Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ’s approval ratings have sharply declined amid public outrage over gift certificates he gave to party members, exposing deep-seated resentment toward the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and raising ethical concerns ahead of an important election. Analysts have noted that the 100,000-yen (US$668) gift certificates given by Ishiba to 15 LDP members after a dinner party in early March were not illegal since they were classified as personal gifts rather than political donations. However, they emphasised the shadow of previous financial scandals within the LDP had not gone away and that a “volcanic magma” of anger is building among the Japanese electorate. A weekend Asahi newspaper poll showed that Ishiba’s cabinet approval rating had dropped from 40 per cent to 26 per cent since the
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Over 100 Kenyan MPs and other high-ranking VIPs are set to land in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday, February 13, to witness the AU Commission elections The MPs intend to “observe” the elections and offer support to Raila Odinga, who faces a stiff challenge from Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf The government clarified that the entourage of legislators would foot their own bills to and fro the continental headquarters Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, is one of the top contenders for the African Union Commission chairship elections slated for February 15-16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Raila Odinga hopes to succeed Moussa Faki as AU Commission chair. Photo: Tony Karuma.Source: Getty Images Over 100 MPs and other high-ranking VIPs are set to land in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday, February