Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours

FGN64 PM-INDIA-2NDLD AUSTRALIA ****Eye on Indo-Pacific: India and Australia deepen ties across nuclear, maritime and mineral sectors Melbourne: India and Australia on Thursday sealed a raft of landmark pacts spanning civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals sectors, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese reinforced the vital role of the bilateral partnership in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific.**** FGN66 PM-AUSTRALIA-DIASPORA ****Driven by vision of 'Grow More, Achieve More', India working to become developed nation: PM Modi Melbourne: India, driven by the vision of "Grow More, Achieve More", is working towards the goal of becoming a developed nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, underlining that the foundation of the country's big dreams and great aspirations is its people. **** FGN16 PM-AUSTRALIA-LD-TRADE ****PM Modi invites Australian businesses to tap into India's 'unmatched' growth opportunities Melbourne: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched for early finalisation of the proposed India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), saying it will propel bilateral economic ties to a "new level".**** FGN44 PM-AUSTRALIA-MEETINGS ****PM Modi meets Australia Governor General Mostyn, discusses bilateral ties Melbourne: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn and discussed "enduring" bilateral bonds, strong people-to-people ties and the strengthening of the "multifaceted partnership" between the two countries.**** FGN57 INDIA-AUSTRALIA-CULTURE ****Three cultural artefacts of Indian origin to be brought back from Australia Melbourne: Three antiquities of Tamil Nadu origin, including a stone idol of sacred bull Nandi, are set to be repatriated to India by Australia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.**** FGN61 NZ-INDIA-EXPERTS ****PM Modi's New Zealand visit historic, but not without friction: Experts Wellington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand this week, the first by an Indian premier in 40 years, marks a watershed moment for bilateral ties but comes amid political and social friction, according to experts.**** FGN43 US-TRUMP-INDOPAK ****Trump says 11 jets downed during India-Pak hostilities last year, repeats role in resolution of conflict Washington: US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of settling the conflict between India and Pakistan, adding that 11 jets were shot down during the four-day hostilities in May last year.**** FGN12 USTR PROBE-INDIA ****India says US approach to forced labour tariffs inconsistent; exempts 1,600 items it needs Washington: India has flagged inconsistencies in the US approach to tariffs at a public hearing on the US Trade Representative's (USTR) proposal to impose levies on goods linked to forced labour.**** FGN65 US-IRAN-5THLD STRIKES ****US, Iran exchange intensifying fire across the Mideast, threatening interim deal to end war Dubai: The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting US-allied Mideast countries in an exchange of fire that threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Middle East. (AP)**** PTI FHK NPK NPK