Following are the top foreign stories at 2030 hours

FGN71 JAISHANKAR-LD BELGIUM **** Jaishankar holds talks with Belgian counterpart, discusses cooperation in areas such as defence and mobility Brussels: India and Belgium on Wednesday reviewed cooperation in several areas, including economic, clean energy, defence, mobility and pharmaceutical domains, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holding talks with his Belgian counterpart Maxime Prevot. **** FGN66 JAISHANKAR-EU-BIZ **** Jaishankar highlights growing trust in India-EU ties at business roundtable Brussels: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday participated in the India-EU Business Roundtable in Brussels and underscored the growing trust in India-Europe ties, saying businesses must realise the full potential of the partnership. **** FGN61 WASIA-INDIAN-LD SAILOR **** Indian sailor died in attack on MV GFS Galaxy: Indian mission Dubai: An Indian sailor, who went missing after an attack on the MV GFS Galaxy cargo vessel off the coast of Oman, has died, the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed on Wednesday. **** FGN57 UN-INDIA-UNSC **** UN not been able to move needle on Security Council reforms: India United Nations: The UNSC's 80-year-old structure, ill-equipped to address contemporary challenges, has been ineffective in ending human suffering due to raging conflicts across the globe, India has said, as it also called for the financial architecture to evolve to better serve the priorities of developing countries. **** FGN60 UK-POLITICS-LD STARMER **** Leaving UK in better shape: Keir Starmer at final Parliament session as PM London: Keir Starmer wrapped up his final Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in the lower house of the UK Parliament on Wednesday with an emotional farewell and standing ovation from the government benches. **** FGN62 UN-INDIA-MINERALS **** Critical energy minerals should become engine for sustainable development: India at UN United Nations: India has said that critical energy transition minerals should become an engine for sustainable development, not another source of inequality, while emphasising that national ownership and resource sovereignty remain the foundation of global cooperation. **** FGN27 UK-INDIA-FTA **** Industry celebrates 'landmark' FTA entry into force to catalyse India-UK trade London: Business and industry groups across India and the UK welcomed the free trade agreement (FTA) coming into force on Wednesday, which is set to unleash a flurry of tariff cuts that will catalyse bilateral trade through greater two-way movement of goods and services. **** FGN22 US-TARIFFS-INDIA **** US Senators unveil bill for 100 per cent tariffs on India, four others for buying Russian oil Washington: A bipartisan group of US Senators unveiled a bill that seeks to impose 100 per cent tariffs on five countries, including India and China, for purchasing oil from Russia. **** FGN6 US-INDIAN-ASTRONAUT **** NASA astronaut Anil Menon, two others reach International Space Station Washington: NASA astronaut Anil Menon and two Russian cosmonauts reached the International Space Station to hugs and handshakes in the early hours of Wednesday (India time) onboard Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft after a little over three-hour journey. **** FGN48 INDIA-QATAR **** India conveys condolences to Qatar as Rijiju meets Amir Sheikh Tamim Dubai: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and people of India to Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the demise of his father, former Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. **** FGN68 UK-SOCIAL MEDIA-LD TEENS **** UK to impose midnight curfew on social media use by teens London: The UK government on Wednesday unveiled plans to bring in a midnight curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds accessing social media as part of measures to protect teenagers from the most addictive aspects of such online platforms. **** FGN72 NEPAL-LEADER-SENTENCE **** Nepal ex-DyPM sentenced to jail in fake Bhutanese refugee scam Kathmandu: Nepal's former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has been sentenced to four years in prison by a local court for his role in a fraudulent scheme to pass off Bhutanese refugees as Nepali citizens to send them to the US. **** FGN52 CHINA-LD ECONOMY **** China's GDP growth slows sharply in second quarter, misses target Beijing: China's economy slowed sharply to 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, its lowest since 2022, weighed down by stagnant domestic demand and higher energy costs linked to the US-Iran war offsetting the robust export growth. **** FGN41 UK-SIKH-MURDER **** British Sikh woman stabbed to death in London attack, man charged with murder London: A 24-year-old British Sikh woman has been killed and a man in his 20s remains in hospital in a stabbing attack at a property in west London, the Metropolitan Police said. **** FGN15 US-FBI-GANGSTER **** FBI adds gangster Nitish Kaushal to its most wanted list Washington: The FBI has added gangster Nitish Kaushal, allegedly involved in murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking in the US, to its list of most wanted criminals, as it closes in on the Bhagwanpuria gang. **** FGN64 US-10THLD IRAN **** US reimposes blockade, steps up strikes as Iran threatens to halt Mideast energy exports Dubai: The US reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and intensified its airstrike campaign Wednesday in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The American strikes hit an Iranian army barracks, killing at least seven troops and wounding more than 260 people across the country, Iranian officials said. (AP)**** PTI SKS SKS