Following are the top foreign stories at 1730 hours

    
     FGN26 US-DOVAL-HICKS-LD DEFENCE
     * Building alliances and partnerships top priority: top Pentagon official tells NSA Doval
     Washington: US Deputy Defence Secretary Dr Kathleen Hicks told National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that building alliances and partnerships are a "top priority" for her department, the Pentagon has said, amidst the Indo-Pacific region's increasingly contested strategic environment and China's aggressive behaviour. *
    
     FGN2 US-INDIA-ICET
     * India, US launch iCET, elevate strategic partnership: White House
     Washington: India and the United States have elevated their strategic partnership with the launch of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology or iCET, the White House said as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his US counterpart Jake Sullivan here. *

     FGN11 US-INDIA-ICET-LD DOVAL
     * Discussions during Doval’s visit form the basis for intensifying Indo-US cooperation in cutting-edge sectors: Indian embassy
     Washington: The discussions held during the visit of National Security Advisor Ajit K Doval form the basis for intensifying India-US cooperation in cutting-edge sectors and are truly reflective of the maturity of a comprehensive and global strategic partnership, the Indian embassy here has said. *

     FGN4 US-BIDEN-MODI-VISIT
     * Biden believed to have invited PM Modi for state visit to US
     Washington, Feb 1 (PTI) US President Joe Biden is understood to have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a state visit this summer, PTI has learnt. *
    
     FGN28 UAE-BUD-REAX
     * Green economy, energy focus in budget please UAE-based NRI businesses
     Dubai: The provision for green growth in India’s first 'Amrit Kaal' budget announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday pleased UAE-based NRI businesspeople. *

     FGN27 PAK-FAWAD-BAIL
     * Pak court grants bail to Fawad Chaudhry in sedition case
     Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Wednesday granted bail to former information minister and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry in a sedition case and ordered his release. *
         
     FGN5 US-INDIA-SPACE
     * India-US group meets to advance bilateral space collaboration
     Washington: Top space officials from India and the United States met here to discuss ways to advance bilateral space cooperation. *

     FGN15 US-HALEY-WH-LD BID
     * Top Indian-American politician Nikki Haley planning to launch for 2024 White House bid on Feb. 15
     Washington: Prominent Indian-American Republican Party leader Nikki Haley is poised to launch her 2024 White House bid on February 15 -- positioning herself to be the first challenger to former US president Donald Trump. *
    
     FGN18 PAK-TTP-PUNJAB-ATTACK
     * TTP militants attack police station in Pakistan's Punjab province
     Lahore: Heavily-armed Pakistani Taliban militants opened fire at a police station in Mianwali in Pakistan's Punjab province, days after a member of the dreaded outfit blew himself up inside a mosque in Peshawar that killed over 100 people. *
    
     FGN23 UK-STRIKE
     * Biggest day of industrial action in Britain as teachers, workers strike over pay
     London: Britain on Wednesday faced what has been dubbed the biggest industrial action in a decade as teachers, university lecturers, train and bus drivers and public sector workers went on a strike to demand better pay conditions. *
    
     FGN19 PAK-IMF-BAILOUT-OPPOSITION
     * IMF expresses concern over possibility of Pak opposition creating hurdles in govt's hard economic decisions: Reports
    Islamabad: The IMF has expressed concern that Pakistan's opposition parties might create hurdles in the way of implementing the tough economic decisions of the cash-strapped Shehbaz Sharif-led government, media reports said on Wednesday. *

     FGN7 US-PAK-BLAST-REAX
     * 'To target worshippers is unconscionable': US condemns deadly mosque attack in Pakistan
     Washington: The US has strongly condemned the deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Monday, saying "terrorism is indefensible," and to "target worshippers is unconscionable." *

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