EU Foreign Ministers Outline Conditions for Relations with Taliban
European Union officials listed a set of conditions for defining the EU's level of engagement with the Taliban as the new rulers of Afghanistan, including respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Following the Afghan government's collapse last month, the 27-nation bloc and its member countries have evacuated their diplomats from Afghanistan. But EU officials have said they are willing to cooperate with the Taliban now that they have returned to power.
The EU is focusing on delivering humanitarian aid, guaranteeing the safe passage out of the country of Afghan collaborators and employees who were left behind during the airlifts from Kabul, and trying to prevent a mass exodus of refugees that could prompt another migration crisis in Europe.
Angela Merkel Inaugurates WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence
The World Health Organization launched a global data hub in Berlin to analyse information on emerging pandemic threats, filling the gaps exposed by COVID-19.
The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence was inaugurated in the German capital by Chancellor Angela Merkel and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said that it would fill a gap in the world's defences.
One of the most clear is the need for new powerful systems and tools for global surveillance to collect, analyse and disseminate data on outbreaks.
The hub will try to get ahead of the game, looking for early warning signs that go beyond current systems that monitor publicly available information for emerging outbreaks.
Merkel hoped the new hub would help the world to be better prepared for future epidemics and pandemics, stressing that its findings would be shared with other countries.
World Social Protection Report 2020-22
World Social Protection Report 2020-22 was released by International Labour Organisation (ILO).
As per report, more than half of the world population is not getting any form of social protection. This trend of no social protection is there even after expansion of social protections amidst the global outbreak of COVID-19.
Only 47 per cent of the global population had effective access to one social protection benefit, in 2020 while 53 per cent (4.1 billion people) had no protection at all.
People in Europe and Central Asia are among the best covered population. 84 per cent of populations in Europe and Central Asia are having access to at least one benefit.
Social protection comprises of access to healthcare and income security in cases of unemployment, old age, inability to work, and for families with children.
Sep 04, 2021
Taliban Says China will Maintain its Embassy in Afghanistan
Taliban spokesman said that China has promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group's political office in Doha, Qatar, held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China.
The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region.
Sri Lanka Declares Food Emergency as Forex Crisis
Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency as the food crisis worsened after private banks ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports. With the country suffering a hard-hitting economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered emergency regulations to counter the hoarding of sugar, rice and other essential foods. The Sri Lankan rupee has fallen by 7.5% against the US dollar this year.
Rajapaksa has named a top army officer as "Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods". The move followed sharp price rises for sugar, rice, onions and potatoes, while long queues have formed outside stores because of shortages of milk powder, kerosene oil and cooking gas.
China Welcomes Russia's Plan for 'Extended Troika' Meeting in Kabul
China reacted positively to a Russian proposal to convene a meeting of the "Extended Troika" on Afghanistan in Kabul, the first such conference since the Taliban seized power last month.
Russia plans to convene a new meeting of the "Extended Troika" on Afghanistan in Kabul after the resumption of commercial flights.
The new meeting of the Extended Troika, includes Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan.
Sep 03, 2021
Japan's PM Suga Won't Run in Next Vote to Lead Party
As per reports, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga won't run for governing party leadership election, indicating he will step down as Japanese leader at the end of this month.
This means Japan is likely to have a new leader who is elected as head of LDP, due to the party's majority in the parliament.
Mr. Suga has faced criticism and nose diving support ratings over slow coronavirus measures and holding the Olympics despite the public's health concerns.
Nepal Government to Forms Committee to Study Nepal's Border Issue with China
The Nepal government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba decided to form a committee to study the border issue with China in Humla district of Nepal.
Last year, in the month of September, China encroached upon Nepalese territory and constructed nine buildings in border area from Limi Lapcha to Hilla in Namkha village municipality of Humla district.
A committee comprising Department of Survey, Nepal Police, Armed Police and Border Experts will be formed under the coordination of Home Ministry Joint Secretary to study the problems in the border area in Humla district.
Sep 02, 2021
UK Ready to Launch Strikes against ISIS-K in Afghanistan
The UK has said that it is ready to launch strikes at the ISIS-K terror network in Afghanistan after the Pentagon revealed that there are at least 2,000 fighters of the outfit in the war-torn country.
The Islamic State's Afghanistan affiliate, dubbed Islamic State Khorasan or ISIS-K, had claimed responsibility for the deadly twin blasts at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul in which 169 Afghans and 13 American soldiers were killed.
Taliban Confirm Haibatullah Akhunzada as Supreme Leader of Afghanistan Govt.
The Taliban informed that supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada will be the head of the new Afghan government. Reports also indicate that there will also be a Prime Minister post in the next government.
Meanwhile, the head of the political office of the Taliban Mullah Baradar has also been appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.
Although the Taliban says consultations have been finalised on the formation of the new government but discussions have not been held over the system`s name, the national flag or national anthem.
Japanese Government Considers Moving Embassy in Afghanistan to Qatar
The Japanese government is considering transferring the functions of its embassy in Kabul to Qatar due to the tense situation in Afghanistan.
The embassy's work has been temporarily shifted to the Japanese Consulate-General in Istanbul, Turkey.
According to Foreign Minister ToshimitsuMotegi, the government will continue its efforts to support Japanese nationals, local embassy staff and others who wish to evacuate from Afghanistan.
Sep 01, 2021
Ireland Takes over Presidency of UN Security Council
Ireland took over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
The presidency of the council is held by each member state for one month, with Ireland taking the top spot for the month of September 2021.
The role of the president involves presiding over meetings of the Security Council and approving the council's agenda.
Ireland took the position at a busy time, with the fallout from the US withdrawal from Afghanistan likely to dominate meetings.
Ireland began a two-year term on the UN Security Council in January after being elected by fellow member states last year.
Taliban Expected to Adopt Iranian Model of Political System
The Taliban are expected to adopt the Iranian model of the political system for governance. Talks have been ongoing between the top Taliban leadership in Kandahar for the last few days with government formation announcement likely in about a week's time.
The supreme leader will be Hibatullah Akhundzada and under him will be the supreme council. The council could have 11 to 72 members, with the number still being decided. As per reports, the supreme leader will stay in Kandahar. Kandahar has been the traditional capital of the Taliban.
When it comes to the executive arm, it will be led by PM, with the council of ministers under him.
The Taliban plans to restore the 1964/65 Afghan constitution which was framed by the then Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan. The change of constitution is symbolic since the current one was drafted under foreign forces.
US Will Continue to Conduct Drone Strikes in Afghanistan
The American government has made it clear that it will continue to conduct drone strikes against the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and others within Afghanistan whenever it is necessary even after the permanent withdrawal of the US military presence from the country.
The US launched many drone strikes against an individual described as an 'ISIS-K planner' as well as a suspected suicide car bomber in recent days after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 13 US service members. Kirby indicated the Pentagon would utilise drone strikes if threats remain in the future.
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