Following are the top foreign stories at 2100 hrs

    
     FGN41 SCO-DECLARATION
     SCO bats for independent, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan, free of terrorism, war and drugs
     Dushanbe: Voicing support for an independent, democratic and peaceful Afghanistan, free of terrorism, war and drugs, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders said on Friday that it is critical to have an "inclusive" government in the war-torn country, with representatives from all ethnic, religious and political groups.
    
     FGN43 MODI-BIRTHDAY-LD LEADERS
     Leaders of Lanka, Nepal wish PM Modi on his 71st birthday
     Colombo/Kathmandu: Sri Lanka's top leadership and Nepal's Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday extended their greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 71st birthday, wishing him good health and success in leading the country.

     FGN42 CHINA-INDIA-JAISHANKAR-LD REAX
     China says it agrees with Jaishankar; says Sino-India ties have their own ' logic'
     Beijing: China on Friday said it agrees with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's assertion that Beijing should not view its relations with India through the lens of a third country, saying that Sino-India relations have their own "logic". By K J M Varma
    
     FGN39 SCO-AFGHAN-GUTERESS
     Developments in Afghanistan causing profound political, security, humanitarian challenges: UN Chief
     United Nations: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday said the troubling developments in Afghanistan were causing "profound political, economic, security and humanitarian challenges", hoping the international community could deliver in the face of this "rapidly evolving and unpredictable" situation. By Yoshita Singh
    
     FGN38 SCO-RUSSIA-PUTIN-TALIBAN
     Taliban govt not inclusive, but essential to work with it; need to coordinate stance on recognition: Putin
     Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that the Afghanistan government formed by the Taliban is not representative and inclusive, but it is essential to work with it as he stressed on the need to coordinate the stance of other countries on the issue of recognition.

     FGN47 SCO-CHINA-LD XI
     Xi asks SCO countries to encourage Afghanistan to have inclusive political framework, shun terrorism
     Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said that the SCO countries should step-up coordination and encourage Afghanistan to put in place an inclusive political framework wedded to moderate policies and resolutely fight all forms of terrorism after the Taliban takeover of Kabul. By K J M Varma
         
     FGN22 SCO-JAISHANKAR-RUSSIA-IRAN
     Jaishankar holds informal discussions with Russian counterpart, Iranian President at SCO summit
     Dushanbe: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a "useful discussion" with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on contemporary issues, including Afghanistan and shared perspectives on global affairs with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, as he held separate informal meetings with the two leaders here.
    
     FGN3 SCO-JAISHANKAR-MEETINGS
     Jaishankar meets his counterparts from Iran, Armenia and Uzbekistan at SCO
     Dushanbe: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met with his counterparts from Iran, Armenia and Uzbekistan and exchanged views on the recent developments in Afghanistan, confronting regional challenges and the ways to boost bilateral ties.
    
     FGN45 NEPAL-POLITICS
     Expansion of Deuba Cabinet within a week, says senior ruling coalition leader
     Kathmandu: The Nepal government led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will take "full shape" within a week with the expansion of the Cabinet, a senior leader of the ruling coalition said on Friday. By Shirish B Pradhan
    
     FGN32 SCO-PAK-AFGHAN-2NDLD IMRAN
     ‘New reality’ established in Afghan with Taliban takeover, foreign troops’ pullout: Pak PM at SCO summit
     Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that a "new reality" has been established in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul and it is now in the international community’s "collective interest" to ensure that there is no renewed conflict in the war-torn country and it will never again become a safe haven for terrorists. By Sajjad Hussain
    
     FGN31 SAFRICA-LD ZUMA
     South Africa's top court rejects former president Zuma's application to rescind his jail sentence
     Johannesburg: South Africa's top court on Friday rejected former president Jacob Zuma's application to rescind his 15-month-jail sentence for contempt of court. By Fakir Hassen
    
     FGN30 CHINA-ASTRONAUTS-LDALL SPACE
     Chinese astronauts safely return to Earth after 90 days; mission to build space station successful
     Beijing: China on Friday announced that the manned mission to construct its first space station was a complete success after three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth after 90 days, concluding the country's longest crewed mission. By K J M Varma
    
     FGN25 US-AUKUS-LD ALLIANCE
     AUKUS alliance with Australia, Britain not against any country: White House
     Washington: The new trilateral security alliance AUKUS is not about any one country but aimed at advancing the strategic interests of the US, Britain and Australia and upholding the international rules-based order while promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the White House has said amidst criticism against the pact from China. By Lalit K Jha
    
     FGN20 UN-QUAD-ENVOYS
     Ahead of summit, UN envoys from Quad underline importance of addressing climate change, commitment to rules-based international order
     New York: The Ambassadors from Quad nations - Australia, India, Japan and the United States - underlined the importance of addressing the global pandemic, climate change and renewing commitment to rules-based international order as they met here ahead of the Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden next week. By Yoshita Singh
    
     FGN10 US-PSAKI-AUKUS-ALLIANCE
     AUKUS alliance with Australia, Britain not against any country: White House
     Washington: The new trilateral security alliance AUKUS is not about any one country but aimed at advancing the strategic interests of the US, Britain and Australia and upholding the international rules-based order while promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the White House has said. By Lalit K Jha
    
     FGN9 IMF-AFGHAN-SUSPENSION
     IMF suspends its engagement with Afghanistan
     Washington: The International Monetary Fund has said its engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended until there is clarity within the international community on the recognition of the government led by the Taliban. By Lalit K Jha IND
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)