Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

    FGN39 PAK-INDIA-SHARIF
    *Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his readiness for a meaningful dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues.
    
     FGN41 US-NYC-4THLD MAYOR ELECTION
     New York: In a stunning victory, Indian-American lawmaker Zohran Kwame Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary race for New York City mayor.
    
     FGN59 CHINA-BRICS-XI
    Chinese President Xi Jinping to skip BRICS Summit in Brazil: Report
    Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to skip the BRICS Summit in Brazil next month, which, if confirmed, will be his first-ever absence from the meeting of the grouping of emerging economies since taking office 12 years ago, according to a media report. *
    
     FGN60 BANGLA-HASINA-PROSECUTOR
     *Bangladesh tribunal removes ex-PM Hasina’s lawyer who had demanded her execution
     Dhaka: Bangladesh’s crimes tribunal on Wednesday removed the state-appointed counsel for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid a controversy over his previous demand for her execution.

     FGN46 PAK-ADB-LOAN
    Pakistan signs USD 350 million loan agreement with ADB
    Islamabad: Pakistan has signed a USD 350 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to boost women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment, according to Radio Pakistan.
         
     FGN43 PAK-AFGHAN-REFUGEES
    Over 500,000 refugees returned to Afghanistan since April 1: Pak Interior Ministry
     Peshawar: Over 500,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan since April 1 this year, a Pakistan Interior Ministry report said on Wednesday.

    FGN37 THAI-INDIA-TECHNOLOGY
    Indian techies to help upscale Thai tech ecosystem
     Bangkok: Indian technologists will help Thailand upscale its tech ecosystem under an MoU signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangkok earlier this year, an official said on Wednesday.

     FGN31 BANGLA-JAMAAT
    Bangladesh Election Commission reinstates Jamaat-e-Islami's registration
    Dhaka: Bangladesh Election Commission has reinstated the registration and symbol of the rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami party, according to a local media report.

    FGN30 PAK-BLAST
    Four killed in blast near Afghan border in Pakistan's KP
     Peshawar: At least four persons were killed and as many injured in a blast near Afghan border in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, police said.
    
     FGN54 ISRAEL-GAZA-LATEST 2
     Jerusalem: Seven Israeli soldiers were killed Tuesday in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis when their armoured vehicle was struck by an explosive, an Israeli military official said on Wednesday.(AP) *

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