South Asia
On Monday, India and Sri Lanka began a 12-day military exercise that will focus on improving interoperability in combatting insurgency and terrorism. This is the eighth such military exercise, known as Mitra Shakti, and will witness the participation of over 120 Indian personnel. [Hindustan Times]
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narvane expressed concern about China's increased troop presence along its border with India. He said India has begun deploying troops to the region. [SCMP]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his close associates have secretly been involved in property deals in the United Kingdom worth almost $700 million using offshore companies, according to a report released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on Sunday. The ICIJ report, dubbed as the ‘Pandora Papers’, have exposed world leaders, billionaires, politicians, and celebrities for using offshore tax havens to hide their wealth. [RFE/RL]
Russia has called on both Tajikistan and the Taliban to take “mutually acceptable measures” to resolve tensions along the Tajik-Afghan border amid an increased military build-up on both sides. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has refused to recognise the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and has condemned it for human rights abuses in the Panjshir Valley. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced his retirement from politics and said that his daughter Sara will be running for president in the country’s general election next year. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Rodrigo Duterte’s long-time aide, will be her running mate. [Channel News Asia]
North Korea said Monday it will restore the suspended inter-Korean hotlines starting on Monday. [The Straits Times]
Europe
The European Union on Friday postponed free trade talks with Australia until November over the AUKUS rift. Trade Minister Dan Tehan downplayed the decision and revealed his plan to meet EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in the coming weeks for the next round of negotiations. [France 24]
Reports suggest that the United Kingdom intends on relaxing its quarantine restrictions for international travellers within the week. According to the Telegraph, the number of countries on its “red list” will be brought down from 54 to nine. [Reuters]
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has found pockets of support in the United States among Donald Trump supporters. Orbán is known for his authoritarian tendencies and his staunch anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, anti-free press ideals. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served as Trump’s deputy, praised Hungary’s strict abortion laws and Orbán’s governance during a visit to the country last month. [NPR]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once again spoke in favour of relaxing gun restrictions, saying that civilians should be armed with guns to respond to constantly rising crime and violence in the country. [MercoPress]
After at least 118 inmates were killed and a further 79 were injured in a gang battle in an Ecuadorian prison last week, Pope Francis on Sunday called on authorities to ensure a “more humane” prison life. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Jordan’s King Abdullah II received a phone call from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, the first since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. The pair discussed ways of “enhancing cooperation” in various fields. King Abdullah also underscored Jordan’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and recognised its efforts to preserve Syrian “stability and sovereignty.” [Reuters]
At least 8,000 people rallied in support of Tunisian President Kais Saied in Tunis, the biggest show of support for the President since he seized executive power in July. [Reuters]
North America
On Sunday, United States Department of State spokesperson Ned Price put out a statement expressing concern over China’s “provocative military activity” near Taiwan that “destabilises, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability.” He urged Beijing to “cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan.” [US Department of State]
Tens of thousands of women marched across cities in the United States, protesting against the Texas law SB8, which imposes a near-total ban on abortion and refutes the 1973 Roe v. Wade landmark judgement, on Saturday. Despite pressure from the federal government, the Supreme Court is yet to reverse the ban, leaving American women fearing that more states could adopt the same law against abortion rights. [Reuters]
Oceania
On Friday, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director-General of Security Mike Burgess said Hamas should be considered a terrorist organization. He said, “Defining the entirety of Hamas as a terrorist organisation would be valid due to the organisation's history of supporting militant attacks on Israel and its promotion of violence.” [The Canberra Times]
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian resigned on Friday amid a corruption trial that is looking into her complicity in rising COVID-19 cases. [Reuters]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Friday, Guinean junta leader Col. Mamady Doumbouya, who led a military coup to depose President Alpha Condé last month, was sworn in as the country's interim president. He has promised a return to civilian rule but has yet to provide a timeline for elections. [Africa Feeds]
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari lifted the country’s ban on Twitter that was imposed in June after the social media giant deleted a post by the president for allegedly inciting a civil war against political dissidents. Buhari has said, however, that the ban will only be lifted “if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.” [This Day]
World News Monitor: 4 October, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
October 4, 2021
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev SOURCE: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENCY VIA AA