Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

    FGN20 VIRUS-US-BIDEN-LD INDIA
    US trying to help India, others to produce COVID-19 vaccine: Biden
    Washington: The US is trying to provide for countries like India the capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines themselves, President Joe Biden has said, as he highlighted the efforts of democratic nations to help the world stem the surge of the pandemic. By Lalit K Jha

    FGN30 PEGASUS-ISRAEL-DEFENCE-SESSION
    Pegasus Scandal: Top Israeli defence committee to convene 'closed' session on use of offensive cyberarms
    Jerusalem: Israel’s top defence committee will convene a special session on the use of "offensive cyberarms" in the wake of international backlash over the alleged misuse of NSO Group's Pegasus software and further revelations that other Israeli firms may have also supplied similar spyware solutions to other countries, according to a media report. By Harinder Mishra

    FGN37 PAK-POK-PREMIER
    Imran Khan nominates Abdul Qayyum Niazi as next premier of PoK
    Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday nominated his party's lawmaker Abdul Qayyum Niazi as the next premier of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after extensive consultations. By Sajjad Hussain

    FGN35 IAF-LD ISRAEL
    IAF chief in Israel to discuss enhancement of bilateral military ties
    Jerusalem/New Delhi: Indian Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria is in Israel on a three-day official visit during which he would discuss enhancement of bilateral exchanges between air forces of the two strategic partners. By Harinder Mishra

    FGN21 UN-ISIL K-REPORT
    ISIL-K has strengthened positions in & around Kabul, militants from Taliban may join ISIS affiliate: UNSG report
    United Nations: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan has expanded its presence in several provinces of Afghanistan and strengthened its positions in and around Kabul, a report by UN chief Antonio Guterres said, highlighting risks that militants from the Taliban may join the ISIS affiliate if they feel "threatened" by developments in the Afghan peace process. By Yoshita Singh

    FGN18 UNSC-AFGHANISTAN
    UNSC says it does not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan
    United Nations: The UN Security Council, currently being presided over by India, has declared that it does “not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate" in Afghanistan as it expressed deep concern over the high levels of violence in the war-torn country following the Taliban stepping up its military offensive. By Yoshita Singh

    FGN36 ISRAEL-LEBANON-LD ROCKETS
    Israeli army says it fires back after 3 rockets from Lebanon
    Tel Aviv: Three rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory and the army fired back, the military said. There was no immediate information on damage or injuries. (AP)

    FGN31 VIRUS-CHINA-WUHAN
    China seals city as its worst virus outbreak in a year grows
    Beijing: China's worst coronavirus outbreak since the start of the pandemic a year and a half ago escalated Wednesday with dozens more cases around the country, the sealing-off of one city and the punishment of its local leaders. (AP)
PTI CPS

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