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U.S. Congress passes $2.1 billion for Capitol Police and Afghans
The $2.1 billion bill was passed by the Senate by a vote of 98-0. The House of Representatives, which had previously passed its own $1.9 billion bill, then promptly approved the Senate version by a vote of 416-11, clearing the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.
Written By:
Richard Cowan / Reuters |
4:28 pm, Jul. 29, 2021
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A Capitol Police vehicle parks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2021. REUTERS/Erin Scott/File Photo
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress on Thursday approved emergency funding to replenish the Capitol Police and bolster security after the Jan. 6 riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump and to evacuate Afghans who helped American forces from their country.

Defiant migrants will try 'until they die' to cross English Channel and reach UK. (PA)
People living in camps on the coast of France have said they will “try until they die” to reach the UK.
Around 2,000 migrants are currently living around Calais and Dunkirk awaiting an opportunity to cross the English Channel on board small boats or via lorries.
The defiant message comes despite the Home Office targeting migrants with Facebook ads pleading with them not to make the journey.
One 16-year-old boy from Afghanistan said: “I need to go to the UK. I am ready for anything to try and get there.”

Taliban takeover would make Afghanistan a pariah state
30 Jul 2021, 08:27 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], July 30 (ANI): Afghanistan would become a "pariah state" if the government (after Taliban takeover) commits atrocities against its own population, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday.
"An Afghanistan that does not respect the rights of its people, an Afghanistan that commits atrocities against its own people would become a pariah state," TOLO News quoting Blinken reported.
He said that the violence carried out by the Taliban against the Afghan people was deeply troubling and not a good sign for the future of the country.

Taliban admit killing Afghan comic beaten in viral video
Fri 30th July 2021 | 02:10 AM
Kandahar, Afghanistan, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jul, 2021 ) :The Taliban on Thursday said they had killed an Afghanpolice officer, better known for posting humourous videos online, after clips emerged on social media showing him being beaten and his dead body.
Fazal Mohammad, popularly referred to as "Khasha Zwan", was stationed in southern Kandahar province but was taken away by the Taliban after returning home about two weeks ago, according to an officer serving with him.
Last week, viral videos emerged showing Mohammad, his hands tied behind his back and sitting between two men in a car, being slapped repeatedly. Another clip purported to show his dead body.

Human rights violations in Afghanistan
30 Jul 2021, 09:18 GMT+10
Kabul [Afghanistan], July 30 (ANI): Human rights violations have been increasing in Afghanistan at a time when the withdrawal of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces from the war-torn country is about to be completed.
Over the past few weeks, Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.
Last week, a popular comedian in Afghanistan was killed by unidentified gunmen allegedly Taliban in Kandahar province of the country.
Nazar Mohammad, better known as Khasha Zwan, was taken out of his home on July 22 and killed, as per Tolo News. The family of the comedian, who previously served in Kandahar Police, has blamed the Taliban for the attack.

Congress passes bill to fund Capitol security, Afghan visas
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press
July 29, 2021 — 5:10pm
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WASHINGTON — Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.
The $2.1 billion bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation early Thursday afternoon, 98-0, and the House passed it immediately afterward, 416-11.
Senators struck a bipartisan agreement on the legislation this week, two months after the House had passed a bill that would have provided around twice as much for Capitol security. But House leaders said they would back the Senate version anyway, arguing the money is urgently needed for the Capitol Police and for the translators and others who worked closely with U.S. government troops and civilians in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON — 
Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.
The $2.1 billion bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation early Thursday afternoon, 98-0, and the House passed it immediately afterward, 416-11.
Senators struck a bipartisan agreement on the legislation this week, two months after the House had passed a bill that would have provided around twice as much for Capitol security. But House leaders said they would back the Senate version anyway, arguing the money is urgently needed for the Capitol Police and for the translators and others who worked closely with U.S. government troops and civilians in Afghanistan.

Taliban Thugs Film Beating of Afghan Comedian Shortly Before Murder
Screencap Twitter.com/@bsarwary (Original footage from unnamed Taliban kidnappers)
29 Jul 2021
A Taliban spokesman confirmed Thursday that Taliban thugs murdered comedian Nazar Mohammad in southern Afghanistan shortly after a video went viral that showed Mohammad being abducted and beaten.
Mohammad, who has also worked as a police officer in Kandahar, posted satirical videos online under the name Khasha Zawaan. He was noted for his self-deprecating sense of humor and riffing on topics suggested to him by fans.
Goons dragged Mohammad from his home last week, shoved him in a car, and slapped him when he tried to make a joke, recording all of the exchange uploading it to the Internet:

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
2:37 P.M. EDT
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:   Hi, everyone.  Good afternoon.   All right, let’s get going.  I have some updates on now what — what was once “BIF,” now it’s “BID.”  And hopefully we’ll get it to “BIB”.  That’s my joke for the day.  (Laughter.)   All right.  Okay.  (Laughter.)  Thank you so much.  Get it?
 
All right, as you all saw yesterday, the President and a bipartisan group of senators announced a deal on historic infrastructure investment that will drive economic growth and create good-paying, middle-class jobs.  The President is deeply thankful to these senators who he’s worked closely with these past few months. 

India rejects reference to J-K, CPEC in Pak-China joint statement
30 Jul 2021, 06:37 GMT+10
By Naveen KapoorNew Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): India has taken strong objection to mention of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the third round of their strategic dialogue.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at the regular media briefing on Thursday that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been and will remain integral and inalienable parts of India.
"As in the past India categorically rejects any reference to Jammu and Kashmir in such joint statement, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory of Ladakh have been and will remain integral and inalienable parts of India," he said.

As anniversaries approach, Japan's bishops call for prohibition of nukes
On: 7/29/2021, 
By
, In: World
...Pope Francis prays as he visits the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park in Nagasaki, Japan, Nov. 24, 2019. Catholic bishops in Japan are calling for the prohibition of nuclear weapons as they announce a 10-day prayer program marking the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
...A woman prays for victims of the 1945 atomic bombing at Nagasaki's Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park in Japan Aug. 9, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the bombing. Catholic bishops in Japan are calling for the prohibition of nuclear weapons as they announce a 10-day prayer program marking the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. (CNS photo/Kyodo, Reuters)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected to pass emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.
House passage would send the $2.1 billion bill to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation Thursday morning, 98-0.
Senators struck a bipartisan agreement on the legislation this week, two months after the House had passed a bill that would have provided around twice as much for Capitol security. But House leaders said they would back the Senate version anyway, arguing the money is urgently needed for the Capitol Police and for the translators and others who worked closely with U.S. government troops and civilians in Afghanistan.

Qatar participates in Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board meeting between Afghanistan and its international partners
 29 Jul 2021 - 22:06
QNA
Kabul - The State of Qatar participated in the 23rd meeting of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board between the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and its international partners.
The meeting took place via video conference, in the presence of President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan HE Dr. Mohammed Ashraf Ghani and a number of ranking officials.
The State of Qatar was represented in the meeting by Acting Charges D'Affaires in the State of Qatar's Embassy in Afghanistan Abdullah Nasser Al Shahwani.

O
N A HOT and sticky day in the northern city of Tianjin, America and China held their highest-level meeting on Chinese soil since Joe Biden was sworn in as America’s president in January. But the encounter on July 26th between Wendy Sherman, America’s deputy secretary of state, and counterparts from China’s foreign ministry failed to clear the air. Instead, it merely deepened the gloom that hangs over the world’s most critical great-power relationship.
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According to an American spokesman, Ms Sherman promised “stiff competition” with China and raised its “ongoing genocide” in the far-western region of Xinjiang, among other sore issues. She suggested co-operation on tackling problems such as climate change, narcotics and Afghanistan. But that olive branch was snapped by Xie Feng, a deputy foreign minister, who said relations were at a “stalemate” and thundered that America’s aim was to “bring China down”. His boss, Wang Yi, told America to choose between improving ties or “clashes and confrontation”.

Новое правительство Казахстана. Фото: tengrinews.kz
ОФ «Стратегия» представил рейтинг политиков и управленцев центрального уровня за 2 квартал 2021 года.
Оценки выставляли эксперты по трем критериям:
авторитетность как личности
перспективность как политика
Оценка производится по шкале от 1 до 7 баллов, где 1 – самый низкий показатель характеристики, а 7 – наивысший.
Новые старые лица
Первая «десятка» обновилась почти наполовину. После трехмесячного отсутствия вернулись руководитель Администрации Президента Ерлан Кошанов и помощник президента, секретарь Совета безопасности Асет Исекешев. Попечитель «Назарбаев Фонда» Болат Утемуратов в топ-10 отсутствовал год. Также в первую группу вошел руководитель Канцелярии Елбасы Махмуд Касымбеков.
Вылетел из десятки лидеров заместитель председателя партии Nur Otan Бауыржан Байбек. Эксперты утверждают, что «перезагрузка партии провалилась». Однако Байбек имеет сравнительно высокий показатель перспективности (4,45 балла; 6-е место в рейтинге перспективности).
Премьер-министр Аскар Мамин только на 12-м месте.
— Эксперты отмечают, что и сам Мамин «как ПМ неэффективный менеджер и не имеет масштабного мышления», и его «правительство теряет поддержку и сверху, и снизу», — пишут социологи.
Председатель мажилиса Нурлан Нигматулин улучшил оценки по сравнению с первым кварталом, но все-таки уступил вторую позицию председателю КНБ Кариму Масимову.
Существенно улучшили свое положение в верхней половине рейтинга (но не в топ-10) сразу несколько политиков. Председатель Верховного суда Жакип Асанов поднялся сразу на 20 позиций и занял 14 место в общем рейтинге.
— К числу управленцев с высокой динамикой показателей следует отнести Алика Айдарбаева, который сумел выбраться из группы «середнячков» и остановился в шаге от ТОП-15. Рост показателя председателя правления НК «КазМунайГаз» эксперты объясняют тем, что «с помощью Даурена Карабаева и Жакыпа Марабаева он постепенно вытаскивает компанию из дебрей непрофильных проектов», — пишут авторы рейтинга.
За эффективность никому не дали даже 5 баллов из 7
Авторитетность топ-политиков оценивается выше, чем другие аспекты. По результатам 2-го квартала 2021 года в первой десятке по параметру «авторитетность» лидирующие позиции остаются за Токаевым, Масимовым и Нигматулиным. Четвертым стал председатель НПП «Атамекен» Тимур Кулибаев.
По параметру «эффективность» пять баллов не смог набрать никто
Даже Токаев получил всего 4,91. Один из экспертов объяснил свою оценку «провисанием» ситуации в стране.
— Если в 2019 году условная «Библиотека» по фантомной привычке еще руководила процессами, то в 2020 году старая команда активно делегировала полномочия новой.
В 2021 году создается ощущение, что старая команда готова встать и уйти, а новая еще не готова,
— цитирует рейтинг его высказывание.
ТОП-10 по параметру «перспективность» также возглавляют Токаев и Нигматулин. На третье место поднялся спикер сената Маулен Ашимбаев, Масимов на четвертой позиции.
Рост перспективности показали министр образования и науки А. Аймагамбетов, а также Е. Кошанов, А. Исекешев и Б. Байбек.
Нужна ли информационная открытость?
В начале 2021 года социологи добавили для оценки управленцев параметр «информационная открытость». Однако быстро выяснилось, что
этот параметр влияет на итоговую оценку чрезмерно сильно и порой необоснованно
К тому же для того же председателя КНБ это просто лишнее. Поэтому при составлении рейтинга за второй квартал 2021 года этот фактор уже не учитывался. Но социологи рассмотрели его как независимый показатель.
Первая тройка — президент и председатели обеих палат парламента. Далее следуют А. Аймагамбетов, Б. Байбек и помощник президента Ерлан Карин.
— Кроме них, в ТОП-10 по информационной активности ожидаемо вошли первый заместитель руководителя Администрации Президента Даурен Абаев, министры цифрового развития, инноваций и аэрокосмической промышленности Багдат Мусин, информации и общественного развития — Аида Балаева, здравоохранения — Алексей Цой, — отметили авторы.

'ndia has proposed to include Chabaha port in INSTC'
30 Jul 2021, 04:56 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): India has proposed to include the Chabaha port in the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and has welcomed the formation of the India-Uzbekistan-Iran-Afghanistan Quadrilateral Working Group on the joint use of Chabahar port.
A meeting of the joint group likely to be held under a quadrilateral framework later this year on joint use of the port.
Briefing reporters at the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks at a recent meeting on connectivity in Tashkent in which he highlighted that India has taken practical steps since 2016 to operationalize the Chabahar port"You would have seen EAM's remarks at recently held meeting on connectivity in Tashkent, where he highlighted that India has taken practical steps since 2016 to operationalize the Chabahar port and that its efficacy is now clearly proven. India has proposed to include the port in the framework of International North-South Transport Corridor and has welcomed the formation of India-Uzbekistan-Iran-Afghanistan Quadrilateral Working Group on the joint use of Chabahar port," the spokesperson said.