the development a few hours later in a YouTube interview, and did not hide his anger over the situation. “This investigation is not within the bounds of the constitution, so the antidote to this is also not within the bounds of the constitution,” he said, without specifying what…

Lebanon’s president has hit out at Israel and its “aggressive intentions” after the Israel Defense Forces launched overnight airstrikes on Lebanese villages in response to militant activity on Wednesday. In a series of tweets on Thursday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun blasted Israel’s use of force in attacking targets in Lebanon on Wednesday night. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes on Lebanese villages underline “escalating aggressive intentions that coincide with the continuous threats against Lebanon and its sovereignty,” he stated. Aoun contended that the assault was a “flagrant and dangerous” violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and claimed the move was “a direct threat to security…

TikTok has revealed that it is testing a new ‘disappearing’ stories feature similar to options offered by other platforms, triggering discussion about the video-sharing app’s complicated relationship with its competitors. TikTok Stories will allow content creators to make videos that will vanish after 24 hours. The trial feature was first spotted by media consultant Matt Navarra, who shared screenshots of the new option on Twitter. In a statement provided to the media, the video-sharing platform, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, said that it was “always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience.” It’s…

Iranian armed forces Spokesman Abu al-Fadl Shakarji said, “Our forces contribute to the security of navigation and provide assistance in securing commercial ships,” stressing that all suspicious acts are “under our surveillance and we are ready to respond.” In an interview for the Russian Sputnik agency, Shakarji added, “The Zionist and Saudi reports about the destabilization of security and the piracy of ships constitute a prelude to a venture.” At the same time, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh labeled the reports on repeated security incidents targeting ships in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman as “suspicious”. Khatibzadeh warned against promoting private political…

SANA reported, on Wednesday morning, that a Syrian military bus exploded at the entrance of Masaken al-Haras (Guards’ residences) near the Mashru’a Dummar area in western Damascus. A number of martyrs and injuries were reported. A military bus exploded at the entrance of Masaken al-Haras in the Mashru’a Dummar area in Damascus, according to a SANA correspondent, with casualties reported. According to SANA’s correspondent, initial reports confirm, according to a source at the scene of the incident, that the explosion was caused by a short circuit that caused the fuel tank of the bus to explode, killing the bus driver…

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described the news of repeated security incidents targeting ships in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman as “suspicious”. Khatibzadeh warned against promoting private political purposes and emphasized Tehran’s eagerness to maintain security and stability in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman while cooperating with the countries of the region to help solve navigation problems. Similarly, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abu al-Fadl Shakarji said, “Our forces contribute to the security of navigation and provide assistance in securing commercial ships.” He implied that Iranian forces have all suspicious acts under their surveillance and are…

The Chief of the Tunisian General Labor Union, Noureddine Taboubi, stated on Tuesday that the Union demands a small government led by an experienced prime minister, who is able to send positive signals to Tunisians and international donors. The Union assured, after a meeting, that the exceptional measures taken by the President were in response to popular demands, condemning leaders of the “Ennahda” Movement for relying on foreign forces.  In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Assistant Chief of the Tunisian General Labor Union, Samir al-Tahiri, stressed the Union’s rejection of any reliance on foreign forces and welcomed any visit in support of the…

The body of Martyr Muhammad Farid, 20, was finally handed over to his family on Tuesday night, a month after the occupation forces had seized it. Near the Hawara military checkpoint, the Israeli forces handed over the martyr’s body to his family, who took him to the Rafidia Surgical Governmental Hospital. The martyr’s body will be buried in his hometown of Qusra village, in southern Nablus of the occupied West Bank. Video footage showing the occupation soldiers shooting child Mohamad Alami In the same context, video footage showed the occupation soldiers deliberately opening fire at the vehicle the child Mohamad Alami was…