South Asia
A Pakistani International Airline (PIA) passenger plane reached Kabul on Monday before making a return to Islamabad. This marked the first time that an international commercial flight landed in Kabul since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. [The Quint]
United Nations (UN) chief António Guterres on Monday urged the international community to engage with the Taliban and to “find ways to allow for an injection of cash in the Afghan economy” in order to prevent an outright collapse that would have “devastating consequences” for the region at large. [Channel News Asia]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
An Armenian battalion took part in the ‘West 2021’ military exercises at Russia’s Mulino shooting range on Monday. Military units from Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia are involved in the drills. [Armen Press]
Uzbekistan has transferred all Afghan pilots and their families to an American military base in the United Arab Emirates. The transfers were part of a deal between the United States and Uzbekistan to evacuate the pilots and their families who fled from the Taliban. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
The first sitting of Malaysia’s fourth session of the 14th Parliament on Monday saw the attendance of three former prime ministers for the first time. The session was attended by Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin, Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) president Hadi Awang, and Pekan MP Najib Razak. [The Straits Times]
China has lodged a protest with the United States (US) over media reports that claimed that the US is “seriously considering changing the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office’s name to the ‘Taiwan Representative Office’.” China says such a move would seriously deteriorate the China-US relationship and peace in the Taiwan Straits. [Global Times]
Europe
Afghans evacuated to the United Kingdom have been left trapped in quarantine conditions longer than necessary and have not yet received news about accommodation that was promised as part of the government’s resettlement programme. Several Afghans told The Guardian on Monday that they were stuck and had no idea about when they would be allowed to leave. [The Guardian]
After his short visit to Hungary the previous day, Pope Francis arrived in Slovakia on Monday. Similar to his discussion with the Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, the Pope expressed concern over increased nationalism and isolationist politics in Slovakia to President Zuzana Caputova. The Pope urged Slovakia to strengthen its fraternity within its borders and with Europe and to stay away from financial greed and culture wars. [Reuters]
A court on Monday ruled that Uber drivers in the Netherlands are entitled to the same employment benefits as taxi drivers. Judges in Amsterdam said, “Drivers working for the ride-hailing app fall under the Dutch taxi drivers’ collective labour agreement.” The court added, “The legal relationship between Uber and its drivers conforms to all the characteristics of an employment contract, and they, therefore, must be employed on a permanent basis.” While the Dutch worker’s organisation hailed the decision, Uber said that the decision is a blow to the “gig economy model” and is likely to appeal the decision. [Euronews]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentina’s ruling party, Frente de Todos, suffered major losses in most districts in primary elections against opposition party Juntos por el Cambio, which is led by former President Mauricio Macri. This comes as a significant defeat for President Alberto Fernández, who has come under fire after it was revealed that he held a birthday party at his residence last year while the rest of the population was on strict lockdown. [MercoPress]
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza once again hurled accusations of political interference at Colombia, calling it the “mercenary factory.” This comes in response to comments by Colombian President Iván Duque wherein he held Venezuela responsible for attacks against the Colombian military. [Prensa Latina]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Monday. Bennett emphasised “Egypt’s significant role” in maintaining the security in Gaza and urged El-Sisi to find a solution to the issues of Israeli captives in the enclave. [Israel Prime Minister’s Office]
According to a Sudanese official, floods triggered by torrential rains have killed more than 80 people and damaged around 35,000 houses since July. The United Nations estimates that flooding has affected 102,000 people across the country. [Associated Press]
North America
United States Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated on Monday that the Biden-Harris administration will host the first-ever Quad Leaders Summit in the White House on September 24th. “Hosting the leaders of the Quad demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” read Psaki’s statement. [The White House]
Canadian Frontline Nurses, a group founded by two Ontario anti-vaxx nurses who don’t believe that the pandemic is real, staged a series of protests outside hospitals across Canada against vaccine mandates for healthcare workers in the country. The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and Ontario Medical Association issued a joint statement strongly condemning the protests; several politicians and civilians also condemned the large-scale disruption as Canada combats rising COVID-19 deaths. [CBC]
Oceania
Former Australian defence official Cheryl Durrant warned Australia of its diminishing influence in the Pacific due to its failure to set ambitious climate action targets. She urged the government to review its budget priorities, citing an insufficient budget allocation to combat the climate crisis. [Canberra Times]
On Tuesday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she has no intention of enforcing lockdowns forever. Ardern told AM Show that “officials do not intend to continue to use lockdowns long-term against Covid.” She further noted the importance of vaccinations as the key to stopping lockdowns. However, despite focusing on vaccinations, Ardern failed to provide an exact number of people who needed to be vaccinated before discontinuing lockdowns. [NZ Herald]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Angolan opposition supporters took to the streets of Luanda to protest against changes President Joao Lourenço has proposed to the country’s electoral law to centralise the counting of votes. [AfricaNews]
Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu PF, has denied allegations by newly-elected Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema’s United Party for National Development that it conducted cyberattacks against Hichilema during Zambia’s recent presidential election in order to prop up the campaign of former President Edgar Lungu. Zanu PF secretary Obert Mpofu said, “We have no business in attacking the democratic latitudes of fellow neighbour states.” [New Zimbabwe]
World News Monitor: 14 September, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
September 14, 2021
Israeli PM Naftali Bennett (L) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi SOURCE: KOBI GIDEON / GPO