September 5 – Europe / Former Soviet Republics: UKRAINE
The Ukrainian government and the separatists from eastern Ukraine agree to a ceasefire in a deal signed in Belarus and backed by Russia. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he will support greater autonomy for eastern regions, but will not agree to split the territory. The leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic responds that the rebels will not consider staying within the borders of today’s Ukraine.
September 9 – Middle East: IRAQ
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi forms a new government, inclusive of the country’s main minority groups. It is hoped that the move will pull Iraq’s forces together and unite it against the threat from the Islamic State (IS) militants. Prime Minister Abadi, who is Shia, nominated three deputy ministers: Hoshyar Zebari, the Kurdish outgoing foreign minister, Saleh al-Mutlak, a Sunni, and Baha Arraji, a Shia and former Member of Parliament.
September 10 – Latin America: VENEZUELA
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), inflation in Venezuela has risen to over 64 percent in 2014. The country suffers from shortages of basic necessities, such as milk, flour, and toilet paper. The country’s president blames it on massive protests that swept throughout the country this year. However, economists point out that the huge government spending and exchange rate controls are to blame.
September 19 – Europe: UNITED KINGDOM
In a referendum on independence in Scotland, 55 percent of people vote to stay within the United Kingdom. UK Prime Minister David Cameron says that people in England, Scotland, and Wales should receive more powers over their affairs, such as taxation and spending.
September 21 – International Issues: CLIMATE
More than 300,000 environmentalists, business people, celebrities, and citizens take part in a rally organized ahead of the UN climate change summit due to take place in New York City, demanding action on climate change. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also takes part in the walk. Thousands of similar rallies across the world are taking place, including Australia and Europe.
September 21 – East Asia: CHINA
A deadly blast takes place in China’s far west Xinjiang region, home to the country’s Muslim Uighur minority group. Uighur activists explain that recent violence in the region has been fueled by oppressive policies of the Chinese authorities. Also, the large-scale immigration of the Chinese Han people into the region, who are said to be given better jobs and other perks, adds to tensions.
September 22 – Middle East: YEMEN
The Yemeni government signs an UN-brokered truce and power-sharing agreement with the Houthi rebels who have taken over parts of the country’s capital, Sanaa. The Houthis belong to the Zaidi Shia minority who demand greater autonomy for their northern province of Saada. According to the deal, the two sides will form a new unity government with the Houthis choosing a prime minister.
September 22 – Middle East / North America/Europe: SYRIA / UNITED STATES / TURKEY
The United States-led coalition begins air strike targets inside Syria that belong to the Islamic State (IS) militants and the Khorasan group, another militant group formed from al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda operating in Syria and Lebanon. The coalition includes Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). (September 27): The coalition air strikes IS targets near the besieged northern Syrian town of Kobane on the border with Turkey, helping Kurdish fighters push back the militants. Tens of thousands of Kobane civilians flee the town for Turkey. Kobane is a strategic place, which would give the militants control over a long stretch of Syrian territory alongside the Turkish border. Under pressure from other countries and its own Kurdish population, Turkey opens its border for Syrian Kurds fleeing the violence around Kobane. Since 2011, when the fighting against the Syrian government began, Turkey has accepted about 850,000 refugees from Syria.
September 29 – South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
After two months of the presidential election audit, two main contenders sign a power-sharing agreement. Afghan former Finance Minister and Chancellor of Kabul University Ashraf Ghani is sworn in as president and replaces Hamid Karzai who was in power from 2001. The second runner-up, Abdullah Abdullah, becomes chief executive with prime ministerial power. Both politicians will have to focus on the country’s security and fight Taliban militants.
September 29 – East Asia: CHINA
Hong Kong students and activists organize pro-democracy rallies and occupy the city center for several weeks in protest at the Chinese government’s decision to limit people’s choices during a 2017 election for Hong Kong’s chief executive. Tens of thousands of regular people also join the protesters in their demands for a free choice of candidates.