Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours

FGN34: PAK-WASIA ****Pakistan urges US, Iran to end hostilities, resume talks amid renewed strikes Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday urged the US and Iran to end hostilities and resume negotiations, as renewed military strikes between the two sides threatened to derail their interim peace arrangement and further destabilise the region.**** FGN47: CHINA-INDIA-UN ****'Taken note of relevant reports: China on India's bid for non-permanent UNSC seat Beijing: China on Thursday said it has "taken note of relevant reports" about India's bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 period.**** FGN16: US-INDIA-TIES-OFFICIAL ****India investing heavily in America, bilateral ties 'really great': senior US official New York: Describing India as a "leader in many areas", a senior US official said the country has made substantial investments in America and that bilateral ties are "really great".**** FGN22: US-UNSG ****'Could be a woman, absolutely. No reason why not': US on next UN Secretary General New York: The US has voiced its support for a woman to lead the United Nations, saying "there is no reason” why a female cannot be elected as the next Secretary General of the world organisation.**** FGN17: US-LD INDIAN ****Indian national stabbed in US over his religion: reports Washington: An Indian man was allegedly stabbed 15 times inside a shopping mall near Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah because of his religion, media reports said.**** FGN41: PAK-IMRAN-PROTEST ****Imran Khan's party to hold protest rallies across Pakistan to mark his three years in jail Lahore: Incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's party on Thursday gave a countrywide protest call on August 5 to mark the day their leader completes three years in jail.**** FGN21: UN-AFGHAN-ENVOY ****Bangladeshi diplomat appointed head of UN mission in Afghanistan United Nations: A senior Bangladeshi diplomat has been appointed as head of the United Nations mission in Afghanistan.**** FGN44: IRAN-7THLD US ****US expands strikes into northern Iran, disables ship trying to run blockade Dubai: The United States intensified its strikes on Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north as American forces also fired into a ship the US accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Iran retaliated with missile and drone fire targeting US allies in the region before dawn and warned its attacks may escalate.(AP)**** PTI GSP