September 30, Thursday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.A senior U.S. administration official says President Joe Biden is looking forward to working with Kishida Fumio, the new head of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida on Wednesday won the LDP’s leadership election. The career politician is now virtually set to become Prime Minister, following Suga Yoshihide.
2.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has been elected as a member of the country’s highest governing body. The move is likely to further raise the profile.
3.Thursday marks one month since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s rapid return to power. With the Taliban once again in charge, stability in Afghanistan still feels some way off. A series of fatal attacks believed to have been carried out by a regional arm of the Islamic State militant group has killed many civilians, including children.