Qatar Emerges as Key Player in Afghanistan after US Pullout
Qatar played an outsised role in US efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan.
Now the tiny Gulf Arab state is being asked to help shape what is next for Afghanistan because of its ties with both Washington and the Taliban, who are in charge in Kabul.
Qatar will be among global heavyweights when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosts a virtual meeting to discuss a coordinated approach for the days ahead, as the US completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.
The meeting will also include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the European Union and NATO.
US Suspends Diplomatic Mission in Afghanistan, Moves Embassy to Qatar
The United States has begun a new diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that as the US withdrew its last troops from the country ending the 20-year war in the South Asian nation.
The US has shut down its diplomatic mission in Kabul and moved the embassy to Doha in Qatar.
"As of today, we have suspended our diplomatic presence in Kabul, and transferred our operations to Doha, Qatar, which will soon be formally notified to Congress. Given the uncertain security environment and political situation in Afghanistan, it was the prudent step to take," he said.
UNSC Adopts Resolution on Afghanistan
The United Nations Security Council, under the current Presidency of India adopted a resolution on the situation in Afghanistan, demanding that the war-torn country not be used to threaten or attack any nation or shelter terrorists.
The resolution was put forward by the US, the UK, France. It was adopted after 13 Council members voted in favour, while permanent members Russia and China abstained from the voting.
A new species of the mosasaur genus Ectenosaurus has been identified from the fossilised remains found in western Kansas, the United States.
The newly-identified mosasaur species lived during the Late Cretaceous epoch, some 80 million years ago.
The ancient creature inhabited the Western Interior Seaway, a shallow body of marine water that divided the North American continent into two distinct landmasses.
Steel Strips Wheels Limited (SSWL) has signed an agreement with Tata Steel Long Products for rolling of round bars of various grades for a period of 3 years. These products will target automotive customers in India.
The supplies from the company's Saraikela Plant, in Jharkhand, will start from October 2021.
A subsidiary of Tata Steel, Tata Steel Long Products, is in the business of manufacturing high alloy steel, primarily for the auto sector and wire rope industry.
HSBC Asia Appoints Ex-SBI Chief Rajnish Kumar as an Independent Director
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has appointed former State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar as an independent director and a member of Audit Committee and Risk Committee of the Asian entity.
The Indian operation is a branch of this Asian entity. HSBC is also listed in the UK as a separate entity called HSBC Plc.
Rajnish Kumar retired in October 2020 after a 40-year career at the SBI. His international tenure included stints at SBI's UK and Canada operations.
Kumar is also currently a director of India's Lighthouse Communities Foundation, an independent director of Larsen & Toubro Infotech, a senior advisor of Baring Private Equity Asia Pte. Ltd in Singapore and an advisor of Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd in Mumbai.
Axis Bank Begins Issuing Debt Securities
Axis Bank has started issuing debt securities under its Rs. 35,000 crore-debt raise plan announced earlier this year.
In April, the private sector lender had said that its board had approved capital raise proposal up to Rs. 35,000 crore by issuing various debt instruments in Indian or foreign currency in domestic/overseas markets in one or more tranches.
The bank has initiated the process of issuing of the debt instruments, in the form of the additional tier 1 notes (notes) in foreign currency, subject to market conditions.
This will be a sustainable bond under the sustainable financing framework of the bank.
Russian cosmonauts discovered cracks on the Zarya module of the International Space Station (ISS) and are concerned that the fissures could spread over time.
According to NASA, the Zarya module, also called the Functional Cargo Block, was the first component of the ISS ever launched, having blasted into orbit on November 20, 1998.
The emergence of these new cracks follows several recent incidents on the ISS.
Javelin thrower Sumit Antil clinched India's second gold at the ongoing Paralympics, shattering the men's F64 category world record multiple times in a stunning Games debut performance.
Sumit from Sonepat in Haryana, who lost his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015, sent the spear to 68.55 m in his fifth attempt, which was the best of the day by quite a distance and a new world record.
Australian Michal Burian (66.29 m) and Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku (65.61 m) took the silver and bronze, respectively.
The F64 category is for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.
Paralympics: Yogesh Kathuniya Wins Silver in Discus Throw
Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men's F56 event in the Paralympics as athletics remained India's happy hunting ground at the Games.
Yogesh a B.Com graduate from New Delhi's Kirorimal College, sent the disc to a best distance of 44.38 m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver.
Kathuniya suffered a paralytic attack at the age of eight which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs.
Brazil's defending champion, reigning world champion and world record holder Claudiney Batista dos Santos won the gold with a best throw of 45.59 m while Leonardo Diaz Aldana (43.36 m) of Cuba took the bronze.
Indian GM Iniyan Wins Noisiel International Open Chess Tournament
Indian Grandmaster P. Iniyan won the Noisiel International Open 2021 Chess Tournament, scoring eight points from nine rounds in the Classical event after securing the top prize in the Blitz section.
Iniyan (Elo rating 2506) finished half a point ahead of higher rated GM Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine (Elo 2561) who secured 7.5 points, while French International Master Kambrath Yannick took 3rd place.
Iniyan won seven of the nine games he played, including against two French International Masters. He drew two games and one of those was against Ukraine's Solodovnichenko.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has proposed amendments in the liquidation process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in order to bring transparency.
According to IBBI, regulatory framework of liquidation process has been improvised on various occasions in last five years in a bid to address the difficulties faced by stakeholders, meet evolving requirements and to achieve the objectives of the Code.
New amendments were proposed to further strengthen the regulatory framework of the liquidation process with respect to accountability of liquidator towards stakeholders.
IBBI is the regulator to look after the insolvency proceedings and entities such as Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPA), Information Utilities in India and Insolvency Professionals (IP). It was established in October 2016. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code provides IBBI statutory powers. The code was passed by Lok Sabha in May 2016. Present whole-time members of the IBBI include Dr. Navrang Saini, Dr. Ms. Mukulita Vijayawargiya and Sh. Sudhakar Shukla.
Govt. Introduces "Bharat series (BH-series)" Registration
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has introduced a new registration mark for new vehicles, i.e. "Bharat series (BH-series)". The vehicles bearing the BH-series mark will not have to require the assignment of a new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one state to another.
Earlier, under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, if a person moves from one state to another, a person is allowed to keep the vehicle for not more than 12 months in any state other than the state where the vehicle is registered, but a new registration with the new state- registering authority has to be made within the stipulated time of 12 months.
This facility is available on a voluntary basis to Defense personnel, employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector companies/organizations, which have their offices in four or more States/Union territories.
Taiwan's Makes Last-minute Request for Seahawk Helos
Taiwan's government is seeking funding for a long-delayed plan to acquire shipboard anti-submarine helicopters from the United States, as it announces an increased defense budget for the forthcoming fiscal year.
As per reports, the Ministry of National Defense is aiming in the 11th hour to include funding to buy Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
The news comes as Taiwan's government approved a $16.89 billion defense budget for the next fiscal year, which runs from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The figure is a 4 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year.
Taiwan wants to acquire up to 10 MH-60Rs spread over a number of years, and will also include weapons such as Mk 54 torpedoes, Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and guns.
India and Germany Conduct Joint Maritime Exercise in Gulf of Aden
Navies of India and Germany carried out a joint exercise, which included helicopter landings and search and seizure operations, in Gulf of Aden near Yemen. The Indian Navy's frigate 'Trikand' exercised with German frigate 'Bayern' in the Gulf of Aden.
The exercise included cross deck helo (helicopter) landings and visit board search and seizure operations. INS Trikand is deployed in the Gulf of Aden region for anti-piracy patrol.
The exercise between Trikand and Bayern on the latter's Indian Ocean leg of Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021 enhanced interoperability and facilitated exchange of best practices between partner navies in maritime domain.
Former International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge passed away at the age of 79.
Rogge served as president from 2001 to 2013, overseeing three summer Games and three winter Games, as well as creating the Youth Olympics.
Rogge was a rugby player who represented his native Belgium on the national team. He also competed in sailing, representing Belgium at the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976.
Rogge also headed the European Olympic Committee from 1989 to 2001 before being elected president of the IOC, taking over from Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Malaysia National Day, which is also known as Malaysia Independence Day or 'Hari Merdeka' in Malay, is observed on August 31 every year to commemorate the Malayan Declaration of Independence of August 31, 1957. It is defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia as the official Independence Day when the country gained its freedom from British rule.
Celebrations usually start in Malaysia from the beginning of August with various programs and national competitions. Owing to the celebrations, the month of August in Malaysia is also known as the National Month.
First Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in 1956 to negotiate with the British for independence. An agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaysia to gain independence from British rule. However, due to some logistical and administrative reasons, the actual independence of Malaysia was declared next year on August 31, 1957.
Special 'Advance' Fellowships for Afghanistan Students
The OP Jindal Global University (JGU) has launched special fellowships, the Advancement of Afghan Nationals in Comprehensive Education (ADVANCE), offering credible educational alternatives to Afghanistan students whose educational pursuits may have been disrupted due to the ongoing crisis in the country.
The pioneering and humanitarian educational initiative is in response to the complicated geopolitical situation in the region and the need for students to have credible educational alternatives to pursue their academic goals and aspirations.
ADVANCE will provide an exceptional opportunity to selected students to pursue PhD degrees at any of the schools or institutes offering doctoral programmes and to work closely with the global faculty of JGU.
The aim of the Fellowship is to support, strengthen and empower students from Afghanistan to develop their research capabilities and intellectual competencies and provide them a pathway for a career in academia.
IIM-Ahmedabad to Offer Customised Management Programme for Officials of DAE Organisations
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). As per this agreement, it will offer the custom-designed 'Sarabhai Management Development Programme for senior executives of DAE Organisations'.
The senior executives from DAE institutions such as the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) will be participating in this programme, which will conclude on September 4, 2021.
The programme will provide participants with an understanding of the latest business practices, management techniques and tools that will allow them to enhance efficiency and contribute to their respective organisations. Experts in the fields of management will be invited to facilitate cross-learning.
IATO Seeks Continuation of SEIS for the Next 5 Years
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) participated in a meeting called by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal to get input from the exporters on required measures to be taken on PM's call to increase exports to USD 400 billion this year and taking India to 5 trillion USD economy in the future, a number of suggestions were given.
Representing the tourism industry, Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO suggested the measures like Opening e-Tourist Visas, resuming normal international flight operations etc. Besides, Mehra informed the Minister about the precarious financial condition that the tour operators had undergone during the pandemic and how the release of long-overdue SEIS (Service Exports from India Scheme) for the financial year 2019-20 is vital for their survival. He also requested that SEIS should continue for the next 5 years and should be included in RoDTEP scheme in foreign trade policy being framed for 2021-26.
Mehra also informed the Minister that the tourism industry is a major foreign exchange earner and should be accorded the status of deemed exporter at par with service export earners. Such a move could enhance their competitiveness and thus can boost foreign tourist arrivals.
Lost Monastery Led by 8th-century Queen Discovered in England
Archaeologists in England may have found the lost monastery of Queen Cynethryth, who was queen of the kingdom of Mercia during the eighth century A.D.
Cynethryth, who was married to King Offa, had an unusually high degree of power for a woman at that time.
"Cynethryth is a fascinating figure, a female leader who clearly had genuine status and influence in her lifetime," project leader Gabor Thomas, said. Not only were coins minted with her image, but it is known that when the powerful European leader Charlemagne wrote to his English counterparts, he wrote jointly to both King Offa and Queen Cynethryth, giving both equal status.
Uruguay's First Contemporary Art Museum
Pablo Atchugarry, one of Uruguay's leading contemporary artists, is planning to open the nation's first contemporary art museum in the resort town of Punta del Este.
Dubbed the Museo Arte Contemporâneo Atchugarry, the project is an outgrowth of Fundación Pablo Atchugarry, which the artist founded 15 years ago to promote the visual arts in Uruguay.
The foundation has since grown to include an auditorium, galleries, an outdoor amphitheater, and a 99-acre sculpture park. The museum will be the latest addition to its expansive grounds.
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