Following are the top foreign stories at 1700

    FGN 18 LANKA-RAJAPAKSA-OATH
Sri Lanka’s strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to take oath of PM for 4th time on Sunday
    Colombo: Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaka will be sworn in as the country’s new prime minister for the fourth time at a historic Buddhist temple on Sunday, consolidating the hard-line political dynasty’s grip on power.

    FGN3 VIRUS-US-POMPEO
COVID-19: Pompeo speaks with his counterparts from India, Australia, Brazil, Israel and S Korea
    Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has spoken with his counterparts from five key partners and allies, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on the collective fight against the coronavirus pandemic, according to his spokesperson.

    FGN10 UAE-INDIA-PLANE-REAX
Dubai-based Indian expat count his lucky stars as 7 family members survive AI plane crash
    Dubai: Dubai-based Indian expat Shemir Vadakkan Pathappiriyam is exhausted but overjoyed as all the seven members of his and his brother's family survived the Air India Express plane crash in Kerala that claimed the lives of at least 18 co-passengers on Friday.

    FGN12 PLANE-LEADERS-REAX
Leaders of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives offer condolences to families of Kerala plane crash victims
    Colombo: The leaders of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Maldives have expressed sadness over the tragic crash of the Air India Express flight in Kerala that killed at least 18 people and offered condolences to the bereaved families.


    FGN4 US-SANDHU-CONFERENCE
Indian Ambassador in US discusses trade, investment cooperation with Pennsylvania Governor
    Washington: Continuing with his efforts to strengthen the bilateral ties, the top Indian diplomat in the US has discussed trade and investment cooperation with the Governor of Pennsylvania, the American state with which India shares a vibrant and a century-old relationship.

    FGN2 UAE-INDIA-PLANE
Indian consulate in Dubai to remain open to share info related to Air India plane crash
    Dubai: The Indian Consulate in Dubai will remain open on Saturday to help those who need assistance to travel to Kerala and provide information about the crash of the Air India Express flight that skidded off a hilltop runway and split in two while landing in heavy rain at an airport in Kozhikode, killing at least 17 people.


     FGN8 US-INDIANS-OCI
Indian-Americans welcome restoration of OCI card travel benefits
    Washington: Indian-Americans have welcomed India’s decision to restore the Overseas Citizens of India card benefits, including the visa free travel to the country, which were suspended in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

    FGN16 PAK-SAUDI-OIL
USD 3.2 bn oil deal between Pak, Saudi expires; Islamabad urges renewal
    Islamabad: Pakistan has not received the oil on deferred payments from Saudi Arabia since May as a deal signed between the two sides for provision of USD 3.2 billion worth of the fuel under the arrangement expired two months ago and Islamabad is still waiting for a response from Riyadh over its request to extend the facility. PTI

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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)