South Asia
According to the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, the group attacked and destroyed an ISIS cell in Kabul in a “decisive and successful” operation. This came just several hours after an attack on a mosque, suspected to be orchestrated by ISIS, killed at least five civilians. [NDTV]
The German Ambassador to India, Walter J. Linder, said that India and Germany are going to bolster their bilateral cooperation on Afghanistan. He said that India was a “very big actor” in the region and will work with Germany to improve the human rights situation in the war-torn country. [Times of India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The Taliban has provided Tajik militants based along the border with Tajikistan with military and other equipment over the past two weeks, security sources in Tajikistan and Afghanistan told RFE/RL on Monday. They also confirmed that the Taliban has “removed” ethnic Uyghur fighters from an area close to the Chinese border. [RFE/RL]
United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and “the way forward in Afghanistan.” Sherman underscored the need to maintain “close cooperation” and “strategic partnership” between the two sides regarding Afghanistan. [US Department of State]
East and Southeast Asia
China has backtracked on its earlier decision and will not impose the mainland’s anti-sanctions law on Hong Kong for now. [The Straits Times]
Fumio Kishida has been voted by lawmakers to become Japan’s new Prime Minister. He pledged to prioritise fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with fresh stimulus and fight income inequality. [Channel News Asia]
Europe
The Nord Stream 2 operator informed the press on Monday that it had begun filling the contentious pipeline, which is meant to carry gas from Russia to Germany and is opposed by several international actors. [Moscow Times]
On Monday, eleven bodies were recovered and three people were rescued after a sailboat was intercepted off the Spanish island of Cabrera in the Balearic Islands. Authorities have refused to confirm if the bodies were of migrants but stated that around 300 migrants, mostly from Algeria, were rescued off the Balearic Islands last week. [Euronews]
British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said that tax officials would investigate allegations floated by the Pandora Papers. He said that while it was difficult for him to comment on the allegations at this stage, he would work with the tax officials to test the claims of the controversial publication. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph pleaded with the United Nations Security Council for assistance in tackling gang violence and crime in the country, saying that a mission must be deployed to the country to strengthen security and law enforcement. [Associated Press]
In its latest move to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America, the United States announced a $150 million loan to support women-owned businesses in Ecuador. China has provided $18 billion in loans to Ecuador since 2005. [NPR]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas hosted two Israeli ministers—Nitzan Horowitz and Isawi Frej—from the left-wing Meretz party in Ramallah on Sunday. Horowitz stressed his party’s commitment “to keep[ing] the two-state solution alive.” [Times of Israel]
The Ethiopian parliament on Monday confirmed Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister for a new five-year term. Abiy’s Prosperity Party won a landslide victory in June’s parliamentary elections by securing 410 out of 436 seats. [Al Jazeera]
North America
United States President Joe Biden on Monday said that Republican opposition has placed the federal government at risk of exceeding its debt limit of $28.4 trillion by the end of this month. “If you don’t want to help save the country, get out of the way so you don’t destroy it,” Biden pleaded. [Reuters]
The United States Department of Justice identified a Saudi-born Canadian man, Mohammed Khalifa, as a key associate of the Islamic State insurgent group. They alleged that he “tossed grenades in battle and worked with propagandists who publicized the beheading of hostages including U.S. journalist James Foley.” [Reuters]
Oceania
On Tuesday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed the availability of COVID-19 vaccine certificates for citizens from November. The government is still discussing its application and expects to announce further details in the coming weeks. [Newshub]
Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment Dan Tehan revealed that his French counterpart, Franck Riester, has refused to meet him over the AUKUS fallout. Tehan added that the invitation he extended to Riester before landing in Paris for trade talks still stands. [Sky News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was named in the Pandora Papers after the president and his family were discovered to have stored upwards of $30 million in foundations and companies that were used as tax havens. While Kenyatta has not directly responded to his name being mentioned in the report, he said, “The Pandora Papers and subsequent follow-up audits will lift that veil of secrecy and darkness for those who can not explain their assets or wealth.” [The East African]
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday will chair an Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The summit will be attended by the leaders of Botswana, Namibia, and Mozambique, and they will discuss the progress made by the SADC counterterrorism mission to Mozambique. [The Presidency of South Africa]