CANBERRA, 7 June, 2021 (TON): Amid disputes with states over the vaccine rollout and quarantine, the popular support for Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fallen.

On Sunday night, the latest Newspoll published stating that Morrison's approval rating has fallen from 58 percent in mid-May to 54 percent.

It coincides with a rise in the proportion of voters dissatisfied with his performance from 38 percent to 43 percent, reducing Morrison's net approval rating from plus 20 in May to plus 11, the lowest it has been since April 2020 after COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced.

The net approval rating for opposition Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese also fell but the proportion of voters who chose him as their preferred prime minister rose two points to 32 percent.

The poll was taken after Victoria's fourth corona-virus lockdown triggered a political brawl, with Albanese joining state and territory leaders in criticizing the federal government over the slow vaccine rollout and failure to build dedicated quarantine facilities.

Nevertheless, Morrison last week announced 200 million Australian dollars (about 154.7 million U.S. dollars) in funding for a quarantine facility in Victoria but Albanese said it was too late, telling Sky News on Sunday that Australians "can't afford to keep having these lockdowns."

BOGOTA, 7 June, 2021 (TON): Amidst the violent nationwide protests, the Colombian President Ivan Duque announced the modernization of the Defense Ministry and a comprehensive reform of the National Police.

On Sunday, the media reported that the measures include very strict regulations to limit the commercialization, carrying and use of weapons, as well as a new system for receiving, processing, and monitoring complaints and reports.

The President also emphasized the professionalization of and supervision for the police with the creation of a police university as well as the acceleration of the use of body cameras when officers are on patrol.

Duque said that this transformation includes an emphasis on the protection of and respect for the rights of Colombian citizens.

The reform has been presented in the midst of a national strike that killed at least 59 people, began on 28 April due to a proposed tax hike that was later rescinded.

MOSCOW, 7June, 2021 (TON): A law to withdraw Moscow from the Open Skies treaty has been signed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Open Skies Treaty is an arms control pact with the U.S. that permitted unarmed surveillance flights over military facilities in both countries.

On Monday, the law went into effect upon publication by the Kremlin, the media reported.

Putin himself had ordered the withdrawal from Open Skies.

The military observation flights were seen as key to building confidence between Russia and the West after the Cold War.

However, the decision to abandon the pact was mutual.

The administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump announced a year ago that Washington would withdraw from Open Skies, alleging Russia had violated its terms.

The incumbent Joe Biden administration decided in May to stick to that decision.

Russia blamed the US for the end of the agreement.

Last week, Russia's upper house of parliament voted to scrap the treaty.

Moreover, Putin's signature was the last legal act to withdraw from the deal, signed in Helsinki on 24 March, 1992.

DUBAI, 7 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman met with Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Secretary in Neom.

Citing the media, “During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and aspects of joint cooperation in various fields. They also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and the efforts exerted to enhance security and stability in the region.”

The officials who were part of the meeting included, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and the Kingdom’s Minister of Trade, Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, and the Britain’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Neil Crompton.

BAMAKO, 7June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the head of Mali's junta Colonel Assimi Goita is expected to be sworn in as the country’s new President.

Days after removing transitional leader Bah Ndaw from power, Colonel Assimi Goita declared himself President last week.

The transitional leader and the PM Moctar Ouane were accused of appointing a new cabinet without consulting him.

It was the second seizure of power masterminded by Goita in under a year.

However, Mali has since been suspended by the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS.

RIYADH, 7 June, 2021 (TON): The first-ever International Falcon Breeders Auction (IFBA) will be hosted by the Saudi Falcons Club (SFC) in the Kingdom.

Between 5 August and 5 September, for about 10 days, it will take place at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.

The international auction aims to provide top-tier falcons for falconers in the Kingdom and the countries within the region.

The auction will also introduce the best falcon breeding farms and experiences from around the world to the Kingdom, serving as a platform to explore business opportunities.

The club seeks to transform the auction into an international event and a major attraction for international falcon breeders.

The SFC has designated a full-service venue for the auction in its exhibition building, which includes a designated space for companies interested in showcasing their veterinary supplies, tools, and equipment for falconry and training.

However, in the Kingdom, falcon sales have reported record figures, reflecting the region’s passion and love for the birds.

MEXICO CITY, 7 June, 2021 (TON): On Sunday, Mexico began midterm elections with the opening of about 161,000 polling stations throughout the country.

The polling stations opened with about 90 million people eligible to vote to fill more than 20,000 public positions.

At 8:00 a.m. local time, polling stations opened with bio-safety protocols and closed at 6:00 p.m.

The presiding counselor, Lorenzo Cordova reported at the National Electoral Institute (INE) during the inauguration of the elections, that everything was ready for the "historic elections" to be held in the country, saying that “everything has been done to prevent our democracy being another victim of the pandemic.

The midterm elections are the largest in the country's history due to the number of positions to be filled.

He called on the citizens to vote while observing preventive health measures and asked that if any irregularity or illegal act is witnessed, that it be reported to the Special Prosecutor's Office for Electoral Crimes (FEDE).

However, in these elections, 15 governors will be elected, 500 federal deputies, 1,063 local deputies as well as 1,923 mayoral posts, among other positions.

DHAKA, 07 June 2021, (TON): The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has decided to provide Tk25,000 as subsidy for the Saudi Arabia-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers to bear quarantine costs.

The money will be sent to the bank account of the concerned worker or the nominee.

A media release said that workers who stayed or will stay in compulsory institutional quarantine at their own expense from May 20, 2021, to June 30, 2021, as per Saudi Arabia government guidelines will get this subsidy money.

Wage Earners Welfare Board has decided to provide the money upon workers’ application.

This subsidy money will be sent to the bank account of the concerned worker or the nominee. The concerned employees can download the application form from websites – www.probashi.gov.bd, www.wewb.gov.bd, and www.bmet.gov.bd.

The form can also be collected from the Expatriate Welfare Desk at the three international airports of the country.

The form can be submitted to the Expatriate Welfare Desk at the airports from June 7.

The expatriate workers have to submit the form along with the documents mentioned in the form.

OUAGADOUGOU, 06 June 2021, (TON): Armed men have killed over 132 people in an attack on a village in northern Burkina Faso.

The government says “the country's worst attack in recent years.” Witnesses claims that terrorist attack was backed by foreign agencies.

Homes and the local market were burned during the overnight raid on Solhan.

No group has said it was behind the violence, but attacks against the Muslims are common in the country, especially in border regions to force them leave the lands.

The UN chief said “he was outraged by the incident.”

Spokesperson of António Guterres said "strongly condemns the heinous attack and underscores the urgent need for the international community to redouble support to member states in the fight against violent extremism and its unacceptable human toll".

He added that the security forces are currently looking for the perpetrators.

In another attack on Friday night, 14 people were reported to have been killed in the village of Tadaryat, about 150km (93 miles) to the north of Solhan.

Last month, 30 people died in an attack in the east of Burkina Faso.

The country is facing a deepening security crisis due to foreign presence and interference.

KABUL, 06 June 2021, (TON): Acting Special Envoy of the European Union for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson said that “targeting Hazaras must be stopped.”

The EU stated in a tweet that Niklasson has met with surviving students of the Sayed-ul-Shuhada school attack at Dasht-e-Barchi area in Kabul and issued the tweet afterwards.

Niklasson has stated that crimes have been committed and that they must be investigated. He said “Targeting Hazaras must stop and crimes be investigated”.

Niklasson noted that some people want to stop the grieving of Sayed-ul-Shuhada students, but their memory can be honored by pursuing dreams.

He further stated “those taken away too early can’t be brought back. But their memory can be honored by pursuing dreams that some want to stop”.

Around 70 people, mostly school girls were killed and around 100 others wounded in the unfortunate act of terrorism. Taliban has strongly condemned the attack while so far, no group  has claimed responsibility for the attack. There are reports that such terrorist attacks are being planned from the hired terrorist to prove some communities vulnerable and pose other as villans.