Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

    FGN22: US-RUBIO-INDIA-LD PAK TENSIONS
    *US Secretary of State Rubio speaks with EAM Jaishankar, Pak PM Sharif; urges de-escalation of tensions
    New York/Washington, May 1 (PTI) The US has encouraged India and Pakistan to "de-escalate tensions", reaffirming its commitment to cooperate with Delhi against terrorism and urging Islamabad’s cooperation in investigating the “unconscionable" Pahalgam terror attack.

    FGN26: PAK-MALIK-LD NSA
    Pak's ISI chief Muhammad Asim Malik appointed as National Security Adviser
    Islamabad: Pakistan has appointed serving ISI chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India.    
    
    FGN36 PAK-CLASHES
    3 counter-terrorism department personnel killed in clashes with terrorists in northwest Pak
    Peshawar: Three police personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department were killed and two others injured in clashes with terrorists during an operation in northwest Pakistan, police said on Thursday.
    
    FGN29: US-UKRAINE-2NDLD ECONOMIC DEAL
    US, Ukraine sign deal giving US access to country's valuable mineral wealth
    Washington: The US and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine's vast mineral resources, finalising a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. (AP)*

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