Following are the top stories at 1700 hours

Following are the top stories at 1700 hours:

FGN14 US-PASSPORTS-SINGH

India to open 'Passport Seva Kendras' in each 543 parliamentary constituencies: V K Singh

New York: The Indian government plans to open a 'Passport Seva Kendra' in each of the 543 parliamentary constituencies across the country by March next year to ensure convenient passport services to its people, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said here. By Yoshita Singh

FGN17 PAK-INDIA-KARTARPUR

Pak conveys to India decision to open Kartarpura Corridor for Sikhs: Foreign Minister Qureshi

Islamabad: Pakistan has conveyed to India its decision to open Kartarpura Corridor for Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday, even as the Foreign Office here said it cannot do much unless New Delhi responds. By Sajjad Hussain

FGN10 PREZ-AUS-GANDHI

President unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bronze statue in Australia

Melbourne:President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday unveiled a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Australian city of Sydney and said his powerful message of non-violence and peaceful coexistence is relevant in these times of strife. By Natasha Chaku

FGN8 KOVIND-AUS-LD INDIA

India, Australia ink 5 pacts as Kovind meets PM Morrison

Melbourne: President Ram Nath Kovind, the first Indian head of state to visit Australia, held talks with Prime minister Scott Morrison to step-up bilateral strategic ties as the two countries signed five agreements Thursday to boost investments and enhance cooperation. By Natasha Chaku

FGN11 CHINA-CAR-2NDLD CRASH

5 killed, 18 injured as car rams into students in China

Beijing: A speeding car ploughed into several students crossing a road in front a primary school in China's northeast Liaoning province, killing at least five of them and injuring 18 others, nearly two months after a similar incident claimed 11 lives. By K J M Varma

FGN15 PAK-LD POET

Pakistan's progressive Urdu writer Fahmida Riaz dies

Lahore: Noted Pakistani progressive Urdu writer, poet and rights activist Fahmida Riaz, who spent nearly seven years in exile in India, has died in Lahore following a prolonged illness. She was 73. By M Zulqernain

FGN18 EU-UK-BREXIT

EU, UK agree draft on 'ambitious' post-Brexit ties

Brussels: The EU and Britain agreed Thursday a draft declaration on their post-Brexit relations that sets out an "ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership," officials said.

 

FGN6 SAUDI-PRINCE-LD KHASHOGGI

Saudi warns crown prince a 'red line' in Khashoggi probe

London: Saudi Arabia has warned criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a "red line", after Donald Trump heaped praise on the kingdom in defiance of warnings he was giving Riyadh a pass on a journalist's grisly murder.

FGN13 UN-CLIMATE-LD WARMING

Greenhouse gas levels in atmosphere hit new high: UN

Geneva: The levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the main driver of climate change, have hit a new record high, the UN said Thursday, warning that the time to act was running out.